{"id":8449,"date":"2023-02-20T11:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T11:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/?p=8449"},"modified":"2023-03-02T18:54:51","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T18:54:51","slug":"deer-rabbit-resistant-perennials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/deer-rabbit-resistant-perennials\/","title":{"rendered":"Deer &#038; Rabbit Resistant Perennials"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"827219ce0a87fa193c09e84c4c9a0f12\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:20px 0 20px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- MOINSBD Link Top -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-4387862990858706\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"6762903103\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"link\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><u>DO THEY EAT EVERYTHING?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It may seem like everything gets eaten, but deer and rabbits do have their particular favourites. \u00a0And, there are certain plants that they never touch. \u00a0An internet search will turn up plenty of so-called \u201cdeer-proof\u201d or \u201crabbit-proof\u201d plant lists, but ANY list must be taken with a grain of salt. That\u2019s because critters will sample or eat anything when populations are high and food is scarce. \u00a0Also, populations may develop a taste for specific plants that deer and rabbits in other regions never touch. \u00a0A list can only be a general guideline, and your experiences may be different from other gardeners. \u00a0It might be helpful to ask local neighbours about which plants in their garden are being eaten and which are not.<\/p>\n<p>We have assembled a list of our own, based on dozens of lists found all over the continent. \u00a0Some of these plants are listed in our chart at the bottom of this post. \u00a0You can find a much more extensive listing by using the Advanced Search feature on this website (www.perennials.com),<\/p>\n<p>Rabbits and deer tend to avoid similar plants, but not always. \u00a0In terms of deer, researchers have noticed they tend to stay clear of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Toxic plants \u2013 perhaps determined by their bad smell or taste<\/li>\n<li>Fragrant or aromatic plants \u2013 they don\u2019t like strong odours<\/li>\n<li>Fuzzy leaves \u2013 to a deer these must feel like eating Velcro<\/li>\n<li>Ornamental grasses \u2013 most are untouched by deer, probably because their teeth can\u2019t chew them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Rabbits will eat Blue Fescue and some others.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>COMBINE SEVERAL STRATEGIES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We can avoid planting what deer or rabbits prefer to eat, but their favourites might already be growing in your garden. \u00a0If that\u2019s the case, you\u2019ll need to use several tactics together to win the battle.\u00a0 Here are some suggestions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Learn when to expect trouble: monitor the local herd. If there are more deer around than usual, then expect trouble. Deer feeding in gardens can be particularly bad after a summer drought when wild food sources may be scarce.<\/li>\n<li>Protect vulnerable plants \u2013 particularly expensive shrubs and trees \u2013 or any plants that don\u2019t appear on deer or rabbit-resistant lists. Use repellents right away on newly-planted favourites; don\u2019t wait for the damage.<\/li>\n<li>Wrap or cage specific plants: sturdy materials such as snow fencing, poultry netting and deer fencing can be very effective when erected from fall to mid spring to protect vulnerable shrubs and trees. The Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies website (<a href=\"www.caryinstitute.org\">caryinstitute.org<\/a>) has excellent detailed instructions on how to go about this.<\/li>\n<li>Use repellents: newer products that combine bad smell and taste together seem to be more effective than older types. Reapply repellents every three weeks but follow the minimum temperature instructions on the label to avoid injuring plants. \u00a0Repellents that are soap or egg-based are less damaging, but it\u2019s always wise to test any repellent on a small portion of the plant first. \u00a0Despite what product labels may claim, no repellent will work forever by just spraying it on once.<\/li>\n<li>Consider fencing: where deer browsing is really bad, a perimeter fence at least 8 feet tall enclosing the entire property has proven effective.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><u>KNOW WHAT PLANTS TO AVOID<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In general, the following perennials, shrubs and trees will often be nibbled or eaten, so it\u2019s better to just avoid them if deer or rabbits are in the area. \u00a0Your local garden centre will know if others that are a problem.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-8458\" src=\"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Deer-for-perennials.com_-e1559586902982.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/>Favourite Deer Plants<\/strong>: Apple and Crabapple, Aspen, Aucuba, Azalea, Birch, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry (including ornamental types), Chokecherry, Clematis, Crocus, Daylily, Eastern Redbud, Elderberry, Elm, English Ivy, Euonymus (especially Burning Bush), Fir, Flowering Dogwood, Hawthorn, Hemlock, Hibiscus, Hollyhock, Honeysuckle, Hosta, Hydrangea, Impatiens, Lilac (Korean), Lily (Lilium), Maple, Mountain Ash, Mountain Laurel, Oak, Peach, Pear, Phlox (Summer), Pine (especially Mugo and White), Plum, Poplar, Raspberry, Redbud, Rose (especially Hybrid Tea), Sedum (Autumn Stonecrop), Strawberry, Sumac, Trillium, Tulip, Vegetables (especially broccoli, cauliflower, beans, lettuce, peas, corn), Viburnum, Viola (especially Pansies), White Cedar (Arborvitae), Willow, Wisteria, Witch Hazel, Yew<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8463\" src=\"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Hare-e1559679599932.