Deer Resistant Plants

The bare winter stems are adorned with bright sunny yellow flowers in late winter and early spring attracting mainly bees as pollinators. Once the flowering season is finished this beautiful shrub is adorned with solid yellow foliage providing color until autumn when the foliage takes on purple tones until it falls away. The Solid Gold Dwarf Korean Forsythia, Forsythia viridissima var. koreana 'Solid Gold', is an Almost Eden introduction that we selected as a stable sport of the cultivar Ilwang. Ilwang was first shared with us by the late great nurseryman Sherwood Aikens of Minden, Louisiana. This is an easy to grow, low maintenance, compact growing deciduous shrub with an arching, fountaining habit growing wider than tall and maxing out at about 3-4'H x 4-5'W. Its golden foliage can tolerate full sun but may lighten some but this does not appear to affect the plant's vigor it. Provide a fertile soil with average or better drainage and average moisture. Item# 9742

Sommer Joy Angel's Trumpet produces long-lasting double or more, pink trumpets on a vigorous growing plant throughout the warmer months of the year. This is an exciting 2015 release by noted Brugmansia breeder Fred Sommer. Angel's Trumpets are fast growing tropical shrubs that act-like die-back perennials in the northern parts of their range but readily return from the roots in spring. Sure to attract hummingbird moths. Item# 11290

A low growing, clump forming to slowly spreading perennial the Southern Prairie Aster produces 1" wide, medium purple to lighter pinkish purple daisies with a yellow eye atop sturdy upright to arching stems beginning in late summer and lasting into fall. This is another Aster that is native to sandy dryer upland soils and so is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Excellent for native pollinators.Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.  Item# 10694.

A freely flowering summer blooming Snapdragon, this easy to grow perennial produces dense spikes of soft rosy pink flowers with primrose yellow and peachy orange nectar guides that sit atop a compact mound of handsome fuzzy gray-green foliage. The Spanish Snapdragon, a native of the drier Meditteranean region of Europe, is a suprisingly winter hardy species growing about twice as wide as it is high and may trail somewhat when grown as a container plant. It is best suited to soils with excellent drainage in a full to mostly sunny location and makes a forgiving container specimen that will dazzle for weeks. Even with its preferences for drier conditions it has been quite tolerant of growing in average moist well-drainedsoils in our hot and humid southern zone 8B climate. Moderately drought resistant once well-established and considered to be deer and rabbit resistant. Caterpillar host: Common Buckeye. Item# 11695

A U.S. National Arboretum introduction, Sparkleberry Holly was selected for its ability to produce a dramatic, long-lasting display of deep glowing red berries in dense clusters that seemingly cover the generally upright to arching stems of this vigorous deciduous holly. Masses of tiny greenish white spring flowers are soon followed by small round fruit that ripen to a deep, clear red. In fall the foliage turns to yellow and is quickly shed to display the bare stems adorned with massive clusters of brilliantly colored berries that can remain well into spring. Item# 10723.

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! The small to medium-sized, double, ruby red flowers with a lavender tinge, showing varying amounts of yellow stamens among the central petaloids, are produced early in the season, October to December. Sparkling Burgundy Sasanqua Camellia is a C. hiemalis hybrid with Shi-Shi Gashira lineage with a vigorous yet compact well-branched habit and cloaked in medium-textured, dark green, glossy foliage growing about as high as wide. Use this medium-sized evergreen shrub as a fall flowering accent, hedge, or even a container plant in formal or informal settings. This was one of the earliest patented Camellias assigned USPP1539. The Sasanqua Camellias are much more tolerant of growing conditions than standard Japonica Camellias and can tolerate less than perfect soils and full sun to light shade conditions. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13229

Clusters of 1" orange tubular blooms are born throughout much of the year where protected from frost and freezes or it acts as a die-back perennial in the northern portions of its range. Shade and drought tolerant, deer resistant, and a favorite of Hummingbirds, how can you go wrong with Spicy Justicia? It flowers in sun or shade, though plants may be healthiest and most floriferous when grown with afternoon or midday shade, in well-drained, average moist, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 654.

