I need ideas for deer-resistant plants!

Sharron
by Sharron
My husband and I are living our dream in a beautiful lake community out in east Texas. One of the reasons we bought out here was because of the wonderful wildlife...zebras, 4 species of deer, and antelope roaming free in the neighborhood! Problem is, we are spending a lot of money, trying to figure out what to plant on our large retaining wall areas that will thrive in the hot Texas summers and not be eaten up by our furry friends! Any tried and true suggestions? Need some sort of shrubs, perennials and groundcover that deer don't look at as dinner! Last summer, I learned that English Ivy and Hostas are definitely no-no's.
  47 answers
  • Lawns & More Lawns & More on Mar 18, 2014
    Unfortunately deer will eat just about anything when they are hungry. However, there is some that seem to keep at bay. One of these is the virburnum for shrubs and the rosemary plants.
    • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
      @Lawns & More Yes...I noticed that several others have recommended the rosemary plants and I definitely am going to try planting some of those! Thank you for your response.
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Mar 18, 2014
    I also fight the deer and they eat everything when hungry, even deer resistant plants. Apparently they don't like pricky/thorny things so that one direction to consider. After fighting the deer now for 13 years and just not winning, I recommend you plan to fence your yard in with an attractive black/brown metal fencing, that blends into the landscape. This is what my friend did and not only is her garden beautiful she has successfully kept the deer out. Note: Deer need a 7 or 8 ft. fence to keep them out. We have a 4 ft. fence around our vegetable garden and they have jumped that to get at the fresh vegetables!! Good luck!
  • Arlene Cotty Arlene Cotty on Mar 18, 2014
    Deer aren't to partial to Lantana either. However, if hungry enough will eat anything. I work in a garden center and the consensus is the Lantana. People have also said put down human hair....they don't like humans. Some say it works....others say no. Some also say human urine works, others say - no.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Mar 18, 2014
    You have zebras roaming free? Awesome! Lawns & More is correct that there is basically nothing deer won't eat when they are hungry. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has a list of recommendations for East Texas that they say are highly deer resistant. That's about as good as you're going to get. http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=5259
    • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
      @Douglas Hunt Thank you, Douglas! I will definitely flag that website and keep it handy!
  • DR HANDY DR HANDY on Mar 18, 2014
    Deer resistant trees and shrubs: barberry, boxwood, forsythia, lilac and spirea, alder, birch, boxwood, redtwig dogwood, cotoneaster, deutzia, hydrangea, St. Johnswort, holly, privet, mockorange, large rhododendrons, spiny roses, elderberry, and yew. As a repellant use formulations of two tablespoons hot pepper sauce in 12 and one half gallons of water with Wilt Pruf anti-dessicant. Keeping human hair and bad smelling soap (hung from trees) can also help.
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on Mar 18, 2014
    Deer "resistant" is the key word - those rascals will eat just about anything! Here are some suggestions for your area. Also, I suggest you cruise around and see what is doing well in your area specifically. Good luck! (I want a zebra in my yard!) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/deerbest.html
  • Mags Mags on Mar 18, 2014
    Dr Hardy gave you a good selection to start with, but the deer in my Area ..Lake Livingston....will eat Hydrangea, so place those in pots and keep close to patio. Also Breaded Iris or all Iris will work for you.....I have a patch of Daffodils that come up every year ( previous owners planted) and the deer go right by them......so strange.....
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 18, 2014
    Yes, I think I read that they shy away from the stronger-smelling plants...like marigolds and herbs...thanks for the reminder!
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 18, 2014
    Thanks, everybody, for the suggestions and the websites you shared! These ideas will give me something to think about. We have 3 acres on a corner lot and built our house about a third of the way back from the front road. I used to feed the deer out back behind our deck, along with squirrels and birds...it was a mix that seemed to make them all happy! LOL... We figured out real fast that the deer were helping themselves to the front flower beds, so we fenced in a portion of yard out back (black cyclone fencing) so that we could have more variety out there. (I told my husband it needed to be at least 6 feet tall, but he insisted the neighbors have had no issues with a 4 foot tall fence...and so far, we haven't caught any in the back yard...so i guess we will see!) Since several of you indicated an interest in the zebra, thought I would share a few photos I took when they visited our lot one time last Fall.
    • See 4 previous
    • Sharron Sharron on Mar 20, 2014
      @Buster Evans As ours is rather a unique community, and the animals are considered one of our greatest assets...and advertised as such... I would think someone wouldn't buy property or build here unless they were true animal lovers. We have seen an upgrowth of our human population over the past 3 or 4 years, but there are lots within the community that are owned by the POA that will never be built on...giving the animals places to hide and places to feed, etc. Everything that is done here is with the animals in mind.
