Episode 155: Deer Resistant Favorites

Published: March 22, 2024, 9 a.m.

One of the worst sights you can ever see in the garden is a plant that has been browsed by deer. (Sidenote: we don't love the gentle word \u201cbrowsed\u201d in this instance. A more appropriate term might be \u201cobliterated.\u201d) If the munching is particularly bad, that perennial, tree, or shrub becomes unrecognizable. And in many cases, this can mean instant death to your prized specimen. With deer pressure increasing from coast-to-coast, we decided it\u2019s time to highlight some of our favorite deer-resistant plants. Yes, we\u2019re from deer-ridden New England, but rest assured that we\u2019ve included plants in this episode that will thrive from Texas to Michigan, and everywhere in between.

Guest: Karen Chapman is a landscape designer in Duvall, Washington, and the author of Deer-Resistant Design: Fence Free Gardens that Thrive Despite the Deer.

\xa0

Danielle's Plants

'Childhood Sweetheart' hellebore (Helleborus 'Childhood Sweetheart', Zones 4-9)

Winter daphne (Daphne odora, Zones 7-9)

'Bonfire' euphorbia (Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire', Zones 5-9)

Sunshine Blue\xae blue mist shrub (Caryopteris incana 'Jason', 5-9)

\xa0

Carol's Plants

Hiba arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata 'Variegata\u2019, Zones 5-8)

\u2018Victoria Blue\u2019 mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue', Zones 8-10)

Eastern sweetshrub, syn. Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus, Zones 4-9)

\u2018Gerald Darby\u2019 iris (Iris \xd7 robusta 'Gerald Darby', Zones 4-9)

\xa0

Expert\u2019s Plants

Magical\xae Fantasy weigela (Weigela florida 'Kolsunn', Zones 4-8)

Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, Zones 5-8)

'Whirling Butterflies' gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies', Zones 5-9)

'Goldsturm' black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm', Zones 3-9)