Download Deer and Rabbit resistant plants

RABBIT & DEER
Resistant Plants
Food for Thought!
 When populations are high and food scarce, deer and rabbits will nibble on almost any plant
(including roses), so no list is guaranteed to be 100% effective.
 Local populations may even develop a “taste” for plants that deer and rabbits in other regions
may avoid.
 There are 2 general strategies for protecting vulnerable or existing plants from nibbling deer
and rabbits:
o Physical barriers:
 Fall to spring: Wrap or cage specific vulnerable plants with sturdy materials such as poultry
wire or snow fencing.
 ”Nite Guard” a small red light that imitates the eyes of deer predators, placed
near plants
 Sprinklers with a motion detector, send a blast of water to scare deer
o Bad smell or taste:
 Odours of predators: “Plantskydd” or Coyote urine
These products must be reapplied after a rain.
 Odours of rotting food: “Bobbex” and “Deer Away”
These products bond to plants and do not wash off. The odour is not strong to the human
nose.
 A diluted solution of hot sauce (15 millilitres of hot sauce in four to five litres of water)
sprayed directly on fruits and vegetables or around the perimeter of the garden may deter
rabbits.
 General plant characteristics that deer and rabbits avoid:
o Fragrant or aromatic plants such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, lavender, sage etc. (they don’t like
the strong odours)
o Fuzzy leaves (must be like eating Velcro!)
o Prickly leaves or stems
o Ornamental grasses (difficult for deer to chew)-but rabbits will eat Blue Fescue and some others
 Vegetables that rabbits avoid: asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini
 If deer and rabbits are a problem in your garden, you are likely near an area that is especially
vulnerable to invasive species of plants. Always check that the species you’re planting is not on
the invasive species list. See www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca for more information. Every attempt
was made to eliminate invasive species of plants from our list.
Halton Region Master Gardeners
Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plant List
Botanical Name
Common Name
 *this genus contains native species
Resistant to
deer or rabbit
General Information
Perennial
Wetland perennial
Perennial
Annual tropical
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Annual
Perennial
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Annual
Perennial**
Native flowering
vine(aggressive)
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Vine
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial groundcover
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Shrub
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial, native (aggressive)
Perennial
Achillea* sp.
Acorus sp.
Aconitum sp.
Agapanthus sp.
Agastache* sp.
Aquilegia sp.
Alchemilla sp.
Allium sp.
Anemone sp.
Artemisia sp.
Antirrhinum sp.
Aruncus sp.
Astilbe sp.
Baptisia sp.
Bergenia sp.
Brunnera sp.
Calendula sp.
Campanula sp.
Campsis radicans
Yarrow
Sweet Flag
Monkshood
Lily-of-the-Nile
Anise-Hyssop
Columbine
Lady's Mantle
Flowering Onions
Anemone
Artemisia, Wormwood
Snapdragon
Goatsbeard
Astilbe
False Indigo
Bergenia
Siberian Bugloss
Marigold
Bellflower
Trumpet Vine
D, R
D
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D
D, R
D, R
R
D
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
R
D
D, R
Cimicifuga* sp.
Chelone sp.
Clematis sp.
Coreopsis* sp.
Corydalis* sp.
Delphinium sp.
Dicentra sp.
Digitalis sp.
Echinacea sp.
Echinops sp.
Epimedium sp.
Eupatorium sp.
Euphorbia sp.
Forsythia sp.
Ferns
 Athyrium sp.
 Dryopteris sp.
 Matteuccia sp.
Gaillardia sp.
Bugbane
Turtlehead
Clematis
Tickseed
Corydalis
Delphinium
Bleeding Heart
Foxglove
Coneflower
Globe Thistle
Barrenwort
Joe-Pye Weed
Spurge
Forsythia
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D
D
D, R
D, R
D, R
D
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
 Painted
 Shield
 Ostrich
Blanket Flower
Halton Region Master Gardeners
 perennial, annual, shrub, vine, annual, native
 **may contain species which are invasive
Grasses
 Calamagrostis sp.
 Cyperaceae sp.
 Festuca sp.
 Molinia sp.
 Panicum sp.
 Pennisetum sp.
 Chasmanthium
latifolium
Helleborus sp.
Hemerocallis sp.
Heuchera sp.
Hibiscus sp.
Ilex sp.
Hypericum sp.
Iris sp. (not Dutch iris)
Lavandula sp.
Leucanthemum × superbum
Lobelia cardinalis
Lupinus* sp.
Monarda sp.
Myosotis sp.
Narcissus sp.
Nepeta sp.
Oenothera sp.
Paeonia sp.
Papaver sp.
Perennial Geranium sp.
Perovskia sp.
Phlox paniculata
Picea sp.
Pinus sp.
Platycodon grandiflorus
Physostegia sp.
Polemonium* sp.
Polygonatum* sp.
Pulmonaria sp.
Primula sp.
Rudbeckia sp.
Salvia sp.
Sedum sp.
Sempervivum sp.
Spiraea sp.







D, R
D
D
D
D
D
D
Perennial
Perennial**
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Annual
Perennial
Hellebore
Daylilies
Coral Bells
Hibiscus
Holly
St. John's Wort
Iris
Lavender
Shasta daisy
Cardinal Flower
Lupine
Beebalm
Forget-me-not
Daffodils
Catmint
Evening Primrose
Peony
Poppy
D, R
D
D
D
D
R
D, R
D, R
D
D, R
R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D
D, R
D, R
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Shrub
Shrub, native
Perennial**
Perennial
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Self-seeding perennial
Spring bulb
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Cranesbill
Russian Sage
Garden Phlox
Spruce
Pine
Balloon flower
Obedient plant
Jacob's Ladder
Solomon’s Seal
Lungwort
Primrose
Black-eyed Susan
Perennial Sage
Stonecrop
Hen and Chicks
Spirea
D, R
D, R
D
D
D
D
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D, R
D
D, R
R
D, R
D
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Evergreen tree
Evergreen tree
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Native perennial flower
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
Shrub
Feather Reed
Sedge
Fescue
Moor Grass
Switchgrass
Fountain Grass
Wood Oats
Halton Region Master Gardeners
Stachys sp.
Syringa sp.
Stokesia sp.
Tiarella sp.
Trollius sp.
Thalictrum sp.
Thymus sp.
Verbascum sp.
Veronica sp.
Yucca sp.
Lamb’s-ear
Lilac
Stokes’ Aster
Foamflower
Globeflower
Meadow-rue
Thyme
Mullein
Speedwell
Adam’s Needle
D, R
D
D, R
D
R
D
D, R
D
D, R
D, R
Perennial
Shrub, small tree
Perennial
Native perennial flower
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial, ground cover
Perennial
Perennial
Perennial
References:

Sheridan Nurseries Catalog

Heritage Perennials Flyer

Canadian Gardening http://www.canadiangardening.com/how-to/pests-and-diseases/deer-proofyour-garden/a/1574/2

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/290041.html

Ontario Invasive Plants Council http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/

Ontario Wildflowers http://www.ontariowildflowers.com/
Prepared by Halton Region Master Gardeners
www.haltonmastergardeners.mgoi.ca
Halton Region Master Gardeners