After writing an article on shade loving perennials, I have received several comments about the problems gardeners are facing dealing with deer and rabbits in the areas they live. As a result, I began some research to find perennial plants that deer and rabbits will leave alone. Yes, deer in particular are a big problem on those areas heavily populated by them such as in the mountains and foothills.

In my research, I found out that deer tend to avoid plants with strong odors or have a bitter taste in the leaves and many of the same plants are rabbit resistant as well. While there is no sure cure for the deer and rabbit problem in your garden, here are some perennial plants that deer and rabbits will leave alone.

Paeonia ‘Kopper Kettle’-Botanical name is Paeonia Lactifora Lemoinei Koppler Kettle
In the Peony family, this plant looks almost like a peony tree. Did you know that Peonies are the longest lived perennial of all? This one has 8-inch flowers with petals that combine red, orange and some gold tones. The flowers come out in late spring and early summer and if you cut them to place in a vase indoors, the plant may set another load of buds before the season is out. The plant then goes dormant as most herbaceous do, dying back in autumn and coming back in early spring. Kopper Kettle grows to 32 inches high and 24 inches wide and it tolerates heat, humidity, cold and poor soil. And, like all Peonies, it repels deer and rabbits. Grows well in zones 3-8.

Aconitum ‘Cloudy’ Botanical Name: Aconitum ‘Cloudy’
This one shade loving perennial is very pretty and the flowers begin in late summer which is great because it is at that time that most flower gardens need some color. Cloudy has hooded like bi-color blooms in white with strong brushstrokes of blue at the base and the tips of each petal. Why is this perennial named Cloudy? Because the blooms do resemble clouds scudding across the sky. The blooms crowd along slender but sturdy stems that point straight up and crowning the dark green foliage.

Cloudy grows up to 24 inches high when in full bloom and up to 18 inches wide. Grows well in zones 5-8 and if you need a deterrent for animals who like to nibble on your plants, then do plant Cloudy. It is untouched by deer, rabbits and other pests.
Note: Be careful with this one if you have pets as it is poisonous.

Helleborus Brandywine Strain-Botanical name is Helleborus Hybridus Brandywine Strain
Why is this one called Helleborus? Because breeder David Culp somehow collected the original plants for this strain from the Hellebore gardens of Europe. It has been said that he spent 15 years hand crossing them to select only the finest colors and flower form for the Brandywine. This plant has single, anemone, and double blooms along with a full range of solid, bi-color, and sometimes freckled forms and colors that can range from deep reds, pale greens, ivory, yellow, pink and apricot. Like all Hellebores, Brandywine Strain is resistant to heat, humidity, drought and cold. The deer and rabbits will leave this one alone. It grows 12-18 inches high and 12 inches wide. The flowers come out in late spring and early summer and thrives in zones 4-9.

Polemonium ‘Touch of Class’-Botanical name is Polemonium Reptans Touch of Class
This shade loving perennial has soft sage green foliage outlined in white and then blooms with pink buds that burst into blue blooms. In early summer, many pink buds appear bursting into bright blue blooms that last through the season. The plant is long, slender and the stems are russet brown reaching 14 inches high and 16 inches wide. You can plant touch of class amongst Hostas and Ferns for a magnificent look to your flower garden. It grows well in zones 3-7.

Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’-Botanical name is Nepeta x Joanna Reed
This perennial is in the Catmint family and was found in the garden of Janna Reed of Pennsylvania who tested it for several years to get its top notch bloom power. The blooms are a rich blue violet color and looks great against its gray-green foliage. Joanna Reed blooms heavily in early summer and if you cut it you cut the blooms mid season, it will bloom again in the fall. It grows up to 3 feet tall and wide and tolerates drought and thrives in zones 4-8. Joanna Reed will resist deer and other plant nibbling pests but will attract butterflies.

Aquilegia ‘Clementine Salmon Rose’-Botanical name is Aquilegia Vilgaris Clementine Salmon Rose
The Clementine Salmon Rose is in the Columbine family and has double flowered blooms. When the flowers open, they are a rich shade of salmon and gradually they mature to a soft lavender purple color. According to other gardeners, a fully blooming plant can contain over a half a dozen different hues for a spectacular display. Clementine Salmon Rose is ideal for cut flowers for indoor beauty. The more you cut these, the more flowers you get. It blooms from mid spring through mid summer and grows well in zones 3-9. Deer and rabbits will leave this one alone but it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Heuchera ‘Sashay’-Botanical name is Heuchera Sashay
This heuchera has beautiful ruffled leaves in two different colors. Dark green in the back topsides and pale burgundy undersides leaves plus rosy mauve blooms on long slender stems above the foliage makes this Heuchera a must have for your flower garden. This carefree perennial is just 12-18 inches tall and slightly less wide and resists deer but loves butterflies. It tolerates drought and grows well in zones 4-9.

Thalictrum Actaefolium ‘Perfume Star-Botanical name is Thalictrum Actaefolium Perfume Star
Thalictrum flowers all summer long and has large clusters of 1 inch starburst blooms which are very fragrant. The blooms are soft lavender with bright white tips and its blue green foliage makes this a very nice contrast in your garden. It is deer and rabbits resistant. Thalictrum grows to 40 inches high and about 20 inches wide and grows well in zones 5-9.

Penstemon ‘Sunburst Ruby’-Botanical name is Penstemon x Mexicali Sunburst Ruby
Penstemon is a very hardy and easy to grow perennial that has ruby red 12-16 inches tubular blooms with white throats on long, narrow shiny green leaves. It is deer resistant but hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant. Penstemon grows up to 18 inches tall and tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and cold weather. It blooms from early summer to early fall in most areas and grows well in zones 5-9.

Geranium ‘Bevan’s Variety’-Botanical name is Geranium Macrorrhizum Bevan’s Variety
This geranium has fuchsia blooms and keeps blooming from late spring to late summer. In the fall when the cool weather begins, the foliage turns to reddish bronze color. The blooms are about 1 inch and are held above a mound of aromatic foliage which will attract butterflies but turn off deer by it’s mildly pine scented foliage. This Geranium tolerates heat and humidity better than most other geraniums. It grows up to 10 inches tall but spreads up to 24 inches over time and thrives in zones 3-8. It is recommended for containers, borders or edging in your flower garden.

Monarda Grand Parade-Botanical name is Monarda Didyma Grand Parade
This perennial has sweet scented blooms that are lavender and frilly. The shiny dark green foliage is just as fragrant as the flowers with a tangy scent of mint which is pleasant to us but somehow this smell keeps deer and other plant nibbling creatures away. Monarda grows up to 16 inches high and up to 20 inches wide and blooms from mid to late summer. It is recommended that the soil for this perennial be moist or even wet and grows well in zones 3-8.

Salvia ‘Purple Knockout’-Botanical name is Salvia Lyrata Purple Knockout
Purple Knockout has large dark chocolate burgundy leaves for spring and summer but in the fall, it turns to bright red. During the summer, small lavender to silvery white blooms appear for a spectacular show in your flower garden. The plant is then topped by long slender stems with small blooms that open as pale purple and mature to silver and white. In the fall, the foliage turns to bright scarlet and when frost arrives the plant remains evergreen. Deer and rabbits don’t nibble on this one but butterflies and bees love it. It thrives in well drained soil and grows well in zones 5-8.

So there you have it, a list of some deer and rabbit resistant perennials for your flower garden. You can have a beautiful garden without worrying about deer and other pests nibbling on your plants. Enjoy!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 8:05 pm and is filed under Flower Gardening, Gardening, Perennials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.