Do you recall the adage that the best offensive makes the best defense? This adage is particularly accurate when selecting vines to install around your property that are deer resistant.
To keep these animals away from your flowers and shrubs, all it takes is a little effort and research to learn what deer prefer and don’t like to eat. Deer are drawn to evergreens with slender foliage.
Deer may like plants that have just been fertilized. There are plants that are much less appetizing to these furry pals, yet there isn’t one that keeps deer away for good.
In general, deer avoid noxious, scented, fuzzy, and prickly vegetation. The knowledge that may be derived from this information about deer-resistant plants is just the beginning.
A Garden Classic that Deters DeerIvy (Hedera helix)
One plant that is resistant to deer is one you’ve probably heard of before. Shiny foliage covers the entire year’s growth of ivy. In USDA zones four through eight, it is particularly hardy.
It can adapt to any well-draining soil, regardless of pH level. The addition of an organic layer fosters the development of the vines. Ivy needs to be watered frequently until it is completely grown.
To avoid damp soil and fungi, refrain from watering ivy leaves. Every two to three years, or anytime it starts to seem shaggy, trim it. Make sure ivy won’t be a hazard because it is listed as an invasive species in some areas.
Viburnum (Viburnum opulus)
In contrast to many other deer-resistant plants, viburnum is special because it has appealing, dark-green foliage, big clusters of white flowers, showy berries, and a pleasant scent. It provides a ton of advantages with little effort.
Although this plant has variations that grow up to 20 feet in height, it is not strictly a vine. We are unsure of any other means of deer resistance if that isn’t adequate. The majority of viburnums tolerate some shade but favor direct sunlight.
Each plant should be placed five to fifteen feet apart depending on its eventual size. During dry spells, give them regular waterings, and mulch the area surrounding the plant to assist the soil retain moisture. Throughout the growth season, prune any branches that are dead or damaged.
Trumpet Vines (Campsis radicans)
The vigorous flowering vines known as trumpet vines have deer resistance built right in. Hummingbirds are also attracted to the vibrant orange blossoms. Growing this plant requires attention because, if left unattended, it self-seeds and develops thickets that suffocate nearby plants.
Dark green leaves on this natural deer deterrent vine turn yellow in the fall. The trumpet-shaped blossoms develop into six-inch-long seed pods after becoming orange, crimson, and yellow.
This vine swiftly covers walls, trellises, fences, and other structures. It also serves as a groundcover for rock beds and other areas where homeowners prefer to be hidden from view. They do best on soil that drains well, full sun to light shade.
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)Stunning Deer Resistant Vines
Wisteria vines are among the best deer-resistant plants. In the middle to late spring, wisteria blooms with magnificent white, purple, and blue flowers and a sweet-smelling fragrance.
These twining climbing floral vines require assistance to climb and frequent pruning to prevent overspreading. Plant wisteria in full sun and good, moist soil because it doesn’t like the cold. Don’t add fertilizer or compost to the earth because it is an aggressive grower.
Wisteria vines may also need to be trained so that they are simpler to manage. Select an upright stem and fasten it to a support structure to train it. When required, prune side sprouts and train new branches.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
The honeysuckle vine is another one of the perennials that are resistant to deer. Pollinators are attracted to the red and yellow flowers of these plants by their sweet aroma and even sugary nectar. With more than 180 different types, honeysuckle can be found in almost every state in America.
Although it enjoys full light, honeysuckle may also take little shade. Additionally, it can adapt to almost any type of soil, however it prefers well-draining soil with extra organic matter.
Regularly prune them, especially if you’re using them as groundcovers. Your flower beds and trellises will seem more interesting with honeysuckle because it returns cheerfully year after year with a little amount of care.
Leather Flower (Clematis montana)
Deer-resistant climbing plants with a variety of bloom shapes and colors called leather flowers. The clematis plants are hardy and require little upkeep. There are numerous, delicate blossoms with a vanilla aroma.
