A perennial flowering plant with succulent properties is called sedum (Stonecrop). Sedum primarily stores water in its leaves and stems. Sedum, which is frequently planted in the spring, will thrive and blossom through the winter. Some types of sedum are more resistant to deer than others. Remember that being deer resistant does not mean being deer proof.
Sedum is classified as Occasionally Severely Damaged on the scale used by Rutgers University, which ranges from Rarely Damaged to Frequently Severely Damaged.
Deer will try practically any plant at least once before eating it. Deer dislike the bitter flavor and sticky texture of, for instance, Sedum Autumn Joy, but they nevertheless eat it. Deer will nibble on sedum plants if there is nothing else to eat because they grow up to winter and food is scarce at this time.
Some animals appreciate sedum, while deer prefer to eat hostas, daylilies, and plants that have been fertilized well. The young branches of sedum have been observed to be consumed by squirrels. Birds that are parched in the summer will avoid the sedum’s blossoms in favor of its juicy foliage.
Who or what consumes sedum plants?
Animals. The fragile young shoots of the sedum plant have been known to attract the attention of deer and squirrels. Deer have demonstrated a liking for the sedum type known as “fall delight,” despite it being deadly to humans.
Do deer and rabbits consume sedum?
One plant the rabbits do not like is lavender. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
One plant the bunnies dislike is penstemon. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
One herb the rabbits do not enjoy is tarragon. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
The herb thyme is one that the bunnies dislike. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
Rabbits dislike sage more than any other herb. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
The rabbits dislike the shrub salvia. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
One plant the rabbits do not like is sedum. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
The bunnies do not like the agastache plant. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
One herb the rabbits do not like is echinacea. On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
On May 23, 2017, in Longmont, Michael Morris, the hard goods manager at the Longmont Flower Bin, displayed plants and repellents for rabbits and deer.
Do sedums appeal to deer?
Stones are forced to the surface and the soil freezes deeper when fields are cleaned. Over 240,000 kilometers of stone walls, many of which are still standing today hundreds of years later, were frequently built by settlers using these. Farmers and gardeners frequently lament the fact that their rocky soil only produces stones as a crop.
It is therefore appropriate that one of the simplest, least finicky flowers you may grow goes by the name Stonecrop. According to legend, only stones require less maintenance than the dependable Sedum plant. This hardy perennial succulent can withstand dry, poor soil and hot, sunny conditions because to its thick leaves, which retain moisture.
The most well-known and common sedum is Autumn Joy. You’ll be rewarded with tiny pink flowers late in the season and into the fall if you grow this hardy sedum. The enormous flower heads begin as a gentle pink color and gradually turn a deep, rich orange. Pick some to make bouquets that last, or dry some to make flowers that last forever.
Try Sedum humifusum, which has lively, vivid yellow blooms, as a ground cover. Sedum reflexum, which has striking blue-green leaves resembling spruce needles, is another low-growing sedum. Early in the summer, Blue Spruce also blooms with vibrant yellow flowers. Bright pink blooms from the aplty called sedum Brilliant (Hylotelephium spectabile) will brighten up your landscape.
Sedum is not just a deer-resistant flower that is ideal for planting once and forgetting about, but it also draws pollinators like butterflies and bees. The majority of sedum plants bloom for several weeks. Sedum should be grown in fast-draining soil that has enough of sand or small rocks in full sun. Shorter sedum cultivars can be nestled into rock gardens or used as ground coverings. All of these drought-tolerant plants do well in places that are difficult to mow or that receive a lot of abuse, like next to driveways or by the sides of roads.
Sedum can be grown from seeds in the outdoors or started indoors in flats in the early spring. Because the seeds are so tiny, they should be pressed directly into the moistened soil without being covered in any way. Maintain a wet but not saturated seedbed. They need to start growing after 14 to 28 days. As a general guideline, 500 sedum seeds will provide ground cover for a 10-square-foot area.
Cuttings of sedum can be grown quickly. Simply bury the cut end in the ground and let nature do its thing. The cuttings will quickly take root and grow. Divide the sedum plants in the spring or the fall if your area becomes overloaded.
