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

Monday - November 19, 2012

From: Janesville, CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Lists, Deer Resistant, Groundcovers
Title: Groundcovers for hillside in Northern California
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have read numerous posts on here, but I have not found my exact situation. I live in Northern California. I am looking for some type of ground cover to grow on a hillside. Directly above the hillside are oak trees and pine trees. I have a herd of deer that basically live on my property. I want to plant something that they can enjoy and so can I. Is there such a thing? If not, I would like to know what to plant that is low to the ground, can withstand freezing temperatures, highly deer resistant and spreads quickly.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants is a little confused!   Do you want plants that the deer will eat, i.e., plants that they "enjoy" eating? Or, do you want deer resistant plants?  Well, whichever it is I think there are a few of each listed below.  All of these native plants appear in Lassen County on the USDA Plants Database distribution maps.

Artemisia ludoviciana (Louisiana artemisia) is highly deer resistant according to the list from Shaw Nature Reserve of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Atriplex confertifolia (Shadscale) is NOT deer resistant.  They will browse this plant.  Here is more information from Utah State University.

Ceanothus prostratus (Prostrate ceanothus) and you can read more about it from Las Pilitas Nursery and from Seven Oaks Native Nursery.  It rates an 8 on the Las Pilitas' Deer and Fire List with 10 being most resistant and 1 being least resistant.

Eriophyllum lanatum (Common woolly sunflower) is very deer resistant according to the list from Blackfoot Native Plants.  Here is more information from American Beauties Native Plants.

Krascheninnikovia lanata (Winterfat) is NOT deer resistant.  They will browse this plant.  Here is more information from Utah State University.

Lupinus argenteus (Silvery lupine) is deer resistant.

Mahonia repens (Creeping barberry) is deer resistant according the University of California's Marin Master Gardeners.

Mahonia aquifolium (Hollyleaved barberry) rates a 6 on Las Pilitas' Deer and Fire List.

Stanleya pinnata (Desert princes' plume) rates a 5 on Las Pilitas' Deer and Fire List.

Symphoricarpos mollis (Creeping snowberry) is deer resistant according the University of California's Sonoma County Master Gardeners.  You can read more about it from Theodore Payne Foundation and from CalFlora.

Yerba Buena Nursery in Woodside, CA also has a Deer Resistant Native Plant List and you can learn more about deer resistant native plants from the California Native Plant Society's Oh Dear! Deer Resistant Native Plants.

 

From the Image Gallery


Louisiana artemisia
Artemisia ludoviciana

Shadscale
Atriplex confertifolia

Common woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum

Winterfat
Krascheninnikovia lanata

Silvery lupine
Lupinus argenteus

Creeping barberry
Mahonia repens

Holly-leaved barberry
Mahonia aquifolium

Desert princes' plume
Stanleya pinnata

Creeping snowberry
Symphoricarpos mollis

More Groundcovers Questions

Evergreen ground cover for PA
February 08, 2012 - I live outside of Harrisburg, PA. We are looking for a perennial ground cover that is long blooming and evergreen. It would be planted under some trees that would give them the whole range of sun (f...
view the full question and answer

Native turf grass for acreage in Denison TX
January 27, 2014 - I have recently moved to Denison TX where we have 5+ acres of true crosstimbers land. I am looking for a native turf grass that will do well in sandy soil and with the water provided by nature. The m...
view the full question and answer

Marbleseed (Onosmodium sp.) propagation and use as groundcover for
October 08, 2007 - I am interested in any information, esp. propagation & suitability as a landscape plant, (possible ground cover?) for marble seed. I have found it growing in deep shade on stream banks. It has a 4--...
view the full question and answer

Alternatives to invasive, non-native Vinca minor as ground cover
April 05, 2007 - I live in Central Austin. I want to plant a large area of Vinca minor since it is fast growing and offers attractive ground cover. I assume it requires little care with the rain being sufficient for i...
view the full question and answer

Groundcover for rocky slope
February 27, 2012 - My house has a very steep and very rocky slope. We have no problems with erosion, its just very unnattractive. There is no way to mow it whatsoever, and we live in a planned community so we can't h...
view the full question and answer

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