One of the worst sights you can ever see in the garden is a plant that has been browsed by deer. (Note: We don’t love the gentle word “browsed” in this instance. A more appropriate term might be “obliterated.”) If the munching is particularly bad, that perennial, tree, or shrub becomes unrecognizable. And in many cases, this can mean instant death to your prized specimen. With deer pressure increasing from coast to coast, we decided it’s time to highlight some of our favorite deer-resistant plants. Yes, we’re from deer-ridden New England, but rest assured that we’ve included plants in this episode that will thrive from Texas to Michigan, and everywhere in between.

Guest: Karen Chapman is a landscape designer in Duvall, Washington, and the author of Deer-Resistant Design: Fence Free Gardens That Thrive Despite the Deer.

Danielle’s Plants

‘Childhood Sweetheart’ hellebore (Helleborus ‘Childhood Sweetheart’, Zones 4–9)

Winter daphne (Daphne odora, Zones 7–9)

‘Bonfire’ euphorbia (Euphorbia polychroma ‘Bonfire’, Zones 5–9)

Sunshine Blue^® blue mist shrub (Caryopteris incana ‘Jason’, 5–9)

Carol’s Plants

‘Variegata’ Hiba arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata ‘Variegata’, Zones 5–8)

‘Victoria Blue’ mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’, Zones 8–10)

Eastern sweetshrub, syn. Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus, Zones 4–9)

‘Gerald Darby’ iris (Iris × robusta ‘Gerald Darby’, Zones 4–9)

Expert’s Plants

Magical^® Fantasy weigela (Weigela florida ‘Kolsunn’, Zones 4–8)

Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, Zones 5–8)

‘Whirling Butterflies’ gaura (Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’, Zones 5–9)

‘Goldsturm’ black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’, Zones 3–9)