Re: Deer & California Natives

At 06:16 PM 1/6/1999 EST, you wrote:
>I recently planted the following in a garden in the hills above Oakland,
>California: Garrya elliptica, Carpenteria californica, Rhamnus californica,
>Ribes sanguineum, Heuchera maxima, Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman', and Elaeagnus
>maculata. ALL of them were completely eaten to the ground. These plants were
>chosen because they were on various "deer resistant" lists (University of
>Caliornia, Sunset, Bob Tanem, etc.). I know these lists aren't for all
>conditions all the time, but I was surprised that all of the plants were
>chomped. The deer were seen, post-feeding frenzy, dozing and appearing very
>pleased in what had been the new garden. Does anyone out there have a truly
>tried and tested list or any experience w/California natives that deer really
>won't eat?
>
If they eat any of your native Salvia species, I'd say they were very
desperate!  These plants are strongly aromatic, and I'd imagine that
anything else like it would also be browse resistant.  They have lots of
terpenes in them.  Camphor, a common component, is mildly toxic.  Most of
the chapparal type of plants (and their old world analogs) are `armed' this
way to discourage browsing.  Sort of like dining on Vicks Vaporub.


Richard F. Dufresne
313 Spur Road
Greensboro, NC  27406
336-674-3105
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