Fast-growing vine plants called leather flowers may easily scale buildings. Without pruning, the plant can grow up to 40 feet long and 15 feet wide.
Late spring and early summer are when blooms first appear. They can withstand temperatures as low as freezing on occasion and are hardy in growth zones six through nine.
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)- Flowers that Deer Don’t Like
Although hydrangeas are most frequently pictured as big shrubs, there is also a climbing version of the plant. These vines have heart-shaped leaves and big clusters of fragrant white blooms.
These enormous trees can be pruned to much smaller heights and still reach heights of 30 to 80 feet. Hydrangea climbing vines are hefty and need a strong support.
They prefer fertile, moist soil and are hardy in USDA zones five through seven. When planting, adding compost to the soil encourages more gorgeous growth and blooming.
Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora)
Despite being a bush, peonies are prized for their deer resistance and attractive blossoms. They have a reputation for enduring nearly -50F winters in zone two due to their extreme hardiness.
Peonies are deer-tolerant shrubs that bloom for over 100 years with little maintenance if given the right growing circumstances. Peonies prefer sunny areas with soil that drains well.
The botrytis fungus disease, which causes the leaves and stems to decay and turn black, is the one that this plant is most vulnerable to. You can easily avoid this by placing them where they belong.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Butterfly bushes are perennials that draw all the beneficial wildlife to your yard while keeping out the undesirable ones. This plant is adored by hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees without luring deer to your yard.
The evergreen leaves and panicles of brilliant flowers that emerge from spring to summer add year-round color. In zones 2 through 9, it is hardy. A butterfly bush in a good site requires far less work than one in a bad one.
Each flower shrub that deer won’t eat should be placed in a spot with full sun or some shade. Make sure the soil drains effectively; otherwise, you run the danger of root rot. Give other plants plenty of space to grow around the butterfly bush. They expand from four to 15 feet broad and six to twelve feet high.
Is wisteria resistant to deer?
Every spring about this time, we hold our noses to the air and breathe in the powerful scent of blooming wisteria. Wisteria appears to be the ideal choice for clients wishing to add some fast-growing color to their property because it is widely available at garden centers and is marketed as pest free, deer resistant, and fast-growing.
Wisteria doesn’t need frequent fertilization or watering, and it can tolerate rather poor soils. So there you have it—the ideal floral vine that will grow and bloom for years to embellish the facade, trellis in the garden, fence, or wall of your home.
So, all humor aside, anyone who has bought this plant is aware of how invasive it can be and how it can wreck havoc on about anything it attaches itself to. We’re confident that the majority of people who unintentionally planted this vine near their homes are aware of the damage some wisteria species may do to garden structures and building facades. So it is with wisteria and our odd love-hate relationship.
Some types are a little bit more well-behaved than others, just like the members of most families. Silky wisteria (Wisteria brachybotrys) produces huge, fragrant white blossoms and 8–14 long, divided–into–9–13 leaflets leaves. Wisteria floribunda, a type of Japanese wisteria, also comes in pink and blue varieties in addition to the more popular lavender and purple varieties. But Chinese wisteria, also known as Wisteria sinensis, has replaced kudzu and Japanese stilt grass as the vine that engulfs deserted buildings and entire hillsides. Chinese Wisteria has a 60-foot maximum height above the ground and a 30-foot lateral spread. California’s Sierra Madre is home to the largest known wisteria in the world. It weighs 250 tons, is larger than 1 acre, and was planted in 1894.
Nonnative wisteria, including Japanese, Chinese, and silky varieties, are not good plants for our landscapes and environment, according to “Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control.” Vines that colonize, twisting and covering shrubs and trees, grow 10 inches in diameter. They root at nodes on runners that scoot along the ground, frequently hidden by leaf litter. But because it is a quick-growing, handsome plant with a pleasant scent, it has become a pass-along favorite for many generations to the point that many gardeners can’t imagine spring without the vine. However, those who have been fighting these invasive monsters for years will point to the $138 billion annual cost of controlling nonnative plant species in the US and remind us that invasive vines like wisteria, kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese stilt grass, and English ivy have been responsible for a significant portion of that cost, particularly in the southeast of the country.
