Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - May 13, 2009

From: Kewadin, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer resistant low-lying plants for Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I want to create a bed of low lying plants (under 4 ft.)in the front of my cottage. The soil is completely sandy and gets eastern sun in the AM. There are many deer in the area.

ANSWER:

First of all, please visit our Recommended Species page and select Michigan from the map or pull-down menu.  This will give you a list of more than 150 commercially available native plants for landscaping in your state.  You can modify that list to include only plants that suit your needs by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option.  For instance, you might want to pick "Herb" or "Fern" under Habit (general appearance) and/or "Part shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day" under Light requirement.  Next, you need to check to see that the plants you choose are deer resistant.  There is a Deer Resistant Species list on the Wildflower Center webpage.  For a list more geared to your area there is Easywildflowers (self-described as a site "for and about wildflower seeds and wildflower potted plants native to the Midwest and Eastern USA" with a Deer Resistant Native Plants list.  Also, there is a list of Deer-resistant Plants from the Deer-Resistant Landscape Nursery in Clare, Michigan, but you need to be aware that not all the plants listed there are native to Michigan.

Here are a few recommendations from these lists:

Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)

Asarum canadense (Canadian wildginger)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Liatris aspera (tall blazing star)

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)

Deer generally avoid ferns, so you could also use ferns (e.g.,  Athyrium filix-femina (common ladyfern)

and Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)).


Aquilegia canadensis

Asarum canadense

Asclepias incarnata

Asclepias tuberosa

Coreopsis lanceolata

Liatris aspera

Lobelia siphilitica

Monarda fistulosa

Rudbeckia hirta

Sanguinaria canadensis

Athyrium filix-femina

Polystichum acrostichoides

 


 

 

More Deer Resistant Questions

Deer-proof native plants
May 14, 2007 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Can you recommend some Deer-proof native plants including shrubs and flowering plants?
view the full question and answer

Deer resistant, drought- and shade-tolerant plant for Pennsylvania
August 14, 2012 - Hello, I need a deer/drought resistant, shade tolerant, rocky soil perennial. I would like it to have some winter appeal. I live outside of Philadelphia, PA. Thank you so much for your time...
view the full question and answer

Are Hollyhocks deer resistant?
April 07, 2010 - Are Hollyhocks deer resistant?
view the full question and answer

Privacy Fence to Exclude Deer
February 13, 2015 - This is not a plant question but I hope you will answer it. I have a huge backyard and a low picket fence. Over the years the deer have fallen in love with this area and have eaten much of my native...
view the full question and answer

Deer-resistant groundcovers for erosion control
September 26, 2012 - I need a ground cover (vine??) that will help me with erosion on a sloped front yard. It gets about 6-8 hours of sun and my main need is for something that the rats in our neighborhood will not destro...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.