Deer Resistant Plants

In summer arching spikes of showy green, flattened seed heads, reminiscent of fish hanging on a fishing pole, are produced which eventually fade to tan and remain showy until late winter or early spring. The seed heads flutter even in the slightest of breezes providing motion and interest for months. One of our most recognizable, useful, and adaptable native grasses, Inland Sea Oats, Chasmanthium latifolium, is a deciduous, small to medium-sized perennial that readily develops into a groundcover via both rhizomes and seed. Its shade and moisture tolerance lend it to use as a tallish groundcover in both full sun to lightly shaded, wet to average moist, naturalistic garden and landscape settings. The decorative seedheads are used both fresh and dried in cut flower arrangements and the foliage is utilized by the Northern Pearly-Eye, Salt and Pepper Skipper, Bell's Roadside Skipper, and the Bronzed Roadside Skipper butterflies. This rhizomatous native grass is widely distributed throughout the central and eastern US from near central and eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvannia. Tough, adaptable, provides late summer, fall, and winter color, and it's deer resistant. Item# 13108

In mid to late summer large clusters of frilly deep purple flowers sit atop short sturdy stems that are covered in fine dark green narrow foliage giving this tough as nails perennial as soft pleasing texture even when not in flower. Iron Butterfly Ironweed is as tough as its name implies, even though this is a selection of a rare species, it can tolerate short periods of drought or periodic inundation with ease. A nice tightly clump forming perennial from the works of Dr. Allen Armitage and the UGA horticulture program. The flowers provide much needed late summer fodder for bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Item# 10929.

With honey sweet amber flesh and a lightly tart yellow green outer skin the Blanche Fig (its original name according to Dr. Ira Condit) has long been a favorite for fresh eating or drying. A vigorous fig that produces even in areas with short growing seasons it is known to produce two good crops where summers are longer. In the Southern US it is known as the Lemon Fig and is popular in the Northwest and California for home orchards where it is known as White Marseille or Lattarula. A compact tree which can be adapted for container production. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Images courtesy of Agristarts, Inc. Item# 11023

Clusters of up to 12 rich yellow fragrant 1" star-shaped blooms are borne from early spring to late fall on this large evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub which can be allowed to grow into a large widely arching shrub or is easily trained to a trellis or other support. Item # 470.

Clusters of up to 12 rich yellow fragrant 1" star-shaped blooms are borne from early spring to late fall on this large evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub which can be allowed to grow into a large widely arching shrub or is easily trained to a trellis or other support. Item# 10058.

#3 in Mt. Cuba Center Baptisia trials and the #1 white cultivar! In midspring, loads of dark smokey purple 12-20" high flower spikes adorned with starkly contrasting bright white pea-like, nectar rich flowers are held well above the neat mounds of foliage. Ivory Towers Baptisia or False Indigo, a hybrid of our native species developed by Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery, is an easy and low maintenance, deer resistant, large, long-lived clump forming, herbaceous, taprooted perennial maturing to about 4-5'H and equally wide and it maintains its architecturally pleasing vase shaped form throughout the growing season. As the palnts mature they produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide Baptisias with a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Image credit: Tony Avent, Plant Delights, all rights reserved. Item# 13318

2-3" wide, coral red, double blossoms cover the stems of this low and spreading nearly groundcover-like Quince in late winter and early spring. Flowers may be followed by edible fragrant yellow tart fruit that may be best used for making jellies. The low spreading habit makes Iwai Nishiki Quince suitable for spilling over walls and hillsides or for the front of low maintenance landscapes. Like with all Quince, the stems with buds showing color can be used as cut flowers to bring a taste of spring indoors. Item# 10728.

Elegant, medium to large, formal double to rose form, bright rosy pink flowers are produced in mid to late season, January to April. Jack's Camellia is large flowered Japonica with a moderately vigorous, densely branching, compact habit growing to about 4-6' high by 3-4' wide. Its smaller stature and reliable and heavy late winter and early spring flowering lend this Camellia to use as a container plant as well as in the garden and landscape. 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# 13252

One of the top performers in Mt. Cuba Center's Monarda Trials! The dense whorled, almost ball-like clusters of 2" long tubular, fuchsia flowers are subtended by darker fuchsia and purple bracts. The flowers are supported on tall sturdy stems to about 40-48" high beginning in late spring to early summer and attracting hummingbirds, larger butterflies, hummingbird moths, and bees. Judith's Fancy Fuchsia Beebalm, a likely an offspring of a promiscuous Monarda didyma and M. fistulosa, is a taller growing cultivar that has proven to have excellent resistance to powdery mildew. This is a slowly spreading hardy perennial that generally prefers a moist to average moist, fertile soil, optimally in full sun with good air circulation. The seeds are also enjoyed by songbirds. Item# 12952