Your sedum plants require very little care once they are established. Mealybugs, scale, snails, and slugs can all attack sedum, but typically there is little harm done, and the plants bounce back quickly. Plants that have been harmed can be sprayed with organic soap. Sedum thrives in poor soil, so avoid fertilizers and overwatering because you can kill it with kindness.
Sedum will thus reward you with rich succulent foliage all year long and a burst of cheery blossoms in late summer or fall if you plant it this fall. They can perform a dual function by providing blossoms for long-lasting bouquets and filling in regions of poor soil. In fact, these stonecrops may be able to accomplish two goals at once.
Paul Barbano, who lives at Rehoboth Beach, writes about gardening there. You can write to him at PO Box 213 in Lewes, Delaware 19958.
Are autumn sedums resistant to deer?
Sedum Autumn Joy’s bitter flavor and sticky texture make it generally resistant to deer. However, some gardeners discover that deer still consume their Autumn Joy. Although deer have clear food preferences, when food is short and they are extremely hungry, they will consume nearly any plant they can. To find out how resistant this plant is, ask your neighbors if they have Autumn Joy in their yards.
How can sedum not be eaten by deer?
A hungry deer will most likely consume sedum if there is nothing else to eat. Fencing or netting around the garden will work to keep deer away, despite not being the most aesthetically pleasing option. There are sprays on the market that can be applied on the plants to deter deer. The frequency of sprays will depend on the amount of rain. If the deer are hungry enough, they will consume any plant in sight despite your best attempts.
How is sedum safeguarded?
The sedum shouldn’t need to be watered after the growing season is over. Sedums prefer dry ground. Winter rot can be caused by too much moisture. A layer of snow will aid in defending the sedum, but persistent rain and stagnant water are bad for the plant. You should water just enough if the winter is particularly dry to prevent the soil from drying out altogether. Sedum in pots will require more water than in-ground plants do.
Which Sedum is most tolerant of deer?
Coming home from a trip only to discover your garden destroyed by deer and parched is the worst possible situation.
Numerous lists of plants that are resistant to deer include Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and other taller Stonecrop relatives. When the seasons change, their foliage provides enticing intrigue, and in the fall, they really shine with a vibrant flower display. The seed heads provide a beautiful winter show if they are left undamaged.
These Stonecrops were a mainstay in the OPC Stone House Garden when it was first established due to their low maintenance requirements. We transferred these “workhorses” to the “Wild GardenA Work in Progress” when we started to redo the beds. It’s a wonderful holding spot, hidden behind a brick wall and usually out of sight.
It is particularly attractive when it blooms in the late spring with ox-eye daisies. The majority of the withered plants are removed when the flowers fade since they proliferate like crazy, but the mounds of sedum that are still present provide interest.
They were there when I departed on my holiday, I suppose. When I came back, I discovered a few leaves and a cluster of ugly green stalks. Every single plant appeared to have a running weed whacker in the middle of it. These sedum won’t have time to recover, so the damage will show for the remainder of the growing season and there won’t be any decorative seed heads in the winter. In contrast to some plants, like hostas, which put out a fresh flush of growth to cover the carnage left after being eaten, these sedum won’t have time to recover.
Fibrous begonia ‘Bigs,’ another plant on the deer resistant list, is a favorite of the deer that frequent my garden at night. My impression is that they are drawn to the succulent, water-filled leaves of the stonecrops, which are also tasty food in this hot, dry climate.
Fortunately, Bambi doesn’t seem to enjoy the sedum we employ as a groundcover that hugs the ground.
PlantSkydd, a deer and rabbit repellent, works well on plants like hydrangeas and the shrub Diervilla ‘Kodiac Orange’ that I know the deer adore. I spray the underside of leaves and flower clusters to prevent plant stains. The product lasts for several weeks if it doesn’t rain much, but new growth is fragile and requires “touch ups.” We also removed every hosta from the garden since deer can smell them from a block away. The tall sedum might potentially be removed come springtime.
What types of plants deter deer?