Which climbing vines avoid deer’s paws?
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), swamp leatherflower (Clematis crispa), and celastrus scandens (American bittersweet).
Deer resistance in evergreen wisteria
The Fabaceae (bean) family of plants includes the wisteria cultivar “Amethyst Falls” from Head Ornamentals, Inc. You will be pleasantly delighted to see that this American vine is less aggressive than the more typical Asian wisteria. ‘Amethyst Falls’, which some people believe to be a dwarf wisteria, has fewer leaves and smaller flowers than its exotic Asian relatives. Once established, this plant can ascend 15 to 20 feet in a single season.
This plant produces a stunning, big bloom in the late spring and a lighter, repeat bloom in the summer since it blooms on fresh wood. The flowers are lavender-purple, moderately fragrant, and produced in May as cascading 4- to 6-inch racemes. Our native wisterias can be gradually cut back each winter because they blossom on fresh growth. This quality makes it easier for gardeners to train “Amethyst Falls” to grow on arbors or virtually any type of trellis.
This wisteria is a great substitute for the more invasive, aggressive Oriental types because it is drought and deer resistant. On a patio or close to a pool, containers are the ideal place for specimen plants that make use of the available vertical space in the landscape. It’s a fantastic addition to a pollinator garden due to its capacity to draw hummingbirds and butterflies.
What creatures consume wisteria plants?
Wisteria is a vigorously growing vine that only has to be pruned occasionally. Because of this, it is less vulnerable to pests, yet this does not guarantee that you will never find something eating your wisteria. It might be really upsetting to discover that anything is eating your plants, so you’ll want to identify it as soon as you can.
The most likely culprit if something is munching on your wisteria is a bug of some sort. The majority of animals won’t consume wisteria because of its toxicity. However, the most frequent pests that might harm your wisteria are aphids, borers, scale insects, and caterpillars. Damage may also be caused by huge bees and birds.
The various animals and insects that might eat your wisteria are covered in this article. Additionally, you’ll discover how to spot pests that are consuming your wisteria’s blooms and leaves and what you can do to stop them.
Are rabbits wisteria eaters?
Because its woody stems are too dense to eat, wisteria (Wisteria) is typically avoided by rabbits. Hedera helix, or English ivy, is poisonous. Clematis (Clematis), hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris), silver lace vine (Polygonum aubertii), and Virginia creeper are some plants that some gardeners have had success with (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 and 8, all are resilient. Rabbits typically eat honeysuckle (Lonicera) and trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) until the plants mature and grow woody stems. These two plants can survive in USDA zones 4 through 9.
Will deer consume hydrangeas that climb?
regrettably, absolutely. The fragile, newly growing hydrangea plant tips are particularly beloved by deer. The elder leaves normally don’t attract them, but if they’re extremely hungry, they’ll eat even those.
Put wire cages over the smaller plants to safeguard them if you want to give your hydrangeas a greater chance of surviving but don’t want to erect a full-on fence.
Another tip I picked up this year for our garden was to place the hydrangeas in close proximity to other green plants so that they blend in and take up little space. You will benefit from the fact that deer won’t enter a small area.
Which plants irritate deer the most?
According to Hyland, deer typically avoid plants with fragrant foliage like sage and rosemary. Additionally, they stay away from statuesque plants like yews, hollies, and boxwoods. Deers will not enjoy anything spiky or fuzzy, so take the texture of the plant into consideration.
Are hydrangeas immune to deer?
Are hydrangeas immune to deer? The quick response is no. Deer enjoy nibbling on the delicate tips, flowers, and leaves of hydrangeas. However, there are methods that hydrangea enthusiasts like me can employ to lessen deer damage. Plant the toughest hydrangea varieties first. Next, put up a fence to prevent deer from getting near your plants. To deter grazing, spritz deer repellant. To discover more about cultivating hydrangeas in a deer-populated area, continue reading.
