Quest: Searching for Flowers My Hungry Deer Won’t Eat

Just before you turn into the driveway to my farm, there is a sign. It says Cool Breeze Farm, Home to Flowers & Horses. Actually, it should say home to flowers and horses AND deer.

I consider my farm a little slice of heaven. I love it here, and feel so grateful that I start and end my day tending to horses, and in between, from March through October, I take care of flowers. I share this beautiful 18 acres with a couple of dogs, two barn cats, my husband, the horses, and a herd of upwards of 25 deer. There is hunting in our area, but the deer pressure here is intense. Scientists say a healthy deer population is about 20 per square mile. In our area it is estimated to be between 110 - 150.

mama and baby deer — Mamma and baby deer

I can’t help but love the deer. There is something irresistible about a mammal, especially in the spring when they are rearing fawns. They are, however, incredibly destructive. I grow flowers on an acre that is fenced in by an 8 foot, heavy-duty, commercial fence in an area of the farm that I cannot see from the house. But I love flowers and like to have them around the house as well. That has been a struggle.

The deer on my farm are hungry. Very hungry. I think that I have tried every “deer-resistant” plant imaginable to try and have flowers around my house. Most of them the deer will eat. Even peonies, which I thought were almost guaranteed to be deer-proof, had to be fenced in.
There are, however, some gorgeous plants that the deer do leave alone. I’m sharing a few of my favorites because I know there are others out there who struggle with the same thing.

Note: I live in central New Jersey, zone 6b/7a, so the months mentioned for blooms and seed-starting are specific to my zone.

DAFFODILS

In the early spring nothing beats daffodils. I thought I didn’t like daffodils until I began exploring some of the newer varieties. There are literally hundreds and something for everyone. They appear just when you think winter will never end and their bright and cheery arrival is so welcome in March and April. Many varieties will also multiply over time so they are a very economical choice. Pictured here is Bridal Crown, which is one of my favorites, but I grow six or seven varieties of daffodils. These bulbs go in the ground in the fall. I planteded mine in late October.

BAPTISIA
Baptisia is a native plant that produces gorgeous flowers in early May. They come in many colors: blue, purple, yellow, pink. The blue, pictured here, is the true native variety. The others are cultivars, or plants that have descended from native varieties, but have been altered by human breeding.

I purchase my baptisia as bare roots, but you can also find them as plants in your local garden center. In addition to the spring flowers, these plants provide interesting season-long foliage and a seed pod in the late summer and fall. Adding a three season interest plant to the garden is always a great find.

VERBASCUM
Verbascum is a beautiful perennial flower that is easily grown from seed. When I want to add to my verbascum collection, I start seeds in mid-February, and plant the seedlings out in late March. They bloom for me in mid-May. My favorite variety is “Southern Charm.” Verbascum adds such whimsy to the landscape, but if you do bring it inside, soak up its beauty because it does not have a long vase life.

*Achillea millefolium,* Yarrow, Summer pastels

YARROW
Yarrow has to be one of my favorite flowers to grow. It comes in every color imaginable. It is easy to grow from seed and it comes back reliably for three to five years. If you have a space where you want June color, yarrow is a real work horse. In addition to having long-lasting blooms, if you cut them back, you will often get a second flush of color. If you are looking for flowers to bring inside, they add depth and texture to any home bouquet

Most of the above plants show color in the early spring. Following are a couple of plants that bring color at the peak of summer.

MOUNTAIN MINT
One of my very favorite deer resistant plants is mountain mint. This is a native plant and there are several different varieties. My favorite is Pycnanthemum muticum, clustered mountain mint, because I love the look of it and the way it lasts in a vase. Studies have shown that mountain mint is one of the best plants for nurturing pollinators. If you want to learn more about mountain mint, this article tells you everything you’ve ever wanted to know: Penn State article on mountain mint.

Mountain mint can be grown from seed, purchased at the local garden center, or often, local native plant societies will have sales of mountain mint. I would say it is a must-have for every home gardener who cares about biodiversity and native bugs and birds.

OBEDIENT PLANT

Obedient plant is another native that you might be able to source through a native plant sale. This one reminds me of snapdragons, but has all the biodiversity benefits of being native. It’s tall, hardy and blooms in a lovely plum shade. It also has the advantage of blooming in late July, early August when lots of other flowers are hiding from the heat.

HERBS

Deer tend to avoid any kind of herb. I grow with great success lavender, rosemary, dill, oregano, basil, and any kind of mint. These plants have the advantage of providing fresh spice for all summer cooking, but many of them also have beautiful flowers. I particularly like dill. If adding mint, just be aware that you have to be vigilant because it does have the ability to take over the whole garden.

STRAWFLOWER
Strawflower is an annual that is easy to grow from seed and that flourishes in the garden all summer long. It can be planted very early in the season. I usually try and get it out as soon as most danger of frost has passed, and if you keep cutting and don’t let the flowers go to seed, it will bloom well into the fall.

Let me know if any of these are new to you, or if you might try any of these plants next year.

Quest: Searching for Flowers My Hungry Deer Won’t Eat

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