Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Southwest

Fionuala Campionsays in her article , Dazzling Deer - Resistant Perennials , “ Though very elegant and delightful to behold in their native home ground , deer are a voracious violence to reckon with in many Northern California garden , particularly in summer and crepuscule . ” But these regal wight are not just an number for gardeners on the west coast . There are population of deer in all 50 state , and all are munching on the many different plants we ’re growing across the land .

There are a vast array of deterrents that can bid various level of success , but sometimes the best method acting to deter pests is growing plant they wo n’t trouble with . While effect can always variegate , these four expert - selected works for the Southwest are the closest you ’ll get to cervid - proof .

1. Blackfoot Daisy

Name:Melampodiumleucanthum

Zones:5–11

Size:8 to 12 column inch tall and 12 to 24 inches broad

Conditions : Full sun ; well - enfeeble ground

Native range of a function : South - key and southwestern United States ; northern Mexico

This tough perennial grows in blood-red rock candy soils across the Southwest , where it looks like white polka Elvis in the landscape . It can typically be found originate between 2,000 to 5,000 feet of elevation . This hearty speciesis fine with heat and likes rocky locations . It looksgood among bowlder and next to succulents such as Parry ’s agave ( Agaveparryi , Zones 7–10 ) , or mixed with taller aboriginal perennials such as Palmer ’s penstemon ( Penstemonpalmeri , Zones 4–9 ) . The white flower are produced periodically from spring through pin , with the big display do in late leap or early summertime , depending on aggrandizement . Blackfoot daisy grows cursorily into a mounded phase , maturing in one to two season . It benefit from an annual shearing .

2. ‘Sierra Gold’ Lemon Dalea

Name:Daleacapitata‘Sierra Gold’

Zones:6–11

Size:8 to 12 inches tall and 3 to 4 feet wide

Conditions : Full sun ; well - drained , gravelly grunge

aboriginal range : Coahuila , Mexico

‘ Sierra Gold ’ lemon dalea is something rare : a ground cover for the desert . Its bright green foliage features sunny yellowish flush in fall and spring . This humbled , diffuse perennial is an excellent pick for plant around the groundwork of hesperaloes ( Hesperaloespp . and cvs . , zone 5–11 ) . It also search good rambling among boulders in a rock garden setting . ‘ Sierra Gold ’ lemon genus Dalea can be combined with other purple - flowering shrub - forming daleas , such as indigo bush ( Daleapulchra , zone 8–11 ) . To keep plants looking lush andfull , prune back the stem 4 to 6 column inch above the dry land in early spring . While this repeated prefers skimpy , bumpy soil , it will also get in improve soil .

3. Cleveland Sage

Name:Salviaclevelandii

Zones:8b–11

Size:3 to 5 foot tall and wide

Conditions : Full Sunday to fond tone ; well - drained , sandy soil

aboriginal range : California ; northern Baja California

Cleveland sage ’s lovely silvern foliage is among the most fragrant of any salvia , so much so that its dried leave are often bundled together and used as incense . It ’s a cool - time of year grower , using winter rains to bring about coil of light blue angel to purple flowers in late give . This plant needs fast - drain soil to endure the eminent monsoon humidness and low Nox temperature of scummy desert areas . coalesce it with plants such as blackfoot daisy or ‘ Sierra Gold ’ lemon dalea . It benefits from a semi - annual pruning in fall and should be grown in full sun , but it needs some afternoon shade in lower desert location . In colder , eminent - pinnacle areas such as Santa Fe and Albuquerque , try rose sage ( Salvia pachyphylla , Zones 5–9 ) , which is also deer immune , instead .

4. Turpentine Bush

Name:Ericameria laricifolia

Zones:6b–11

Size:2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide

Conditions : Full Sunday ; well - run out , highly mineralized soil

aboriginal orbit : Southwestern United States ; northern Mexico

Turpentine bush is a tough - as - nails compact evergreen shrub sporting mess of small , yellow , daisy - shaped flower thatattract butterflies when they flower in surrender . Mix it with tough , spiky desert succulent such as desert spoon ( Dasylirionspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–11 ) or yucca ( Yuccaspp . and cvs . , zone 4–11 ) . This shrub is appropriate for rock garden and also works well on the outer boundary of a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree canopy . It can take reflect estrus also . Turpentine bush is deer resistive due to its small needle - like leaves that indeed reek like turpentine . Native to both the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts , it is typically moth-eaten hardy up to 7,000 foot of elevation .

Scott Calhounis a landscape painting intriguer in Tucson , Arizona . He is the source of The Hot Garden : Landscape Design for the Desert Southwest .

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Cleveland sage

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

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