Plant Answers  >  ABSOLUTE Deer resistant list -- ABSOLUTE (maybe, could be, seldom, etc.)

ABSOLUTE Deer resistant list -- ABSOLUTE (maybe, could be, seldom, etc.)



Cliff Bingham of San Pedro Hills sent has list of plants which the deer seldom, if ever, eat. Forrest Appleton of Hollywood Park compared it to his list and wrote the following:

Things not on our list but on Cliff Bingham’s list.
  • Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)***
  • Golden Shrub Daisy (Euryops pectinatus)***
  • Yellow Buttercups (Turnera ulminifolia)
  • Candlestick Plant (Cassia alata)
  • Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) We don't include trees)
  • Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)***
  • Leather leaf Mahonia (Mahonia bealei)
  • African Iris (Dietes spp.)
  • Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) - Freezes & kills dogs but deer don't eat.
  • Lions Tail (Leonotis leonurus)
  • Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus drummondi)***
  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias spp.)***
  • Frangipani (Plumeria spp.)
  • Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri')***
  • Skullcap (Scutellaria suffrutescens)***
  • Foxglove (Penstamon digitalis)
  • Mullein (Verbascum spp.)
  • Periwinkle (Vinca spp.)***
  • Straggler Daisy/Horse herb (Calyptocarpus vialis) They graze on it in my yard.***


Forrest Appleton wrote: “I am still not going to say ABSOLUTELY about any of it. Those marked *** should be added to our list.”

and these below I feel safe saying ‘seldom if ever eaten’:
  • Agarita
  • Ceniza
  • Firebush
  • Japanese Boxwood
  • Oleander
  • Primrose Jasmine
  • Sotol
  • Texas Mountain Laurel
  • Thryallis
  • Viburnum
  • Yaupon Holly
  • Gray & Green Santolina
  • Silver King Artemisia
  • Barbados Cherry
  • Copper Canyon Daisy
  • Dusty Miller
  • Elephant Ears
  • Garlic Chives
  • Hummingbird Bush (Anisacanthus spp.)
  • Indigo Spires Salvia
  • Jerusalem Cherry
  • Jerusalem Sage
  • Mealy Cup Sage
  • Mexican Bush Sage
  • Mexican Honeysuckle
  • Mexican Mint Marigold
  • Mexican Oregano
  • Perilla
  • Powis Castle Artemisia
  • Rosemary
  • Society Garlic
  • Split Leaf Philodendron
  • Texas Betony
  • Inland Sea Oats
  • Maiden Grass
  • Gulf Muhley
  • Lindheimer’s Muhley
  • Pampas Grass
  • Purple Fountain Grass
  • Larkspur
  • Periwinkle Bedding Plant
  • Butterfly Vine
 
Copyright © 2025 PLANTanswers.com - All Rights Reserved. PLANTanswers and PLANTanswers.com are trademarks of Jerry Parsons.