Deer Resistant Plants

Masses of 1" wide yellow-eyed bluish purple daisies absolutely cover this plant for weeks in late summer and fall. Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium and the big brother of the slightly more compact October Skies, is a medium-sized, herbaceous, densely mounding shrub-like perennial that matures to about 3' x 3' at the time of flowering. Excellent fall color for the garden as well as drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance make this an excellent addition to the perennial or wildflower border and landscape. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but seems to be especially popular with bees. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Prefers good to excellent drainage and a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Named the 2016 Plant of the Year by the Garden Club of America and selected for the 2003 Theodore Klein Award. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13164

Deep red to near maroon, starry flowers to 2" across are borne in late spring and early summer on this moderately dense naturally rounded evergreen shrub. The Red Star Anise's medium to dark green foliage has a licorice or anise-like scent when crushed. This Louisiana native is a natural component of the understory along drainages and flood zones in the southeastern portion of the US and generally prefers light shade, morning sun, to filtered shade over full sun as well as a moist well-draining acid soil. These plants originated from an eastern Louisiana native population. Not a spice plant. Item# 596

Brilliant crimson red bottlebrush-like flowers are produced in summer often into fall to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Red Clusters Bottlebrush, a selection of Callistemon viminalis, is a vigorous freely flowering, naturally evergreen large shrub that can also be trained into a small tree form that matures to about 12' high by about 8' wide. In zone 8, the foliage may drop after hard freezes potentially reducing flowering and so this cultivar may be best grow in warmer winter climates like zones 9 and 10. They can also be enjoyed as container plants where not reliably hardy. Provide Bottlebrush with a full to mostly sunny site in an average to well-draining, fertile soil and they are moderately drought resistant once fully established. Item# 603

It's hard to beat Turk's Cap for sheer flower power! From summer to fall the brilliant red flowers just keep coming. Red Hot, a.k.a. Red Spreader, is a lower growing and more spreading form of Turk's Cap with slightly larger red flowers that was selected by plantsman Greg Grant who also developed Pam Puryear's Pink, and Big Momma. Greg says that Red Hot has a more noticeable lower and spreading habit when grown in full sun. Excellent for Hummingbirds and Butterflies, especially the Sulphurs. Item# 9726.

Red Spread Lantana produces clusters flowers that open orange and then darken to deep rich red on a mounding to spreading plant. Lantanas are excellent free flowering perennials that love the heat and the sun. Use Red Spread as a ground cover or allow it spill from large containers. Great for butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 10104

Extra large, reportedly to nearly 1/2" in diameter, brilliant red berries literally cover up this dwarf and compact deciduous shrub throughout much of winter and may last into spring. Red Sprite Dwarf Winterberry Holly, a.k.a 'Nana', 'Compacta, and 'Macrocarpa', is a USDA release that won the 2010 Holly of the Year Award from the Holly Society of America. This adaptable native shrub drops its foliage early to better show of its display of colorful berries. It can be used en masse to great effect, as a low informal hedge, or as a specimen plant near the front of the garden or landscape. Red Sprite is even small enough to enjoy as a medium-sized container plant. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist acidic soil. Needs a male holly, of any species, for pollination that flowers at the same time. 'Southern Gentleman' and 'Apollo' are two males that are recommended. Item# 11887

A multitude of upward facing, sleepy, scarlet blooms are born among the soft, dark green foliage from late spring to frost. A hardy and long-lived, spreading to upright perennial, Turk's Cap is an easy to grow heirloom that will flower in sun or light shade. An excellent nectar plant for hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. Resistant to browsing by deer and moderately drought resistant once well-established. The ripe fruits are readily consumed by birds and other wildlife, along with the occasional curious human. Item# 691.

Ooh la la! This award winning Louisiana Iris boasts deep velvety red falls with just a touch of golden yellow at their base for contrast, and these are centered by three more deep rich velvety purplish-red standards. Awarded the highest award a Louisiana Iris cultivar can receive from the American Iris Society, Red Velvet Elvis won the Mary Swords DeBaillon Medal in 2005. Louisiana Irises generally flower between March and May. Item# 10814.

