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Deer resistant annuals

10 years ago

Need ideas for zone 3 deer resistant annuals


Comments (8)

  • 10 years ago

    I can only tell you what they haven't bothered in my zone 3 garden, but a hungry deer will sample almost anything! Marigolds, cleome, profusion zinnias, amaranthus, datura, nigella, cosmos, tinctoria. They haven't bothered my euphorbia or tithonia, but can't say they are for sure resistant. I swear by liquid fence. It's not cheap, but neither are flowers, so totally worth it imo.

  • 10 years ago

    I appreciate your advice, thanks. What are the common names for tinctoria and nigella? Will any of the flowers you mentioned tolerate some shade?

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I have not been able to work in my garden since early July so critters have had their way with many of my plants. These annuals have not had any damage from deer or the resident rabbits this year. Alyssum, petunia, calendula, cuphea, 'Purple Gnome' gomphrena, mirabalis (four o'clocks), annual poppies, 'Blue Bedder' salvia, asclepia, angelonia, datura, nicotiana, TX Hummingbird salvia, moss roses, torenia, cerinthe.

  • 10 years ago

    Moss rose grows well in MN? Your list sounds quite encouraging, so thanks for that. Any luck with cypress vine? It's incredible, a hummingbird magnet and deer proof. Am jotting down all your plant suggestions.

  • 10 years ago

    Ann-Tinctoria is an annual (in our area) coreopsis. Nigella is love in a mist. Looking at the list by mnwsgal I can tell you the deer here have eaten petunias and nicotiana, as well as red salvia (I grow Yvonne's red salvia here). The blue salvia/sage is resistant. Also thought of annual monarda. Sometimes you just have to experiment. What they will eat in one area they may leave in another. I've had them eat many things here they aren't supposed to (I swear it's because they can't read the tags that say deer resistant.....or maybe they can!).

  • 10 years ago

    I sowed cypress vine many years ago but may have been too late as it didn't bloom well. Haven't tried again though have thought about it. Maybe next year. There are many plants in my gardens for hummingbirds.

    Moss roses self seed every year in front and under my mailbox which has dry sandy soil. Can't help loving a plant that takes care of itself.

    macfam69, surprised that your Yvonne's salvia had critter damage. I used to grow YS as well and didn't have any damage.

    Deer and rabbit damage vary from year to year. After years of little hosta damage most of my hosta have been savaged this year. Some phlox paniculata were pruned while other nearby ones were not. Don't think they ate the annual phlox the years that it was in my gardens. Annual rudbeckia is another one that in some spots it gets eaten and other areas it doesn't. Who knows why? Fickle, I guess.

    There are other annuals that I have grown over the years that had little or no damage, snapdragons (mine bloom late as are self seeded from years ago), cosmos, annual verbena, Impatients balfourii, ...

    I no longer plant pansies in the garden beds as they are like candy for critters.



  • 10 years ago

    I heard that Lambs Ear keeps the deer away.

  • 10 years ago

    Do away with the Hostas and use natives, most of which have built in protection from deer browsing. Native Jacobs Ladder(Polymonium reptans) is really pretty and holds its structure through the growing season. Also, look for Mayapple which does well in shade.

    Deer are fussy eaters for the most part but like tender new leaves.

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