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy medium to deep green foliage is heavily overlaid with contrasting white to creamy white variegation including the major veins which are almost solid white. A choice evergreen shrub for shaded sites. Mature plants produce large loose clusters to 18" or more across are composed of 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, ball-shaped white flowers that are produced in fall to winter attracting an amazing number of mainly smaller pollinators and are followed by 1/4" diameter green berries that ripen to black. Spider's Web Fatsia or Japanese Aralia makes an excellent choice for shaded locations and develops into a medium to large, often multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an initially slow rate of growth that increase to moderate once plants are well-established. Makes a wonderful specimen, informal hedge, or container plant for indoors or out. Provide Fatsia with an average moist, fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average or better drainage. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12829

Dainty, nectar-rich, late winter to midspring, greenish white flowers are followed by sweet, clear orange, 3/8" diameter berries with a flavor reminiscent of cantaloupe ripen in fall. Like all of our native Hackberry species, the Spiny Hackberry, Celtis pallida or C. ehrenbergiana, is an important host plant for the Hackberry butterflies (American Snout, Cuban Snout, Empress Leilia, Dusky Emperor, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor, etc...) as well as the Red-Bordered Metalmark. The ripe fruit are devoured by a variety of birds and other wildlife. Human nibblers should be aware that the fruit does contain a large pit. The Spiny or Desert Hackberry develops into a large shrub or small tree that seems to prefer average moist soils but as the name implies it is quite drought tolerant once well-established. Item# 10682

The beautifully mottled, splashed, and flecked yellowish, chartreuse, and deeper green variegated succulent ovate foliage adorns the zig-zagging stems of this upright growing succulent and summer may bring a ring-like cluster of 1" long deep red, bird-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and give the plant its common name. The Splish Splash or Mottled Red Bird Cactus is an easy to grow highly decorative form of this heirloom and Florida native plant that has an easy and forgiving disposition creating fantastic, architecturally pleasing specimens. A shrub-like native of tropical forests of southern Florida and as far south as Central America, it makes an easy porch or patio plant where it partial shade to bright shade but can also be enjoyed as an easy indoor plant.  Allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings although it can tolerant more moisture when in active growth and less during winter. Item# 12608

A 1958 Monrovia introduction, Spreading Sunset Lantana produces rounded clusters of nectar rich flowers that open yellow and fade through shades of orange to near red creating an overall orange effect. This a trailing Lantana that lends itself to use as a groundcover in the garden or landscape or as a spiller from large containers. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators especially butterflies and bees. Provide a full to mostly sunny position for the best results. Item# 11048

Masses of 2-¹/₂ to 3" wide semi-double rose pink flowers seemingly cover up the plants in February-March and are centered by a boss of yellow stamens atop white filaments. Spring Awakening Camellia, a hybrid developed and introduced by Dr. Clifford Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery in 1990, is a moderately vigorous, large growing evergreen shrub with an upright, somewhat loose and open habit initially that will likely become denser and rounded with age as is typical of most Camellias.  Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13009

For several weeks in mid to late spring, the mounds of large, apple-green, heart-shaped, quilted foliage with maroon veining is topped by a multitude of up to 10" high conical spike-like clusters, or racemes, that are adorned in pink round buds that open to display the fragrant dainty white flowers that attract a variety of smaller pollinators. In fall and winter, its foliage takes on fall colors in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple. Spring Symphony Foam Flower or Tiarella, a hybrid selection, is a stoloniferous, ^†semi-evergreen, perennial groundcover perfectly suited to shaded gardens and landscapes. They can tolerate more sun in areas with cool summer climates but will still likely prefer to be in the shade during the heat of the day. Tiarellas prefer a moist soil with ample organic matter and average or better drainage and are resistant to be being browsed by deer and rabbits. In his introduction to the genus Tiarella, Dr. Allen Armitage in his Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition states that he "puts these plants on the A list for shady areas." and in regards to the cultivar Spring Symphony he states "Even though there has been an explosion of newer cultivars, this is still the one I recommend to my daughters." Spring Symphony Tiarella has also been selected as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Images courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13327

Masses of 2" wide starry white flowers with a green eye that shine against the deep green foliage are produced in spring with repeat flowering in summer and into fall. A dwarf hybrid developed by Dr. Tom Ranney at J.C. Raulston Arboretum, Star Flower Orion Anise Shrub or Illicium was selected not only for its showy white spring flowers and compact habit but also for its unique ability to repeat flower in summer and into fall. These adaptable evergreen shrubs are tolerant of moist to relatively dry shade as well as full sun conditions. Provide a moist to average moist soil until well-established. Illiciums are one the few shrubs that can be considered 'deer proof'. Foliage may be slightly yellowish to more of an olive green in full sun conditions whereas it is deeper green to almost blue-green in shade. Not a spice plant. Images courtesy of Star Roses and Plants, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12002

