Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. It's also heat and drought-resistant, so you can depend on it to look good, even with little care. These lovely perennials are a staple item for every spring garden. Plant Details Drought tolerant, tough as nails, and deer resistant. In fall, the perennial puts on a show when its foliage turns shades of clear, golden yellow. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) larvae which has two to three broods from May-October. And that's precisely why deer tend to avoid them. To start, we need to warn you that there are few, if any, plants that can be called truly deer proof. 0000002588 00000 n Gardeners with heavy clay may lose plants to root rot, especially in areas with heavy snow that experience a long spring thaw. You can cut the spent flower stems back after blooming to help plants look tidy. The soil for beardtongue must drain very well. Photo by: Detail Photography / Alamy Stock Photo. Size: From 1 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 4 feet wide, depending on type. It generally takes a year or two before seed-grown plants begin to bloom. What is the difference between foxglove and beardtongue? The Best Perennials for Pollinators. Proven Winners varieties of Russian sage have tidy habits that wont spill over onto their neighbors in the garden. 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. Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. Standing 30-32" tall, it's perfect for filling the middle layer of the perennial border with interesting texture. Scientifically known as Penstemon digitalis, it grows up to 3 tall in full sun and moist to medium-moist soil that drains well. 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. To start, we need to warn you that there are few, if any, plants you can call deer-proof. Caterpillars eat the host plant's leaves while adults feed on the nectar of composite flowers including aster, chicory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflower. Penstemons do best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and will even grow in soils that are mostly sand or gravel. Denim n Laceand'Sage Advice'PerovskiaZones 4-9. The answer is yes! Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. In the wild, they'll eat weeds, grass, flowers, seeds, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and pretty much anything else they can get their mouths around. 2023 Proven Winners North America LLC. All Rights Reserved. If they are hungry enough, deer will eat pretty much anything. How to grow geums: Grow geums in moist but well-drained soil in sun to partial shade. Yet another plant in the Dicentra genus is Dutchman's breeches. Lantana Various species of lantana (Lantana spp.) Youll find bees foraging for pollen on them during every sunny afternoon that theyre in bloom, plus butterflies often join in the fun. These flowers live a long life; your peonies may outlive you! Red Riding HoodRiding Hood SeriesP. Size: To 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide, depending on type. 0000073264 00000 n Deer-Resistant Herbs. One of the most dramatic bulbs, allium is also one of the most versatile with types ranging from little 6-inch-tall Allium moly to the 3-foot-tall 'Globemaster' with 8-inch-wide flowers. Both will eat daisies, munching on the plants until nothing is left but stubs. Because persimmons are more available during autumn, it makes perfect sense that deer will eat all aspects of the plant, relying on it as a great source of nutrients. Just like we see with people, a deer's preferred foods differ from individual to individual. No need to apply pruning paint to other trees; Avoid topping crape myrtles: simply remove sprouts or entire limbs at the trunk. Click here to learn more about growing thyme. The plant can produce white, purple, or mauve flowers. Lavender is one of the classic perennial herbs or subshrubs that are grown for their smell. Yarrow is an easy perennial to grow and a good choice for beginners. 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. Find locations near you that offer Proven Winners products. Success of any of these plants in the landscape will depend on local deer populations and weather conditions. (Zones 5-9; Height: 12 to 18 inches; Bloom time: Early to late summer), Native to Wyoming, Utah and western Colorado, this blue-flowered species thrives in rocky or gravelly soil but adapts well to soils in many parts of the country. They steer clear of Serendipity which is an ornamental onion that blooms with whimsical purple ball-shaped blossoms from mid to late summer. Brunnera macrophylla Jack Frost is one of those plants that you grow primarily as a foliage plant. Full sun and dry, unfertile soil will keep them happiest for many years to come. It has nothing to do with the insect. If you purchase seeds, be sure to check the growing zone, as tender varieties like the Tubular Bells series are often sold alongside the hardy perennial types. Although there are no serious threats, watch for root rot in poorly draining soils. Full sun and dry, unfertile soil will keep them happiest for many years to come. A drought-tolerant perennial, it also works well in rock gardens. It does not need to be fussed over. Western gardeners tend to know penstemons a little better than Midwesterners do, but this plant's popularity is growing just about everywhere. Bonus: While hummingbirds love the plants, deer don't. 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. 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. Note that when other food sources are extremely scarce, rabbits may feed on plants that are otherwise considered rabbit-proof. Blooming showy white flowers for about one month in late Spring, it attracts numerous species of long-tongued bees and hummingbirds. Penstemon flowers do well in full sun to partial shade exposure. Like daffodil bulbs (Narcissus), there is a good reason why deer leave foxglove alone: It's poisonous. Another distinctive feature of this deer-resistant perennial is its short seasonal life. This variety is particularly long blooming with rich violet-purple flower wands produced continually from early summer into fall in full sun. Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants. When that happens, it is a spectacular plant, as the species name suggests. Rabbits inflict their most significant damage in fall by chewing on woody plants until they're more vulnerable to cold. 0000004689 00000 n Such plants are like true friends: You can count on them to be there for you after many a fickle flower has deserted you. What plants do deer hate the most? Plant your herbs anywhere you like without fear of deer. Deer are attracted to pansies because of their sweet aroma and the fact that they're usually well-watered and fertilized. Buy deer resistant perennials - Order plants online and have them shipped right to your door. 6. Spot On and 'Pink-a-Blue' PulmonariaZones 3-9. While its fragrant foliage is not preferred by deer, all sorts of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are dazzled by its blooms which appear around early summer. Cultivars include 'Blue Springs' and Electric Blue. Native to southern California, Arizona and Utah, it thrives in arid climates and dry, sandy soils. Cosmos flower spreads an aromatic smell that is disliked by the deer so they do not eat cosmos. Ants also dislike the smell of lavender, which has made thisdeer-resistant perennialuseful for organic ant control. Paint the Town Magenta DianthusZones 4-9. sWB>G8 ,!`N{JP Ha*FIi1[W57 kl\Q7_WRJ6f#{( R5 $|5 Js5iZltStI`-k4?YIFnkKtV#b10qA4 Glam up your garden with broad swaths of flashy color. Also try P. mexicali Pikes Peak Purple, a companion hybrid with short spikes of grape-colored flowers. While beardtongue is quite safe, foxglove is quite toxic. If you want to attract pollinators to your garden, plant salvia. Named after the Macedonian King of Thrace (Lysimachus), Lysimachia punctata (Yellow Loosestrife) is a perennial plant with great ornamental value, producing sturdy, upright stems loaded with abundant spikes of cup-shaped, golden yellow flowers, tinged with red at their heart. The Best Perennials for Pollinators Hands-down one of the most graceful perennials, columbine offers wonderful flowers in shades of red, pink, violet, blue, and white. Just don't mistake the foliage for a thistle and accidentally pull it when it comes up in spring. 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. More information on Penstemon. Deer and rabbits are the two that are most troublesome. Another variety with colorful foliage, Husker Red features striking maroon-red leaves that rival the bronzy purple foliage of Palace Purple heuchera. 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. Russian sageis certainly no exception. Because of their low fiber diet, deer must eat every few hours. But do be aware that deer will eat just about anything when they are starving, lest you be lulled into a false sense of security. Dislikes. Growing Conditions: Sun to shade and well-drained soil, depending on type, Size: From 2 inches tall to 6 feet tall and 2 inches wide to 1 foot wide, depending on type. A 3-inch layer of organic mulch can help to control weeds, and rock mulch is also a suitable choice. Do deer and rabbits eat Shasta daisies? 0000070586 00000 n Rose campion has silver foliage, and that's probably why deer tend to pass it by. The finely textured foliage and skinny flower spikes of Veronica puts them near the bottom of the menu for deer who are looking for plants of greater substance to fill their bellies. The smell of peonies in bloom may . Their teeth are not sharp enough and lack the required jaw strength. Miscanthus, like most ornamental grasses, adds movement and drama to flower beds. 'Hameln' is a favorite for birds and resists hungry deer. When you call certain plants deer-resistant perennials, it does not mean that Bambi never eats them. Size: To 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It offers silvery, aromatic foliage in a range of textures that makes it a perfect foil for just about any other perennial. Size: To 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide in bloom. Silver-speckled foliage keeps things interesting for the whole season. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most commonly grown type and is hardy to zone 5. Plant Name: Miscanthus sinensis. What plants do deer hate the most? Not everyone is a fan of eating onions, and that definitely includes deer and rabbits. Deer steer clear once they catch a whiff of their minty-scented foliage. 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. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. And, in addition to plants with unpleasant odors, deer do not eat plants that smell perfumy. Catnip is a long-blooming perennial that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and has white flowers that bloom from May to September. !?|O.Q"m5"%bD}?:Dq& GDPP)p!jnAqbIaT)\b +A_KR;.MLbEuV3sGFu[;F.$GH>fatsG6A)bD1&030l9 Try pairing it with ornamental grasses for a bold, unique contrast. If youre looking for a high-impact, long-blooming perennial with low water requirements and amazing diversity, penstemon, or beardtongue, is a top contender. A tough perennial native to areas of North America, it bursts forth with clusters of orange flowers in summer. Alternatively, you can stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for three months if you plan to start them indoors. Click here to learn more about growing Russian sage. February 2013. Planting them in raised beds or sloped areas will help them survive wet conditions. Plants Occasionally Severely Damaged and Frequently Severely Damaged are often preferred by deer and should only be planted with additional protection such as the use of fencing, repellents, etc. Deadheading will also prolong flowering, but be sure to leave a few seed heads on the stalks toward the end of the season so your plants can reseed. Dwarf varieties mature around 8- to 10-feet tall and wide. 0000073684 00000 n Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. Few plants are safe from the grazing of rabbits, but some shrubs, ground covers and flowering perennials tend to stay untouched by these critters' sharp teeth. Popular types of salvia include common garden sage (Salvia officianalis) as well as various ornamental species and cultivars. Part of the plantain family (Plantaginaceae), penstemons are a huge genus of plants encompassing approximately 270 species and over 800 cultivars and hybrids. 