![]() |
Deer Resistant Plants |
||
Deer Resistant Plants > Deer-Resistant Gardening |
|||
By: Common Name | Scientific Name | Growth Habit![]() Deer are often the cause of destruction to a home's garden, trees, and ornamental shrubs. This damage has become more prevalent due to increasing deer population, real estate development, and human population shifting from cities to suburban living. Restrictions on hunting and a lack of natural predators due to increased population density have exacerbated this problem.
Although one of the best insurances against deer damage is a fence, fences that are high enough to prevent deer from jumping over are often banned due to local ordinances. The more aesthetically pleasing alternative is to landscape with deer-resistant plants. There are several reasons a plant can be deer resistant. Many of them are poisonous at some point during their growth stage; some of the most deer resistant plants are poisonous at all times. Tastes, preferences, and digestibility also vary with plant age, growth stage, and season. When planning landscapes with trees, perennials and ornamental shrubs, it is important to research their palatability to deer in order to avoid browsing damage when the cold season strikes.
Our plant tables list approximately six hundred (600) plants that one or more researchers has found to resist the ravages of deer. Some scientific plant names on these tables identify only the genus while others identify both the genus and the species. This is due to the mode in which various researchers have presented their findings. In addition, many plants have climate-dependent growth patterns. For instance, a cold-climate shrub may grow taller in warmer climates and a cold-climate annual may grow as a shrub in warmer climates. Lastly, some exotic plants may grow so well as to be considered invasive in certain climates. So do consider this factor as well when you design your landscape or garden.
Watch: A Deer Eats Plant Leaves
Because deer have fickle appetites, gardeners and landscapers may have to consider other methods besides plant selection to keep deer at bay. Visit our deer-resistant gardening and landscaping ideas page for additional deer control techniques and strategies. Deer Resistant Plants - Deer Resistant Plant Guide |