The large dark maroonish-red starry flowers are produced multiple times per year beginning in early spring and are held against a foil of deep green foliage all on a compact plant. Star Flower Scorpio Anise was developed and introduced by Dr. Tom Raney at NCSU's Mountain Crop Improvement Lab for both its ability to flower throughout the growing season as well as a neat, naturally rounded bushy habit. Like its parent the Red Anise, Illicium floridanum, it will tolerate full sun but it seems to be at its best where it receives midday to afternoon shade in a moist to average moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Like most other species of Illicium, this is not a plant to be used as a spice even though the crushed foliage has the typical licorice or anise-like fragrance. Images courtesy of Dr. Tom Raney and NCSU MCIL, all rights reserved. Item# 12472

The rounded clusters of flowers open a bright golden yellow and mature through bright pumpkin orange and finally into deep red tones all the while attracting a wide variety of pollinators with their nectar reward from spring until fall. Star Landing Lantana was selected for its low mounding habit, excellent flower power, vigor and reliable zone 7B cold hardiness. Use it as a groundcover in the garden and landscape for traffic stopping color throughout the growing season as well as for low-maintenance container specimens. When planted alone it is reported to produce almost no seed. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12886

A rare striped Sasanqua! This is a heavily flowering plant that produces loads of medium-sized, single to semi-double, white flowers that are randomly striped and often heavily edged with starkly contrasting deep rose red and are centered by a boss of nicely contrasting yellow stamens. Flowering occurs in early to midseason, October to January, attracting bees with ample pollen. Stars 'N Stripes Sasanqua Camellia has a moderate rate of growth with an upright to spreading, densely branching habit and matures into a medium-sized, evergreen shrub. The dark green, medium-textured, glossy foliage acts as a wonderful foil to its fall flowers and is sure to be a conversation piece. Sure to make a neat choice for a hedge, specimen, or accent in the garden and landscape as well as for container culture. The Sasanqua Camellias are much more tolerant of growing conditions than standard Japonica Camellias and can tolerate less than perfect soils and full sun to light shade conditions. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13243

Rounded clusters of star-shaped sky blue flowers adorn the ends of sturdy stems in spring. Starstruck Bluestar or Amsonia develops into a neat rounded mound of deep green foliage to about 20" high once flowering is complete. This is an easy and reliable clump forming perennial that is tolerant of wet, moist, to average moist sites and that will only get better with age. Bluestars are pest, disease, and deer resistant perennials that are considered to be somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12110

An eye-catching yet elegant combination of large lemony-yellow falls are accented by lime-green veining and signals and are topped by contrasting bright white standards that are tipped in yellow and are accented by complimentary green and yellow veining which are then topped by lime-green style arms that are broadly tipped and edged in yellow. Start of Something Big Louisiana Iris is a small to medium-sized plant growing to about 30" high and it flowers very late in the season, typically May. It received an Honorable Mention from the American Iris Society in 2015. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13346

Huge round clusters composed of extra large bell-shaped deep violet-blue flowers held on sturdy stems atop the narrow strap-like medium green foliage in late spring to early summer and potentially into fall on well-established clumps. Stevie's Wonder Lily of the Nile or Agapanthus is a vigorous, clump-forming perennial with a tropical look but this cultivar has proven to have excellent hardiness into zone 7. The flowering spikes are typically 2-3' high in areas that experience hardy winter freezes (zone 7-8) but they are reported to reach up to 6' high in zone 9 with reports that the flower clusters can reach near volleyball size! The flowers of Agapanthus attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Stevie's Wonder Lily of the Nile a full to partly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Makes an easy and low-maintenance container plant where not hardy. May be fully winter deciduous. Item# 12467

6" wide rounded clusters of 1" wide deep blue-purple to dark purple trumpet shaped flowers are produced atop sturdy 3' high stalks in summer that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Though recent competition has increased when it comes to reliably cold hardy Agapanthus cultivars, Storm Cloud is still considered to be one of the most reliable, naturally winter dormant cultivars but it will benefit from a breathable mulch in any area that experiences freezing temperatures for extended periods. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established but generally prefers an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Deer and rabbit resistant and moderately salt tolerant. Makes an easy and low maintenance container plant where not hardy. Item# 1144

Dense rounded clusters of starry periwinkle blue flowers are produced in late spring to early summer atop the fine-textured deep green foliage that transforms to a deep golden yellow in fall. String Theory Blue Star, a hybrid of or selection of Amsonia hubrichtii, has all of the wonderful traits of Arkansas Blue Star but with a more refined compact habit. This is a clump-forming, long-lived, herbaceous native perennial with an almost formal habit at maturity reaching about 18-24"H x 30-36"W. It can be utilized as an informal hedge or backdrop and will look great paired with native grasses in fall. This Proven Winners© selection is tough and easy, low-maintenance, sunloving, heat tolerant, and deer and rabbit resistant. The flowers of the Blue Stars attract larger bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and hummingbird moths. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12891

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