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Deer Resistant Annuals

purple ageratum plant

Our List Of Proven Deer Resistant Annuals

You know the routine. You fight the crowds at the local garden center on Saturday morning, fill your car with flats of bright, colorful annuals, spend the afternoon plantings, mulching and watering them, only to come out on Sunday morning to find them eaten down to the roots by deer. Don’t’ blame the deer, they were just doing what they do. Eat. Although no list of deer resistant annuals is perfect, here is our list of annual flowers we have had success with in deer zones.

One note of caution. Although deer may not eat these annual flowers, they may taste them and then decide they do not like them. When this occurs, they usually drop the plants and you will need to tuck them back into your garden soil.

Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)

Available in blue, light purple or white. This annuals makes an outstanding border for a garden bed. Full sun to partial shade.

 

Annual Vinca (Catharanthus rosea)

A favorite for hot sunny spots. Grows to around 1’. Available in white, pink, lavender and several combinations.

 

Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)

Grows 1’-3’ with a very pleasant scent. Flowers in blue, red or white. A great plant for containers.

 

Marigold (Calendula sp.)

Probably one of the best known annuals. Orange or yellow blooms. Plant varieties can be 6” to 1’ tall. Full sun. Very powerful color.

 

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

Perfect for early season color. Prefers partial to full sun and grows 1’ to 3’ tall depending on the variety. Wide range of colors: white, yellow, orange, pink and red.

 

Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

A striking border plant available in white, pink or purple. Very drought resistant. A “must have”.

 

Spider Flower (Cleome sp.)

Tall, leggy appearance with a showy appearance. Grows best in full sun and can reach 2’ or more. White, pink or light purple.

 

Salvia (Salvia sp.)

A member of the sage family. Nice spike flower reaching to 18”. Colors are red, purple or light blue.

 

Zinnia (Zinnia sp.)

An old stand-by. Zinnias come in a multitude of colors including white, yellow, pink, red and orange. Varieties from 6” to over 2’. Great cut flower.

 

 

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