Deer Resistant Plants

UPDATED March 2013 - the lists change as I add more plants.

The plants in the lists below were tested for deer resistance in my garden. Each year, I add more plants so this list will change as I experiment. If a plant is nibbled some, but still blooms or is full of foliage for most of the time, I consider the plant deer resistant. In other words, a few nibbles will not destroy my enjoyment of the plant. Please browse my blog articles about my deer resistant gardening experience. PLEASE NOTE: Your results may vary, depending upon availability of food for the deer, herd size and browsing habits. Deer will eat most anything if desperate during long periods of drought. I haven't yet moved these plants to my favorites list: Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe' (joe pye weed) DEER EAT IT! Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' no damage to leaves or blooms, but I'm not sure I trust that the deer won't ever eat this one. Vernonia fasciculata (smooth ironweed, a native) no deer damage, but this hasn't performed well in my hot, sunny garden. persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail'   nibbled heavily, so I have to transplant this one inside the cottage garden fence. liatris ligustylis (blazing star, a native)  2011, no damage, wonderful blooms! That said, the rabbits go after this plant when it is ground level. Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master, native) new 2011, no damage so far. Future favorite if continues to perform.. Echinacea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry' new 2011; no deer damage, but rabbits will eat coneflowers when low to the ground. Yucca 'Color Guard' - deer nibble tips in February when food is scarce. ------ If you'd like to read more about my garden in print—here's a note from The Grumpy Gardener at Southern Living Magazine: There's a great story about your garden in the July 2010 issue of Southern Living! I don't know who wrote it, but obviously the guy's a genius! Everybody should pick up a copy. (You'll find the story, Not Tonight Deer! on page 52 of the July 2010 issue.) --------- MY FAVORITE DEER RESISTANT PLANTS (annuals, perennials, shrubs, et.)

Agastache 'Cotton Candy' from Terra Nova Nurseries

Favorite Perennials Agastache 'Salmon & Pink' 'Blue Fortune' 'Coronado' 'Cotton Candy' Terra Nova 'Purple Haze' 'Purple Pygmy' 'Heather Queen' 'Summer Love' Terra Nova 'Summer Sky' 'Summer Glow' 'Golden Jubilee' 'Navajo Sunset' Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' 'Red Shift' 'Autumn Blush' Terra Nova 'Mango Punch'  Terra Nova 'Rum Punch'  Terra Nova verticillata 'Zagreb' Echinacea 'Fire Bird' (2010) Terra Nova 'Prairie Splendor' 'Ruby Star' 'Sundown' 'Tangerine Dream' (2010) Terra Nova 'White Swan' Monarda 'Raspberry Wine' 'Jacob Cline' 'Blue Stocking' Nepeta 'Walkers Low' 'Six Hills Giant' Salvia chamaedryoides (2010) guaranitica 'Black & Blue' guaranitica 'Omaha Gold' (2010) nemorosa 'Caradonna' nemorosa 'Marcus' 'May Night' (2010) pachyphylla (2010) ulignosa (bog sage) greggii 'Cherry Queen' 'Dark Dancer' 'Diane' 'Navajo Bright Red' 'Texas Wedding' Other perennials ageratum 'Wayside' amsonia hubrichtii baptisia canna caryopteris colocasia (elephant ears) crocosmia 'Lucifer' delosperma cooperii ginger 'White Butterfly' gaillardia heliotropium amplexicaule 'Azure Skies' iris ensata (some nibbles) leucanthemum x superbum 'Broadway Lights', 'Paladin', 'Alaska' linum (flax) rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' (some nibbles possible) russian sage stachys hummelo verbena 'Homestead Purple' verbena bonariensis

Favorite Shrubs and Trees Buddleia ('Pink Delight', 'Royal Red', 'Adonis Blue', 'Honeycomb') Crape Myrtle ('Tuscarora', 'Muskogee', 'White Chocolate') Gardenia 'August Beauty' Lantana (multiple varieties; some bloom nibbles may occur in late fall) magnolia - Sweet Bay Magnolia and Southern (must protect trunk from antler rubbing, Winter Daphne osmanthus fragrans Pieris japonica 'Dorothy Wyckoff' Spirea 'Neon Flash' Vitex 'Shoal Creek' Favorite Vines Carolina Jasmine Confederate (Star) Jasmine Favorite Perennial Bulbs allium 'Purple Sensation' daffodils Dutch iris Spanish bluebells Favorite Annuals Angelonia cleome cornflowers larkspur marigolds nigella petunias poppies (Eschscholzia californica and papaver) snapdragons zinnias (Benary's Giant; minor damage; increased nibbling in late August, especially during drought conditions when there is little to eat in the wild. Rabbits will eat!) Favorite Foliage Plants stachys 'Helen von Stein' lysmachia nummularia Aurea lavender (blooms) rosemary oregano sages thyme chives basil miscanthus 'Cosmopolitan', 'Little Zebra' carex (multiple varieties) stipa pink muhly pampas grass purple fountain grass (annual here) chamaecyparis pisifera wax myrtle carex holly oakleaf holly osmanthus 'Goshiki' osmanthus fragrans clumping bamboo (fargesii?) weeping willow, curly willow river birch cryptomeria deodar cedar (antler rubbing)

Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Recommendations are based upon my own experience and your results with deer resistance may be different.