By Christine Freeburn, Master Gardener

For many gardeners, deer are a constant problem in the garden. They can destroy a hosta display or your treasured roses in an afternoon. In my neighbourhood rabbits are plentiful and they eat many kinds of plants from tulips to hosta. I have chicken wire around the base of most of my clematis. I fence off my euonymus, willow and Rose of Sharon in the winter with fencing high enough to be well above the snow line. I have my vegetable garden fenced and try to remember to keep the gates closed. (although, this spring a determined female rabbit  learned how to jump into my fenced compost pile and then into the vegetable garden where she decided to make a nest).  I spray my tulips, roses and anything else that the critters start munching on with a product that repels deer and rabbits. It is stinky and washes off if there is heavy rain so needs to be resprayed for best results. I also use a product called Hen Manure to deter squirrels and chipmunks. Sprinkling hen manure in your freshly planted annual containers, will keep these creatures from digging. And it is an organic fertilizer too. I also cover a raised vegetable garden bed with a row cover which looks and feels like a bridal veil. It allows sun and rain in, but keeps squirrels, chipmunks and pests like beetles out and can be good for light frosts. Doesn’t look pretty but it works.

Rabbits & deer generally don’t like plants that have a fragrance. Think of mints, marigolds, sages and monardas.  Rough or fuzzy leaf textures are also characteristics that deer and rabbits don’t enjoy.

There are some lovely perennials available that fit in those categories. Check plant tags as many growers are now listing if the plant is resistant to deer and rabbits.

Below, I have listed some plants that are generally resistant.

Perennials for Sun

• Monkshood     Aconitum carmichaelii
• Geranium        Geranium macrorrhizum
• Peony               Paeonia officinalis
• False Indigo    Baptisia australis
• Salvia               Salvis x sylvestris
• Yarrow            Achillea millefolium
• Lavender        Lavandula augustifolia
• Catmint           Nepeta
• BeeBalm         Monarda
• Russian Sage  Perovskia atriplicifolia
• Amsonia          Amsonia
• Grasses – Karl Foerster, Big Bluestem, Northern Sea Oats, Blue Fescue, Blue Oat Grass

[Above, clockwise from left: Astilbe, yarrow, sage, monarda]

Perennials for Shade

• Bleeding Heart     Dicentra eximia
• Hellebore               Helleborus orientalis
• Lady’s Mantle         Alchemilla mollis
• Snakeroot               Actaea racemosa
• Spurge                     Euphorbia polychroma
• Astilbe                     Astilbe x arendsii
• Japanese Spurge   Pachysandra terminalis
• Barrenwort             Epimedium graniflorum
• Bugloss                    Brunnera macrophylla
• Hakone Grass         Hakonechloa macra
• Lungwort                Pulmonaria
• Sedge                       Carex morrowii
• Ferns – Christmas, Cinnamon, Ostrich, Autumn, Japanese Painted

[Above, clockwise from left: Rabbit, geranium, Japanese painted fern, bleeding heart]

There are some shrubs that deer and rabbits usually don’t bother with. They include Weigela (Weigela florida), Spirea (Spiraea japonica) and Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa).

Bulbs like Daffodils (Narcissus), Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis),  Ornamental Onion (Allium) and Autumn Crocus (Colchicum) are not favourites for deer.

Annuals like Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria),  Licorice (Helichrysum petiolare), Caster Bean (Ricinus communis) and Marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) have rough or fuzzy leaves or a strong smell that deer or rabbits don’t like.

Herbs like Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage & Basil have a fragrance creatures stay away from also.

The plants listed above are generally resistant, but are not guaranteed to be deer and rabbit proof. If food is scarce or the creature is adventurous, they will try anything. Sometimes, rabbits just nip the flowers and leave them (grrrrr!)

Having wildlife in the garden is lovely and we enjoy watching our rabbits. But it is nice to have enough of the right plants that will survive and give a nice display of flowers. Balance in nature.