With this in mind, it is important to know that one should set goals to try to design and plant landscapes knowing that there will always be some loss of plants. A plant's deer resistance can be determined by how often or severely plants are eaten during moderately harsh winters when the deer's food supply decreases. Usually plants that are soft to the touch and high in water content are the first to succumb to damage. From my experience, I have seen that deer usually like to eat the tender, flower buds of plants first. I have found that for the most part plants with thorns or spiny projections turn deer away.
Flavor is another factor which can control deer browsing.
Plants with a pungent taste will almost always survive a deer's visit. Marigolds appear to prove this. A plant can have a certain degree of resistance because of its architecture. Although the foliage is very enjoyable, if the deer can't reach the leaves due to the height of the canopy, the plant will thrive and go untouched. Controlling deer can also be helped by using design techniques that attempt to divert deer traffic away from precious plantings.