Re: [SG] Shade, Deer, Drought
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Shade, Deer, Drought
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 03:33:49 -0400
Very belated response to this one - *very* backed up on my mail.
I expect your friends are zone 7, but which end of it I can't tell without
knowing exactly where they moved in VA.
Well, different herds of deer will eat different things at different times
- and they will try just about anything that doesn't move if they are
really hungry....this said, so far (knock on wood), my resident herd has
not even sampled:
Nicotiana sylvestris
Digitalis
Helleborus
Echinops ritro
Stachys byzantina
Monarda
Euphorbia
Tall bearded iris, I. sibirica or I. ensata
Asclepias
Any ornamental grass, including Carex, Miscanthus and Pennisetum
Aquilegia
Fragaria 'Pink Panda'
Mazus reptans
Nepeta
Lavender
Symphytum grandiflora
Arisaema (jack-in-the-pulpit)...tho' have read on Arisaema list that they
are eaten in other places.
Acanthus spp.
Lamiastrum galeobdolan
Lamiam 'White Nancy'
Vinca, either major or minor
Galiium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)
Pachysandra terminalis
Juniper spp.
Spiraea spp. and cvs.
Weigela "Foliis Purpuriis'
Deutzia cvs.
Pieris japonica species and cvs.
Nandina domestica species and cvs.
Any ferns - have many species. Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern)
is native to MD and VA and as tough as old boots when it comes to drought
and heat
Wisteria
Lonicera sempervirens or even that horrible rampant weed L. japonica
'Halliana' that takes over the woodland and anything else it can get near.
Kolkwitzia amabilis
Any narcissus and have never noticed them trying any of the minor bulbs I
have all over the place
Any Allium species or cv - have a handful around and about
Colchicum
Geranium macrorrhizum, tho' they love several other species
Bamboo (drat it, that's one they could have all of that they want!)
Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii' or my native I. opaca; they will munch on I.
crenata quite happily.
That's all I can think of right now...there are probably a few more - the
rest of my garden is gourmet heaven for them.
However, all lists are localized....different herds will eat some of the
things mine do not. I always think of what Ellen Hornig of Seneca Hill
Nursery posted on Alpine-L during one discussion about deer eating
things....she said they have leather mouths and will eat anything...and she
is right. Even if they find they don't like it, they can do a fair amount
of damage in the discovery process.
Marge
in dry, dry MD where voluntary water restriction went in place yesterday
with mandatory coming on soon...
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Roberta Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU>
> Date: Sunday, July 18, 1999 1:30 PM
>
> Hi--
>
> friends of ours recently moved to central Virginia. They don't know their
> zone (7?). Their yard is shaded by large oak and magnolia trees. Deer are
> a problem in the area, so hostas won't work for them. They can't think of
> anything else to plant that deer won't eat. Also, like much of the
country
> they are suffering from drought conditions at least this year. I
> suggested ferns, but wasn't able to recommend particular varieties. Any
> other low-maintenance suggestions for plants unpalatable to deer? Thanks.
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
