PHA Special Topics Resources Detailed Reference List Available after Plant List Plant Information • Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder • The Morton Arboretum Tree & Shrub Handbook, Plants Not Favored by Deer • Native Plant Trust Garden Plant Finder • New England Wild Flower Society Deer Resistant Native Plants • The Polly Hill Arboretum Plant Selection Guide • Rutgers University Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance • Ruth Rogers Clausen 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants: The Prettiest Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, and Shrubs That Deer Don’t Eat • University of Massachusetts Amherst Deer Resistant Plants Deer on Martha’s Vineyard • Dukes County MV Tick Program • Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Deer Management Program • The Martha’s Vineyard Times Rich Saltzberg, “Deer Program Returns” • Mass.gov Deer management • The Vineyard Gazette Plants not Favored by Deer 1. Will Sennott, “Hunters Take Record Number of Deer” 2. Will Sennott, “Automobile Accidents with Deer Continue to Rise on Island” A Martha’s Vineyard Plant Guide 795 State Road, West Tisbury, MA 508.693.9426 pollyhillarboretum.org Instagram & Facebook: @pollyhillarboretum Twitter: @pollyhillarb Overpopulation of white-tailed deer is a serious issue on Martha’s Vineyard. Choosing the right plants: Plants are part of the solution. Are any plants really “deer proof”? What are the consequences You don’t need to know much about a No plant is fully deer-proof, but some are deer’s palate in order to figure out which much less favored than others. If deer are of deer overpopulation? plants they won’t like. Deer tend to avoid desperate, particularly during the colder plants containing poisonous compounds, months when food is scarce, they may • Threats to human health: disease- strong odors, rough textures, and plants try foods that they wouldn’t normally carrying ticks and car accidents with thorny/prickly leaves or stems. The consider. In the spring, deer love to eat • Threats to other wildlife plant list in this booklet includes a variety new growth, particularly plants that are • Damage to plants and depletion of of such plants to choose from. well-watered. However, they are still much rare plant species less likely to be tempted by the plants on our lists. Landscaping with these trees, shrubs, and perennials will help deter deer from visiting your garden in the first place. Start with your own yard Inside this guide: This booklet explores ways that you can If you want to avoid deer damage, often A sampling of some plants not help combat deer overpopulation on referred to as “deer browse,” in your favored by deer native to the Island, Martha’s Vineyard, starting with your garden, first ask yourself: What am I Native Plant Highlights accompanied by brief descriptions own planting choices. Selecting plants planting? Deer will remember if they find and environmental needs. A good not favored by deer is an important part your plants tasty and will return year after place to start, and gather ideas. of an ecologically balanced future, and year. Therefore, the simplest way to avoid will make for a more satisfying (and less an endless battle with deer browsing is to frustrating!) gardening experience. avoid offering them their favorite foods. If you’re looking to replace your “deer candy,” “Plant Swaps” offer Plant Swaps aesthetically similar alternatives that deer are much less likely to graze. A comprehensive list of native or locally-appropriate plants. The plant list is designed to help you easily find Full Plant List the right herbaceous perennial, shrub, or tree for your sunny spot, shady woodland, or butterfly garden. https://jcra.ncsu.edu/resources/photographs/results.php?search=coreopsis+rosea#my- Modal402708 Native Plant Highlights: 10 Beautiful Perennials Native to Martha’s Vineyard Anemone quinquefolia Eupatorium perfoliatum wood anemone boneset thoroughwort This woodland wildflower’s delicate white This plant’s clusters of white flowers blooms provide early spring nectar for attract a variety of pollinators and pairs pollinators. Plant in part sun to shade, in well with native grasses. Plant in part to average soil. full sun, in wet soil. Aquilegia canadensis Iris versicolor columbine blue flag This columbine’s nodding red and yellow If you’re looking for showy flowers that flowers are attractive not only to us, but deer won’t devour, irises are an excellent also to hummingbirds. Plant in sun to part choice. This native is a beautiful addition shade, preferably in well-drained soil. to an area with moist soil. Grow in full sun to part shade in medium to wet soil. Arisaema triphyllum Podophyllum peltatum jack-in-the-pulpit mayapple Jack-in-the pulpit’s showy spathe and fruit Mayapple’s umbrella-like leaves make make it an intriguing addition to a shady an excellent deer-deterring