Hummingbird Hill Farm at Brigade Bay, Gambier Island

Before planting anything in the garden spaces that I have created over the past four years, I have referred to a variety of resources, including the internet, gardening books and magazines.  Most of these have a common theme:  there is no such thing as a 'deer-proof' plant.  Deer-resistant plants do however, exist.

I can vouch from first-hand gardening experience over the last four years that the list of plants below are ALL absolutely deer proof......not even a nibble (on our part of the island, anyway)! 

I have had great success with all of these, plus the bonus is that most of them are all hardy and drought tolerant, except where noted.

How to choose a possible
Deer Resistant Plant:

Things that the Deer reliably DO NOT like are the following:

- anything with fuzzy leaves, such as Stachys Lamb's Ears and Mullein

- anything with grey leaves, such as Lavender or Santolina

- anything pungent smelling, such as most herbs, including Rosemary, Mint, Oregano, Sage, Savory, etc., plus other 'smelly' plants, such as Marigolds and Lilac trees or Lilac shrubs. 

- anything tough, such as New Zealand Flax and Red Hot Poker

- anything sharp and prickly such as Barberry and Fire Thorn, which also explains why they don't go after Pumpkin, Zucchini or other such trailing vines, if left out in the open and unprotected!

From left to right: Lemon Balm, New Zealand Flax, Santolina (yellow flowers) and Euphorbia (closest to wall).  Except for the Lemon Balm, all are drought tolerant, like full sun and thrive in the heat.

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A bird house (for decoration) surrounded by zinnias (annual) and marigolds (annual).  Santolina (grey plant to left with yellow flowers) is a trusty deer resistant addition.

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I have hundreds of daffodil bulbs in the ground now that have multiplied over the years and bring a welcome swath of vivid yellow to an otherwise dull looking landscape in the Spring.  Pictured here, a Hummingbird enjoys a rest on the perch while sipping the nectar at a feeder.  Mid-April, the H-Birds start to arrive - hungry after their migration, we have had up to 15 birds vying for position around the feeder.

 Fragrant "Lemon Gem" (annual) Marigolds and Nasturtiums (Hummingbirds like these) fill pots on the deck.  Sometimes they survive the winter too! back to topThis "Mexican Mock Orange" will eventually get to be a big shrub, approx. 4' in height and over 6' wide.  It is filled with white, fragrant blossoms in late Spring.  The deer don't touch it, as it is poisonous.
Captured in action on a rainy summer day, this "rain bell" is a lovely mini water feature that hangs from a gutter.  Hidcote Lavender is pictured in the background. This is me - weed wacking - a little garden 'clean-up' time is spent at the beginning of each week-end visit.  It's fun....really!  Nice outfit, huh!! The view of Howe Sound with Santolina (foreground) in bloom and Red Hot Poker (background). 

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Absolutely Deer-proof Perrenial Plants!

The following are a list of Deer-proof Perrenial plants.  Yes, fellow Gambier neighbours - now you can get excited that you can actually do some landscaping or grow some herbs without having to build a fence around them! 

Achillea 
- hardy, drought tolerant, not fussy with soil type, likes full sun. Displays flowers all summer long, into early October.

Barberry
- hardy, grows quickly; drought tolerant; displays pretty red berries, likes full sun

Blue Fescue Grass
(pictured on left, below)
I love the mixture of blues and purples of Lavender in the garden!  Drought tolerant, not fussy about soil, likes full sun.  Looks great, even in the winter!

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Daffodils
These reliably show up every Spring and multiply as well!  Not fussy with soil, they like sun to partial shade.

Lavender
- all types; a Hummingbird favourite!  Try harvesting the flowers of English Lavender for sachets or to use in cooking.

Try my recipes for:

Lavender Lemonade

Lavender Fruit Salad

Lemon Balm (herb)- needs occasional water, likes partial shade, and the occasional drink of Compost Tea.

Marigolds (Annual)
- all types / I love the Lemon Gem (yellow flowers) the best, as they are very fragrant.  They DO need water. Nasturtiums make a nice mix too (orange flowers).

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Mint (herb)
Likes partial shade, not fussy with soil, likes to spread and overtake areas, so careful where you place these. Likes to be watered deeply.

New Zealand Flax
- This lovely variegated one has withstood galeforce winter winds...even though they apparently like California-type conditions! Likes full sun, but not fussy with soil, is drought tolerant.

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Magnolia (tree) - the deer have never touched the blossoms - nary a nibble!

Mexican Mock Orange
- this beautiful shrub is evergreen and is amazingly drought & wind tolerant, likes full sun.  Lovely white, fragrant blossoms in late
spring and glossy bright green leaves. 

Mullein
This plant grew to about 10 ft. tall this past summer!  It likes full sun, is drought tolerant, likes poor soil conditions...and re-seeds, so be careful where you place it.

Oregano (herb)

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Red Hot Poker

(foreground)I love this desert-style plant and so do the Hummingbirds!  It sends up it's bright orange 'pokers' from June - August and is extremely drought tolerant.

Rosemary (herb)

Sage - purple / Herb
(mixed with Basil & self-seeded Tomato plants)

Santolina
Lots of yellow button flowers from June - August.  Drought resistant too!  Spreads quickly and can be propagated by pressing a stem into the soil until it sends out roots - cut this piece off and replant it - in only one season, it will have established itself as a decent sized plant!

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Somewhat Deer-Proof Plants that sometimes get nibbled, but never too much - just gently "pruned"!

When I get tired of the Deer pruning my plants for me, I have used a little spritz of "Plantskyde" blood spray to deter them and it works for at least 1 month or longer.

Butterfly Bush 

California Lilac

Dianthus ('pinks') 

Hostas (all types)

Salvia (perrenial sages; all types).  I have Raspberry Sage that the Hummingbirds love too.  Out of 4 years here, with many sage plants that have never been touched, the deer this past year (2008) have been hungry enough to nibble the flowers occasionally.

Tulips - yep, that's right!  After my father had dug up a bunch of bulbs from his garden and gave them to me, I planted all of them, thinking that they were daffodils.  OK - I should know that the bulbs looks different, but in torrential November downpours, who really takes a good look anyway!!!??  Now, thanks to my father, I have pretty pastel pink tulips mingling with daffodils each Spring!

Viburnum - variety

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