People say that deer will eat anything if they're really hungry, but there are many plants that they just won't touch (well, most of the time).
This August, the deer stopped responding to my deer spray. I have to admit that I may not have timed all my sprays perfectly, but I was spraying frequently. Things I sprayed one day were nibbled the next day. Not good! I even wrote the manufacturer of Liquid Fence, since I think that the problem began when they changed their formula. I did try some other brands, but they didn't keep the deer away either.
I decided that the daylilies were done for the season. Most of my late blooming ones never had a chance! Many of the hostas were eaten down to stubs, but they'll grow back next year.
So, instead of a luxuriant bed of beautiful shade plants, I had the "uglies"! I needed a fresh solution and some fresh foiiage. Looking around my garden, I saw that the Japanese forest grasses and sedges were still looking good; so, I decided to plant more of them to give my shady areas some life.
Along the way, I started to notice what other plants the deer don't eat. Hellebores are never touched by the deer! Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Japanese Forest Grass) and Dicentra exima (Fringed Bleeding Heart) are both deer proof. Other non-prefered perennials are: calamintha, gaillardia, monarda, salvia, columbine, Italian arum, geranium, bleeding hearts, foxgloves, daffodils, agastache, pulmonaria, primroses, spiderworts, toadflax, yarrow, lysimochia, and ferns.
HAKONECHOLA MACRA AUREOLA
Gaillardia 'Oranges and Lemons'
Geranium maculatum 'Expresso'
DEER IN THE DAYLILIES
CAREX 'NAGA KISHIKI'
HAKONECHOLA 'ALL GOLD'
LIRIOPE 'SILVER DRAGON' (LILYTURF)
Calamintha grandiflora
Agastache
Salvia nemerosa 'Blue Hill' and columbines
Monarda
LIROPE MUSCARI 'SILVERY SUNPROOF'
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Japanese Forest Grass) and Dicentra exima (Fringed Bleeding Heart) are both deer proof.