Deer Resistant Plants

1" golden yellow daisies sit atop the dark rich green foliage of this durable groundcover. Drought tolerant once established, Wedelia revels in the heat and sun creating a dense 8-12" high mass of foliage, stems and flowers. Evergreen in mild winter climates but may freeze to the ground in the northern portions of its range. Item# 718.

Wide bluish green upright to arching foliage creates a beautiful almost formal evergreen specimen that is topped by large showy clusters of creamy white flowers that adorn the 6-8' high sturdy stems held well above the foliage in summer on mature plants. The Weeping Yucca's, Yucca cernua, nearly formal habit on medium-sized,sometimes multi-trunked, plants making this rare beauty an excellent choice for gardens and landscapes with average to well-drained soils. The white flowers attract hummingbird moths and other pollianators. Young plants may take 3 or more years to begin flowering and the large specimen shown here is about 8-10 years of age in 2020. The Weeping Yucca is still relatively new to science (2003 - Eric Keith) and was only recently determined to be a distinct species that is found only in Newton and Jasper counties of east Texas. Item# 9883

Clusters of pure-white, butterfly-shaped, fragrant flowers are produced in clusters in summer atop the tropical looking, rich green foliage and sturdy lush stems attracting both butterflies and the hummingbird-like Sphinx Moths. Cut the flowers and put them in a vase and they can perfume an entire room with their sweet heady fragrance. The White Butterfly Ginger, Hedychium coronarium, is a rhizomatous and slowly spreading, naturally evergreen tropical that acts like a die-back perennial in areas where freezes occur, reliably returning in zones 7B to 10. The Hedychium Gingers typically grow and flower best where they receive at least some direct sunlight for 3-4 hours during the day and generally have the best looking foliage where they receive shade during the heat of the day. A planting on the east facing side of a house, tree or other structure where they receive morning sun is often optimum. Provide an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil to keep this easy and reliable heirloom growing and flowering. Item# 1065

White By The Gate produces a nearly continuous display of pure white, perfectly formed, double Camellia flowers over an extended period from early to late season in our gardens. A long time favorite with an upright to rounded habit. The contrasting, dark green foliage creates the perfect foil for the pure white flowers. Item# 10308.

The pure white 1" long tubular flowers emerge from mealy-white calyxes along dense 18-24" high spikes from spring to fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. White Flame Salvia is a vigorous and mannerly intermediate height hybrid of Salvia longispicata x S. farinacea that revels in the heat and sun of summer when many other plants are seeking shade. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with average or better drainage in containers as well as in the garden and landscape. Although, White Flame Salvia is considered hardy to zone 7, it will likely do best if planted out in spring once the danger of freeze and frost have passed. Image courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12176

In late summer and fall, Frostweed produces large flattened clusters of flowers that are used by a variety of pollinators including bees, migrating Monarchs and other butterflies. This is a relatively tall growing rhizomatous native perennial that will develop into a mass of upright stems and flowers. Frostweed, Verbesinca virginica, is typically found growing in moist to periodically dry soils in partly shaded to lightly shaded sites from the Edward's Plateau of west central Texas to Florida and as far north as Missouri and Kentucky. Compared to the very similar species Texas Crownbeard, Verbesina microptera, the Virginia Frostweed has fewer ray flowers (or petals) per flower and is considered to be more reliably cold hardy. Item# 11767

White Lightening Turk's Cap is a new Greg Grant introduction with a more vigorous growth habit and produces loads of pure white blossoms that are held against the dark green foliage. Mix this one in with your red flowered Turk's Caps for a wonderful contrast where it will flower from late May to November. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. Item# 9738

An unusual Camellia that is cherished as much or more for its interesting evergreen foliage than for its flowers. White Mermaid is cloaked in deep green glossy leaves that are 'fish-tailed' or splayed and somewhat split at the ends. This leaf type may also be referred to as 'oak-leaved' or the 'Goldfish' Camellia. It produces medium sized, single, brilliant white flowers with a large boss of golden yellow stamens and are sweetly fragrant. Item# 11345

Clusters of pure white flowers with a darker eye may be born throughout summer and can nearly cover the top of the plant under good conditions. White or Swamp Milkweed is one of the few shade tolerant Milkweeds but it seems to produce a fuller denser plant where it receives at least 4-6 hours or more of direct sunlight. This is an excellent choice for use as a Monarch host as it will remain evergreen in mild winters in zone 8B and warmer and is a good substitute for the Mexican Milkweed for those looking for a reliable locally native perennial Milkweed with a smaller compact habit. Asclepias perennis is native to much of the eastern central US. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to semi-moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Plant the Aquatic or White Milkweed in spring until about midsummer in zones 6-8 to help ensure plants are well-established before winter. It can also be enjoyed as a container plant but it should be protected if there is a chance that the soil can freeze. Item# 10451

Beautiful and unique spidery white flowers absolutely cover this semi-dwarf evergreen shrub in mid-spring. The rare Koromo White Azalea's naturally compact growth habit, durability, and rare flower form make this a definite conversation piece. The lavender form of this Azalea, Koromo Shikibu or Purple Spider, lines the eastern border of the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Gardens at Stephen F Austin's Mast Arboretum. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Item# 10813

Clusters of pure white flowers are borne from spring to frost on this easy and adaptable perennial. With a low, naturally spreading to weeping habit White Trailing Lantana makes an excellent choice for the garden or as a spiller in mixed containers. Excellent for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Evergreen in mild winter climates and makes a wonderful freely flowering groundcover. Item# 10791.

