Garden

Deer-resistant container plants

Most wildlife avoid plants with hairy or prickly foliage and with milky sap or very strong oils. 1. Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire' (common name: Russian sage; 75 x 60 cm/30 in. x 24 in.; lavender-blue; blooms July to October; zone 5) 2. Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (boneset; 90 x 90 cm/36 in. x 36 in.; purple blooms and dark bronze-purple foliage; September to October; zone 5)

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Credit: Stuart McCall

Most wildlife avoid plants with hairy or prickly foliage and with milky sap or very strong oils.

1. Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ (common name: Russian sage; 75 x 60 cm/30 in. x 24 in.; lavender-blue; blooms July to October; zone 5)

2. Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ (boneset; 90 x 90 cm/36 in. x 36 in.; purple blooms and dark bronze-purple foliage; September to October; zone 5)

3. Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield’ (60 x 60 cm/24 in. x 24 in.; soft-pink; September to November; zone 5)

4. Tanacetum parthenium ‘Double White’ (feverfew; 45 x 45 cm/18 in. x 18 in.; white; July to October; zone 3)

5. Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender; 60 x 45 cm/24 in. x 18 in.; deep-purple; July to August; zone 7)

6. Verbena bonariensis (100 x 50 cm/40 in. x 20 in.; magenta-purple; June to October; zone 7)

7. Dianthus ‘Fire Witch’ (pinks or carnation; 20 x 25 cm/8 in. x 10 in.; deep-pink; June to July; zone 3)

8. Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ (sage; 45 x 45 cm/18 in. x 18 in.; violet-purple; June to September; zone 6)

Deer Resistant Container Plants Deer Resistant Container Plants
This deer-resistant container arrangement requires full sun.

It has an interesting combination of colour and texture that provides a long season of interest. I chose Lavandula stoechas for its attractive fat flower spikes and because the redder tone of purple works well with the other colours, but it is quite tender at zone 7. Hardier lavenders, such as L. angustifolia cultivars (zone 4), would also work.

Care: This container should be in good condition for at least two or three years. Cut back faded foliage in fall and tuck the container in a protected area, watering only when dry throughout the winter. Place it in a bright location in April and top-dress with a controlled-release fertilizer; water regularly as needed.

TIP: Most wildlife (deer, rabbits) avoid plants with hairy or prickly foliage (salvias, stachys, nepeta) and those with milky sap or very strong oils (including euphorbia, lavender, the mint family and the chrysanthemum family).

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