My Deer Proof List – it may not be yours!

I was asked again today about deer proof plants, so as well as my other article on Deer Resistant Plants, I am adding this list. Please do not hold it against me if the deer do eat anything on this list. It seems when hungry they will try anything BUT in MY experience and I have many deer coming to visit every day and night, they have not yet touched any of these plants. They may nibble to try but the taste test does not mean they will devour it all. These plants all thrive or have thrived in my front garden, which is very exposed to many deer. They are worth trying. Please don’t give up. You will find lots of colour and interest on the list. Just Google them or search them up on this blog.

If all else fails, I highly recommend Bobbex or PlantSkyd. If sprayed early in the season the deer may decide to avoid your garden but I find if used once a month it works well. It smells awful but it works.

My list

Achillea miilifolium, Yarrow varieties, herbaceous perennial

Aconitum, Monkskood herbaceous perennial

Alchemilla mollis,  Lady’s mantle,  herbaceous perennial

Artemisias, many, many varieties, woody and herbaceous perennials

Barberries, woody shrubs ( getting new reports of deer trying them now)

Blue Fescues, grasses

Calamagrostis X acutiflora, Feather Reed Grass, ‘Karl Foerster’ and other varieties

Caraganas, woody shrubs and trees,

Convallaria majallis, Lily of the Valley, herbaceous perennial

Cornus, Dogwood varieties, woody shrubs

Cotoneaster, woody shrub, great hedge material

Crocus, spring bulb

Delphinium, Larkspurs, herbaceous perennials

Dicentra, Bleeding Heart, herbaceous perennial

Euonymus alatus,  Burning Bush, woody shrub

Genista, Broom, woody shrub

Grape Hyacinths, spring bulb,

Helictotrichon sempervirens, Blue Oat Grass

Hellebore, herbaceous perennial

Lavendula, Lavender ‘Munstead’, woody perennial

Monarda, Bee Balm

Narcissus, Daffodils

Nepeta, Catmint(not Catnip), herbaceous perennial

Peaonia , Peony, herbaceous perennial

Perovskia, Russian Sage, woody perennial

Potentillas, woody shrubs

Ribes alpinum Alpine Currant, woody shrub, great hedge material

Rudbeckias, Rudbeckia hirta or fulgida, herbaceous perennial or biennial

Salvias, Sages, herbaceous perennials

Scilla, spring bulb,

Spiraea japonica or prunifolia, Spirea spring or summer types, woody shrub

Stachys byzantina, Lambs Ears, herbaceous perennial

Taxus cuspidata ‘Morden’ or ‘Japanese’ Yew

Thymus, Thyme

I find less choice amongst the annuals for planters but Lantana and Pot Marigolds, Antirrhinum(Snapdragons), Calendula seem to be pretty safe. I have used Heliotrope and Nicotiana. I tend to use perennials such as Grasses, Lady’s Mantle, Nepeta and Achilleas if I need to. Choose from the smelly, grey and hairy! See my other post on deer resistance.