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fawns

Planting Resources

Deer Resistant or Not

The Arboretum has a large deer population, and through the years we have a learned a little about what they eat and what they mostly avoid. The following lists have been compiled from several sources over the years including much of our own experience. As many gardeners know, there is no such thing as a deer resistant plant. Their taste for plants changes over time, and they often try new things causing a great deal of damage before deciding not to come back for seconds. Please use this list as a starting point, and contact us at cw3zt@virginia.edu with your questions and observations. We will continue to update this list as we observe more deer browse.

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Rarely Damaged Native Perennials

Scientific NameCommon Name
Amsonia sp.bluestar
Aquilegia sp.columbine
Arisaema triphyllumJack-in-the-pulpit
Aruncus dioicusgoat’s beard
Asarum canadense        wild ginger
Ascelpias sp.butterfly weed
Baptisia sp.false indigo
Chrysogonum virginianumgreen and gold
Cimicifuga racemosasnakeroot
Coreopsis sp.tickseed
Dicentra eximiafringed bleeding heart
Echinacea sp.   coneflower
Eupatorium sp.Joe-Pye weed
Geranium sp.hardy geranium, cranesbill
Heuchera sp.alumroot
Iris sp.  iris 
Liatris sp.          blazing star
Mertensia virginicaVirginia bluebells
Monarda sp.bee balm, Bergamot
Opuntia humifusaprickly pear
Pycnanthemum sp.       mountain mints
Polemonium reptansJacob’s ladder
Rudbeckia sp.   black eye Susan
Solidago sp.golden rod
Stokesia laevisStoke’s aster
Tiarella  sp.       foam flower
Trillium  sp.trillium
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Frequently Damaged Native Perennials

Aster sp. Asters are now in multiple genera including Symphyotrichum. At the Arboretum Symphyotrichum oblongifolius seem to be particularly deer resistant until Covid shut the grounds down in the spring of 2020 and they were eaten quite readily.  

Lobelia cardinaliscardinal flower
Phlox sp.phlox
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Rarely Damaged Non Native Perennials

Achillea sp.yarrow
Aconitum sp.monkshood
Alchemilla mollislady's mantle
Anemone japonicaJapanese Anemone
Arabis sp.rock cress
Armeria maritimathrift
Artemisia sp.     silver mound, wormwood
Astilbe sp.        Astilbe
Dianthus sp.pinks
Dicentra spectabilisbleeding heart
Digitalis sp.       foxglove
Echinops ritro    globe thistle
Epimedium sp.barrenwort
Helleborus orientalisLenten rose
Iberis sp.candytuft
Iris sp.Iris (bearded, Siberian, etc.)
Nepeta sp.        catmint
Papaver orientaleOriental poppy
Perovskia atriplicifoliaRussian sage
Platycodon grandiflorusballoon flower
Pulmonaria sp.  lungwort
Salvia sp.perennial Salvia
Stachys byzantina lamb's ear
Veronica sp.Veronica
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Rarely Damaged Bulbs

Alliums sp.ornamental onions
Chionodoxa luciliaeglory-of-the-snow
Galanthus nivalissnowdrop
Hyacinthus orientalis      hyacinth
Narcissus sp.daffodils
Scilla sp.squill
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Frequently Damaged Bulbs

Crocus sp.Crocus
Lillium sp.lily
Tulipa sp.         tulip
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Rarely Damaged Herbs

Agastache sp.anise hyssop
Alliums sp.chives, garlic
Anethum graveolensdill
Lavandula sp.lavender
Mentha sp.mint
Origanum sp.oregano
Rosmarinus sp.Rosemary
Santolina chamaecyparissus      lavender cotton
Thymus sp.thyme
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Rarely Damaged Native Ferns

Adiantum pedatummaidenhair fern
Athyrium filix-femina      lady fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobulahay scented fern
Matteuccia struthiopterisostrich fern
Onoclea sensibilis         sensitive fern
Polystichum acrostidroidesChristmas fern
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Rarely Damaged Annuals

Ageratum houstonianumAgeratum
Antirrhinum majussnapdragons
Begonia semperflorens              annual Begonia
Capsicum sp.ornamental peppers
Cosmos bipinnatus        Cosmos
Salvia sp.         annual Salvia
Tagetes sp.      marigolds
Zinnia sp.Zinnias
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Frequently Damaged Annuals

Celosia argenteaCelosia
Impatiens sp.Impatiens
Pentas lanceolataPentas
Petunias sp.     Petunias
Viola sp.violets and Pansies
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Invasive Species List

Blandy maintains a list of invasive plant species that are commonly sold in the nursery trade. We strongly discourage the sale, purchase, planting, or propagation of any of the plants on this list as they are known to escape into natural areas and cause significant ecological damage. These invasive species outcompete native plants for resources, reduce overall biodiversity in areas where they are introduced, choke out waterways, and provide little to no benefit for native pollinators and insects. Additionally, all plants on this list may not be sold at any events hosted by Blandy, including our annual garden fair.

Click here for the full list.