Here is one of the perennials...Bleeding Heart
Deer-Resistant Perennials When we call certain plants "deer-resistant" perennials, we do not mean that Bambi never eats them. Rather, the term is meant to call attention to plants that Bambi finds less attractive than the other choices on his menu. But do be aware that deer will eat just about anything when starving, lest you be lulled into a false sense of security. This tactic in deer control simply allows you to play the odds through smart plant selection. If you grow plants that deer are less likely to eat you increase your chances of escaping pest damage.
Common Bleeding Hearts Dicentra spectabilis "Bleeding Hearts" The most widely grown bleeding heart is Dicentra spectabilis. This deer-resistant perennial can become quite large, under the right growing conditions. When that happens, it is a "spectacular" plant, as the species name suggests. But even as a smaller plant, it can be a real looker, as one's attention is drawn to the uniquely-shaped individual flowers. It is hard to think of a cuter and more aptly named plant. The shape of a bleeding heart's flower lives up to the plant's name, right down to the little drop of "blood" dripping out from the bottom.
Fringed Bleeding Hearts Dicentra eximia - fringed bleeding hearts Fringed bleeding heart is a smaller plant than its showier cousin. As lovely as Dicentra spectabilis is, some prefer fringed bleeding hearts (Dicentra eximia). There are at least two reasons for this:
01The fern-like foliage is more attractive.
02And those leaves last through the summer heat, unlike those of D. spectabilis
Foxglove Like daffodil bulbs, there's a good reason why Bambi leaves foxglove alone: It's poisonous. Foxgloves are tall, slender plants at 2-5 feet tall and just 1-2 feet wide. Their height makes them good choices for the back row of a layered flower bed. Meanwhile, as plants that tolerate dry shade, they are useful for filling up spots in your landscaping where many other plants would be unhappy. Another plant that Bambi will leave alone and that tolerates partial shade is wood spurge.
Salvia plant Like the related garden sage plants (Salvia officinalis), ornamental salvias are not eaten by Bambi for the same reason that deer do not eat catmints: They stink (well, according to Bambi, anyhow). Grow Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' if what you desire is a splendid foliage plant. Its variegated leaves boast three colors: white, green, and purple. But if it is flowers that you want, grow any of the blue-flowering salvias. Caradonna salvia is a favorite, as gardeners adore its dark, graceful flower spikes. What, you want something spiky, but you don't like salvia? Red hot poker plants are not one of Bambi's favorites. Unlike with salvia, its spikes come in flashy, warm colors. Deer find a number of herb plants stinky, especially ones in the mint family, such as bee balm.
Iris Flowers It's not just poisonous plants and plants with strong, sharp odors that Bambi mostly avoids. For some reason, ornamental grasses aren't one of his favorite foods, either. And, in addition to plants with unpleasant odors, deer don't eat plants that smell perfumy, for the most part. That works out well for us humans, as most of us love to grow fragrant plants. But Bambi finds these just as stinky. Go figure. Not all irises are equally fragrant. When in doubt, try to find the...MORE old-fashioned varieties.
Lavender Plants The herb is primarily non-culinary. Since we have talked about aromatic plants above, you probably figured we would eventually get around to lavender, right? Lavender is the poster child for herbs grown for their smell. Let's thank our lucky stars that Bambi isn't a fan of potpourri! Ants, too, dislike the smell of lavender, which has made this deer-resistant perennial useful, traditionally, for organic ant control.
Peonies What's not to like about peonies? These plants rightly lay claim to:
01Large, beautiful, fragrant flowers.
02Not needing to be fussed over (for example, they don't need to be divided).
03A long life: Your peonies may outlive you. If you've never given these plants from China a try before, you now have an excuse to do so if you're seeking deer-resistant perennials.
Oriental Poppy Large, brightly-colored flowers with the texture of crepe paper have long made oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) a favorite in the garden, especially for those seeking cut flowers. Like some of the other deer-resistant perennials mentioned here, this classic cottage garden plant is toxic. This is a specimen you'll want to locate somewhere where you can fully appreciate the beauty of its flowers during their blooming period (May and/or June, depending on where you live). Oriental poppies put on a spectacular, albeit brief floral show. Dry the pods left over after the blooming period for craft projects.
Those are two truly bad qualities, especially if livestock graze in an area near where you..
