Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Monday - April 14, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Recommendation for variety of St. Johnswort (Hypericum spp.)
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi. Can you please recommend a variety of St. Johnswort for my yard in the Texas Hill Country? The planting bed is on a southern side of the house, and is shielded from afternoon sun by a tree. The area is heavily browsed by deer. I have one St. Johnswort planted there which the deer do not eat, but don't know the variety. It is 2' tall with thin, woody stems and a somewhat informal growth habit. Also, it manages with no watering other than our standard rainfall. Thanks for any help you can offer.ANSWER:
Probably the most common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)—the one that has been used extensively as an herbal medicine—is native to Europe. Since our focus and expertise here at the Wildflower Center is with plants native to North America, we can't really give you recommendations about non-native plants. We suggest you to talk to someone at a trusted local nursery about varieties of non-natives that do well locally. You can find a list of nurseries in the Austin area that sell native plants as well as non-native plants.On the other hand, there are several native species of Hypericum that are native to Texas and commercially available—e.g., Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort) and Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides (St. Andrew's cross). H. prolificum is on several lists for deer resistant plants (e.g., Deer Tolerant/Resistant Native Plants from Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve in Pennsylvania) and Hypericum spp., in general, are listed on many deer resistant lists.
More Deer Resistant Questions
Deer resistant vines for trellis
December 07, 2009 - We would love to have a blooming vine on our trellis, but the deer devour ever attempt. Please recommend something!
Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Flowering, deer resistant plants for South Carolina
March 21, 2010 - Can you tell me which flowering plants are deer resistant and will grow in South Carolina?
view the full question and answer
Groundcover and Butterfly attractants for LaRue Texas
May 02, 2012 - LaRue, TX - Would like a native low growing plant as a groundcover. I would like it for six+ hours of sun, drought tolerant, and ones that butterflies might enjoy, while deer won't. Some winter int...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen deer resistant shrub for Texas
September 25, 2009 - I live in Bastrop TX and the deer have decimated the landscaping at the end of our sidewalk. I need to find compact, evergreen shrubs, (flowering would be a bonus), that will do well in shade and gro...
view the full question and answer
Deer resistant, shade tolerant trees for part shade in Highland MD
March 29, 2013 - Deer resistant privacy trees for partial shady area in Highland, MD.
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