  • Linda Stroney Linda Stroney on Mar 18, 2014
    the only thing that has helped is to put little wire fences around my sedums (or anything else you have planted)so they can't easily get at them. The animal spray doesn't help either, it rains you know, and it's gone.
  • Gayle Hill Gayle Hill on Mar 19, 2014
    We live in the woods in western PA so we know about deer! I agree with the people who said deer will eat anything when hungry. The only way we have controlled the deer is by having a dog. When our dog died we waited for a year before we got another one and the deer took over the property. It is amazing how the dog kept them away. This is not a perfect solution but it definitely helped. We now have another dog and the deer have "backed off" considerably. Good luck and love your Zebra photos.
  • Susan Buchanan Susan Buchanan on Mar 19, 2014
    Hi! We have a zillion deer here in the San Antonio area and we feed them, too. (Deer protein feed) through trial and error, a lot of errors and $$$, we have a gorgeous front yard that is pretty deer resistant even though they practically live there. I have several different color lantanas, sages (usual Texas bush and flowering red and pink plants that are also known by other names), rosemary (both bush and creeping), mountain laurel, boxwood, bamboo, oleanders, purple verbena, elephant ear, white crinum lilies, nandina, and some sort waxy leaf shrub that I don't know the name of. Maybe it is safe because of the waxy leaf! We will be moving to east Texas this year and want to find a place with abundant wildlife again. Where are you located?? Good luck with your landscaping. I hope this comment helps!
  • HippieBob HippieBob on Mar 19, 2014
    We have tried planting deer resistant plants from day one. Have had no luck. What I find most depressing, is even when they don't eat the plants, they often just bite the branches off and leave them lie. My sister-in-law, put up fences/netting. It worked for her small area she was trying to protect .
  • Genie Krivanek Genie Krivanek on Mar 19, 2014
    Have you been to the local nursery? I'm not talking about big box stores but a local place where they really know the area's plants and the local critters. I lived in Abilene TX for 4 years and that's what I did. I cannot for the life of me remember what they recommended but as long as I followed their advice, the deer left my plants alone. I always recommend local nurseries. They are knowledgeable and VERY helpful.
  • Diane Daughdrill Diane Daughdrill on Mar 19, 2014
    Here in MS we spray our stuff with eggs. Husband gets a dozen, whisk them up with water and sprays our garden. Keeps them out every time.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Mar 19, 2014
    You might want to do a pretty rock garden with something like pea gravel and then use rocks and yard statues instead of a lot of plants! An obelisk would be beautiful! You can add to it as you find unique things.
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    We have a little Pekingese named Buffy. She sees a deer anywhere near our property and goes nuts...I think she thinks that is her calling in life, to chase deer and squirrels at every opportunity! LOL. Problem is, she doesn't just run them off the property, but chases them across the streets and disappears into neighboring wooded lots, etc., so we have to put her in the house when we spot a deer anywhere in sight. She is another reason we had to put up the fence in the back yard! :)
  • Carol Ann McDaniel Carol Ann McDaniel on Mar 19, 2014
    I live in the very hot lower foothills of California. My successes are Lavender in various types the more scented the better Rosemary Wallflower Marguerites Eleagnus as a large shrub Gaillardia Iris Penstemon Sage not herbal Coneflower Dianthus Olives Lily of the Nile Lilacs Quince Thorny citrus Pomegranete Vinca Poppies Narcissus Confederate jasmine Marigolds Calendula Mugwort
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Susan, we live in a 3-lake community called Safari Waters Ranch...located about 6 or 7 miles southeast of Athens, TX..about an hour from Dallas, and 90 minutes from Arlington, where we lived for 35+ years, before I retired. We really love it here! Besides the beautiful scenery, wonderful wildlife, and the lakes, the people here are the best...it's a very caring and socially active community...lots of neighborhood events to take part in if you choose to. The lots run from 1-acre to 10 acres or more. If you are thinking of moving out to this area of Texas, you should really check out SWR. I have family out in San Antonio...my Mom and Dad were both born and raised there, and came back there to retire. They lived in Hollywood Park for many years before they passed away. Thanks for your suggestions on the plants...I have had some luck with the lantana and sage... also the deer have left my pittosporums (sp?) alone so far. I love Mountain Laurel and hadn't thought of trying that!
