Deer Resistant Flowers

Deer Resistant Flowers That I Love

People always think of Africa as the continent of wild creatures. I often get asked if I had lions lurking beyond my gate or elephants walking through my vegetable patch. Some people shiver as they ask about hyenas coming round to grab me out of my bed. Well I did have a friend who was grabbed out of his tent, but that was In The Bush.  Even the small creatures there seem to conjure up fear, like ant eaters and jackals and the like.

But it was not until I came to America that I began to fear the wildlife around my house,  creatures such as gophers, skunks, rabbits and deer!

I decided to plant some Asiatic Lilies in my street side flower bed and they grew really well there, undisturbed by gophers. I watched in anticipation as their buds began to form and then…they were gone! I double checked because I couldn’t believe they had just disappeared.

I asked a neighbor who nodded sagely and whispered, “Oh dear.” I nodded back and said, “Yes, but what is eating them?” She looked at me a bit askance and said slowly and a little loudly, “Oh, deer.” Deer, those sweet little bambies who hover in the shadows until the evening and then venture out and turn into ravenous plant-eating werewolves!

Come the fall, I got my daughter to help me plant 180 Tulip bulbs in my street side bed and not one came up. Skunks! I believe you have to plant your tulip bulbs deeper than usual and then Daffodils above them which stops the skunks from finding them.

However, not much else was touched in that bed and I realized I had, unknowingly planted a heap of deer resistant flowers, such as Agapanthus and Naked Ladies, Gazanias and Pelargoniums, along with Erigeron ground covers and Ice Plant ground covers. Nothing touched my roses or my Cosmos or my Osteospernums either and my Rosemary was not even nibbled at but I gather deer do like the tender shoots in spring. Mine weren’t touched though.  Neither were my Roses or Poppies.  Echinaceas seem to be deer resistant plants, as are gorgeous Blue Globe Thistles and giant Alliums.

California poppies grew in great abundance in that bed with all the other sun loving plants and didn’t seem deterred by gophers, skunks or deer. Neither were  the native Lupines nor the Penstemons but, on the other hand, it all depends how hungry the deer are as to how fussy they are.  American Meadows is having a 50% off sale for all spring planted bulbs and there are some good deals. Have a look here.

Deer Resistant Shade Plants

Hydrangeas seem to be deer resistant flowers and so do woodland Anemones. Vinca ground covers are immune. Where would we be without them? Hollyhocks are not bothered by them and neither are Fox Gloves.  But when I planted Pansies in the driveway they were eaten immediately so were either devoured by rabbits or deer. Crocosmias are safe from anything, it seems and my Woodland Anemones came through unscathed. I am told that Hellebores are disliked by deer but am keeping mine behind my gate just the same.

Go to www.mostlynatives.com and type in Deer Resistant under search and you will be presented with a long list of deer resistant plants and their photographs. Thanks to Walter and Margaret for that. This is the link for gopher resistant plants: http://www.groundcoversandgardening.com/gopher resistant plants

Burpee has a good variety of deer resistant plants on sale now. Have a look here.  Now that the sun is getting hotter (I guess you should always wear it outside), don’t forget the sunscreen. There’s so much skin cancer about, you must protect your skin. Happy gardening!