Orchard Gro-Sheet #10 “Deer Resistant” Plant Guide
Deer, like all animals, have certain food preferences and dislikes. Home gardeners living near deer habitat can often take advantage of this fact by using deer- resistant plants for ornamental planting. The use of deer-resistant plants to minimize damage from browsing has a number of advantages for the home gardener. Perhaps the principal advantages over the more conventional methods of deer-damage control are those of economy and beauty. High deer fences are unsightly and expensive, and noise or odor repellants are often out of place on home grounds. But, deer-resistant plants can be pleasing to the eye and to the pocket book: they provide their own protec- tion and when properly chosen and landscaped, produce excellent results for the home gardener. Resistance of the plant to deer is related to the availability of other food. If there is an adequate supply of natural browse in the deer’s usual feeding ground, the gardener’s ornamental plantings may be largely untouched; if natural food supplies are low, there will be an increased browsing in domestic gardens; if there is an extreme shortage of natural food, few if any plant species are totally resistant to deer. A heavy deer population also increases competition for food, with the result that plants relatively unpalatable in an area where deer are not numerous will be readily browsed in an area where deer abound. Various factors can make a plant resistant to deer. Many of the most resistant plants (such as Oleander) are poisonous, some at all times and others only at certain stages of growth. Palatability of non-toxic plants also varies with plant age and with the seasons. Experience in years of drought shows that “lists” are of little value—these children of nature will eventually become desperate enough to eat (or try to eat) anything!! Because of these factors, the following list of deer-resistant plants should be considered as a general guide only; under conditions such as those mentioned, deer will sometimes browse some of the plants listed—as they will sometimes avoid plants not listed. A Note About The Asterisks We submitted this list to several of our local garden experts, they When shopping at Orchard, be sure to look for this symbol on our plant signs. have rated some plants according to their own experiences. The rating It indicates species and/or varieties which have shown some level of deer-resistance. system is as follows: Please note that the introduction of many new varieties and cultivars make it impos- * Slightly more resistant sible to list all the plants which show deer resistance, therefore, we at Orchard are ** Somewhat more resistant always interested in the direct experience of our customers and greatly appreciate *** Very resistant your input so that we can keep this list locally accurate and up-to-date. Good luck and happy gardening. Rev. 8/31/2006
Botanical Name Common Name Cercis occidentalis **...... Western Redbud Cinnamomum camphora...... Camphor Tree Trees Cornus capitata **...... Evergreen Dogwood Abies spp. **...... Fir Cornus florida **...... Flowering Dogwood, Eastern Dogwood Acacia spp...... Acacia, Wattle Crataegus spp...... Hawthorn Acer circinatum ***...... Vine Maple Cryptomeria japonica...... Plum Cedar Acer negundo...... Box Elder Cupressus spp...... Cypress Acer palmatum ***...... Japanese Maple Diospyros virginiana...... American Persimmon Aesculus californica...... California Buckeye Eriobotrya deflexa...... Bronze Loquat Agonis flexuosa...... Peppermint Tree, Australian Willow Myrtle Eucalyptus spp. ***...... Eucalyptus, Gum, Mallee Albizia julibrissin...... Silk Tree Ficus carica...... Fruiting Fig Alnus cordata...... Italian Alder Ficus spp...... Ornamental Fig Aracaria spp. ***...... Norfolk Island Pine and others Fraxinus velutina...... Modesto Ash Arbutus menziesii *...... Madrone Geijera parvifolia...... Australian Willow Brachychiton populneus...... Bottle Tree Ginkgo biloba...... Maiden Hair Tree Callistemon ***...... Bottlebrush Gleditsia...... Locust Calocedrus decurrens ***...... Incense Cedar Grevillea robusta...... Silk Oak Casuarina stricta...... Drooping She-Oak, Coast Beefwood Hakea laurina...... Sea Urchin Tree Catalpa bignonioides...... Common Catalpa Juglans spp...... Walnut Cedrus spp. ***...... Cedar Lagerstroemia indica **...... Crepe Myrtle Ceratonia siliqua...... Carob, St. John's Bread Larix decidua...... European Larch
