are found in an abundance of varieties, and we are sure you will find what you are looking for in this article.
Which annuals are fit for the job? Do you already have such annuals growing in your house somewhere?
Continue reading to know the answer to these and so much more.
Contents
The Best Deer Resistant Annual Plants
1. Cosmos Sulphureus
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
The plant is commonly known as the “Mexican aster” and belongs to the Asteraceae family, the same family that daisies and chrysanthemums belong to. It is native to northern South America, Central America, and Southern North America and is one of the deer-resistant annuals northeast, too.
The flowers resemble daisies and come in shades of yellow, orange, red, white, pink, and golden. They give off a scent disliked by deer and are deer-resistant annuals that bloom all summer. It is an annual herbaceous plant that reaches a height of 6 feet. It has compound leaves with lance-shaped leaflets deeply lobed into slender, linear portions. The foot long, dark green leaves are lance-shaped.
Its daisy-like flowers have petals (ray florets) ranging from bright orange to mild reddish yellow. Flowers have a long lifespan and a diameter of 2 inches. They are supported by lengthy flower stalks that are 4 to 8 inches long.
Its bright yellow flowers and finely divided leaves make it stand out in any garden, especially when planted in a large quantity. This plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil and requires regular watering to keep it healthy.
Although it is generally a low-maintenance plant, it is also susceptible to pests such as aphids, spider mites, and thrips. Yellow cosmos is a great choice if you are looking for a cheerful, low-maintenance plant to add to your garden.
Cosmos sulphureus is often used as an ornamental plant in garden beds and borders and as a cut flower in arrangements. Its bright yellow flowers make it an excellent choice for adding color to a garden, and its tall stature makes it a good choice for the back of a garden bed or as a focal point. It is also great for attracting pollinators, including butterflies and bees, to the garden.
2. Spider Flowers
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
Spider flowers, also known as cleome or spiderwort, are a group of plants known for their elongated, thin petals that resemble the legs of a spider. They belong to the Cleomaceae family, are native to South America, and belong to the deer-resistant annuals in Georgia and surrounding regions.
These plants produce unique, eye-catching blooms that stand out in any garden. They prefer to grow in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil and are relatively low-maintenance once established.
Despite their hardiness, spider flowers are unfortunately susceptible to common garden pests such as aphids, thrips, and whiteflies. Whether you are an expert gardener or just starting, spider flowers are a fun and unique addition to any garden.
The plants get their name from the seedlings on the long and slender stems that resemble spiders. The blooms are in shades of white, pink, purple, and lavender and emit a hard-to-miss fragrance that is a source of attraction for beneficial pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies. It has spikes all over its stalks that keep deer away. The flowers also have a unique appearance, with long stamens that extend from the center of the bloom, giving them the appearance of a spider.
In addition to their ornamental value, spider flowers are attractive to beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, making them valuable to any pollinator garden. Spider Flowers (Cleome hassleriana) are often grown for their long, spidery blooms that add a unique touch to garden beds, borders, and containers.
The stalk’s base has 4 to 8-inch blooms resembling spiders that grow upward. The act of “deadheading,” or removing the wasted blossoms, is not required. Thin green seed pods that mature to brown and crack open to release the little seed are produced after the flowers. Like the Queen series, older cultivars generate healthy seeds and may self-seed in the neighborhood. Modern hybrids do not produce viable seeds and are sterile – which is of course a pity.
Spider Flower is a heat-tolerant plant that is well suited to warm climates. The plant is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care once established. Regular deadheading – although not necessary – can help prolong its blooming period.
They are available in various colors, from white to pink to purple, and can grow up to 6 feet tall, making them ideal for use as a backdrop or as a focal point in a mixed border. With their unique blooms, tall stature, and relatively low-maintenance requirements, spider flowers are a versatile and delightful addition to any garden.
3. Floss Flowers (Ageratum Houstonianum)
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
Floss Flowers, also known as Ageratum Houstonianum, are popular annual flowering plants known for their puffy, round flowers that resemble little pom-poms.
They have finely divided leaves and short stature, making them ideal for use as a filler in mixed borders or as an edging plant along walkways. These plants thrive in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil and require regular watering to keep them healthy.
These deer and rabbit-resistant annuals, also known as Ageratum, belong to the Asteraceae family and are native to Mexico.
In addition to their ornamental value, Floss Flowers are also long-blooming, providing color in the garden from summer to fall. They come in a range of colors, from classic blue to pink, purple, and white, and are easy to grow from seed or as bedding plants.
Although they are generally low-maintenance plants, Floss Flowers can unfortunately be vulnerable to common garden pests such as aphids, thrips, and whiteflies. If you are looking for a low-maintenance, long-blooming plant to add to your garden, Floss Flowers are a great choice.
The plant has a compact, mounded growth habit, with leaves that are soft and fuzzy to the touch. The flowers are small, with clusters of delicate, powder-blue petals that add a gentle touch of color to garden beds, borders, and containers.
The flowers are mostly in a purplish-blue shade, but nowadays, pink and white cultivars are readily available. The scented flowers make sure that no deer will come close.
