{"id":470,"date":"2011-06-13T14:48:39","date_gmt":"2011-06-13T21:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/?p=470"},"modified":"2011-06-15T15:04:14","modified_gmt":"2011-06-15T22:04:14","slug":"deer-resistant-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/2011\/06\/deer-resistant-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Deer Resistant Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plants Deer Don’t Prefer<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Each year, I am asked for advice about planting a deer proof garden. I can indeed suggest a range of plants that deer will never touch, that won’t need water, and will never outgrow their spot. In a word: Plastic.
\n
\nWhen Plastic Surgery Is A Blessing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Look before you laugh; Plastic plants are far more attractive today than in the past. Indeed, plastic inserts may be invaluable in those pinch-hit situations, such as the upcoming garden wedding immediately after a hailstorm, the garden tour arriving right after a dog-and-cat fight in the border, and so on. For true success, insist that your guests remove their eyeglasses. Those who don\u2019t wear glasses must don the removed glasses of those who do. The result will be dreamily indistinct and your plastic-enhanced garden will be as lovely as those vasoline-smeared-lens shots of insufficiently clad women. (That I know this is proof that I have brothers.)<\/p>\n

Sadly, when it comes to real living plants, “deer proof” is not a realizable goal. The best we can hope for is to come up with a list of generally deer resistant plants. What that usually boils down to is<\/p>\n

1) a roster of plants that are outright toxic (castor beans, foxglove);
\n2) plants that deer don’t like well enough to eat all of (ivy, lavender), and
\n3) plants that grow faster than the deer can eat them (bamboo, grasses).<\/p>\n

Bane or Beauty?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voracious and charming, greedy and beautiful, deer can be the bane or the grace of the garden. Although young deer will eat pretty much anything, mature deer are more discriminating. Sort of. Though there really is no such thing as a deer-proof plant, there definitely are deer resistant ones. Often these are plants with hairy, smelly, waxy, dense, or highly textured foliage.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I’ve seen many lists from all over the county citing plants deer love and plants deer hate. Amazingly, some of the same plants appear on each list. Evidently deer in one region happily eat things that deer elsewhere don’t.<\/p>\n

Bambi Sees A Different Reality?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deer can also change their habits: For many years, deer ignored my azaleas, but one spring, they ate them eagerly. I presently have deer that browse the new growth on ivy, which I’ve never seen before. On one notable occasion, a deer ate the better part of a large and extremely toxic angel trumpet (Datura). These glorious plants are renowned for their psychoactive effects, which have been used by shamans for millennia. Though he practically ate the whole thing, there was no dead Bambi to be found afterwards.<\/p>\n

The Latest List<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have quite a lot of experience with deer, having been blessed with many of them in each of my gardens. At present, my yard hosts a growing family in the front yard and a clutch of young bucks in the lower back yard. Sometimes my neighbor even calls and asks me to get my deer out of his garden. For what it is worth, I present my current list of plants my personal flock of deer rarely eat (all of):<\/p>\n

Bulbs\/tubers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Allium \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ornamental onions
\nBegonia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Begonia (tuberous)
\nCrocosmia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Crocosmia
\nDahlia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Dahlia
\nEndymion\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spanish bluebells
\nFreesia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Freesia
\nFritillaria\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Crown imperials
\nGalanthus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Snowdrops
\nGladiolus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Gladiola
\nHyacinthus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Hyacinths
\nNarcissus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Daffodils
\nScilla\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Squills
\nPolianthes\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Tuberose<\/p>\n

