deer resistant plants

The Lavender Experiment

| Flower Roberts

Deer do not like the scent of lavender. I decided to plant lavender in my flower beds to deter deer snacking. I wanted to see which lavender hybrids did best here in Zone 7.

The experimental row of lavender.

I purchased seven different varieties.
Here is the list in order of best to worst performance. All of these have survived two years of neglect (except Superblue which died). Keep in mind I only used one of each variety instead of many test plants per hybrid for more data.

1. LLOYD TRAVEN #pp24193( Lavendula x Phenomenal) great form, many flower stalks

LLOYD TRAVEN PP#24193 lavender


2. PROVENCE: nice mound, long stalks, light purple

Provence lavender


3. HIDCOTE: smaller mound, deep purple, chunky blooms

Hidcote lavender


4. PHENOMENAL: tall stalks, survived traffic, lovely green

Phenomenal lavender


5. MUNSTEAD: small mound, lovely gray tint on short stalks, chunky blooms, good size for a pot

Munstead lavender


6. BRIDGET CHLOE: really tall stalks, survived traffic

Bridget chloe lavender


7. SUPERBLUE= died

Lavender row

Any of these will deter deer at close range.

The herd still went behind two lavender plants to ravage this Lacecap Hydrangea. BLAH!

Poor edible lacecap hydrangea
Blooms out of deer range

FLOWER

The Uneaten Plants

| Flower Roberts

I will be very particular with my plant purchases for Zone 5. I have wasted a lot of money in my Zone 7 gardens over the years. That will not happen again. I now research every plant for deer resistance.
So far there are four new plants that have not been devoured by deer. They are cone flower, lantana, ice plant and an Epimedium.

The Echinacea Sombrero ‘ Red Salsa PP#23105 tag says Zones 4-9. It seems happy on a slant near a wall.

‘Salsa Red’ Sombrero Echinacae

Ocean Sunset Orange Glow Ice Plant survived being stepped on by a hunky EMT named Kurt. This Delosperma’s tag claims extreme coldy hardy.

‘Ocean Sunset Orange Glow’ Ice Plant Delosperma

‘Hot Blooded’ red Lantana camara is growing uneaten in the front flower bed. It is hardy to 32°, so it will be treated as an annual.

‘HOT BLOODED RED’ Lantana camara

My latest Epimedium is named ‘Pink Champagne.’ I could not resist any plant nicknamed Fairy Wings. It also claims to be hardy in Zones 5-9. This is not blooming but also not being eaten.

My favorite plant store in Boone gave me this list several years ago. I will be referring to it religiously from now on. Thanks Mustard Seed.

FLOW