Some of these plants are toxic to deer, while others produce strong smells that deer avoid. Deer will eat all parts of the persimmon tree whenever they can, especially when the trees are tender and young. Some species are under 10 inches tall, while others can grow up to 6 feet. Add incredible color to your garden with this relatively petite, 12-16" tall coneflower that blooms nearly all summer long. All of the 22 perennials listed here are considered deer-resistant and are hardy to at least USDA planting zone 5 (unless otherwise noted). We're especially fond of the thread-leaf selections such as 'Moonbeam' and 'Creme Brulee' that bloom for months if you shear them back as their flowers fade. 0000001568 00000 n Fringed bleeding heart is a smaller plant than its showier cousin, Lamprocapnos spectabilis. Beardtongue and foxglove look quite similar. Get plant information, gardening solutions, design inspiration and more in our weekly newsletter. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, A State-by-State Guide to Deer Resistant Plants, How to Grow and Care for 'Black Knight' Delphinium, 31 Best-Deer Resistant Flowers and Plants to Grow, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 25 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants for Sun and Shade, 18 Perennial Flowers That Bloom in Spring, Summer and Fall, 35 Types of Orange Flowers: Identification & Photos, Common Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), Fringed Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra eximia), Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), Jack Frost Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'), Columbine Meadow Rue (Thalictrum aquilegiifolium). All feature a compact growth habit, prolific flowering, a super-long bloom season, and excellent winter hardiness. grow. Full sun and dry, unfertile soil will keep them happiest for many years to come. Penstemon digitalis, commonly called foxglove beardtongue, is a clump-forming, Missouri-native perennial which typically grows 3-5' tall and occurs in prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. Add in a little compost if your soil is lacking in nutrients. 0000011701 00000 n Features Petunias grow from 6 to 36 inches tall. It bears spikes of lipstick pink flowers in early summer and again in late summer if deadheaded. Their height makes them good choices for the back row of a layered flower bed. Please note that many of our selections are best grown in western gardens (denoted by the cowboy hat symbol). Mulch will also help protect the roots from cold snaps. 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. Full sun and dry, unfertile soil will keep them happiest for many years to come. It's hard to imagine these creatures as steak . You can make its display of blue flowerslast longer by shearing. Both will eat daisies, munching on the plants until nothing is left but stubs. Deer-Resistant Hardy Bulbs. It's also heat and drought-resistant, so you can depend on it to look good, even with little care. You may know yellow alyssum better by such common names as "Basket of Gold," a reference to both the abundance of its flowers and their striking color. A deer needs to consume about 6% to 8% of its body weight daily, from spring through fall, in green foliage and browse, to stay healthy. Salvia, or sage plants, include a range of species, most of which are considered deer-resistant for the same reason that deer do not eat catmint and bee balm: they stink. 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. 0000006390 00000 n For seed sources, visit the American Penstemon Society, which offers an online seed exchange program for members as well as a list of seed companies. Ants also dislike the smell of lavender, which has made thisdeer-resistant perennialuseful for organic ant control. Although there are no serious threats, watch for root rot in poorly draining soils. Its fragrant foliage is highly deer resistant, while its bright amethyst blue flowers are a favorite of bees and hummingbirds. Planting them in raised beds or sloped areas will help them survive wet conditions. When not in bloom, its grassy foliage adds texture and movement in the landscape. Which flowers do rabbits not eat? Choose the right plants and you can have color despite the darn deer! The deer's digestive system means that it can effectively digest the tough cellulose found in many of its foods. Ornamental Grasses That Deer Seldom Eat. The answer is yes - deer will eat pansies if they can. There is almost nothing a deer will not eat if it is hungry enough, but some plants, optimistically termed "deer resistant," are lower on the deer's list of preferred dining. It is hard to think of a cuter and more aptly named plant. 