  • Lisa McDaniel Lisa McDaniel on Mar 19, 2014
    Hi Sharron, My mother lived on Possum Kingdom lake for 40 years and had LOTS of problems. She used Mother in-laws Tongue, Oleander and Lantana and had no problems. She had a vegetable garden that was fenced in- 8 ft tall. She also tried Wisteria but the deer got to them. One thing her and my step dad did was to feed the deer corn. They did this every day and it seemed to help a little. The Lantana grows wild in some places on the lake so I know that works. But here are some ideas I copied from wildflower.org by Mr. Smarty Plants that gives good advice.- Believe me, I can understand your frustration. I have lived through the very same maddening struggle with deer in Central Texas that you are experiencing. Deer devoured many so-called deer-resistant plants in my yard and followed up by eating iris leaves, marigolds and other such "completely unpalatable" plants. So I am going to give you my own personal list, short as it is, rather than refer you to one of the published lists that you have undoubtedly read already. First, plants that I believe are truly deer proof. Datura wrightii (Sacred thorn-apple), also called Jimson weed or Moonflower, Ratibida columnifera (Mexican hat), Dalea greggii (Gregg dalea), Sedum nuttallianum (Yellow stonecrop) and other sedums, Polanisia dodencandra trachysperma ( Clammyweed), Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita), Capsicum annuum (Chile pequin)(if you protect it until the young red-hot peppers first appear), Copper Canyon daisy, and Jerusalem sage (which, I confess, is not a U. S. native). I might add that most ferns are not eaten by deer. Datura grows into a 3-4 foot-tall, 4-6 foot-wide bush with large white flowers at night and early morning. Ratibida can be quite invasive, but I like to see masses of it in bloom. Next, plants that deer usually avoid. Wedelia texana (Zexmenia), Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed), Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy) and Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (Turk's cap or turkscap). I have found that some desirable species, such as Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana) will only be nibbled a little bit if you buy a plant that is mature, with tough, hairy leaves. Deer go for the young leaves by preference. The trailing, purple-flowered lantana variety is always eaten at my house, but the wild type is usually not. By the way, if you plan to try some of these plants, put at least two of each in the ground. Often deer will take a bite or even pull up a plant completely before realizing they don't like it. Then you will have at least one left. I have resorted to using many hanging baskets and vines. My deer seldom eat anything that is more than about four feet above ground level. Three beautiful native vines are Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine), Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower) and Campsis radicans (Trumpet creeper). Trumpet creeper has the drawback that it actively sends out underground runners that emerge as growing shoots many feet from the parent plant. These have to be dug up if unwanted, although the deer will help keep them trimmed to the ground. Of course, vines must be protected until they reach a safe height. On many occasions I have watched anxiously as the first flowers develop and reach the time for opening, only to find that on that very day they have been eaten. For those special cases I still use the commercial deer repellant Liquid Fence and sometimes alternate it with Hinder because deer seem to become acclimated to one deterrent if used continuously. I also use a spray deterrent after putting a new plant into the ground and watering it in. Deer always seem to notice a new potential snack. After all this, a final caveat. Deer may have different plant preferences in different locales and even in different years. After many seasons of living with deer, I suddenly found that they started consuming my previously untouched spineless prickly pears. Now only the varieties bearing spines are left. Most of the plant species mentioned above are not my favorites. But they are survivors, and that is what I need. I hope some will also survive at your place too. Hope this helps!
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Thanks, Lisa! I am going to try planting some of these plants that I am reading about here and in other comments to my post...they give me hope! :) I am finding out deer are so funny...we planted 6 dwarf-style shrubs late last summer...and put 3 of each under the two front bedroom windows. They "snacked" on 3 of them, several different times, but didn't bother the other 3...and they are only about 10 or 12 feet apart! Luckily, they didn't kill the 3 they ate on, so hopefully, they will leave them alone from now on. Part of the problem here is we have more than one variety of deer...we have Axis, Fallow, Whitetails, and an exotic breed called Pere Davids. Those are pretty cool...they remind me of reindeer...and they are a lot bigger than your typical deer! Here are some photos of Duke (the male) and the second photo is a picture of some of his "lady friends". Isn't Duke beautiful?? They come on our property quite often, but stay near the roads or along the creek that runs on one side of our lot. I have never seen them close up to the house, so I don't think they are the ones getting the plants inside the retaining walls.
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Thanks, Carol Ann! I am familiar with many of these plants that you named. I think I will make a large list of the plants that people are suggesting and take that list to my local Lowes and Home Depot stores and plant nurseries around here, and see what is available. I appreciate all the suggestions!
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Around here, I noticed that some of my neighbors will put up netting or wire "cages" around young trees until they have grown tall enough that they aren't as enticing to the deer as the ones growing closer to the ground. I planted a couple of crepe myrtles last year that they discovered several weeks after I put them in the ground...didn't destroy them, but ate off the tender leaves. I think I may have to try some cages around them this year to protect them until they get big enough. Thanks for your comments!
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Yes, we have a nice nursery in town (Athens), that we bought over $600 worth of plants last year (first summer we lived in the new house). They don't have that many deer in town...they all live out in the country, like me...LOL! I don't think we really understood just how much the deer like to eat out here, so I was just concerned as to what grows well in this area. This year, I will ask a lot more deer-related questions when I shop there! :)
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    LOL...well, so far, we haven't found any deer that have jumped the 4 foot fence, but if my husband goes through with his plans next year of starting a vegetable garden, all bets are off. (I think he may have to think about an 8 footer inside of the fenced in yard!!) A lot of the people in the neighborhood do feed the deer, so they really do have other options than eating my plants...our POA does not allow fencing in front of the house, so that is easy game to them. I can't complain... I really do love the deer! Here are a few pictures of the small herd that seems to trek almost daily across our back acreage. As you can see, we have an assortment of different varieties...Fallow, Axis, White Tails, and our newest exotics...Pere Davids. (I posted photos of Duke and his ladies under another comment in this section.)
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Interesting!! I had never heard about using eggs! One question though...how often do you have to spray your plants and does it smell like rotten eggs?? Thanks for your suggestion!
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Yes, there is a big area to plant, between the two levels of retaining walls in front of the house and the one that runs down the left side! I had already thought of turning part of it into a sitting area with a bench and maybe a bird bath or a small pond, or other water feature. Your idea is a good one!
  • Marianne Cerrito Marianne Cerrito on Mar 19, 2014
    Pachysandra and vinca and bishops's weed are ground cover that our deer won't eat....
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Thanks, Marianne! I had never heard of Bishop's Weed, but googled it for photos and I like the look, but it says it's best for light sun and shade...my bed's are in full sun all afternoon and this TX sun is HOT!! Pachysandra, on the other hand, might work for filling in between larger plantings. I appreciate the information!
  • Suzie Ch Suzie Ch on Mar 19, 2014
    Irish spring soap wrapped in cheese cloth "hidden" in pots-look it up. Deers hate the smell and won't cause suds or hurt plants. Used it all the time at our lake house growing up. Good luck! :)
  • Lili P Lili P on Mar 19, 2014
    human hair hanging in little 'sachets' of nylon or colored netting (looks nicer) - either tie on the branch or with ribbon - I get it from my hair stylist. she has to sweep it up anyway.
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    Irish soap, huh? Something else I had never heard! Thanks for the suggestion!!
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 19, 2014
    I cut my husband's hair and my own...guess I will start saving the clippings! LOL...
  • Myrna Kemp Myrna Kemp on Mar 19, 2014
    I have a herd of about 20 deer that move from my yard and then through the neighbors. The neighbors are smarter than me, they don't worry about a yard. I have tried for 40 years to have a deer proof yard but the only plant that is consistently ignored by the deer is lavender. Rhododendrons are native to our area so the deer usually leave them alone. I finally gave in an went with an 8 foot deer fence. That seems to help
  • Diane Daughdrill Diane Daughdrill on Mar 22, 2014
    The hair didn't work for us but the eggs did.
  • Doneva Fellows Doneva Fellows on Mar 22, 2014
    the only way to keep deer from eating your plants is a fence. where I live we have all tried the soap, hair, stuff you buy etc... anything I have in my front yard so far they don't seem to like. lavender, Russian sage, daffodils, lady's mantle, lamb's ears, perennial geranium, red hot pokers {even though one year they did eat them}, hollyhocks, (they eat them at my moms but not my house and I have hundreds}, peonies, iris, rose campion, mallow and a few others. the thing about deer is that they browse. if you have 20 deer coming through your yard and every one tastes a plant, even if they decide they don't like it, it's gone.
    • Sharron Sharron on Mar 22, 2014
      @Doneva Fellows Thanks...your list gives me hope of a little variety! So far, we have lantana, Texas sage, dwarf pittosporum shrubs, Blue Plumbago, Variegated pittosporum shrubs and couple of crape myrtles...those (the crape myrtles) they left alone for a long time, then nibbled on them a couple of times. I noticed the neighbors usually cage them until they get to be 5 or 6 feet tall as the lower branches. I saw where someone said the deer don't usually bother with stuff above their heads,
  • Michelle W Michelle W on Mar 22, 2014
    Heard Lavender works well to deter deer and rabbits. I don't have deer or (outdoor) rabbits so I can't report on it first hand.
  • Myra Taylor Higinbotham Myra Taylor Higinbotham on Mar 22, 2014
    I don't live in Texas, but I do live in southern Oregon, on 8 wooded acres and have the same problem. The ones that I have found that work for me so far are lavender, sage, iris, and ornamental grasses. They seem to leave them alone and there's no need for a fence. Why block the beauty, when that sounds like that is what you love.
  • Patricia Brining Patricia Brining on Mar 22, 2014
    You can spray the plants with water and sprinkle with black pepper !
  • Deanna Fountain Deanna Fountain on Mar 22, 2014
    I watch the Victory Garden on Public TV and they said that animals, especially rabbits keep away when there's a marigold parimeter all around the areas you want to fend. I noticed you've not responded to comments from others lately so maybe you've found a solution. I hate to see you resort to a fence, please re-post and let us know if you have found that elusive solution to your 'Dear Problem'
    • Sharron Sharron on Mar 23, 2014
      @Deanna Fountain I did mark my question as "resolved" several days ago...as I think I have had many good responses to give me ideas for plants to try. I can't fence in front of the house, due to POA policies in my neighborhood, so I am just looking for plants that are not particularly tasty to deer, and or other ways to keep them away from the "flower beds" that cover the two levels of retaining walls running across the front and sides of our house. The marigolds might help in some areas, as I have read that deer don't like strong smells...so that makes sense! Marigolds can also brighten up an area, and are pretty easy to grow in our hot TX sun, so I will definitely incorporate them into the plan. Thanks for your comments.
  • Kathie Schram Kathie Schram on Mar 23, 2014
    Sounds gross, but go to a local hair salon and ask them to save you some human hair clippings. Scatter that on the perimeter of where you want to keep the deer away. They do not like the smell of humans. It may help.
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    • Doneva Fellows Doneva Fellows on Mar 24, 2014
      @Sharron one thing to think about. if there are deer in your yard they are already used to your smell.
  • Shanna C Shanna C on Mar 25, 2014
    Gray Germander
  • Shanna C Shanna C on Mar 25, 2014
    We have Axis deer and they are much worse than white tails. They haven't eaten Thryallis at our home,
  • Shanna C Shanna C on Mar 25, 2014
    You might try Lamb's Ear or Artemisia and Vinca's. Not sure what your zone is or your sun situation. You can find a list of deer resistant plants at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/deerbest.html
    • Sharron Sharron on Mar 26, 2014
      @Shanna Ciano Thanks! I do like Lamb's Ear...used to grow them at my old house in Arlington TX. I am located in east TX now, so the summers are still extremely hot...and the beds I am trying to landscape have direct afternoon sun. It has been raining pretty frequently this winter, but I suspect once summer hits, our days will be a lot dryer.
  • Rgoenka Rgoenka on Mar 15, 2016
    There are many deer resistance plants available. Generally purple colored plants are deer resistant plants. Check with your local nursery for deer resistant plants and advice. If you really like color, like I do, I used plastic black netting attached to posts. At first I didn't like the idea. I made raised beds which I use for cut flowers and used this plastic netting say 1" sq plastic netting I attached the netting to green posts that are used as markers around your property. I spaced them 5-6 ' apart. When it was done, I found that it was not too expensive and barely noticeable. For the last section, I used just a paper binder clip as a latch to secure the end in place. Another thing that I also used was dove soap. I hung dove soap bars on my plants. They say deer usually do not like the smell of dove soap. It is not full proof, but it seemed to work for me. Hope you found this helpful
  • Dannette T Dannette T on Mar 15, 2016
    Those are not regular deer, they are fallow deer. Normal deer resistant speciman plants will not work. Use light poisonous plants, nightshade specimans perhaps, they will not eat the plants then. Watch out if you have pets, do not let pets chew on at all.
  • Sharron Sharron on Mar 16, 2016
    Thanks for your response. Yes, in the photos are fallow deer. We also have White Tails, Axis deer & a special variety called Pere Davids. Since posting this question, we are learning what works and what doesn't for the areas not fenced in. I am finding that strong-smelling plants (like Rosemary, Marigolds, etc.,) don't seem to be bothered too much. We have planted Dwarf Pittosporum shrubs, several varieties of Lantana, variegated Privet, and a few other types of plants that are doing well and the deer walk right past them. As for poisonous plants...not too sure I want to go that route, as I do have a dog and several outdoor cats that I wouldn't want to risk their eating something like that.