Blooming Plants that Deer Don't like to Eat

Deer are fun to watch and remind us of our connection to the natural world. However, when you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on landscaping and the nightly deer raids are making you crazy, you can build an 8 foot fence or replace their favorite plants with plants that deer usually avoid. Here is a list of a few blooming perennials that deer avoid unless there is absolutely nothing left to consume:

Perennials:

Yarrow: This herb is available in yellow, red and pink blooming varieties. Comes up in early spring with lots of green feathery foliage then blooms in summer, fading away in the late summer heat. Begins to regrow from the roots in fall.

Columbine: Dependable spring bloomer with unusual flowers in red, pink or yellow. Fades in summer heat. Grows well in shade.

Wormwood: Lots of green foliage with a high level of pest resistance. Looks good all year. Many different types available. Drought tolerant.

Butterfly Milkweed: Great for attracting butterflies to the garden. Reproduces readily from seeds produced in fall.

Chrysanthemum: Buy the garden types, not the florist types with big soft flowers. The garden types produce nice foliage and bloom again in the fall if you deadhead the blooms in mid summer.

Coneflower (Echinacea): Orange, red, pink, and white varieties are now available and the drought tolerant coneflower is great for full sun or part shade locations. A reliable bloomer that makes a great cut flower.

Daylilies: Reproduce well and are good for containers as well as borders. Lots of varieties available.

Catnip and Catmint: It will attract cats, but great purple flowers are produced every year on this mint relative that spreads readily.

Russian Sage: Blue lavender-like blooms on tall stems with pungent foliage make a great specimen plant. Slow to get established but a reliable performer in following years.

Beebalm: Attracts bees and butterflies and comes back reliably every spring. A great plant for around mailboxes and outlying areas that are favorite deer targets.

Veronica: One of the most beautiful perennials to have in the garden. Varieties available with blue, purple, pink and white blooms.

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