'Pink Diamonds' is one of our longest blooming perennials, beginning the show in late spring and continuing all the way into early fall. Penstemon Western gardeners tend to know penstemons a little better than Midwesterners do, but this plant's popularity is growing just about everywhere. Resistant to both drought and heat and will thrive on dry rocky slopes and hillsides. Penstemons are tough, drought-tolerant plants with long bloom seasons and colorful flowers loved by hummingbirds. It is called that because of its columbine-like leaves, which make it attractive long after its flowers have disappeared. Dark Towers also seems to retain its color better in summer. Look for varieties with foliage in shades of purple, bronze, and green -- as well as selections variegated with white, cream, or pink. Penstemon does not require watering, except in dry desert areas, so it's an ideal choice if you want a xeriscape or reduced-water garden. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants. (Zones: 6-10; Height: 1 to 1 feet; Bloom time: May to June), Firecracker penstemon. Deer also tend to steer clear of it (like they do of most other grasses) so you don't have to fear it being mowed down. The name is derived from the Greek words penta and stemon, referring to the flowers five stamens, four of which are fertile and one sterile. Deer are attracted to pansies because of their sweet aroma and the fact that they're usually well-watered and fertilized. Just like we see with people, a deer's preferred foods differ from individual to individual. 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. Plants with milky sap, like Diamond Frost-type euphorbia (Euphorbia graminea), are ones deer dislike, as are annuals with strong odors, like marigolds. They need full sun. Call this feature what you like, but what is impressive is how long the plant retains it, giving you something interesting to look at in the garden for months. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. Blooming showy white flowers for about one month in late Spring, it attracts numerous species of long-tongued bees and hummingbirds. 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. Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 6 feet or more tall and 4 feet . Excellent species for dry rock gardens. 0000012671 00000 n If food is scarce enough, hungry deer have been . Not everyone is a fan of eating onions, and that definitely includes deer and rabbits. Brunnera makes a beautiful companion for ferns, foamflowers and other deer resistant shade perennials. So let's categorize some plants as "Favorite Food" and "Usually Won't Eat." Favorite Foods: beans ( Fabaceae spp.) These fuzzy, mustard-yellow flower spikes will gladly brighten up the shady side of your house. Enjoy its fairy-like wands of flowers knowing the deer won't be nibbling on this poisonous plant. Deer have a strong-smelling sense that they use to search for food. Click here to learn more about growing purple coneflower. Plant your beardtongue in an area that receives full sun. Full sun to part shade. The tough plants often have a long bloom season, which makes them great for gardeners. Do deer eat Penstemon? This deer-resistant perennial can become quite large under the right growing conditions. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. Scroll down to learn more about some of the unique things that deer do, and discover why they act the way that they do. Deer won't eat ferns unless there are no better options close. Native to southern California, Arizona and Utah, it thrives in arid climates and dry, sandy soils. The answer is yes. Have tree and plant questions? This long-blooming beauty will lure hummingbirds to your garden for months, enticing them with bright magenta veining that guides them to the nectar deep within the trumpet-shaped rosy-pink flowers. Click here to learn more about growing thyme. For a standout variety, look for 'Becky' or 'Alaska'. Just don't mistake the foliage for a thistle and accidentally pull it when it comes up in spring. . Youll find bees foraging for pollen on them during every sunny afternoon that theyre in bloom, plus butterflies often join in the fun. The shape and color of the leaves vary depending on the cultivar. Keep the penstemon flowerbed weeded regularly. It is thought that deer may leave coneflowers alone due to their spiny cones. Sandy soil will help the pink blooms appear from mid-summer to early fall as well.. Stachys. Deer can become a nuisance to . Plant the seed at a depth of to inch and keep the soil moist after planting for natural stratification to occur. Bonus: While hummingbirds love the plants, deer don't. A real standout when paired with golden yellow or pink flowers, such as Coronation Gold yarrow and Elfin Pink penstemon. It is a nicely scented low-growing perennial herb with delicate leaves that loves the sun. You have an extra reason to grow it if your yard suffers from deer attacks. Lets look at 22 options that deer typically pass by in favor of tastier treats down the road: LEADING LADY, UPSCALEandPARDON MYMonardaZones 4-8. 