The Deer Dilemma
Can deer-resistant plants be the answer? Isn’t it delightful to see graceful deer prancing around, showcasing nature’s beauty? Yes, until they devour your cherished garden! While constructing towering fences might seem like a solution, it’s not always practical or aesthetically pleasing. Instead, a smarter strategy might be choosing plants that deer typically bypass. Here is a guide to deer-resistant plants that might help combat the deer and save your gardens.
The Deer’s Menu
Before diving into what deer don’t relish, let’s identify their favorite treats. Deer can’t resist:
- Narrow-leafed evergreens like arborvitae and fir.
- Succulent plants such as hostas, daylilies, and English ivy.
- Deliciously fertilized plants.
Plants to Deter Deer, Maybe Even Deer-Resistant
While no plant is truly “deer-proof”, certain varieties are less appetizing to these creatures:
- Poisonous Plants: Deer have a knack for avoiding toxic plants. Opt for daffodils, foxglove, and poppies which have inherent toxins.
- Strong-Scented Flora: Herbs and flowers with intense fragrances, like sage, ornamental salvia, lavender, peonies, and bearded iris, tend to repel deer.
- Prickly Plants: Lamb’s ear, with its rough texture, is an unappealing choice for deer.
Tailored Planting For Your Garden
Whether your garden is bathed in sunshine or shadow, there are deer-resistant options for both:
- For Shady Spots: Embrace the elegant bleeding heart, astilbe, and Corydalis. Their resistance coupled with their allure makes them perfect for shadowy corners.
- For Sunlit Gardens: Bright spots can flourish with butterfly-attracting coreopsis, echinacea, salvia, and Shasta daisies, which deter deer.
Expert Insight
Rutgers University’s extensive research on deer-resistant plants offers a gradation of plants based on their appeal to deer:
- A Rated: Rarely damaged.
- B Rated: Seldom severely damaged.
- C Rated: Occasionally severely damaged.
- D Rated: Frequently severely damaged.
If deer frequently visit, prioritize A and B-rated plants to minimize destruction. Here’s a link to that article.
Some Noteworthy Deer-Resistant Plants:
Basket of Gold (Aurina saxtilis): A captivating clumping plant with golden flowers, perfect as a ground cover, and also adorns rock walls.
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis): An age-old shade-loving perennial, this plant boasts charming heart-shaped blooms.
Corydalis: Perfect for shade gardens, it flaunts tubular blossoms in spring and early summer, vanishing post-bloom to return next spring.
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides): An ornamental grass creating fountain-like cascades, its foliage endures year-round, adding a touch of autumn and winter charm.
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica): This grass turns a striking red, emulating a fiery hue in autumn.
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantine): Soft, velvety leaves children love to touch, and birds adore, but deer shun.
Lavender (Lavandula sp.): This aromatic beauty, with its quintessential purple blooms, attracts pollinators but deters deer.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Mint (Mentha sp.), Oregano (Origanum sp.): These fragrant herbs not only add flavor to your dishes but also act as deterrents against deer.
Peony (Paeonia sp.): Their intoxicating fragrance and majestic flowers make them garden favorites. Plus, deer seem to avoid them.
Poppy (Papaver sp.): Their vibrant and colorful flowers make them a garden staple, while their unpalatable nature ensures deer steer clear.
Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa): A wonderful choice for erosion control, these plants produce berries that might be sampled by deer, but their core structure remains largely untouched.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Its pine-like fragrance is a culinary delight and acts as a deer deterrent.
Snapdragon (antirrhinum majus): Their intricate flowers bloom in cooler weather and can repel deer if planted amidst your veggies.
Sweet Box (Sarcoccoca hookeriana): An evergreen with a rich winter aroma, it’s a reliable deer deterrent.
Tarragon, Thyme (Thymus valgaris), Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillate): These plants not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also ensure that deer keep their distance.
Conclusion: Once you plant some of these deer-resistant plants in your garden, maybe the deer will miss your yard and go next door to graze there. and try planting some of these top perennial picks for vibrant fall color.