Clusters of tiny, light pink, tubular flowers are encircled by a mass of velvety white, bract-like leaves in mid to late summer. Whiteleaf Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum albescens, has a strong minty sage-like fragrance and can be used in place of sage in cooking. It is a clump forming native perennial with an upright to rounded growth habit reaching about 3' high by flowering. The dainty flowers are pollinated by a variety of smaller pollinators but are especially relished by bees. Easy to grow and deer and pest resistant. Whiteleaf Mountainmint is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Item# 10669

The tall stems of this native perennial cover up in 1" light purple daisies in late summer and fall. Willowleaf Aster, Symphyotrichum praealtum, produces a multitude of upright to arching stems once well-established and makes a grand statement in the fall garden, prairie, meadow, or roadsides. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but are an especially important late summer and fall nectar source for native bees. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Willowleaf Aster or Willow Aster is long rhizomatous, versus clumpforming, and will slowly colonize an area once established creating a dense stand at maturity. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in moist to average moist soils. Cutback to ground level after flowering to prevent unwanted seedlings if desired. Item# 10693.

Only one of two Amsonia species to receive a 5-star rating in the Chicago Botanic Gardens trials! Showy clusters of light blue star-shaped 1" wide flowers are produced in spring atop sturdy stems cloaked in dark green willow-like foliage. The Willowleaf Eastern Bluestar has the same basic habit and growth requirements of the more common Eastern Bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana, but with larger showier flower clusters that seem to cover the plant, a neat dense vase-shaped habit, and clean disease resistant foliage. An easy to grow, clump-forming native perennial that is tolerant of wet to average moist soils preferring a full to mostly sunny site in the garden and landscape. The flowers of Bluestars attract butterflies and hummingbird moths. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11945

Deep wine red falls changing to purple at their outer edge and with a contrasting gold signal and with the standards being only slightly lighter with more purple tones and are topped by light wine red style arms. Wine Country Louisiana Iris is mid to late season flowering, or April-May, and growing to 30-36" high. Note: IMHO this cultivar looks different than the one pictured in the images on the American Iris Society's Iris Wiki as that flower appears more purple than wine and has noticeably ruffled edges. 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# 13341

Deep wine-red cupped flowers with contrasting creamy white stamens cover this durable native groundcover in spring with flowering often continuing well into mid-summer and flowering again in fall. Winecups make excellent choice where it can be allowed to naturalize or where it can be enjoyed spilling from large containers or over a wall. This tough native tap-rooted perennial reliably returns year after year and has been selected as a Plant Select® Award winner. Provide a full sun to partly shade site and Winecups are adaptable to soil types but prefer average moisture. Item# 9232

Pink tinged buds open to 2 ¹/₂-3" wide, ruffled, fragrant, anemone-form to semi-double flowers with a boss of golden yellow stamens that are produced early in the season in Nov-December. Winter's Snowman Sasanqua Camellia is a hybrid that was selected for its reliable zone 6 cold hardiness, clean white fragrant flowers, as well as for its vigor. This is a naturally fairly large growing evergreen shrub with medium textured, deep green Sasanqua-like foliage that emerges burgundy in spring similar to the Red-Tip Photinia and extending its seasons of interest. Like a Sasanqua, Winter's Snowman can be maintained as a 4-6'H hedge, formal to informal screen, or allow it to grow into a naturally large evergreen shrub to small tree with a naturally upright to spreading habit. 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#13010

Zone 6 US National Arboretum introduction! Medium-sized, single, pink often described with a lavender tinge, flowers with a boss of sunny yellow stamens are produced in fall or early in the season, October to November, and are held against a foil of glossy, deep green, medium-textured foliage. Winter's Star Sasanqua Camellia, an Ackerman cross using C. oleifera for cold hardiness and is listed with the C. x hiemalis hybrids, is a vigorous growing, medium-sized, evergreen shrub with a fairly upright and rounded, densely branching habit. It has taken temperatures as low as -12^oF with no apparent damage and no protection except for that of pine trees overhead per Dr. Ackerman's description in the U.S. National Arboretum's pamphlet for these introductions. 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# 13247

Woodville Red Produces large peony form fully double flowers of a nice medium red in midseason. Woodville Red is an old heirloom variety that was first brought to Woodville, MS from Europe in 1820. This large evergreen shrub has a naturally upright to rounded habit. Item# 9745.

Large, dark pink, long lasting, fragrant trumpets with an almost glossy appearance are produced in summer on this Angel's Trumpet. Xena is a vigorous grower and the flowers can darken to near red. Item # 9250