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" \/>Favourite Rabbit Plants<\/strong>: Anemone (Japanese), Apple and Crabapple, Barberry, Campanula, Celosia, Clematis, Clover (Trifolium), Crocus, Deutzia, Dianthus, Echinacea, Euonymus (especially Burning Bush), Festuca (Blue Fescue), Forsythia, Hawthorn, Hydrangea (Oakleaf), Impatiens, Kerria, Lily (Lilium), Pear, Petunia, Phlox, Portulaca, Pyracantha, Quince (Flowering), Redbud, Rose, Sandcherry, Serviceberry, Snapdragon, Sunflower (annual), Sweet Pea, Tulip, Vegetables (many types), Verbena, Viburnum, Viola (especially Pansies), Zinnia.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>DARN THOSE CRITTERS!!<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We spend a lot time, energy and money on our gardens and nothing is more frustrating than watching them get eaten to nubs by four-legged critters. \u00a0This is a particular problem where new subdivisions have been built on the edges of cities and towns, but sometimes it\u2019s even an urban problem. \u00a0Surveys show that deer populations have exploded in recent years in certain regions, largely due to a lack of natural predators. \u00a0If you\u2019re trying to garden where deer are plentiful, this problem is not going to go away soon. \u00a0Rabbit populations, on the other hand, tend to peak and fall regularly \u2013 some years will be worse than others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>P<\/strong><strong>erennials that both Deer &amp; Rabbits Avoid<\/strong>*<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Botanical Name \/\u00a0<em>Common Name<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Achillea \/\u00a0 <em>Yarrow\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\nAconitum\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Monkshood\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><br \/>\nAgapanthus\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Lily-of-the-Nile\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\nAgastache\u00a0 \/\u00a0 \u00a0<em>Anise-hyssop<\/em><br \/>\nAjuga\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Carpet Bugle<\/em><br \/>\nAquilegia \/\u00a0<em> Columbine<\/em><br \/>\nArtemisia\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Artemisia, Wormwood<\/em><br \/>\nAstilbe \/\u00a0 <em>Astilbe<\/em><br \/>\nBaptisia \/\u00a0 <em>False Indigo<\/em><br \/>\nBergenia \/\u00a0 <em>Bergenia<\/em><br \/>\nBrunnera \/\u00a0 <em>Siberian Bugloss<\/em><br \/>\nBuddleia \/ <em>Butterfly Bush<\/em><br \/>\nCalamagrostis \/\u00a0<em>Feather Reed Grass<\/em><br \/>\nCimicifuga \/\u00a0<em>Bugbane<\/em><br \/>\nCoreopsis \/\u00a0<em>Tickseed<\/em><br \/>\nDicentra \/\u00a0 <em>Bleedingheart<\/em><br \/>\nDigitalis \/\u00a0<em>Foxglove<\/em><br \/>\nEpimedium \/\u00a0<em>Barrenwort<\/em><br \/>\nEupatorium \/\u00a0 <em>Joe Pye-Weed<\/em><br \/>\nEuphorbia \/\u00a0<em>Spurge<\/em><br \/>\nFerns \/\u00a0 <em>Most garden forms<\/em><br \/>\nGaillardia \/\u00a0 <em>Blanket Flower<\/em><br \/>\nHelleborus \/\u00a0 <em>Hellebore\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\nIris (but not Dutch Iris) \/\u00a0<em>Iris<\/em><br \/>\nLamium \/\u00a0<em>Creeping Lamium<\/em><br \/>\nLavandula\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Lavender<\/em><br \/>\nMiscanthus\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Maiden Grass<\/em><br \/>\nMonarda \/\u00a0 <em>Beebalm<\/em><br \/>\nNepeta \/\u00a0 <em>Catmint<\/em><br \/>\nPaeonia\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Peony<\/em><br \/>\nPapaver\u00a0 \/\u00a0 <em>Poppy<\/em><br \/>\nPerovskia \/\u00a0 <em>Russian Sage\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\nPolygonatum \/\u00a0<em>Solomon\u2019s Seal<\/em><br \/>\nPrimula \/\u00a0<em>Primrose<\/em><br \/>\nSalvia \/\u00a0 <em>Perennial Sage<\/em><br \/>\nStachys \/\u00a0<em>Lamb\u2019s-ears<\/em><br \/>\nStokesia \/\u00a0<em>Stokes\u2019 Aster<\/em><br \/>\nThymus \/\u00a0<em>Thyme<\/em><br \/>\nVeronica \/\u00a0 <em>Speedwell<\/em><br \/>\nYucca \/\u00a0 <em>Adam\u2019s Needle<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"490\">\n<table style=\"height: 107px;\" width=\"560\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>*Note:<\/strong>\u00a0 deer and rabbits will nibble or eat nearly anything when populations are high and food is scarce.\u00a0 Any list can only act as a general guideline.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DO THEY EAT EVERYTHING? It may seem like everything gets eaten, but deer and rabbits do have their particular favourites. \u00a0And, there are certain plants that they never touch. \u00a0An internet search will turn up plenty of so-called \u201cdeer-proof\u201d or \u201crabbit-proof\u201d plant lists, but ANY list must be taken with a grain of salt. That\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perennials-101"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8449"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8465,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8449\/revisions\/8465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.perennials.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}