4. Flowering Tobacco
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
Flowering Tobacco, also known as Nicotiana, is a genus of plants in the nightshade family that is prized for their trumpet-shaped flowers and aromatic foliage. They are tall plants ideal for use as a backdrop or as a focal point in mixed borders.
They prefer bright sun to medium shade and sit well in well-draining soil, requiring regular watering to keep them healthy. Flowering Tobacco also prefers high humidity, making them a great choice for gardens in humid climates. These deer resistant plants belong to the Solanaceae family and are native to South America.
The plants have beautiful yellow, white, red, pink, and green colored flowers that add a vibrant touch to wherever they are planted. They come in various colors, from white to pink, red, and purple, and are largely fragrant, making them a great choice for use in moon gardens or as cut flowers.
These plants are convenient to grow from seed or as bedding plants and are generally low-maintenance, although they can be susceptible to common garden pests such as aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and slugs. In addition to their ornamental value, they have been used in many ancient medicines for their medicinal properties, such as treating skin irritation and pain.
These blooms are clusters and open up mostly in the evening or night, filling the air with their sweet scent. You will not see any deer around with the fragrance of these deer-resistant flowers!
5. Pot Marigolds
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
These deer-resistant plants are also known as Calendula or Common Marigolds. They belong to the family of Asteraceae and are native to the Mediterranean region. They are compact and ideal for use in mixed borders, as bedding plants, or in pots and containers.
They enjoy full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil and require regular watering to keep them healthy. To encourage continued blooming, deadheading the spent flowers is recommended. The marigold plants bloom yellow, red, white, pink, and orange flowers that bring life anywhere and everywhere. Deer will not be seen anywhere close to these plants.
They are also edible, and the petals have culinary uses like add-ons to salads or garnish for desserts. In addition to their ornamental value, Marigolds are also known for their medicinal characteristics and have been used in traditional healing for centuries. Although generally low-maintenance plants, pot Marigolds can be vulnerable to common garden pests such as aphids, thrips, and slugs.
6. Globe Amaranth
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
Globe Amaranth, also known as Gomphrena, is a popular annual flowering plant known for its round, globe-shaped flowers and fuzzy, green foliage. They are compact and ideal for use in mixed borders, as bedding plants, or in pots and containers.
The plant is a herbaceous annual that belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae and is native to Central America. They enjoy sitting in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil and have a low water requirement. To encourage continued blooming, deadheading the spent flowers is recommended.
It is widely available in various colors, from pink to purple, red, and yellow, and is easy to grow from seed or as bedding plants. They are also long-lasting cut flowers, making them popular for floral arrangements.
In addition to their ornamental value, Globe Amaranth has been widely used in conventional healing practices for its anti-inflammatory properties. Although they are generally low-maintenance plants, Globe Amaranth can be vulnerable to common garden pests such as aphids, thrips, and whiteflies.
The compact plant has stems that grow clover-like magenta sepals that dance happily throughout their blooming period. These sepals are, in fact, the real blooms of the plant, while the actual flowers are very tiny and barely noticeable. The plant’s scent repels deer.
7. Lantana
| Growing season |
|
| Distinguishing characteristics |
|
| Specific needs |
|
| Common pests |
|
Lantana, one of the annuals that resist deer, is known as Shrub Verbena and belongs to the Verbenaceae family. It is homegrown in the tropical regions of America, the West Indies, and Mexico.
The plant is a popular tropical shrub known for its brightly colored, flat-topped flowers that bloom continuously throughout the growing season. The plant leaves are aromatic and have a distinct smell when crushed.
It is a heat-tolerant plant and is ideal for use in sunny gardens, patios, or containers. It prefers to grow in direct sun and well-draining soil with a moderate water requirement. To maintain its shape and encourage continued blooming, pruning is recommended.
In addition to its ornamental value, Lantana is known for its use in traditional medicine, especially in the Caribbean and South America. The leaves and roots of the plant have been widely used to cure various ailments, from headaches to stomach issues. Despite its popularity, Lantana can be invasive in some areas and should be cautiously grown.
The plant bears flowers in the form of clusters. These flowers are yellow, white, orange, red, purple, pink, and blue, and you may simultaneously find more than one of these colors in the plant. Deer eat this plant, but the leaves’ intense aroma, taste, and texture ensure they do not return.
Conclusion
With so many deer-resistant plants, picking just one or two is hard. But do not let this stop you from having your favorite deer-repelling plant, as we are here to help!
Whichever plant you decide to have, always remember the following important points from the article above:
- If you have little time to propagate a plant, look no further than the lantana plant.
- Tobacco plants are the perfect choice to repel deer while giving off a sweet aroma in the evening.
- The Cleome plant repels deer and attracts beneficial pollinators to your garden.
After knowing more about these deer-resistant plants, you can choose the right one for you!
References
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lantana-camara/
- https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spider-flower-cleome-hassleriana/
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ageratum-houstonianum/
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gomphrena-globosa/
- 25 Kalanchoe Types and Colorful Varieties for Your Garden - October 3, 2023
- 17 Hawaiian Flowers That Grow and Thrive in the Hot Summer - October 2, 2023
- Watering a Poinsettia and How is it Done Correctly? - September 30, 2023
