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?

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 - 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.


Chrysactinia mexicana

Leucophyllum frutescens

Mahonia trifoliolata

Sophora secundiflora

 

 

 

 

More Deer Resistant Questions

Deer-resistant native ground cover for part sun in Lago Vista TX
May 01, 2010 - Looking for a ground cover in an area that gets partial sun, is level and good drainage. Area is 10' x 20'. Thought about Trachelospermun Asiaticum (Asiatic Jasmine) but what ever I go with it has t...
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

Leaves being eaten off columbines
May 30, 2011 - Hi, We recently planted some columbines and they have been doing quite well. Just today, we noticed that something has eaten all the leaves off a couple of the plants. Several that are planted clo...
view the full question and answer

Looking for evergreen deer proof plants for full sun
October 17, 2007 - Which plants would be DEER PROOF, will be with almost full sun and will not die completely during winter? besides some plastic ones =) It doesn't matter the size, flowers or not.
view the full question and answer

Deer-resistant Texas native flowers and bushes from Austin
March 24, 2010 - What are some Texas native flowers and bushes that are deer resistant?
view the full question and answer

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