Some states'
Fish and Game Department publish a guide to 'Deer Resistant Plants'. Here
in California, the list is pages long, so I will not go into all of the
specific plants, just the general catagories that might interest gardeners.
If the foliage of a plant has a fragrance, it is most likely deer resistant.
Rutgers has an online list for East Coast gardeners that lists plants
by A = Rarely Damaged, B = Seldom Severely Damaged, C = Occasionally Severely
Damaged
D = Frequently Severely Damaged. Rutger's
List.
Rhododendrons
In California, Rhododendrons are generally
deer resistant, however in deer hungry areas, they will sometimes browse
on the new growth. The thicker the leaf, the less likely that they will
leave them alone. In the colder parts of the country, where deer have
little to eat in the winter, rhododendrons are listed as "Frequently
Severely Damaged". Probably cultivars with aromatic leaves, like
Rh.
'Ramapo', would be the most resistant.
Dwarf Conifers
Some dwarf conifers are more deer resistant than
others. The plants with the softest foliage seem to be more damaged, this
rule has exception as well. The conifer species generally listed as deer-resistant
include: Fir, Cryptomeria, Spruce, and Pine.
Pinus thunbergiana, the Black Pine (exp. 'Thunderhead'),
is probably the most deer resistant species of the conifers, with the
Red Pine (exp. 'Low
Glow')and Pitch Pine coming in a close second. The dwarf conifer
Picea glauca 'Conica' is also listed as very
deer-resistant.
Heaths & Heathers
Heaths & Heathers are truly deer-resistant,
listed by Rutgers as "Rarely Damaged". Perhaps there is a scent
to the foliage that only deer can detect, as they will walk right past
them. These drought resistant plants will bloom in every season if you
pick out the right cultivars.
Ornamental Grasses
Here is a surprise...deer love to graze on grass, but not the ornamental
types. Go figure. Most all of the ornamental grasses are immune to deer
browsing. This is good news, as this group of plants is most rewarding
for adding color and texture to the landscape.
Trees
Granted, when trees grow tall enough to be above browsing deer, they
are safe, but if you don't want to wait until that time, you can choose
a deer-resistant variety of tree. In the maple family, Acer
griseum - the paper bark maple is deer-resistant. Most all birches,
including Betula nigra - the River Birch,
Betula albo-sinensis - the Chinese Paper
Birch, and Betula jacquemontii - the Himalayan
Birch are all deer-resistant. The Japanese Katsure tree, Cercidiphyllum
japonica is also deer-resistant, not surprising as its foliage
has the aroma of burnt sugar in the fall.
Perennials
There are quite a few perennials that will escape deer's interest. Artimesia,
Silver Mound is a fast growing, ground hugging silver accent that has
a spicy smell and bitter taste that deer won't even sample. The cultivar
'Powis Castle' is the the cultivar we like best. The winter blooming perennial
Heleborus is also able to survive among the
foraging deer, even in the winter months when food is scarce. The entire
genus Iris is listed as "rarely damaged"
too. There are so many great Iris cultivars that add a vertical texture,
so this was happy news to me. Lavender and
Thyme are both deer-resistant, which comes
as no surprise as they both have a fragrance to the foliage.
Assorted Shrubs
A variety of shrubs that are deer-resistant include Berberis,
or Barberry, Buxus or Boxwood, Daphne, Ilex or Holly, Pieris
or Japanese Andromeda, and Viburnum.
This list is a small portion of what Rutgers lists, so if you are wanting
a larger selection, please check out their website and their lists here.
I hope I have been of some help to those who have these pesky critters
in their gardens. |
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