4 plant traits can help reduce deer browsing

American Meadows and High Country Gardens say gardeners can lower deer damage by choosing plants with foliage that is fragrant, fuzzy, bitter or fibrous. The guidance comes as deer browse more aggressively when natural food is scarce, especially on new plantings.

Why it matters: - Deer browsing can wipe out new growth and ruin perennials right as they are about to bloom. - Plant selection can reduce damage, but no plant is completely deer-proof. - Understanding foliage traits gives gardeners a practical way to build more resilient landscapes.

What happened: - Horticultural experts at American Meadows and High Country Gardens outlined four foliage traits that can make plants less appealing to deer. - The traits are strong fragrance, fuzzy or coarse texture, bitter or chemically defended foliage, and thick, leathery or fibrous leaves. - The guidance was framed as a way to help gardeners choose plants more strategically in deer-prone landscapes.

The details: - Strongly aromatic plants can be less appealing because their leaves contain essential oils or other compounds. - Examples include lavender, catmint, Russian sage and yarrow. - Catmint variety ‘Walker’s Low’ was cited as a fragrant option. - Artemisia can also fit dry landscapes and waterwise plantings because of its aromatic foliage. - Fuzzy, hairy, coarse or prickly foliage can be harder or less pleasant for deer to eat. - Black-eyed Susan, including ‘Indian Summer,’ was cited as a familiar example. - Coneflowers and catmint also have more textured foliage than many plants deer readily browse. - Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides that make the plant bitter and toxic if ingested. - Foxglove should be planted with care around children and pets. - Thick, leathery or fibrous leaves can be tougher and harder for deer to digest. - Salvia pachyphylla was cited as an example of a plant with fibrous, leathery foliage. - Artemisia was also cited as an example of structurally adapted foliage that can be less attractive to deer. - Deer tend to avoid bulbs such as daffodils, alliums, fritillaria, grape hyacinths and scilla.

Between the lines: - Deer resistance changes with local pressure, seasonal food availability and what other forage is available. - A plant deer ignore one year may become a target the next. - That makes deer-resistant plants a strategy, not a guarantee. - Young plants are especially vulnerable before they establish. - Temporary fencing or individual cages can help protect new plantings. - Repellents, scare devices and buffer plantings can add another layer of defense. - The message is less about finding a perfect plant and more about stacking small advantages.

What's next: - Gardeners planning fall or spring plantings can use foliage traits as one filter when choosing perennials and bulbs. - The companies recommend protecting new plantings until roots are established. - More information is available through Strategies for Preventing Deer Damage, Deer Resistant Plants, Western Deer Resistant Plants and Deer Resistant Bulbs.

The bottom line: - Deer-proof does not exist, but fragrance, texture, bitterness and fibrous leaves can make some plants less tempting and help gardens hold up better under browsing pressure.