Native Plants

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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - March 14, 2013
From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Water Gardens, Deer Resistant
Title: Deer Resistant Pond Plants
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
I am looking for deer resistant aquatic plants to use around a natural swimming pond in San Marcos, TX. The plants will be used to filter the water in a separate section of the pond. There will be a planted area that is 18 inches deep for floating and subsurface plants and an area that is 2-3 inches deep, plus planting areas around the pond to encourage wildlife, etc. Any suggestions will be appreciated!ANSWER:
Great idea to include more native plants around your natural swimming pond and also allow deer to drink and feed in the area too. Take a look at our Native Plant Database to see the recommended list of deer resistant species. Few plants though are completely deer resistant. Several factors influence deer browsing including the density of the deer population, environmental conditions such as drought, and plant palatability. Deer tend to avoid plants with aromatic foliage, tough leathery and/or hairy or prickly leaves or plants with milky latex or sap. Try using some of the plants we have listed to minimize deer damage to your landscape.
Narrow down the list by just including the Texas natives, full sun and saturated soil to get the subset that will be most appropriate for your situation. There are over 25 plants to consider.
Grasses for the edge of your pond:
Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus)
Perennials for the edge of your pond:
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Rose-mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos)
Winged lythrum (Lythrum alatum)
River primrose (Oenothera jamesii)
Shrubs for the edge of the pond:
Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera)
In the pond:
Scouringrush horsetail (Equisetum hyemale var. affine)
Manyflower marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata)
Zigzag iris (Iris brevicaulis)
Virginia iris (Iris virginica)
American water-willow (Justicia americana)
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) or on edge
Bigfoot water clover (Marsilea macropoda)
American lotus (Nelumbo lutea)
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
Knotty Pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus)
Starrush whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata)
Bulltongue arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia)
Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia)
American eelgrass (Vallisneria americana)
From the Image Gallery
More Deer Resistant Questions
Deer resistant plants for MD
March 26, 2012 - My home backs to the Muddy Branch Creek parkland,which is suffering greatly from a large deer population. Many of the plants that existed in the woods when we purchased our home (1986), such as mayap...
view the full question and answer
Deer resistant, deciduous plants for New Braunfels, TX
March 28, 2010 - I have three acres of filtered sunlight/mostly shade. What deer resistant, flowering, deciduous plants are best for the New Braunfels area. I have had split leaf phyladendruns for twenty years, but th...
view the full question and answer
Deer-resistant evergreens for southern CT.
October 05, 2009 - We live on a deer path in southern Connecticut. What native evergreen tree can we plant which will not be eaten to death by the deer?
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
Deer and Drought Resistant Natives for San Marcus, Texas
February 15, 2012 - Hi there,
Do you have a list of plants and ground covers (deer/drought resistant) for the San Marcos area? Much as I love grass, it's impossible with this drought. I'd love to have lots of flowers ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |