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
Wednesday - May 13, 2009
From: Kewadin, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer resistant low-lying plants for Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I want to create a bed of low lying plants (under 4 ft.)in the front of my cottage. The soil is completely sandy and gets eastern sun in the AM. There are many deer in the area.ANSWER:
First of all, please visit our Recommended Species page and select Michigan from the map or pull-down menu. This will give you a list of more than 150 commercially available native plants for landscaping in your state. You can modify that list to include only plants that suit your needs by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option. For instance, you might want to pick "Herb" or "Fern" under Habit (general appearance) and/or "Part shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day" under Light requirement. Next, you need to check to see that the plants you choose are deer resistant. There is a Deer Resistant Species list on the Wildflower Center webpage. For a list more geared to your area there is Easywildflowers (self-described as a site "for and about wildflower seeds and wildflower potted plants native to the Midwest and Eastern USA" with a Deer Resistant Native Plants list. Also, there is a list of Deer-resistant Plants from the Deer-Resistant Landscape Nursery in Clare, Michigan, but you need to be aware that not all the plants listed there are native to Michigan.Here are a few recommendations from these lists:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Asarum canadense (Canadian wildginger)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)
Liatris aspera (tall blazing star)
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)
Deer generally avoid ferns, so you could also use ferns (e.g., Athyrium filix-femina (common ladyfern)
and Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)).
More Deer Resistant Questions
Deer--resistant plants for Great Falls, VA
August 16, 2010 - We have just moved to a house with a rural garden enjoyed by us and the deer. Can you recommend any deer resistant plants for ths location ? ( We have full sun and shade - zip code 22066.
Thanks,
view the full question and answer
Perennial plants native to northeastern Pennsylvania
May 12, 2005 - What perennial plants are native to northeastern Pennsylvania?
view the full question and answer
Will deer eat lemon cypress trees from Hayden ID
June 02, 2012 - Do deer eat lemon cypress trees? We do not think so since they are so spiny, but wanted a clarification.
view the full question and answer
Deer resistant groundcovers in Georgetown, TX
May 20, 2009 - Is silver ponyfoot inviting deer into the yard? What are good alternatives, deer resistant, for large areas of groundcover, 100-200 sq. ft.?
view the full question and answer
Evergreen, deer resistant native plants for Austin
April 24, 2011 - Are there any evergreen, deer resistant native plants that thrive in Austin?
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. |
