For example, deer eat plant parts, grass blades, and leaves. Since urban spread has taken over much of the areas that used to be available for deer graze, they can become garden pests, foraging your veggies and flowers. This yellow alyssum, when planted in masses and displayed to best advantage, will give your landscape jaw-dropping beauty in spring. penstemon, artemesia, hyssop, sages, shasta daisy, gaillardia, . Plant Leading Lady bee balm for earlier color, then Pardon My and Upscale varieties to extend the bloom season through midsummer. What annuals will deer not eat? To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. Size: From 1 to 4 feet tall and 6 to 36 inches wide, depending on type. Spot On and 'Pink-a-Blue' PulmonariaZones 3-9. Deer; Penstemon laevigatus 0000002079 00000 n Proven Winners varieties of Russian sage have tidy habits that wont spill over onto their neighbors in the garden. To start, we need to warn you that there are few, if any, plants you can call deer-proof. Beardtongue plants typically bloom in early summer, filling that gap between the end of spring bulbs and the maturing of summer flowers like coneflowers, yarrow, and coreopsis. Also called by its botanical name, Delphinium is another old-time favorite for cottage gardens. Annual mulch and rich soils will help this plant to flourish. Click here to learn more about growing globe thistles. Unlike bulb-type alliums, this perennial produces many flowers per plant and becomes denser with more blooms each year. In cold areas, they appreciate the protection of growing near a sunny, warm wall. But even as a smaller plant it can be a real looker, as your attention is drawn to the uniquely shaped individual flowers. It blooms in late spring with vibrant rose magenta flowers that last for a long time. Daniel Xu 09.09.13. The glint of silver will catch your eye as the leaves of brunnera reflect any bit of light that reaches them in the shade garden. Its finely textured foliage gives off an herbal scent which helps to deter deer. All Rights Reserved. Another distinctive feature of this deer-resistant perennial is its short seasonal life. Plant Details Drought tolerant, tough as nails, and deer resistant. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. This showy perennial geranium, also known as cranesbill, is grown for its showybronze foliage and prolific, bright blue-purple flowers which cover the plant in early summer. Deer will readily consume apples, pears, plums, persimmons, and mulberries. Click here to learn more about growing thyme. The serrated foliage is a bit too thick and tough to chew, so the deer move on to another selection. It is hard to think of a cuter and more aptly named plant. It is called that because of its columbine-like leaves, which make it attractive long after its flowers have disappeared. Its leaves do not hang around for very long at all, and soon after it is done flowering, the whole plant (above ground) disappears. The smell of peonies in bloom may . Related to foxgloves and snapdragons, a kinship evident in the vertical flower spikes and the flared, tubular blooms, which are perfect feeding stations for hummingbirds. The shape and color of the leaves vary depending on the cultivar. Click here to learn more about growing purple coneflower. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Adequate sun exposure helps the tall stalks stay upright and not droop. It is very drought tolerant once established. 0000073421 00000 n Deer are attracted to pansies because of their sweet aroma and the fact that they're usually well-watered and fertilized. Variegated selections may be splashed with silver or pink -- so there's a coralbells for almost every garden. This perennial is also another example of an invasive plant, so do not make a snap decision about growing it. HdWK7)'0& oSE%W|"o_y:?|x?xxSxO_~=w,Q)g%PWJo>oGM.% Look for varieties with foliage in shades of purple, bronze, and green -- as well as selections variegated with white, cream, or pink. Read our. Tough in low amounts. That is one reason why peonies are such a popular choice for people who want a colorful garden but struggle with hungry deer. For a standout variety, look for 'Becky' or 'Alaska'. The vibrant spires of blue, purple, yellow, pink, maroon, cream and bicolor blooms of Decadence false indigo will be something both you and pollinators look forward to each year as they bloom in late spring to early summer. They dislike the flavor and sap that is inside the stems, and they also don't care for the fragrance of peony blooms. Learning about deer-resistant plant types is a good start, but local gardeners and extension services will give you even more ideas for plants that thrive locally and are generally avoided by deer. Short of installing a nine-foot-tall fence and repeatedly applying repellants, there are few sure cures for the problem. It, like many other plants disliked by deer, bears scented foliage -- so it's nice to grow this plant where you can occasionally walk by and enjoy its scent. They have semi-evergreen foliage and offer flowers usually of yellow, orange and red. Yes, deer do eat the Coleus plant. The only sure-fire way to keep the deer from nibbling is to put up a tall enough fence. Plant Name: Miscanthus sinensis. Cultivation As these animals cannot read, and don't know any better, sometimes they just can't resist sampling a different . Silver-speckled foliage keeps things interesting for the whole season. It also contains protein. They also offer architectural interest in the winter garden. For this reason, it is much-valued by those who must endure long bouts of cabin fever every winter. Do bunny rabbits eat plants? You can't grow wrong with purple coneflower for summer gardens: It blooms for weeks, it attracts scores of butterflies, it makes a great cut flower, and it's often left alone by deer thanks to its rough foliage. Midnight Masquerade Penstemon hybrid. Butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinating bees will all visit your red hot poker when it's in bloom, but deer and rabbits won't be interested. Photo by Proven Winners. A favorite of hummingbirds, Beardtongue are low-care, big-color wildflowers that grow quickly when planted in the spring. It is a plant with nice foliage and the kind of floral color that sends some people swooning. Petunias produce flowers from May through October in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, red, white and yellow. Caterpillars eat the host plant's leaves while adults feed on the nectar of composite flowers including aster, chicory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflower. Wet, heavy soils are unsuitable for penstemons. Seeds may germinate better after a period of aging, mimicking their conditions in the wild, so you can store seeds for several years before planting. Beardtongue and foxglove look quite similar. Plant your herbs anywhere you like without fear of deer. By now youre probably sensing a theme hereperennials with fragrant foliage are rarely bothered by deer. Bandera, a highly ornamental cultivar, offers the advantage of exhibiting greater tolerance for heavy clay soil. Although not as drought tolerant as cactus, many species do grow well in desert-like climates. 0000070586 00000 n Given the need for full sun and a tall, fast-growing habit, these plants don't do well indoors. Its springtime blue flowers are a nice plus! 0000014501 00000 n There are many alternative plants of the same family that provide a slightly different look and various vibrant colors. Lamb's ear spreads easily, making it an effective ground cover. They are also low in tannins that inhibit digestion. Barely a foot tall, this petite clump-forming selection makes a big visual impact when massed in the garden or grown along walkways and borders. Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants. Deer-Resistant Hardy Perennials. Lemon Thyme grows up to 12 inches tall and is deer resistant. 0000011924 00000 n Read our. Penstemon. Find more plants and get deer-proofing tips from GardenDesign.com. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, 22 Deer Resistant Perennial Plants from Proven Winners. All Rights Reserved. 0000011262 00000 n 0000004648 00000 n A drought-tolerant succulent, hens and chicks usually needs no extra watering and it's a slow spreader so you won't have to keep it from crowding out its neighbors. Ornamental grasses are popular landscape plants and surprisingly, deer tend to stay away from them. Proven Winners varieties of Russian sage have tidy habits that won't spill over onto their neighbors in the garden. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most commonly grown type and is hardy to zone 5. Red Riding Hood is just one of seven colors in the Dutch-bred Riding Hood series, which also includes blue, delft blue, hot pink, lavender, marble cream, and purple. When food is very limited, they'll even snack on twigs and other woody plants. It can thrive in a range of humidity conditions. Think salvia, sweet alyssum, snapdragons, poppies, globe amaranth, lantana, and cleome. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Click here to learn more about growing penstemon. You have an extra reason to grow it if your yard suffers from deer attacks. One of those interesting terms you come across in the world of gardeningis used to describe the center of a delphinium's flower: the bee. Buy deer resistant perennials - Order plants online and have them shipped right to your door. Jack of DiamondsandQueen of HeartsBrunneraZones 3-8. Most fruit varieties are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard sizes. 'Pink Diamonds' is one of our longest blooming perennials, beginning the show in late spring and continuing all the way into early fall. If you sow the seeds in the garden, do so in autumn, to allow a natural stratification period. Named the 1996 perennial plant of the year by the Perennial Plant Association, this is one of the few that tolerates moist soils and humid climates. Depending on your location, it may be necessary to take summer cuttings of penstemon as a precaution in case the winter will be too harsh. Its blue-grey leaves only add to its value. Choose the right plants and you can have color despite the darn deer! All you have to do is harvest the leafy stems, hang them up to dry, then crush the dried leaves for your cat. For hummingbird lovers, they offer another important attribute. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. A spring bloomer, it also has great foliage. Most penstemons are 1 to 3 feet tall, but Palmer's penstemon can grow up to 6 feet, giving you options for the middle and back of the border. 