Orchard Nursery and Florist, Inc. 4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549-3409 (925) 284-4474 e-mail: [email protected] Trees (cont.) Coleonema pulchrum ***...... Pink Breath Of Heaven Laurus nobilis...... Grecian Laurel Comarostaphylis diversifolia...... Summer Holly Ligustrum lucidum...... Glossy Privet Convolvulus cneorum *...... Bush Morning Glory Liquidamber styraciflua...... Sweet Gum Coprosma kirkii *** Lithocarpus densiflorus **...... Tanbark Oak Coprosma repens...... Mirror Plant Lyonothamnus floribundus...... Catalina Ironwood Cordyline australis...... Giant Dracena Magnolia spp. ***...... Southern Magnolia, Saucer Magnolia etc... Corokia cotoneaster Maytenus boaria...... Mayten Tree Correa spp. **...... Australian Fuchsia Melaleuca spp...... Paperbark Cortaderia selloana ***...... Pampas Grass Melia azedarach...... Chinaberry Corylus cornuta var. californica **...... Western Hazelnut Metrosideros excelsa...... New Zealand Christmas Tree Cotinus coggygria...... Smoke Tree Myoporum laetum Cotoneaster buxifolia Olea europaea ***...... Olive Cupressus spp...... Cypress Parkinsonia aculeata...... Jerusalem Thorn, Mexican Palo Verde Cycas ***...... Sago Palm Paulownia tomentosa...... Empress Tree Cytisus scoparius *...... Scotch Broom Picea spp.*** ...... Spruce Daphne spp. ***...... Winter Daphne Pinus spp.***...... Pine Dendromecon spp. * ...... Bush Poppy Pistacia chinensis...... Chinese Pistache Diosma ericoides ***...... Breath Of Heaven Platanus racemosa ***...... California Sycamore Dodonaea viscosa **...... Hopseed Bush Podocarpus spp...... Fern Pine, Yew Pine and others Dracaena spp...... Dragon Palm Pseudotsuga menziesii...... Douglas Fir Echium fastuosum ...... Pride Of Madeira Quercus agrifolia **...... Coast Live Oak Elaeagnus pungens ***...... Silverberry Quercus spp. **...... Oak Erica spp. ***...... Heath Rhus spp...... Sumac Eriogonum spp...... Wild Buckwheat, St. Catherine’s Lace Robinia pseudoacacia...... Black Locust Erythea armata...... Mexican Blue Palm Schinus molle ***...... California Pepper Tree Erythea edulis...... Guadalupe Palm Sequoia sempervirens...... Coast Redwood Escallonia spp. * Sequoia giganteum...... Giant Sequoia Euonymus japonica...... Evergreen Euonymus Sorbus aucuparia...... European Mountain Ash Feijoa sellowiana **...... Pineapple Guava Tamarix aphylla...... Athel Tree Ferns (except Pellaea) *** Thuja plicata...... Western Red Cedar Forsythia ovata **...... Golden Bells Umbellularia californica ***...... California Laurel, Bay, Oregon Myrtle Gardenia spp. *** Garrya elliptica, G. fremontii...... Silktassel Gaultheria shallon ***...... Salal Shrubs and Palms Genista monosperma...... Bridal Veil Broom Adenostoma fasciculatum...... Prostrate Chamise Grevillea spp. *** Agave spp. Griselinia lucida Aloe spp. Hakea suaveolens ***...... Sweet Hakea Alcea rosea...... Hollyhock Hebe buxifoia...... Boxleaf Hebe Alyogyne huegelii **...... Blue Hibiscus Heteromeles arbutifolia **...... Toyon, Christmas Berry, California Holly Andromeda polifolia...... Bog Rosemary Ilex spp. (except thornless) **...... Holly Aronia arbutifolia...... Red Chokeberry Iochroma cyaneum Arbutus unedo *...... Strawberry Tree Juniperus spp. ***...... Juniper Arctostaphylos ‘H. McMinn’, ‘Bakeri’, ‘Dr. Hurd’ *** Manzanita Kerria japonica Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ***...... Bearberry, Kinnikinnick Kolkwitzia amabilis...... Beauty Bush Atriplex spp...... Saltbush, Quail Bush, etc.. Lavandula spp. ***...... Lavender Bamboos Leptospermum spp. ***...... New Zealand Tea Tree, etc. Beaucarnea recurvata...... Pony Tail, Bottle Palm Leucophyllum frutescens...... Texas Ranger, Texas Sage Berberis spp ***...... Barberry Ligustrum japonicum *...... Japanese Privet, Wax-leaf Privet Brugmansia...... Angel's Trumpet, Datura Loropetalum chinense Buddleia spp...... Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac Mahonia spp. ***...... Oregon Grape and others Buxus spp. *...... Boxwood Melaleuca spp...... Pink Melaleuca and others Cactacea spp. ***...... Cactus Melia azedarach...... Chinaberry Calliandra tweedii...... Trinidad Flame Bush, Brazilian Flame Bush Melianthus major...... Honey Bush Callistemon spp...... Bottlebrush Metrosideros excelsus...... New Zealand Christmas Tree Calycanthus occidentalis ***...... Spice Bush Michelia figo...... Banana Shrub Carpenteria californica *...... Bush Anemone Myoporum laetum ‘Carsonii’ Cassia spp...... Senna Myrica californica ***...... Pacific Wax Myrtle Ceanothus ‘Blue Jeans’ ‘Concha’ ‘Ray Hartman’ Wild Lilac, California Lilac Myrtus communis ***...... True Myrtle Ceanothus gloriosus (& thorny leafed types) ***. Point Reyes Ceanothus Nandina domestica ...... Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ...... Carmel Creeper Nerium oleander ***...... Oleander Celtis australis...... European hackberry Nolina parryi *** Chamaecyparis spp. ***...... False Cypress Osmanthus spp. **...... Sweet Olive Chamaerops humilis...... Mediterranean Fan Palm Philadelphus coronarius...... Sweet Mock Orange Choisya ternata ***...... Mexican Mock Orange Phoenix spp...... Date Palm Citrus ** Phormium tenax ***...... New Zealand Flax Cistus spp...... Rockrose Shrubs and Palms (cont.) Perennials, Bulbs and Ground Covers Pieris spp...... Lily-Of-The-Valley Shrub, Andromeda Acanthus mollis ...... Bear's Breach Pittosporum spp. *...... Mock Orange, Tobira, Victorian Box etc. Achillea spp. ***...... Yarrow Plumbago auriculata ***...... Cape Plumbago Aconitum...... Aconite, Monkshood Podocarpus spp. **...... Fern Pine, Yew Pine Ajuga reptans **...... Carpet Bugle Polygala dalmaisiana...... Sweet-Pea Shrub Allium (including Chives) ***...... Onion Prunus caroliniana...... Carolina Laurel Cherry Alstroemeria *...... Peruvian Lily Prunus lyonii **...... Catalina Cherry Amaryllis belladonna **...... Belladonna Lily, Naked Lady Punica granatum **...... Pomegranate Anemone hybrida...... Japanese Anemone, Windflower Rhamnus californica **...... California Coffeeberry Aquilegia ...... Columbine Rhododendron spp. ***(except Azalea-leafed varieties) Arabis spp. ***...... Rockcress Rhus ovata ***...... Sugar Bush Arctotis stoechaldifolia...... African Daisy Ribes spp. *...... Currant, Gooseberry Armeria maritima **...... Common Thrift Rosmarinus officinalis ***...... Rosemary Artemisia spp. ***...... Wormwood, Sagebrush, etc. Rubus calycinoides ***...... Bramble Arum Ruscus aculeatus...... Butcher's Broom Arundo donax...... Giant Reed Sambucus racemosa **...... Red Elderberry, European Red Elderberry Asarum caudatum ***...... Wild Ginger Sarcococca ruscifolia ***...... Fragrant Sarcococca Aster alpinus Solanum spp. ***...... Nightshade Astilbe...... False Spiraea, Meadow Sweet Sollya heterophylla *...... Australian Bluebell Creeper Aubrieta deltoidea...... Common Aubrieta Spartium junceum...... Spanish Broom Aurinia saxatilis...... Perennial Alyssum Strelitzia reginae...... Bird Of Paradise Baccharis pilularis ***...... Coyote Brush, Dwarf Chaparral Broom Symphoricarpus albus **...... Common Snowberry Begonia tuberhybrida...... Tuberous Begonia Syringa vulgaris **...... Common Lilac Bergenia...... Saxifraga, Winter Begonia Syzygium paniculatum...... Brush Cherry, Australian Brush Cherry Brachycome iberidifolia...... Swan River Daisy Tamarix spp...... Tamarisk Brodiaea * Taxus spp...... Yew Calocephalus