As an experienced plantswoman, Ruth Rogers Clausen understands the balance between keeping deer out of gardens and fencing gardeners in. Instead of constructing tall fences, building barriers or using toxic repellents to prevent deer from browsing, she encourages gardeners to make smarter planting choices. Her new book, “50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants: The Prettiest Annuals, Perennials, and Shrubs That Deer Don’t Eat” (Timber Press, $19.95), shows you how to select the loveliest and least-palatable options.
Here are a few from her book that, given the soil and light conditions that they prefer, do well on the Front Range.
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) Deer avoid this spring-blooming bulb because of its gooey sap. Clausen recommends planting as many bulbs as possible to create large drifts of snowdrops below trees or in clumps scattered through rock gardens. The small white flowers grow on slender stems, and some varieties are also fragrant. Plant in fall in areas with partial shade and well-drained soil. Other deer-resistant bulbs include daffodils and autumn crocus.
Bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) An easy-to-grow, low-maintenance shrub, bush cinquefoil begins blooming in summer and continues until the first frost. Small yellow flowers form above fine-textured, hairy foliage. Bush cinquefoil looks good planted alone as a hedge, where it can spread several feet wide, or mixed with other fuzzy-leaved plants that deer leave alone.
Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia). Fill shady gardens with this lovely, long-blooming flower that deer don’t like because of a poisonous sap. The low-growing plants form in clumps, and the ferny foliage looks nice even when the flowers aren’t in bloom.
Peonies (Paeonia officinalis) Despite their delicate appearance, peonies are hardy, long-lasting perennials that usually bloom in late spring. Deer will sometimes nip off a flower or two, but they’ll leave the foliage alone. Plant containerized plants in spring or bare-root peonies in fall in a sunny garden spot or border. Clausen recommends grouping several plants with different forms, colors and bloom times.
Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) Switch grass, along with other ornamental grasses, is a clumping perennial plant that provides movement and vertical interest in the garden. The long leaves have sharp edges that are unpleasant to eat. Some cultivars provide beautiful fall color that makes them an especially attractive choice for a deer-resistant garden.
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