Veronica Plants This long-bloomer, also known as "speedwell," begins flowering in late spring to early summer and continues for the rest of the growing season with a little help from you. Make its display of blue flowers last longer by shearing. There are many kinds of speedwells. Some grow a cultivar called 'Royal Candles.' From a distance, the plant looks a bit like a small blue salvia
taken from https://www.thespruce.com/deer-resistant-perennials
Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
Common Bleeding Hearts Dicentra spectabilis "Bleeding Hearts" The most widely grown bleeding heart is Dicentra spectabilis. This deer-resistant perennial can become quite large, under the right growing conditions. When that happens, it is a "spectacular" plant, as the species name suggests. But even as a smaller plant, it can be a real looker, as one's attention is drawn to the uniquely-shaped individual flowers. It is hard to think of a cuter and more aptly named plant. The shape of a bleeding heart's flower lives up to the plant's name, right down to the little drop of "blood" dripping out from the bottom.
Fringed Bleeding Hearts Dicentra eximia - fringed bleeding hearts Fringed bleeding heart is a smaller plant than its showier cousin. As lovely as Dicentra spectabilis is, some prefer fringed bleeding hearts (Dicentra eximia). There are at least two reasons for this:
01The fern-like foliage is more attractive.
02And those leaves last through the summer heat, unlike those of D. spectabilis
Foxglove Like daffodil bulbs, there's a good reason why Bambi leaves foxglove alone: It's poisonous. Foxgloves are tall, slender plants at 2-5 feet tall and just 1-2 feet wide. Their height makes them good choices for the back row of a layered flower bed. Meanwhile, as plants that tolerate dry shade, they are useful for filling up spots in your landscaping where many other plants would be unhappy. Another plant that Bambi will leave alone and that tolerates partial shade is wood spurge.
Salvia plant Like the related garden sage plants (Salvia officinalis), ornamental salvias are not eaten by Bambi for the same reason that deer do not eat catmints: They stink (well, according to Bambi, anyhow). Grow Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' if what you desire is a splendid foliage plant. Its variegated leaves boast three colors: white, green, and purple. But if it is flowers that you want, grow any of the blue-flowering salvias. Caradonna salvia is a favorite, as gardeners adore its dark, graceful flower spikes. What, you want something spiky, but you don't like salvia? Red hot poker plants are not one of Bambi's favorites. Unlike with salvia, its spikes come in flashy, warm colors. Deer find a number of herb plants stinky, especially ones in the mint family, such as bee balm.
Iris Flowers It's not just poisonous plants and plants with strong, sharp odors that Bambi mostly avoids. For some reason, ornamental grasses aren't one of his favorite foods, either. And, in addition to plants with unpleasant odors, deer don't eat plants that smell perfumy, for the most part. That works out well for us humans, as most of us love to grow fragrant plants. But Bambi finds these just as stinky. Go figure. Not all irises are equally fragrant. When in doubt, try to find the...MORE old-fashioned varieties.
Lavender Plants The herb is primarily non-culinary. Since we have talked about aromatic plants above, you probably figured we would eventually get around to lavender, right? Lavender is the poster child for herbs grown for their smell. Let's thank our lucky stars that Bambi isn't a fan of potpourri! Ants, too, dislike the smell of lavender, which has made this deer-resistant perennial useful, traditionally, for organic ant control.
Peonies What's not to like about peonies? These plants rightly lay claim to:
01Large, beautiful, fragrant flowers.
02Not needing to be fussed over (for example, they don't need to be divided).
03A long life: Your peonies may outlive you. If you've never given these plants from China a try before, you now have an excuse to do so if you're seeking deer-resistant perennials.
Oriental Poppy Large, brightly-colored flowers with the texture of crepe paper have long made oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) a favorite in the garden, especially for those seeking cut flowers. Like some of the other deer-resistant perennials mentioned here, this classic cottage garden plant is toxic. This is a specimen you'll want to locate somewhere where you can fully appreciate the beauty of its flowers during their blooming period (May and/or June, depending on where you live). Oriental poppies put on a spectacular, albeit brief floral show. Dry the pods left over after the blooming period for craft projects.
Those are two truly bad qualities, especially if livestock graze in an area near where you..
Veronica Plants This long-bloomer, also known as "speedwell," begins flowering in late spring to early summer and continues for the rest of the growing season with a little help from you. Make its display of blue flowers last longer by shearing. There are many kinds of speedwells. Some grow a cultivar called 'Royal Candles.' From a distance, the plant looks a bit like a small blue salvia
taken from https://www.thespruce.com/deer-resistant-perennials
Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