Do deer consume clematis?
This deer-resistant plant offers appeal, fashion, and adaptability. There is a clematis vine to suit everyone’s tastes because the blossoms come in a wide variety of hues, sizes, and shapes. This vine is beautiful.
Do deer consume hostas?
Hosta is a genus of plants with distinctive leaf that is extensively cultivated as a shade-loving plant. Hostas come in around 45 different species, with heights ranging from 1 inch to more than 6 feet. Unfortunately, hosta is one of the plants that deer enjoy eating the most.
On the scale from Rarely Damaged to Frequently Severely Damaged, Rutgers University rates this plant as Frequently Severely Damaged.
Deer consume hostas, however they just consume the foliage, leaving the stems untouched. The stalks are left in its wake. Slugs are another species that often consumes hosta. However, the harm will be very different. Learn more about how hostas consume slugs. Searching for deer prints or droppings close to the plants can help you determine whether deer are the culprits behind the damage.
The wisteria’s rate of growth
Nothing compares to the splendor of a wisteria arbor in full bloom, but sadly, many Midwestern gardeners are unable to grow these exquisite vines.
Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and Chinese wisteria are the two varieties of wisteria that are most frequently planted in our region ( Wisteria sinensis).
Japanese wisteria is famous for its fragrant violet blooms, which are produced in clusters that range in length from 8 to 20 inches. A cluster’s individual blooms open one at a time, starting at the base.
Chinese wisteria often has clusters that are less than 12 inches long, with slightly larger individual blooms. A cluster of flowers also has a tendency to open at the same time. Chinese wisteria is less fragrant and less resilient than Japanese wisteria. Both species have cultivars that feature white blooms.
Wisteria is an aggressive twining vine that can become highly invasive in some places. Strong support is necessary for the vines to maintain their rapid growth. When wisteria is established in the right setting, it can grow up to 10 feet each year. It functions best in neutral to slightly alkaline, deep, moist, but well-drained soils.
Since the majority of gardeners are attracted to this plant for its flowers, they are very irritated by its infamous propensity to just grow greenery. This irritating issue may be caused by a variety of factors, including the plant’s immaturity, an excess of nitrogen, a deficiency in phosphorus, poor-quality plants, and an excessive amount of shadow.
Before they can start to produce flowers, Asian wisterias need to attain a certain level of maturity. In actuality, it may take the vines up to 15 years or more to bloom.
Those who have had success with wisteria frequently advise root trimming, using superphosphate, severe shoot clipping, and planting in full light. Most importantly, you should begin with high-quality plants that were grown from cuttings of plants that are known to bloom when they are still quite young. Take cuttings of the stem tips in July if you know someone who is prepared to part with a beautiful specimen. Avoid planting seedling vines since it is impossible to predict their flowering habits due to the genetic diversity of seed reproduction.
Wait until late spring or early summer to prune these vines since they develop their blossoms on last year’s wood in mid- to late May. To keep the plant manageable and regenerative, severe pruning back to three or four buds is frequently advised.
A few native species of wisteria are a little more “tame” than their Asian counterparts. These indigenous species attain flowering age earlier than Asian species because they bloom on the growth of the current season. Although they bloom slightly later in the spring, they can rebloom throughout the summer.
The 20–30 foot tall American wisteria (W. frutescens) blooms its flowers in 4-6 inch long, compact clusters. The most popular cultivar, “Amethyst Falls,” has fragrant lavender-blue blooms. Although ‘Nivea’ has longer clusters of white blossoms, it is less aromatic.
Wisteria macrostachys, which grows in Kentucky, produces flower clusters that are 8 to 12 inches long and densely covered with blossoms. Some people believe this to be an American wisteria subspecies. The hardy Minnesota cultivar “Blue Moon” has incredibly fragrant blossoms that start to develop in June and continue throughout the summer. Both ‘Aunt Dee’ and ‘Clara Mack’ have blooms that are a light lavender color.