brownii...... Cushion Bush Teucrium chamaedrys *...... Germander Campanula spp...... Bellflower Teucrium fruticans **...... Bush Germander Carex ***...... Sedge Thuja spp...... Arborvitae Centaurea spp...... Dusty Miller, Cornflower, Bachelor's Button Tibouchina urvilleana...... Princess Flower Centranthus ruber...... Jupiter’s Beard Trachelospermum jasminoides ...... Star Jasmine Cerastium tomentosum...... Snow-In-Summer Trachycarpus fortunei...... Windmill Palm Ceratostigma plumbaginoides...... Dwarf Plumbago Tricostema lanatum ***...... Woolly Blue Curls Chieranthus (Erysimum) spp. ***...... Wallflower Vaccinium ovatum *...... Evergreen Huckleberry Chrysanthemum frutescens ***...... Marguerite, Paris Daisy Viburnum tinus, V. burkwoodii, V. davidii *...... Laurustinus, David’s Viburnum, etc. Chrysanthemum maximum ***...... Shasta Daisy Washingtonia spp...... Fan Palm Chrysanthemum parthenium...... Feverfew Westringia rosmariniformis ***...... Bush Rosemary Clivia miniata...... Kaffir Lily Yucca spp...... Spanish Dagger, Joshua Tree etc. Coreopsis spp. (except C. gigantea) * Zauschneria spp. ***...... California Fuchsia, Hummingbird Flower Crinum Crocosmia...... Montbretia Cyclamen * Vines Cymbalaria muralis...... Kennelworth Ivy Asparagus falcatus...... Sickle-Thorn Asparagus Cynara scolymus...... Artichoke Bougainvillea * Cynoglossum grande...... Western Hound’s Tongue Cissus rhombifolia...... Grape Ivy Cyperus...... Papyrus Clematis spp. Dahlia imperialis...... Tree Dahlia Clianthus punicens...... Parrot Beak Datura spp...... Angel's Trumpet, Thorn Apple Fatshedera lizei ***...... Botanical Wonder Delphinium spp. Gelsemium sempervirens...... Carolina Jessamine Dierama pulcherrimum ***...... Fairy Wand Hedera helix ***...... English Ivy Dicentra formosa ***...... Western Bleeding Heart Hibbertia scandens...... Guinea Gold Vine Dicentra spectabilis...... Common Bleeding Heart Jasminum spp...... Jasmine Dietes vegeta ***...... Fortnight Lily Pandorea pandorana...... Wonga-Wonga Vine Digitalis spp. **...... Foxglove Phaedranthus buccinatorius...... Blood-Red Trumpet Vine Duchesnea indica...... Indian Mock Strawberry Philadephus mexicanus...... Evergreen Mock Orange Epimedium *** Polygonum aubertii...... Silver Lace Vine Eremurus...... Desert Candle Solandra maxima...... Cup-Of-Gold Vine Erigernon glaucus, E. karvinskianus ***...... Beach Aster, Mexican Daisy Solanum jasminoides ***...... Potato Vine Eriogonum (except E. arborscens & giganteum) * Wild Buckwheat, Sulfur Flower Tecomaria capensis...... Cape Honeysuckle Erysimum (Cheiranthus) spp. ***...... Wallflower Trachelospermum jasminoides ***...... Star Jasmine Euphorbia spp. ***...... Gopher Plant, Crown Of Thorns, Poinsettia Wisteria spp. Euryops pectinatus *** Felicia amelloides...... Blue Marguerite Festuca ovina glauca ***...... Blue Fescue Filipendula rubra...... Queen Of The Prairie Fragaria chiloensis ***...... Wild Strawberry, Sand Strawberry
Perennials, Bulbs and Ground Covers (cont.) Freesia Rudbeckia hirta...... Gloriosa Daisy, Black-Eyed Susan Gaillardia spp...... Blanket Flower Salvia (strong smelling & shrubby types -O.K. Galanthus elwesii...... Giant Snowdrop annuals and tender types -Not) ***...... Purple Sage, Sonoma Sage, etc. Galium odoratum ***...... Sweet Woodruff Santolina chamaecyparissus ***...... Lavender Cotton Gamolepis chrysanthemoides *** Saxifraga Gaura lindheimeri ***...... Gaura Scabiosa spp. **...... Pincushion Flower Gazania Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’ ** Geranium spp...... Cranesbill Schizostylis coccinea *...... Crimson Flag. Kaffir Lily Gerbera *...... Transvaal Daisy Scilla peruviana **...... Peruvian Lily Grasses (ornamental) *** Senecio cineraria***...... Dusty Miller Gunnera tinctoria Silene acaulis...... Cushion Pink, Moss Campion Gypsophila paniculata...... Baby’s Breath Sisyrinchium spp. ***...... Blue-Eyed Grass, Yellow-Eyed Grass etc. Hedera helix ***...... English Ivy Soleirolia soleirolii...... Baby's Tears, Angel's Tear's Helianthemum nummularium **...... Sunrose Sparaxis tri-color...... Harlequin Flower Helianthus spp...... Sunflower Stachys byzantina...... Lamb's Ears Helichrysum spp...... Strawflower Stokesia laevis...... Stokes Aster Helleborus spp. ***...... Christmas Rose, Lenten Rose Tagetes lemmonii ***...... Perennial Marigold Hemerocallis *...... Daylily Tellima grandiflora...... Fringecups Herbs (most, except Basil) * Tolmiea menziesii...... Piggy-Back Plant Heuchera sanguinea...... Coral Bells Tradescantia spp. **...... Wandering Jew Hosta (Funkia) ***...... Plantain Lily Trillium spp. **...... Wake Robin Hypericum ***...... St. Johnswort, Aaron's Beard Tulbaghia violecea **...... Society Garlic Iberis sempervirens **...... Candy Tuft Tulipa *...... Tulip Iris spp. *** Valeriana officinalis...... Valerian, Garden Heliotrope Ixia...... African Corn Lily Vallota speciosa...... Scarborough Lily Kniphofia uvaria ***...... Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Poker Plant Vancouveria hexandra, V. planipetala **...... Inside-Out Flower Lamium ***...... Dead Nettle Verbena spp. **...... Garden Verbena, Moss Verbena etc Lantana ** Vinca spp. *...... Periwinkle Laurentia fluviatilis (Isotoma)***...... Blue Star Creeper Viola odorata...... Sweet Violet Leonotis leonurus ***...... Lion's Tail Watsonia pyramidata * Leucojum ***...... Snowflake Zantedeschia spp. *...... Calla Lily Lingularia tsuuilaginea...... Leopard Plant Zauschneria spp. ***...... California Fuchsia, Hummingbird Flower Liriope...... Lily Turf Lithodora diffusa *** Lobelia laxiflora Annuals Lupinus spp. ***...... Lupine Ageratum houstonianum...... Floss Flower Lychnis coronaria **...... Crown Pink, Dusty Miller, Mullein Pink Alcea spp...... Hollyhock Lysimachia nummularia...... Moneywort, Creeping Jenny Calendula officinalis...... Pot Marigold Mentha spp...... Mint, Pennroyal, Peppermint, Spearmint etc. Campanula medium...... Canterbury Bells, Cup And Saucer Mesembryanthemum spp. ***...... Iceplant Catharanthus roseus ***...... Madagascar Periwinkle Mimulus spp. ***...... Monkey Flower Celosia cristata...... Cockscomb, Chinese Woolflower Mirabilis jalapa...... Four O'Clock Centaurea cyanus...... Bachelor’s Button Monarda spp...... Bee Balm, Oswego Tea, Horsemint Clarkia spp. **...... Godetia, Farewell-To-Spring Muehlenbeckia complexa...... Mattress Vine, Wire Vine Cleome spinosa...... Spider Flower Myosotis spp. ***...... Forget-Me-Not Dyssodia tenuiloba...... Dahlberg Daisy Narcissus spp. ***...... Daffodil Eschscholzia californica **...... California Poppy Nepeta spp. ***...... Catnip, Catmint Impatiens walleriana **...... Busy Lizzie Nierembergia hippomanica...... Dwarf Cup Flower Lobelia erinus...... Lobelia Omphalodes cappadocica Lobularia maritima...... Sweet Alyssum Ophiopogon japonicus...... Mondo Grass Moluccella laevis...... Bells Of Ireland, Shell Flower Origanum dictamnus...... Dittany of Crete Myosotis sylvatica...... Forget-Me-Not Osteospermum fruticosum ***...... Trailing African Daisy Nigella damascena Love-In-The-Mist Oxalis spp. ***...... Wood Sorrel, Shamrock, Redwood Sorrel etc. Papaver rhoeas *...... Shirley Poppy, Flanders Field Poppy Pachysandra terminalis...... Japanese Spurge Rincinus communis...... Castor Bean Paeonia suffruticosa...... Peony Potulaca grandiflora...... Rose Moss Papaver orientale, P. nudicaule...... Oriental Poppy or Iceland Poppy Reseda odorata...... Mignonette Penstemon spp. ***...... Beard Tongue Sanvitalia procumbens...... Creeping Zinnia Phlomis fruticosa ***...... Jerusalem Sage Tithonia rotundifoia...... Mexican Sunflower Phlox subulata ***...... Moss Pink Tropaeolum *...... Nasturtium Polygonatum...... Solomon's Seal Zinnia Potentilla fruticosa ***...... Cinquefoil Prunella spp. **...... Self Heal Pulmonaria...... Lungwort Raoulia australis Rheum rhaponticun Romneya coulteri ***...... Matilija Poppy