261 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 264 /H [ 1706 373 ] /L 123845 /E 74141 /N 5 /T 118506 >> endobj xref 261 44 0000000016 00000 n - Penstemon - Hollyhocks - Lantana Conclusion Do Deer Eat Coleus? Size: From 6 to 36 inches tall and 6 to 24 inches wide, depending on type. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants to deter gnawing insects and set out beer traps to catch any stragglers. 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. These are some of the most adaptable and widely available choices: A showy plant with erect spikes of 2-inch-long reddish-orange flowers and glossy lance-shaped leaves. Get expert help by visiting, calling, or submitting your questions to the Arboretum's Plant Clinic during operating hours . Persimmon trees are a great way to attract deer and a wise addition to any food plot or hunting area. Rosemary Arp From a distance, the plant looks a bit like small blue salvia. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing. They shoot up quickly and stand head and shoulders above most other flowers but are very short-lived for a perennial. }FXQb4V`*d_JF6ncZE}fS0j>k3?G9$f@PMv8_+<6$5) #%6i`:c&SQ[sXfHgljJKC{HVSRGE0Dh * Penstemon Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) * Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera 'Red . Phone: 630-719-2424. Noteworthy Characteristics Native from Wyoming to Arizona. 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. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. If you enjoying making dried flower arrangements, you will want to plant Northern Sea Oats. Deer however find these herbs too much for their delicate noses to handle. The fuzzy, fragrant foliage ofcatmintis detested by deer. Read our. More on growing geums: Deer are afraid of walking on the fence because their feet will get caught. Lenten rose is one of those spring flowersthat bloom early in the season. Silver-speckled foliage keeps things interesting for the whole season. Plant Name: Penstemon selections Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil They are also low in tannins that inhibit digestion. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. (Zones: 3-8; Height: 3 to 5 feet; Bloom time: May to June), A California native with glossy blue-green leaves and blue flowers on slender spikes. Rabbits are herbivores who feed on a wide variety of plant life. Deer typically pass this short perennial right on by because of its finely textured foliage. Caterpillars eat the host plant's leaves while adults feed on the nectar of composite flowers including aster, chicory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflower. Proven Winners varieties of Russian sage have tidy habits that won't spill over onto their neighbors in the garden. 0000073342 00000 n This perennial for zones 5 to 9 does wonders in the knot gardens of traditional formal landscapes since you can grow it in rows to form "living edging." Foliage of some species remains evergreen in mild climates. In addition, young deer will basically eat anything they encounter as they learn about what is edible and what isn't. 0000008351 00000 n 0000019470 00000 n Luckily, that means gardeners can plant swathes of vibrantly hued purple, pink or white veronicas in their sunny to lightly shaded landscapes with no worries. For more, see The 24 Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds. (Zones: 4-8; Height: 2 to 3 feet; Bloom time: June to September), Native to the northern Great Plains and northeastern states, this species is more tolerant of high humidity and moist soil than those of western origin. How to grow geums: Grow geums in moist but well-drained soil in sun to partial shade. Most have fan-shaped foliage that looks ornamental even when not in bloom. Short of installing a nine-foot-tall fence and repeatedly applying repellants, there are few sure cures for the problem. Canadian wild ginger offers fuzzy foliage and is native to North America; European ginger (shown) bears glossy evergreen leaves. My personal experience has been that the dried flowers of the Northern Sea oats are lovely, but if . A 3-inch layer of organic mulch can help to control weeds, and rock mulch is also a suitable choice. Feed beardtongue plants once a year with organic fertilizer, applied in the fall. They'll attempt to feed on garden fruits and vegetables, but they eat grass, ornamental plants, and even tree bark, too. Some gardeners prefer the smaller plant for not only its size also its attractive fern-like foliage lasts through the summer heat, unlike that of common bleeding hearts. You will not see it again until the next spring. A king of the late-summer garden, Russian sage bursts forth with feathery wands of violet-purple flowers over masses of silvery foliage. A California native, Electric Blue is tolerant of drought and coastal climates. This is a tall plant, reaching about 3 feet in height. This unusual perennial is a highlight of partly shaded gardens with moist soil. These articles answer common questions about deer, including what they eat, when they're most active, the reproductive cycle and process, and the ways deer interact with humans in the suburbs and elsewhere. They come in many different colors, including bicolored varieties. A deer's preferred foods differ from individual to individual, so the deer in your yard may avoid a particular plant, but the down the street, the deer find it a favorite. 