The large to very large, loose anemone to peony form, bright red flowers typically showing contrasting gold stamens atop white filaments and are produced over an extended period beginning early in the season and continuing through late, November to April. Reg Ragland Supreme Camellia is a large flowered Japonica with a moderate rate of growth and densely branching, compact habit developing into a large, evergreen shrub cloaked in deep green, glossy foliage. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 13253

A 2018 Best of the Best Award winner at the UGA Trial Gardens! Dense black spikes of dark tubular calyxes produce 2" deep royal purple tubular flowers beginning in spring or early summer and continuing until fall atop compact plants with rich green foliage. Rockin'® Deep Purple Salvia is a sterileSalvia guaranitica hybrid so it can spend more time and energy producing its nectar rich flowers instead of for maturing seed. A vigorous well-branched habit lends this Salvia for use in medium to large containers as well as in the garden and landscape. The summer long supply of tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, larger butterflies, as well as larger bees. Provide a sunny location in an average moist well-drained fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12104

The large flowers are composed of dark indigo-blue outer falls that are centered with dark blue inner standards creating full nearly rounded flowers. This is a vigorous and hardy, early to midseason flowering Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearhouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9205

The strikingly variegated new growth is broadly edged in creamy white to light greenish-yellow and each narrow leaf is centered by a contrasting line of deep green creating a nice contrast with the mature, often solid colored, deep green foliage. From a distance it has an overall light yellow to chartreuse cast to the plant. The Roman Candle™ Variegated Japanese Yew, a selection of Podocarpus macrophyllus, is a naturally upright to rounded, large evergreen shrub to small tree that can be maintained as a hedge, specimen accent plant, screen, or it can be trained into a single or multi-trunked small tree. Japanese Yew has long been a favorite in the gardens and landscapes of the Southeastern US with its virtually pest free, low-maintenance, adaptable, deer resistant, heat tolerant demeanor. It is also used widely in the art of bonsai as well as for container specimens. Provide a full to partly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture. Item# 12750

Medium-sized, formal double, deep rose red flowers are produced in midseason, January to February. Romany Camellia is an older, but still highly prized, large flowered Japonica with a vigorous, upright, densley branching growth habit developing into a large evergreen shrub cloaked in deep green, glossy foliage. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13254

Perfectly formed, deep rosey red, medium sized flowers are held against the glossy deep green foliage in mid to late season. Rose Perfect Camellia naturally develops into an upright to rounded evergreen shrub. Prefers well-drained, acidic soils rich in organic matter. Camellias can also be grown as container plants and bonsai. See our Camellia Growing Guide for more detailed planting and growing information. Item# 11348

Deep rose pink, fuzzy tubular flowers are produced in spikes atop the tall stems of this vigorous and free flowering hummingbird magnet! Rosebud Sage is a vigorous and hardy Salvia that begins flowering in early summer and continues into fall on a plant that can easily reach 6' x 6' so allow for plenty of room. A native of Mexico it is a die-back perennial into zone 7 if give protection and a winter mulch. Provide a moderately fertile, well-drained, average moist soil in a full to mostly sunny location for the best results. Item# 11143

The medium-sized, deep pink deepening to near red, perfect form flowers of Rosedale's Beauty Camellia are produced in mid-late season (Feb-Apr). This is a naturally upright to rounded, large evergreen shrub well suited to well-drained, acidic soils in partial shade. Item# 11347

Spikes of 1" long deep rosy pink tubular flowers emerge from dark purplish pink calyces beginning in spring and continuing until fall. Rosie Posie Agastache develops into a dense rounded mass of fragrant foliage that is topped by the long-lasting dispaly of colorful flower spikes. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The neat habit of this Agastache lends it to use as a container plant as well as in gardens and landscapes. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions for optimum vigor and flowering. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc. Item# 11910

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies are produced atop sturdy stems emerging from the rosettes of rounded low growing deep green foliage in early(8B) to late spring or early summer(3) depending on your cold hardiness zone. Roundleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera obovata, is very similar to the cutleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea, but is more tolerant of full sun as well as light shade and drier growing conditions. This stoloniferous native perennial develops into an evergreen to semi-evergreen mat of low rich green foliage and its flowers attract many early season pollinators, especially bees. Use Roundleaf Golden Groundsel as a groundcover in informal and naturalistic garden settings as well as in roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is native to much of the central and eastern US.   Item# 12249