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)

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

Buy at Amazon

Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
- 13.5 x 3 x 5 inches
- Uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger

Buy at Amazon

Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
- 6.9 pounds
- 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)

Buy at Amazon

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm

Buy at Amazon