- White-tailed deer damage to nurseries has been researched by researchers from the University of Rhode Island. They found that deer had a fondness for hostas, daylilies, and English ivy in particular.
A few study participants made the interesting observation that deer appear to choose fertilized plants over those that haven’t.
Which Plants Deer Don’t Want to Eat
It should come as no surprise that deer tend to avoid harmful plants. Deer steer clear of common flowers with toxicity like daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies.
- Deer also have a propensity to avoid plants with powerful odors. Flowers like peonies and bearded irises, as well as herbs like sages, decorative salvias, and lavender, are simply “stinky to deer.
- Would you like to consume anything sharp? Deer don’t either (unless they’re in a pinch). They avoid eating plants like lamb’s ear on their favored menu.
Deer-Resistant Plants for Shade
- Bleeding hearts are one of our favorite perennials that can withstand deer (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, aka Dicentra spectabilis).
- Astilbe are plants that thrive in shade and are resistant to deer. Bridal Veil, Visions, and Fanal asters combine well.
Deer-Resistant Plants for Sun
- The Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ variety has a long blooming season from May through September and attracts butterflies but not deer.
- The perennial Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’ or Blazing Star is another sun-loving plant that isn’t a favorite among the deer.
- One of our favorite native plants, Echinacea purpurea, attracts pollinators.
- Salvia x sylvestris, sometimes known as wood sage, is another sun-lover.
- Last but not least, a popular type of Shasta Daisy that deer do not prefer is Leucanthemum x superbum “Becky.”
List of Top Deer-Resistant Plants, Flowers, and Shrubs
Deer-resistant plants have been identified through research as those that are less likely to be consumed by deer. The list is below. Here is a list of common plants that deer rarely or never seriously harm. Remember that there are no plants that are entirely resistant to deer; this is the first rule of deer proofing.
Sedums are they intrusive?
Sedums can survive in less-than-ideal environments, therefore the author covers a stone wall with a variety of them (identified in chart below).
A creeping sedum may be the ideal plant for you if you want something attractive that can survive with almost complete neglect. Sedums show off where many other plants would be afraid to tread. For instance, they settle in the crevices of a garden wall or pathway, on roofs or the tops of birdhouses with slightly sloping roofs, or even under huge trees where their gigantic roots control the majority of the soil’s moisture. Additionally, they function well in borders, containers, and rock gardens.
Many gardeners have started looking more closely at plants in the genus Sedum as seasonal and protracted droughts become more frequent across the United States. The ground-hugging relatives of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ which is well-known for its late russet blooms, are also gaining popularity.
In my yard, creeping sedums, often called stonecrops, provide endless fascination. Over the course of my many years as a gardener, they rank among the most adaptable, drought-tolerant, and simple-to-grow perennials I’ve ever grown. Sedums really require less work from a gardener as their area grows. These slow-growing plants, which are renowned for their propensity to spread swiftly, prevent weeds from taking root. Since they eventually just fade away, it is not required to deadhead the spent blooms, but it is simple to get rid of old blossoms using a string trimmer. They rarely contract illnesses or pests as long as they aren’t overwatered.
Even the poorest soil may support sedums, and small amounts of soil are really their preferred medium. However, the key to cultivating them is proper drainage. A sedum will be quickly killed by excessive wetness, especially standing water, which will accomplish what no drought can.
Even in the driest conditions, sedums practically never need further water after they are established. Sedums function admirably almost anyplace as long as they receive proper drainage, but they are particularly well suited for gardens in hot, arid regions like the western United States. They can also be found sticking up from boulders or sprouting from only a few inches of scree in cold, alpine environments where they are widespread. For almost every USDA Hardiness Zone, there is at least one Sedum species. The majority of creeping sedums can tolerate little shade but prefer full sun. Native to North America, Sedum ternatum is one sedum that prefers shade and a little bit more moisture than its relatives.
