Deer are Disinclined to Eat These

We cannot say “Deer Proof”... Figwort family Scrophulariaceae ...but here are a few perennials that stubbornly oppose being Snapdragon spp. eaten. Some actually repel deer. Try these first if you’re Slipperwort / Pocketbook Calceolaria falklandia on their migratory route or if you have a herd in your back yard. Turtle Head Chelone spp. Botanical has always influenced the organization of Chinese Houses / Blue-Lips Collinsia spp. the Villager Nursery’s perennial benches. We tend to group Kenilworth Ivy muralis by Family. Over the years we’ve derived a list of Twinspur Diascia spp. perennials which seem to have strong recalcitrance toward the Foxglove Digitalis spp. deer in this part of the Sierra. No surprise; we found certain Toadflax Linaria spp. families better than others at surviving predation. Common Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus Mint Family Lamiaceae Lewis’ Monkeyflower Mimulus Lewisii Giant Hyssop Agastache spp. Beard-Tongue Penstemon spp. Ajuga Ajuga reptans Rocky Mt. Penstemon Penstemon strictus Yellow Archangel Galeobdolon spp. Cape Fuchsia Phygelius sp. Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis Mullien Verbascum spp. Yellow Archangel / Dead Nettle Lamium galeobdolon Speedwell Veronica spp. Spotted Dead Nettle Lamium maculatum Veronicastrum Veronicastrum sp. English Lavender Lavendula angustifolia Onion & Lily Families Mint Mentha spp. Ornamental Onion Allium spp. Bee Balm Monarda spp. Brodiaea Brodiaea hyacinthina Catmint Nepeta spp. Autumn Crocus Colchicum autumnale Wild Marjoram / Oregano Origanum vulgare Crocosmia Crocosmia sp. Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana Crown Imperial Fritillaria Fritillaria imperiallis Self-Heal Prunella spp. Checker Lily Fritillaria meleagris Sage Salvia spp. Snowdrop Galanthus spp. Skullcap Scutellaria spp. Red-Hot-Poker Kniphofia spp. Lamb’s Ears Stachys olympica Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum Betony Stachys spp. Dafodills Narcissus spp. Germander Teucrium Chamaedrys Solomon’s Seal Polygonatum spp. Thyme Thymus spp. Siberian Squill Scilla siberica Pinks family Triteleia Triteleia grandiflora Sandwort Arenaria spp. Shrubs (only a few...) Snow-in-summer Cerastium tomentosum Barberry Berberis thunbergii Sweet William Dianthus barbatus. Blue Boy / Girl Holly Ilex × meserveae Carnation Dianthus Caryophyllus Mugo Pine Pinus mugo Rainbow Pink Dianthus chinensis Rhododendron & Azalea Rhododendron spp. Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides Skunkbush Rhus trilobata Cheddar Pink Dianthus gratianopolitanus William Baffin Rose Rosa ‘William Baffin’ (allegedly) Cottage Pink Dianthus plumarius Goldflame Spiraea Spiraea x bumalda ‘Goldflame’ Clove Pink Dianthus spp. Lilac Syringa spp. Baby’s Breath Gypsophila paniculata Creeping Baby’s Breath Gypsophila repens Arctic Campion Lychnis alpina Maltese Cross Lychnis chalcedonica Other Deer Repellent Plant Traits Rose Campion / Mullein Pink Lychnis coronaria Look for plants with fuzzy, silvery foliage, waxy foliage, or strong Catchfly Lychnis spp. fragrance (essential oils). Native plants are often eaten less but Irish Moss / Pearlwort subulata only after a couple of years in the ground as they assume the Scotch Moss Sagina subulata local terroir Tumbling Ted Sapponaria ocymoides Bouncing-Bet Sapponaria officinalis Soap-wort Sapponaria spp. Products and Preparations Alpine Catchfly Silene alpestris Home remedies: Human hair, Hot Pepper Wax, Irish Spring Sweet William Catchfly Silene Armeria soap, fox urine Family Yellow Crane’s Bill Erodium chrysanthemum Johnson’s Blue Geranium G. magnificum x G.himalayense Effective Products: Biokovo Geranium Geranium x cantabrigiense Liquid Fence, Cocoa Mulch, Scarecrow motion Himalayan Geranium Geranium himalayense activated sprinkler, Ropel, Deer / Bird Netting, Fido- Big-root Geranium Geranium macrorrhizum shock small electric fence, Hinder, Plant-Skydd, Big- Bloody Crane’s Bill Geranium sanguinium Game Repellent, Not-Tonight-Deer, Ropel, Natura & Hardy Geranium Geranium x magnificum Repellex Systemics.

Deer Resistant Plant List 1 / 1 June 2014