0000004712 00000 n Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. Penstemons grow in most soils that drain freely, flowering prolifically in fertile soils. If food is scarce enough, hungry deer have been . Cosmos flower spreads an aromatic smell that is disliked by the deer so they do not eat cosmos. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. All of the 22 perennials listed here are considered deer-resistant and are hardy to at least USDA planting zone 5 (unless otherwise noted). In the wild, they'll eat weeds, grass, flowers, seeds, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and pretty much anything else they can get their mouths around. Full sun to part shade. It is easy to see why deer would not want to eat prickly plants; it is not so easy to figure out why deer are turned off by the velvety leaves of lamb's ear. They are not too fond of this plant, and won't come to your garden specifically to eat this plant, but it is not a deer-deterrent either. Penstemon Western gardeners tend to know penstemons a little better than Midwesterners do, but this plant's popularity is growing just about everywhere. The splendid peony has large, beautiful, fragrant flowers. Columbine plants display colorful flowers against a backdrop of attractive, clover-like foliage. This is a low maintenance perennial that grows in sun or shade in average to moist soil. A thick layer of fallen leaves can provide plenty of additional protection. Rabbits inflict their most significant damage in fall by chewing on woody plants until they're more vulnerable to cold. If you are looking for a plant that attracts butterflies and bees but resists deer and rabbits, this is a great choice. Deer browsing depends upon the available food source for that year, time of year, location, deer species, and simple curiosity. 0000006390 00000 n Some species are under 10 inches tall, while others can grow up to 6 feet. Touch those heart-shaped leaves and youll know why deer leave them bethey have the texture of sandpaper. The "pulpit" is a hood-like structure that sits atop this perennial. 0000012166 00000 n All are great for gardens since they're tough, drought-tolerant picks with long bloom seasons and colorful flowers loved by hummingbirds. Then you can avoid some of them and replace them with resistant varieties. 0000002660 00000 n 0000010637 00000 n Also known as Jack-in-the-pulpit, it is not grown for its flowers. Photo by John P. Weiser / Millette Photomedia, A native of California and the Southwest, with brilliant red hummingbird-magnet flowers and large, leathery evergreen leaves. Although many are native to arid regions of the West and Southwest, almost every state in the continental U.S. has at least one native penstemon, demonstrating the amazing range of climates to which they are suited. Columbine meadow rue is a great choice for woodland gardens because it likes a little shade. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. Deer also tend to turn their . Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. They are drought tolerant once established. We also appreciate the winter interest of its evergreen foliage. We savor the aromas of sage, dill, fennel, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and mint. 0000011701 00000 n Lenten rose is one of those spring flowersthat bloom early in the season. 0000002756 00000 n Plants that rabbits dislike include lavender, penstemon, artemesia, hyssop, sages, shasta daisy, gaillardia, common butterfly bush, blue mist spirea and . The silver-speckled, spotted, or splashed leaves sparkle at the front of a flower bed from spring through frost. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy their blooms for many weeks beginning in early summer. Penstemons are easy to start from seed. They shoot up quickly and stand head and shoulders above most other flowers but are very short-lived for a perennial. These herbs fall into the rarely damaged category. Life could be very unpleasant for any school personnel who could be held to have caused . Deer and rabbits are the two that are most troublesome. They may chew a few buds and occasionally pull off a leaf or two, but the plant is allowed to reach maturity with little molestation. A compact form and mounded glossy green foliage make this a good choice for the front of the border, where you can better observe the constant influx of feathery feeders. Size: To 3 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects. It combinesrich chocolatecolored foliagewith rosy purple flower plumes for a colorful garden show in mid to late summer. Parts, grass blades, and leaves plant do deer eat penstemon attracts butterflies and hummingbirds their! In masses and displayed to best advantage, will give your landscape jaw-dropping beauty spring... Drought tolerant as cactus, many species do grow well in desert-like climates Beardtongue low-care! 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Enjoy their blooms for many weeks beginning in early summer a perennial find more plants and you can call.. Is one of those spring flowersthat bloom early in the winter garden depending. Available in dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard sizes becomes denser with more blooms each year, deer species and... 'S idea Book and Winner 's Circle newsletter, 22 deer resistant they also offer architectural interest in the.! Enough, hungry deer snap decision about growing purple coneflower years of experience writing and editing for print!