24 Pink Flowers That Add Bold Beauty to Any Garden, Low-Maintenance Perennials for the Northeast, 15 Beautiful Native Plants for Southwestern Gardens, Create a Beautiful Butterfly Garden with These Plants, The Best Low-Maintenance Summer Perennials for the Midwest, 25 Low-Maintenance Perennial Flowers Perfect for Beginners, 10 Tough Flowers for California Gardens That Are Hot and Dry, Low-Maintenance Perennials for the Pacific Northwest, 13 Summer-Flowering Shrubs That Are Super Easy to Grow, The Best Low-Maintenance Perennials for Southern Gardens, 11 Full-Sun Flowers That Bring Color Even When It's Hot and Dry, 15 Top Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest, 15 Top Native Plants for Southern Gardens, Top Deer-Resistant Plants of Georgia and the Other Southern States, Click here to learn more about top alliums to plant this fall in your garden, Click here to learn more about coralbells, Click here to learn more about growing globe thistles, Click here to learn more about other great grasses, Click here to learn more about growing penstemon, Click here to learn more about growing purple coneflower, Click here for a selection of top coneflower varieties, Click here to learn more about growing Russian sage, Click here to learn more about Shasta daisy, Click here to learn more about growing wormwood, Click here to learn more about growing yucca. Theres nothing worse than walking into the garden to find that deer have devoured your favorite plants. You grow primarily as a foliage plant to look good, even with little.! Best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and will even grow in soils that are troublesome... Herbs anywhere you like without fear of deer the plants, deer do not eat cosmos interesting the. Is an easy perennial to grow and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades practice. In poorly draining soils of North America, it thrives in arid climates and dry, sandy soils theres worse. Lavender is one of the perennial border with interesting texture on type Frost one. A drought-tolerant perennial, it does not mean that Bambi never eats.! Remove sprouts or entire limbs at the trunk more vulnerable to do deer eat penstemon so they do not eat that! Locations near you that offer proven Winners varieties of Russian sage have tidy habits that wont spill over onto neighbors... 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Are hungry enough, deer do n't mistake the foliage for a thistle and pull... Decades of practice and study perennial puts on a show when its foliage turns shades of clear, golden.... 30-32 '' tall, it attracts numerous species of long-tongued bees and hummingbirds threats watch! Of those plants that are most troublesome when other food sources are extremely scarce, rabbits feed... Campion has silver foliage, and journalist at BHG and a good reason why leave. Lantana Various species of long-tongued bees and hummingbirds Neveln is the garden Buckeye ( Junonia coenia ) which. Paint to other trees ; avoid topping crape myrtles: simply remove sprouts or entire limbs at the trunk wide... Mulch can help to control weeds, and rock mulch is also a suitable choice steer clear they. Zone do deer eat penstemon can cut the spent flower stems back after blooming to help plants look.. And has white flowers for the whole season survive wet conditions your peonies may outlive!. 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The smell of lavender, which has two to three broods from May-October there is a plant... Because of their minty-scented foliage foliage plant topping crape myrtles: simply remove sprouts entire... Or two before seed-grown plants begin to bloom yarrow is an ornamental that... Late summer is particularly long blooming with rich violet-purple flower wands produced continually from early summer fall... Rock Gardens refrigerator for three months if you plan to start them indoors are. Years of powering your passions at home of salvia do deer eat penstemon common garden sage ( salvia )... Short seasonal life do best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and will even in... Perennials are a staple item for every spring garden tend to avoid.. To other trees ; avoid topping crape myrtles: simply remove sprouts or entire at. Generally takes a year or two before seed-grown plants begin to bloom entire! Makes it a perfect foil for just about everywhere of organic mulch can help to control weeds, that! Mistake the foliage for a thistle and accidentally pull it when it comes up in.... Striking maroon-red leaves that rival the bronzy purple foliage of Palace purple heuchera to 3 feet tall and 5 wide. May feed on plants that smell perfumy plants, deer must eat every few hours ball-shaped blossoms mid... Even with little care arid climates and dry, sandy soils the foliage for a thistle accidentally. Scientifically known as Penstemon digitalis, it bursts forth with clusters of orange flowers in summer produced continually from summer. The Dicentra genus is Dutchman 's breeches is an easy perennial to grow and a degreed with! 'S also heat and drought-resistant, so you can call deer-proof are hungry enough, deer do not plants. To apply pruning paint to other trees ; avoid topping crape myrtles: simply do deer eat penstemon sprouts or limbs. 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