Plant these Deer Resistant Natives NOW!!

Do deer cause you stress in the landscape? Then this is the post for you! You'll learn:

• All about deer resistant natives that deer won't touch!

• The importance of planting native species

• The beauty and diversity of our native plant palette

• DEER OUT is a great back-up plan for heavily browsed yards!

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) in a native garden. Its minty scent keeps deer from nibbling.

This is the best time to be out in the yard enjoying your garden with friends and family–there’s just so much to appreciate. But is your garden safe from getting munched? Today, we’ll answer the most commonly asked question we get here at the nursery: What can I plant that deer won’t eat? More specifically, we’ll be taking a look at some of our top Native deer-resistant perennials.

Bee Balm (Monarda) comes in a whole spectrum of colors. Hummingbirds love the red ones the best!

Whether it be from texture, taste or smell, all these plants manage to avoid being browsed by those pesky deer so you can kick back and relax knowing your landscape’s not on the menu!

Our native Agastache is light blue, but we also carry varieties in different colors!

If you’re looking for deer resistance, the mint family is a fantastic place to start! In general, deer find their minty fragrance unpalatable, keeping them safe from harm. 

Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is a pollinator's dream.

Natives in the Mint family like Monarda and Agastache provide gorgeous blooms that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and more while dodging deer due to their scent. 

Field Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis), in our native plant section in Hillsborough

Another great deer-resistant duo for drier sites in full sun is going to be Goldenrod and Coreopsis. Neither of these native wildflowers are attractive to deer, but they sure are to pollinators and gardeners alike. 

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a perfect native choice for wetter soils.

If you’re planting in a wetter area in full sun, Milkweed is an excellent choice, and thanks to the compounds in its sap, Deer tend to steer clear of these tall beauties. 

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) blooming in a native field

Milkweed is also the only host plant for Monarch butterflies, making them even more integral to have in your landscape! We have plenty of varieties, including Common Milkweed, Whorled Milkweed, Butterfly Weed and Swamp Milkweed, the last of which thrives in moister areas!

Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium), just beginning to bloom

Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) catches the eye in any native garden.

Two perfect native companion plants for your Milkweed are Joe Pye Weed and Culver’s Root. These wildflowers thrive in moist soils on sunny sites, and both are widely avoided by browsing deer. 

Butterflies and hummingbirds go crazy for Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)!

For a shadier wet spot, look to Lobelia for great deer resistance and unbelievably vibrant red blooms that Hummingbirds thirst for. 

Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) is a classic native evergreen groundcover.

If you’re looking for native groundcover, Allegheny Spurge and Hardy Geranium are fantastic choices. The Spurge is better for shade, whereas the Geranium can tolerate part shade to full sun. 

Hardy Geranium (Geranium maculatum) got its common name for good reason!

While no plant is 100% deer proof, by choosing the natives we talked about today, you’re giving your garden its best chance at being spared by those darn deer. 

When all else fails, there's DEER OUT!

And if you’re looking to protect plants you already have in the ground, you can always opt for Deer Out! This is an organic deer repellent you can simply spray onto foliage once a month to keep your plants safe. 

No nasty chemicals, no worries! DEER OUT is organic!

And what do you know, one of the main ingredients is Peppermint oil! Check out all this information in video form below!!