Native Plants

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Tuesday - November 17, 2009
From: Hillsborough, CA
Region: California
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer-resistant groundcover for sunny hillside in California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
we are looking for a deer resistant, drought resistant ground cover that we can grow from seed. we have a large,partial sunny hillside, well drained,that is cover with oak leaves and pine needles..and weeds. any suggestions? Thank you.ANSWER:
Grasses and sedges are one possibility. Deer generally avoid eating grasses. Here are a few native to your area and generally available as seeds:
Danthonia californica (California oatgrass) and you can see a photo here
Koeleria macrantha (prairie Junegrass)
Calamagrostis foliosa (leafy reed grass)
Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hairgrass)
Deschampsia elongata (slender hairgrass)
Carex praegracilis (clustered field sedge) and here is more information and photos
Carex pansa (sanddune sedge) and here is an indepth article with photos by David Amme from Bay Natives.
You can see more possibilities for grasses available in your area at Yerba Buena Nursery in Woodside, California and Bay Natives in San Francisco, one of our Associate Suppliers. Larner Seeds in Bolinas, California, another of our Suppliers, lists most of the grasses recommended above and other California grass seeds for sale.
Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita and Escondido, California, another of our Suppliers, has an excellent article, California Gardens with Deer Problems, that has further recommendations for deer-resistant native plants. Here are a few from that article that would be good groundcovers:Clinopodium douglasii [syn. = Satureja douglasii] (yerba buena) and here are photos and more information
Monardella antonina (San Antonio Hills monardella)—deer avoid most members of the mint family (Family Lamiaceae) because of their strong flavor.
Ferns are also plants that deer avoid. Since they aren't flowering plants they can't be planted from seed.
Polystichum munitum (western swordfern)
Dryopteris arguta (coastal woodfern)
Adiantum jordanii (California maidenhair) and more information and photos
These ferns as well as some of the other recommendations are available as plants in your area at Bay Natives in San Franciso and Yerba Buena Nursery in Woodside. You can search for other suppliers in your area that might have seeds or plants of the above recommended species in our National Suppliers Directory.
More Deer Resistant Questions
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October 27, 2005 - Is there anyway to safely kill Paederia cruddasiana Prain (sewer vine)? Thank you!
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I live about 10 miles south of Kerrville, Texas, toward Medina. I wish to begin planting more natives on a plot we have recently purchased. Some plants will go inside a fence that deer...
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Specifications for a property in Corning CA
March 29, 2012 - Drought resistant, deer resistant, low growing (ground cover), and shade tolerant request:
I am looking for a variety of species that not only fit the above preferences, but also a few other things. ...
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September 23, 2004 - The deer have destroyed my Texas Persimmon by standing on their hind legs and pulling down the branches--either ripping them off entirely or twisting them. I didn't realize the persimmon fruit would...
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Keeping deer away from non-native plants in Lansing MI
June 22, 2011 - What is the real - best way to keep deer from eating my Hostas, Garden phlox and lilies? Ive tried the stinky spray and the fertilizer granules that deter, to no avail.
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