Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Monday - March 24, 2008
From: Bandera, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer-resistant native plants for privacy fence in Bandera, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I am trying to have a living privacy fence of some type of evergreen shrubs that would grow about 6ft tall and that would be deer resistant. It would be good if didn't need a lot of maintenance. Do you have any suggestion?ANSWER:
As long as you understand (as we're sure you do) that there is no such thing as deer-proof, we have four nice evergreen shrubs that might fill the bill. Follow the links to the webpages on each plant; we chose for sun 6 or more hours a day and dry soil, which contributes to low maintenance.
Chrysactinia mexicana (damianita) This only grows to about 3 feet in height, but is a really great plant, with bright yellow flowers. Perhaps you could fit it in front to kind of fill in the spaces between the taller plants.
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush) Great blue-green leaves, frequent lavender flowers when it rains a bit, and deer don't care for them.
Mahonia trifoliolata (agarita) Now this might be overkill, it has really prickly leaves, and is sometimes called the "babysitter bush" because early farmers would use it to make a ring in which lambs would be safe from coyotes!
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) This has poisonous seeds, and maybe the deer know that and that's why they don't eat it, but you also need to take precautions that pets and children don't get into the seeds.
More Deer Resistant Questions
Pruning Holly after Deer Browse
January 16, 2010 - Deer have been eating my Holly Bushes. Can I prune now in January? I live in the North of New Jersey. Will they come back fuller? I just planted them in spring last year. How can I get them fuller
view the full question and answer
Deer resistance of maple leaf viburnum in Austin
November 20, 2009 - Looking on the Texas Plant Information Database for Maple Leaf Viburnum, I don’t find any information about deer (whitetail or axis, southern edge of Edwards Plateau) resistance. Other sites give mixe...
view the full question and answer
Lupines for attracting deer in South Carolina
April 06, 2007 - I live in SC and was watching a TV show called "Making it Grow" and they did a segment on Lupine. The lady on the show said that the plant attracted whitetail deer and I was wondering if that was t...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen deer resistant shrub for Texas
September 25, 2009 - I live in Bastrop TX and the deer have decimated the landscaping at the end of our sidewalk. I need to find compact, evergreen shrubs, (flowering would be a bonus), that will do well in shade and gro...
view the full question and answer
Flowering, deer resistant plants for South Carolina
March 21, 2010 - Can you tell me which flowering plants are deer resistant and will grow in South Carolina?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
Bibliography
Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden (2005) Rhonda Massingham HartFlowerbeds and Borders in Deer Country (2003) Vincent DrzewuckiGardening in Deer Country (Gardening Guides Series) (1998) Vincent DrzewuckiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