The medium sized anemone form flowers are composed of a row of white outer petals centered by pale yellowish petaloids interspersed with golden stamens helping to create the yellow effect that has long been sought after in Camellias and this was one of the earliest hybrids to display it. Jury's Yellow Camellia is a long flowering hybrid that begins early in the season and continues into late season.  This is a moderately vigorous 'x williamsii' hybrid with an upright to rounded habit and dense branching growth habit. Use this large evergreen shrub as a specimen in the garden and landscape or as a container plant. Camellias prefer a moist to average moist well-drained loamy to sandy acidic soil with a deep organic mulch. Item# 11665

Kadota produces heavy crops of medium sized flattened green figs that ripen to a yellow green color. The fruit has white flesh and an amber pulp with small seeds and excellent to fair flavor. Good for fresh eating and drying and LSU says it is an excellent choice for preserves. The open eye is filled with honeydew which prevents souring. Kadota ripens in mid season and is considered to be the most widely grown commercial cultivar in California. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 9501

The exquisite medium-sized, high centered, formal double, bright white flowers are produced late in the season, March to April, and standout like spotlights against the foil of deep green foliage. This Camellia flower form is sometimes referred to as a 'pine cone' due to its high center and its neatly overlapping petals. Kagiri Camellia is an heirloom, large flowered Japonica type with a densely branching habit and a slow rate of growth eventually developing into an upright to rounded, large evergreen shrub. The slower growing Camellias make good choices for container specimens and bonsai but will still be a cherished addition to the garden or landscape. 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# 13230

The small to medium-sized, semi-double, rich rosy pink flowers are centered by a boss of contrasting golden stamens, and each petal may be lightly to moderately centered by white. The flowers are produced early in the season providing a burst of color for mid to late fall. Kanjiro Sasanqua Camellia, a selection of Camellia hiemalis, is a vigorous, upright growing, large evergreen shrub becoming rounded with age. It can be used as a screen, tall hedge, as a specimen plant, and can also be trained into a tree form. Sasanquas are considered much more adaptable to sun or shade as well as soil types, provided they have good drainage, moderate fertility, and an acidic pH. And like the large flowered Japonica Camellias, the Sasanquas will also benefit from a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13001

Kevin Matthews Louisiana Iris produces large purple flowers with contrasting golden daggers outlined in black along the outer edges of the standards. This is a vigorous and hardy 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. Image courtesy of Ag3 Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12140

The large to very large, loose peony form, light pink flowers are heavily streaked and flecked with dark pink and gold tipped stamens may peek out from amongst the inner petals. Flowering kicks off just in time for football season, with the first flowers early in the season and lasting into the playoffs, or October to January. Kick Off Camellia is a large flowered Japonica with a vigorous rate of growth and semi-open habit developing into a large upright and rounded shrub at maturity. 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# 13231

The large loose peony form, medium-pink flowers with wavy petals often showing off a few yellow tipped stamens and are produced in mid to late season, Feb-March. King's Ransom Camellia is a moderately vigorous, dense, medium to large evergreen shrub that is upright becoming rounded with age. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13002

Clusters of dark pink to red buds open to highly fragrant white flowers in mid and late spring. The flowers may be followed by 1/4" red fruit that ripens to black. The Korean Spice Viburnum is a medium-sized semi-evergreen to deciduous shrub with deep bluish-green foliage with a whitish reverse that changes into shades of brilliant red and purple in fall. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 480

Very fragrant, single, rich rosy pink flowers are centered by a boss of yellow tipped stamens atop white filaments and are produced over an extended period beginning in early season and continuing into midseason, November to January. The headily fragrant pollen laden flowers are sure to attract bees and other pollinators. Koto-No-Kaori Camellia is a C. lutchuensis hybrid with a moderate to vigorous upright, semi-open habit and medium to deep green foliage. The name aptly translates to 'Perfume of the Ancient Capital'. 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# 13232

An old favorite noted for its light fragrance and large deep red double peony-like blooms in mid-late season (early spring for us). An upright growing to rounded dense evergreen shrub with rich glossy green foliage. Item# 9166.