Shrubs & Subshrubs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abelia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Abelia
\nBerberis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Barberry
\nBrugmansia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Angels trumpet
\nBuxus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Boxwood
\nCallicarpa\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Beautyberry
\nCaryopteris\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Bluebeard
\nCeanothus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 California lilac
\nClerodendrum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Peanutbutter plant
\nCistus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rockrose
\nCotoneaster\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Cotoneaster
\nDaphne\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Daphne
\nDatura\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Angels trumpet
\nErica\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Heather
\nEscallonia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Escallonia
\nGaultheria\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Salal
\nHypericum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 St. John’s wort
\nIlex\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holly
\nJuniperus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Juniper
\nKerria\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kerria
\nKirengeshoma \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Shuttlecock flower
\nKolkwitzia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Beauty bush
\nLavandula\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Lavender
\nLeycesteria\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pagoda shrub
\nMahonia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oregon grape
\nNandina\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Heavenly bamboo
\nPicea\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spruce
\nPieris\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lily-of-the-valley shrub
\nPinus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pine
\nPotentilla\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Cinquefoil
\nPrunus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Laurel
\nRhododendron\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Rhododendron, Azalea
\nRhus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sumac
\nRibes\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Flowering currant
\nRosmarinus\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rosemary
\nSalvia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sage
\nSantolina\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Lavender cotton
\nSarcoccoca\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Sweetbox
\nSenecio \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senecio Sunshine
\nSkimmia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Skimmia
\nSpirea\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Spirea
\nSyringa\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lilac
\nViburnum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Viburnum<\/p>\n

Perennials\/grasses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acanthus \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Bear breeches
\nAconitum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Monkshood
\nAchillea\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yarrow
\nAgastache\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hummingbird plant
\nAlyssum \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Basket-of-gold
\nAngelica pachycarpa\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0New Zealand angelica
\nArtemisia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Artemisia
\nAster\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aster
\nAubretia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Rockcress
\nBergenia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Leatherleaf
\nCampanula\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Bellflower
\nChrysanthemum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Chrysanthemum
\nCrambe \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sea kale
\nDigitalis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Foxglove
\nEchinacea\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Cone flower
\nErigeron\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fleabane
\nEryngium \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Sea holly
\nEuphorbia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Spurge
\nFerula \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Fennel
\nFern\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ferns (most)
\nGaillardia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Blanket flower
\nGeranium\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Geranium
\nGrasses\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Grasses (most)
\nHelleborus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Hellebore
\nIris\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Iris
\nKniphofia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Poker plant
\nLavatera\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Mallow
\nLupinus \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Lupines
\nMacleaya\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Plume poppy
\nMeconopsis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Welsh poppy
\nMelianthus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 South African honeybush
\nMonarda\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Bee balm
\nNepeta\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Catmint
\nOenothera\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Evening primrose
\nPapaver\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Poppies
\nPenstemon\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beardtongue
\nPerovskia \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Russian sage
\nPhlomis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jerusalem sage
\nPhormium\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0New Zealand flax
\nPulmonaria\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Lungwort
\nRheum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Rhubarb
\nRudbeckia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Black-eyed Susan
\nSantolina\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Lavender cotton
\nScabiosa\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pincushion flower
\nStachys\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lambs ear
\nThymus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thyme
\nVerbascum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mullein
\nVerbena\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Verbena
\nViola\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Violets, violas, pansies<\/p>\n

Annuals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alyssum\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Sweet alyssum
\nCalendula\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pot marigold
\nClarkia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Farewell to spring
\nCleome\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spider flower
\nEschscholzia\u00a0 California poppy
\nHeliotropus\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Heliotrope
\nLobelia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lobelia
\nMyosotis\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Forget-me-nots
\nNasturtium\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Nasturtium
\nNicotiana\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Flowering tobacco
\nPapaver\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Poppies
\nPelargonium\u00a0 Geranium
\nPetunia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Petunia
\nRicinus\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Castor bean
\nTagetes\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marigold
\nVerbena\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Verbena
\nViola\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Violas, pansies
\nZinnia\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Zinnia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Plants Deer Don’t Prefer Each year, I am asked for advice about planting a deer proof garden. I can indeed suggest a range of plants that deer will never touch, that won’t need water, and will never outgrow their spot. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[43,130],"tags":[286,282,281,285,284,283],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1lB7f-7A","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":477,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470\/revisions\/477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}