groundcover. woodland garden. Deer avoid this plant as White spring blooms attract bees and other parts of it are poisonous. Plant in shade, in pollinators. Plant in shade, in average, well- medium to wet soil. drained soil. Baptisia tinctoria Pycnanthemum muticum wild indigo short-toothed mountain mint Wild indigo forms clumps of lupine-like This compact perennial has silvery bracts, spires that flower in midsummer and delicate flowers, and a minty aroma that attract butterflies. Plant in full to part sun. deer avoid. It attracts butterflies and bees. This plant is tolerant of dry soils. Plant in full to part sun, in average, well- drained soil. Coreopsis rosea Sisyrinchium angustifolium tickseed blue-eyed grass Tickseed is a great choice for long summer This plant’s star-like, blue-purple flowers blooms that attract butterflies and bees. bloom throughout the summer, attracting Plant in sun, preferably in medium to wet pollinators. Plant in sun to part shade, in soil. average to wet soil. Image Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden Native Plant Highlights: Great Grasses & Ferns Plant Swaps Most ornamental grasses and ferns are not favored by deer, and luckily If your garden experiences heavy deer browsing, first try to avoid planting “deer candy” there are many low-maintenance natives to choose from that add texture (plants that deer especially enjoy). Try swapping out some of your “deer candy” for Image Courtesy of and interest paired with native wildflowers. aesthetically-similar, more deer resistant alternatives. North Creek Nurseries, Inc. Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge Common “deer candy” Try instead This adaptable sedge forms low clumps that can make a good lawn alternative. It does well in shade to part sun, in medium wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), to dry soil. coral bells (Heuchera sp.), lenten rose hosta (Hosta sp.) (Helleborus sp.), wild ginger (Asarum Panicum virgatum canadense) switchgrass butterfly milkweed (Asclepias This versatile grass has a vertical shape daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) and lily tuberosa), yarrow (Achillea milefolium), Grasses and red seed heads. It adapts to most soils (Lilium sp.) allium (Allium sp.) and does best in sun. scented herbs, or include herbs around Schizachyrium scoparium vegetables – especially lettuce & leafy your vegetable plantings: try catmint little bluestem crops (Nepeta sp.), sage (Salvia sp.), or lavendar (Lavendula angustifolia) This classic Island native’s beautiful seed heads follow the blue-green summer stems. peony (Paeonia sp.), or try native roses It grows well in poor soils, in sun. rose (Rosa sp.) like Rosa virginiana, Rosa palustris, or Rosa caroliniana Adiantum pedatum maidenhair fern tulip (Tulipa sp.) daffodill (Narcissus sp.), allium (Allium sp.) This fern’s delicate foliage and black stems add interest to a shady spot. Grow in medium to wet soil. Image Courtesy of Marilee Lovit hydrangea (Hydrangea sp.) blue star (Amsonia sp.) Athyrium angustum lady fern boxwood (Buxus sp.), Japanese plum yew Ferns This soft-textured fern does well in shade yew (Taxus baccata) (Cephalotaxus harringtonii), but can also tolerate sun. Grow in Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) medium to wet soil. spruce (Picea sp.), American holly (Ilex Onoclea sensibilis American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) sensitive fern opaca) This deciduous fern has bright green fronds with deeply cut lobes. Grow in part serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.), paw paw sun to shade, in medium to wet soil. cherry and plum (Prunus sp.) (Asimina triloba), cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) Beyond Planting Choices: Deer Overpopulation on Martha’s Vineyard: When to Use Repellents or Fences How do Deer Impact the Island? Which repellents work & when to use them Why are there so many deer on the Island? • Lack of natural predators Even if you landscape with plants not BobbexTM and Deer Away® are two • Increased suburbanization: Deer thrive on edge habitat between wildlife favored by deer, you may still see some common spray repellents. Natural boundaries and fragmented habitat created by suburban development. browsing. Look for signs of deer damage repellents, like hanging bars of scented like ragged cuts on your perennials or buck soap, may help if you have minimal deer The average deer density on Martha’s Vineyard is about 40-50 deer per square mile, rubbing on shrubs and small damage in your garden. With equalling roughly 5,000 total deer on the Island. In parts of Eastern Massachusetts closed trees. all repellents, efficacy varies to hunting, density can reach 80 deer per square mile. In a balanced ecosystem, the depending on the level of average density would only be about 10 deer per square mile! Deer repellents with strong rainfall and deer desperation.