Creeping Sedums
Hardiness: The Northern Hemisphere’s Sedum genus has more than 400 species of succulent annuals, perennials, biennials, subshrubs, and shrubs. Sedums are commonly grown as creeping ground coverings. Each USDA Hardiness Zone has at least one species that can withstand it. Most thrive in Zones 4 through 9. OUTLINE: Five-petaled flowers in shades of yellow, white, or pink lie above mats of succulent leaves that range in color from green to blue-gray to reddish bronze. In the winter, the leaves of evergreen species take on colours of crimson and russet. PROPAGATION: From spring to midsummer, propagate plants by division or seed in the spring or fall. Plant in rock gardens, walls, recesses in walkways, and pots. You may also use it as a border edging or in sweeps on slopes. The majority of creeping sedums like full sun, although they can also tolerate little shade. They prefer medium to poor garden soil that drains well; once they are established, no additional watering is required. They cannot endure any amount of time in standing water.
The author’s favorite sedums
Except for S. ternatum, all of these exceptional sedums prefer full sun or mild shade. The numbers in the chart that come before the name in the image below provide a key.
First S. album
2. S.’s “Murale” album
S. divergens 3.
S. ewersii 4.
S. kamtschaticum (5)
S. kamtschaticum (6)
S. reflexum 7. (S. rupestre)
‘Rose Carpet’ 8.
S. sexangulare 9.
S. spurium, “Fuldaglut” 10.
S. spurium “John Creech,” 11.
S. stenopetalum 12.
S. ternatum 13.
Creeping sedums change from season to season
Creeping sedums are attractive for their dependability and lack of fussiness, but I’m also drawn to them for their succulent leaves, lengthy flowering cycles, and, in some cases, year-round attractiveness in the garden. Sedum blooms often come in little, star-shaped clusters that range in color from white to yellow to purple to pink, and are no larger than an inch in diameter and 4 to 5 inches tall. The carpets of blossoms they generate when planted in large numbers are stunning. Many evergreen sedums, such as Sedum album “Murale” and Sedum stenopetalum, blush to a rich red or bronze color in the fall and even throughout the winter. These stunning contrasts to an otherwise inert landscape last until early spring. They look particularly lovely on a snowy background.
One of the simplest plants to grow from seed, cuttings, or divisions is the sedum. Stem cuttings or divisions will guarantee the maintenance of a plant’s traits once you’ve found one you like because sedums don’t always grow true from seed. Sedums spread quickly, yet they are not invasive. They are easily lifted and transported because of their thin roots. As long as there is adequate drainage, they may survive the winter in most planters and come out of dormancy in the early to midspring.
I complained as I pulled boulders from the cultivated sections of my father’s fields as a young child working on the family farm in northeastern Maryland. In a fitting irony, decades later I still wander the same fields looking for fascinating stones to use as backdrops and accents for my ever-growing collection of sedums.
A few ways to use creeping sedums
Sedums that are resilient make lovely staples. In a section of my rock garden, I utilize a lot of sedums to simulate a cascade. You can blend several sedums, such as the white-flowered Sedum album, the S. grisebachii, and the yellow-flowered Sedum sexangulare (foreground, first photo below) (background). They perform well in a region that can be seen from above.
These year-round, low-maintenance plants are ideal for containers. You won’t need to bring the pots indoors for the winter because creeping sedums do well in containers. Additionally, because of their drought tolerance, you won’t need to locate someone to water them while you are away. Sedums, like the yellow-flowered S. sexangulare (Sempervivum spp. and cvs., Zones 410, second photo below), can be used as underplantings or in combination with other succulents like hens and chicks.
Make stepping stones or rock walls’ sharp edges softer. Within cracks in a stone wall or between stepping stones, sedums, like S. spurium ‘Fuldaglut,’ grow with almost no soil (third photo, below). Use small, mature seedlings, usually referred to as plugs, and combine with some fine gravel and soil.
Utilize a patchwork of sedums to tame a difficult terrain. Maybe you have a spot where gardening and lawn mowing have never worked well together, like a hillside with compacted soil. It might be the perfect place to use creeping sedums, like the pink-flowered S. spurium ‘John Creech’ and others, to intertwine regions of color and texture. The “quilt will vary three times a year as the sedums exhibit the colors of their early-season foliage, then their blossoms, and finally their winter leaves in various tones.