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From: Pearce, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer resistance of Calylophus berlandieri
Answered by: Nan Hampton
Mr. Smarty Plants can't find Calylophus drummondii. Perhaps you are referring to Calylophus berlandieri Spach ssp. pinifolius (syn. Calylophus drummondianus Spach) or Calylophus berlandieri Spach ssp. berlandieri (syn. Calylophus drummondianus Spach ssp. berlandieri).
Our Native Plants Database gives the deer resistance for Calylophus berlandieri (Berlandier's sundrops) as "moderate". However, I haven't found it listed as deer resistant on any other lists, e.g.:
Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT)
Deer-resistant Plants Landscape Nursery
If there are plenty of other more palatable plants growing nearby the deer will probably prefer them to the Calylophus. Also, you could try planting the Calylophus amongst more deer resistant plants such as Salvia spp. The proximity of the less desirable plants might keep the deer out of the area. However, be aware that deer resistant doesn't mean deer proof. When conditions are such that food is difficult to find, the deer are likely to eat many normally deer-resistant plants.
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