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. 0000073500 00000 n . When you call certain plants deer-resistant perennials, it does not mean that Bambi never eats them. This is a low maintenance perennial that grows in sun or shade in average to moist soil. Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating pansies can really do some serious damage to these plants! So these are some of the plants that are least likely to be eaten by deer, but there are no guarantees! The pollen-free stamen (or staminode) protrudes from the flower and is covered by small hairs, thus the common name beardtongue. Hint: Many coreopsis do best if divided every few years to keep them vigorous and floriferous. 0000073421 00000 n Pair it with ornamental grasses and sedum for a beautiful fall border. Storm Cloudand'String Theory'AmsoniaZones 4-9. Masahiro Nakano/a.collectionRF/Getty Images. We're especially fond of the thread-leaf selections such as 'Moonbeam' and 'Creme Brulee'. Life could be very unpleasant for any school personnel who could be held to have caused . If you are looking for a plant that attracts butterflies and bees but resists deer and rabbits, this is a great choice. Thyme is an excellent ground cover for sunny areas and is classically grown in between stepping stones in pathways or patios. In addition to offering a broad palette of colors, these native wildflowers and their many cultivars come in many shapes and sizes, from dwarf varieties you can tuck into rock gardens to waist-high prairie plants that bring color and movement to the back of the border. Its blue-grey leaves only add to its value. Powdery Mildew. Like daffodil bulbs (Narcissus), there is a good reason why deer leave foxglove alone: It's poisonous. Columbine plants display colorful flowers against a backdrop of attractive, clover-like foliage. Mid and late summer sees a shift in what deer eat to 2 nd choice browse plants and early fruits, such as grapes and berries. Though they are easy to grow, Astilbes have one critical requirementlots of water. (Zones: 4-9; Height: 2 to 3 feet; Bloom time: Early summer). Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and well-drained soil. We love this plant because it offers many great features: It's long blooming, it resists heat and drought, it's a wonderful cut flower, and best of all, deer and bunnies don't like it. Another distinctive feature of this deer-resistant perennial is its short seasonal life. Do deer eat Penstemon plants? This long-bloomer, also known as speedwell, begins flowering in late spring to early summer and continues for the rest of the growing season with a little help from you. Generally, the deer isn't an herbivorous animal. Plant Details Drought tolerant, tough as nails, and deer resistant. Boom Chocolatta Geranium pratenseZones 4-8. A top plant for this region, there are dozens of types of penstemon. The plantain family (Plantaginaceae) gifts us with some wonderful ornamental flowering plants, including snapdragons, foxglove, and the valuablePenstemon genus,which contains more than 250 beardtongue species ready to grow in your garden. In warmer climates, it will need some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Just plant it and forget it (thats rightno extra water or plant food needed), and it will return the favor with bundles of bright lavender-purple blossoms beginning in early summer. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. They grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Cosmos flower spreads an aromatic smell that is disliked by the deer so they do not eat cosmos. See our list of deer-resistant plants to encourage Bambi to walk on by. Be careful not to pull the emerging foliage in spring; it looks like a thistle as it grows. 0000006367 00000 n They have semi-evergreen foliage and offer flowers usually of yellow, orange and red. As an ex-teacher myself, I fully understand Vonmarr's caution. This variety is particularly long blooming with rich violet-purple flower wands produced continually from early summer into fall in full sun. We hope it wont deter you, too! 0000015862 00000 n The 24 Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds. To help contain the plants, deadhead the flowers as soon as the bloom is over to prevent the natural spreading of seeds. Click here to learn more about growing penstemon.