Plants the Deer Generally Leave Alone-Revised and Annotated List
Click the link to go into the entire list of deer resistant plants.
Keep scrolling on this page for some additional photos of deer resistant plants.
Click here for a list of trees and shrubs which attract birds to the garden.
The plant list for butterfly and hummingbird gardens is still on this page.
Beautyberry in July, in full bloom.
Beautyberry growing under a Dogwood tree is covered with purple berries by late September.
Oakleaf Hydrangea, “Snow Queen”, is known to be highly resistant to grazing by deer. This one was planted a month ago from a 1 gal. pot and has doubled in size. Of the three planted in this corner of the garden, two are untouched and a third has been grazed back to the stems by hungry deer.
Lavender, Dusty Miller, Sage, Lantana, and Dianthus are mostly ignored by deer because of the unappetizing texture and aroma of their foliage. All are perennial in our climate.
Pentas, Sage, and Purple Heart enjoy full or partial sun. These plants will all grow to at least 24″ in a season.
Plants For Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardens
An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Monarda.
Here is a list of some annuals, perennials, herbs, vines, and shrubs I grow to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and song birds.
Butterfly garden in its first summer.
Buddliea, or Butterfly Bush, produces huge, showy, nectar laden flower panicles and attracts lots of attention in the garden. Although new compact hybrids are available, older varies grow to 8′ or more in a season and benefit from hard pruning in February.
Lantana (annual or tender perennial depending on variety in Zone B)
Basil (annual edible herb)
Purple Basil and Heliotrope feed many flying visitors, including gold finches who enjoy the Basil seeds.
Buddleia (also, “Butterfly Bush” perennial shrub)
Coneflowers (perennials flower which attracts butterflies. The seeds attract goldfinches)
Zinnias (Annual flower which attracts butterflies. The seeds attract goldfinches)
Gold marigolds, Lantanta, and Pineapple Sage in this late autumn butterfly garden.
Lavender (perennial edible herb)
Rose of Sharon (flowering shrub)
Pineapple Sage (perennial edible herb whose red flowers attract hummingbirds)
Marigolds (annual flower)
Comfrey (perennial medicinal herb)
Roses (perennial shrub)
Mexican Blue Sage (perennial herb)
Pineapple sage blooming in late October is a favorite food source for butterflies still living in the garden.
Purple Hyacinth Bean Vine grown with seeds from Monticello.
Fuchsias (tender perennial)
Oregano (perennial edible herb)
Mimosa (flowering tree)
Hibiscus (perennial or tender perennial shrub, depending on the variety)
Petunias and ivy geraniums welcome hungry insects and hummingbirds.
Petunias (annual flower)
Butterfly Tree or Glory Tree Clerodendrum trichotomum
Butterfly Tree, or Glory tree, Butterfly Tree or Glory Tree is covered in flowers from July to September. It attracts hordes of butterflies to the garden.
Heliotrope (annual herb)
Butterfly on Jasmine in July.
Jasmine (perennial vine, evergreen)
Hollyhocks (biennials or perennials)
Pentas (annuals)
Parsley (biennial, food for caterpillars)
Honeysuckle (perennial vine)
Hyacinth Bean (annual vine)
Clary Sage (annual herb)
Cleome (annual flower)
Red Fuschias and impatiens are a perfect advertisement to draw in hummingbirds, who are attracted to all things red.
Monarda (also called Bergamot or Bee Balm)
Echinacea, or Purple Coneflower, is a favorite of all nectar loving insects. A perennial, it is rarely touched by deer or rabbits, and returns more vigorously each year. Its roots are the source of the popular supplement. Goldfinches love its seeds.
Coleus- (annual)
Trumpet Vine
Bronze Fennel is edible, beautiful, and serves as a host plant for a variety of butterflies.
Host Plants
A good wildlife garden provides food, shelter, water, places to rest, and protection from pedators. A wooded setting provides this for butterflies, moths, birds, and the other small creatures attracted to such a nectar rich garden. Butterflies like to stop and rest on warmth holding stones, slates, masonry. They often gather on wet ground to drink from standing water. A ceramic dish filled with sand, gravel, and fresh water provides a place for them to safely rest drink in the garden.
A beautiful caterpillar has been munching the parsley. He will soon join the butterflies living in the garden.
Butterlies lay eggs on the upper surfaces of leaves such as Tulip Poplar, Sycamore, Willow, Elm, Paw Paw, Locust, Hawthorne, Apple, Aspen, Spice Bush, and Sassafrass. Caterpillars will eat these and many other leaves. They especially enjoy Parsley, Dill, Fennel, Thistle, Alfalfa, and Milkweed. Including some of these plants in or near the butterfly garden will ensure generations of butterflies for many seasons to come.
Related articles
- Hummingbird Moth (forestgardenblog.wordpress.com)
- Hardy Hibiscus (forestgardenblog.wordpress.com)
- Ferns
- Bountiful Basil
- Begonias
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