Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_32.gif)
Sunday - June 01, 2008
From: Brenham, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Native plants for deer
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live on 5 acres near Brenham and want to plant FOR the deer, without using non-natives. I leave unmowed islands of Buffalo grass, little bluestem and many native forbs. I know they are using it for cover but are they actually eating it or do they prefer my neighbor's veggies?ANSWER:
Wow! I think this is the first time we have gotten a question looking for plants that deer LIKE to eat. It is usually the reverse.First of all, grass is not a large component of the deer's food. They do eat it, but mostly when it is young and tender and provides the highest nourishment or as a last resort when nothing else is available. Their major foods are forbs (herbaceous plants) and browse (foliage of shrubs and trees). They will also eat mast (acorns, persimmons, mesquite beans, cedar berries and other fruits) which is, I suppose, a sort of subset of browse. There is an excellent article, White-tailed Deer Management in the Texas Hill Country by W. E. Armstrong and E. L. Young, from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that goes into depth about managing the land for deer. In appendices at the end of the article there are lists of preferred deer food—Appendix B: Deer Browse Plants and Appendix C: Common Forbs of the Edwards Plateau. Since Brenham and Washington County are east of the Texas Hill Country, not all of the plants listed are going to be native to your area. I've picked out a few of the ones that are native to Washington County and that deer do prefer.
Browse
Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn)
Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak)
Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bully)
Smilax bona-nox (saw greenbrier)
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
Toxicodendron radicans (eastern poison ivy) (go figure!)
Forbs
Commelina erecta (whitemouth dayflower)
Engelmannia peristenia (Engelmann's daisy)
Calylophus berlandieri (Berlandier's sundrops)
Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian sunflower)
Eustoma exaltatum (catchfly prairie gentian)
Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow)
Callirhoe pedata (palmleaf poppymallow)
More Deer Resistant Questions
Deer-resistant plants for wildlife in Margaretville NY
April 18, 2010 - We have a 60 degree bank behind a recently completed retaining wall that is mostly rocky with a light topsoil. We are going to put down grass just to keep the topsoil in place, but someone suggested ...
view the full question and answer
Protection of redwoods from deer rutting
June 04, 2008 - We have a mountain home that we visit every other weekend. Are there any methods to protect redwoods from deer rutting that we can put in place since we are not there enough to spray repellent every f...
view the full question and answer
Deer resistant plants for wet area in northern California
July 10, 2010 - In Napa/Sonoma/Calif mountains, deer resistant plants, shrubs that tolerate much water and full sun? Area is in 'spring area' and a butterfly bush drowned. Thank you!
view the full question and answer
Native, deer-resistant flowering plants attractive to bees
February 03, 2008 - I am adding several beehives to our property this spring. I would also like to add more native, flowering, deer-resistant plants that bees love as well. Any recommendations? I live in SW Austin, qui...
view the full question and answer
Shady Perennial Groundcover Suggestions for Indiana
April 21, 2013 - Could you please recommend perennial groundcovers for Indiana that are low and leafy, self-spreading, non-invasive, deer resistant, and moisture tolerant; and that are good for erosion control on a sh...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |