THE MOST (& LEAST) DEER RESISTANT FLOWERS AT STEEP HILL
If you’ve been watching our Life Lately episodes, you’ll know that deer have been a constant nuisance and highly destructive to the garden. So this season I’ve been documenting their carnage to make note of what they do and don’t like to devour.
In the coming years our plan is to move (or eliminate) the plants they will inevitably ruin and replace those with more deer resistant species that are still beautiful and bring lots of life and colour to the garden. The good news is that there a lots to choose from.
The term deer resistant is misleading as it really just means that even if a deer eats a lot of the plant it will still survive. It doesn’t mean the deer won’t eat it. In fact, few plants are 100% deer proof.
With that key piece of information noted, let’s look at the most and least deer resistant flowering plants here at Steep Hill. For context, we are in zone 4b in mid-northern Ontario.
The perpetrator looking ever so innocent.
MOST DEER RESISTANT FLOWERING PLANTS AT STEEP HILL
NOTE: These are just my findings from this season, so don’t take any of this as a guarantee that the deer (or rabbits) where you are won’t have other ideas. That said, we do get A LOT of deer through the property so it’s definitely a solid testing patch to see what they’re interested in.
DAFFODILS
Perennial
I only recently learned that these are on the “do not eat” list for deer and I’m so relieved. Apparently they contain an alkaloid called lycorine that is distasteful and even poisonous to deer so they steer clear. We’re planning a big spring bulb garden (as I mentioned here) with LOTS of daffodils and other bulbs like crocus, hyacinth, snowdrops, and allium. Sadly tulips are very much on the “do eat” list for deer so we won’t be planting those.
HELLEBORES
Perennial
We only planted these in the spring of this year but they’re a very early bloomer that the deer don’t seem to want to graze, thanks to their toxicity. These are a really great option for shady spots because they thrive in partial to full shade. The blooms last on the stem for a long time and the foliage is a beautiful rich green with burgundy edges that lasts all summer and into the fall.
PEONIES
Perennial
To say I’m grateful that deer are put off by peonies is an understatement. I love peonies, and the fact that they’re a spring bloomer only adds to their appeal after our long, cold winters. The deer tend to leave them be due to the fragrance of the flowers and the flavour of the stems. That said, they have tasted a few buds from time to time but generally avoid the foliage and the blooms once open.
BLEEDING HEARTS
Perennial
I didn’t notice bleeding hearts in many gardens before we moved to Steep Hill but they were like a magical treasure when they bloomed during our first spring here. Its amazing how they can grow in the tiniest amount of soil and seem to thrive in rock walls. Their toxicity makes them very close to deer proof and yet the hummingbirds and bees love them. Here at the lake we’re lucky to have them in both a pink and a white variety.
MARIGOLDS
Annual
At this point I’m a total Marigold stan. The deer literally step over them to get to the other goods (cough, hydrangea, cough). They’re perfect for borders and small spaces in the garden and make wonderful companions to all kinds of plants you might be growing in raised beds. They’re known to repel nematodes, which are tiny worms that feed on plant roots. While there doesn’t seem to be hard scientific proof, they’re thought to repel other unwanted pests like bugs and insects that might want to chomp on your veggies and blooms.
Completely circumstantial evidence, but the only dahlia bed I didn’t grow marigolds in was the Cafe au Lait bed and those were the only dahlias that had a significant earwig and beetle problem this year.
ECHINACEA (CONE FLOWER)
Perennial
While the deer did take a few nibbles on the foliage in the early summer, they seemed to ignore them after that. My opinion on Cone Flowers used to be that they’re a bit…meh…but not anymore. They add such a gorgeous burst of colour and I love how long they hold their petals and colour right into the early fall. Definitely planning to plant a lot more of these in the future.
SALVIA
Perennial
I didn’t pay too close of attention to these this year because they were planted in our upper pollinator garden near the bee hive, but they didn’t seem to get any damage and they are a beautiful deep purple. A really nice accent flower to consider for a bit of height and a deeper hue that lasts all summer.
DAISIES
Perennial
These are such a joyful bloom aren’t they? The ones that grow here are in a tiny patch in a corner of the garden but they’re bright white petals and yellow inner disc radiates pure delight and the butterflies love them.
RUDBECKIA (Black-Eyed Susan)
Perennial
The deer ate the first round of buds off the Rudbeckia but they’re a real trooper flower and kept putting out new buds very quickly. They’re definitely “resistant” to deer damage because they keep trying even when they get damaged. Apparently the deer don’t like the rough texture of the leaves and stems.
DAHLIA
Tender Perennial
Honestly, I think this was divine intervention or something because the deer did a number on my neighbours dahlias this year so I’m just going to take the win and not ask too many questions about how or why they left mine alone. They did have a chew on the foliage earlier in the season but after that they didn’t seem the least bit interested. Counting my lucky stars!
LEAST DEER RESISTANT FLOWERING PLANTS AT STEEP HILL
HOSTA
Perennial
Hostas are essentially dessert to deer. They get gobbled up over night and once the deer know where to find them, they just keep coming back.
These blooms were from last year when the deer hadn’t had a chance to discover them. This year though, the secret was out.
HYDRANGEA
Perennial
This is a fight I’m not ready to give up but next year I’m bringing out some proper protection for my hydrangeas. The deer did some real damage on the blooms this year even through all the netting I used and with both Bobex (a repellent spray) and Irish spring soap shavings (a supposedly fool proof repellent). I think next year we may try a hooped netting that gives the blooms more room and prevents the deer from getting in.
LILAC
Perennial
Oh how I love lilacs and considering that deer don’t like anything too fragrant I thought these might be safe. No sir. Not even a little bit. The deer cleaned them of leaves almost entirely. Not sure how we’ll handle protecting these but I’d be so sad to let them go entirely. This photo is of a tree that’s grown tall enough that the deer can’t reach them.
JAPANESE ANEMONE
Perennial
This really broke my heart because they are such a beautiful fall bloom. They’re like a mix between a poppy and a cosmos and have the loveliest slender stems. The bees love them too so perhaps when we have our main cottage landscaping done, I’ll find a safe spot closer to the house. The deer ate their leaves all summer so they couldn’t put out any buds (photo from last fall).
DELPHINIUM
Perennial
Another case of deer demolished leaves, although one did manage to bloom in the end. These are really lovely so I might try to move them somewhere protected with the Japanese Anemone.
I hope this list of deer resistant / not-so-resistant flowering plants was helpful for anyone else dealing with hoofed hooligans in their garden. Feel free to drop any tips or questions in the comments!