Why a post on deer resistant plants? Good question. The answer, I moved to an area where these beautiful plant killers roam. In search of answers, I created this go-to reference for deer-repealing, Texas and Hill Country greenery. Plant these beauties and you'll sleep better at night knowing that your landscaping is — semi-safe from these ravenous meaning creatures.
What kind of deer resistant plants are you looking for?
What kind of plants do deer like to eat?
Before we dig into what plants are best for deer-infested areas, let's talk about what deer like to eat. Generally, deer love narrow-leafed evergreens. This is especially true for hostas, daylilies, English ivy, arborvitae and fir according to researchers from the University of Rhode Island.
For deer, hosta plants are like candy. Some hostas are marketed as containing a degree of deer resistance, but as with all deer resistant plants, when these critters are hungry enough, they'll eat anything. So no hosta is truly safe.
The researchers studied white-tailed deer damage to nurseries in the Northeast and found the heaviest gouging occurs from October through February. This is when food is naturally scarce. Interestingly, several participants in the study noted that deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized to those that haven't.
What kind of plants do deer dislike to eat?
Not surprisingly, deer generally stay away from poisonous and prickly plants. Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are common flowers that have a toxicity that deer avoid. Lamb's ear….
A popular deer resistant plant are Bleeding Hearts. Order them on Amazon today!
Deer don't like strong or fragrant smells. Herbs and flowers like sages, ornamental salvias, lavender, peonies and bearded irises, aren't on the menu for these four-legged creatures. Looking for a beautiful perennial? Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) are a popular deer resistant pick!
A general rule-of-thumb is deer tend to stay away from "stinky, sticky, fuzzy and thorny".
Keep in mind, there are really no completely deer-proof plants. A general rule-of-thumb is deer tend to stay away from "stinky, sticky, fuzzy and thorny". Here's some popular plants that deer rarely — or seldom severely damage.