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_00.gif)
Wednesday - May 13, 2009
From: Kewadin, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer resistant low-lying plants for Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I want to create a bed of low lying plants (under 4 ft.)in the front of my cottage. The soil is completely sandy and gets eastern sun in the AM. There are many deer in the area.ANSWER:
First of all, please visit our Recommended Species page and select Michigan from the map or pull-down menu. This will give you a list of more than 150 commercially available native plants for landscaping in your state. You can modify that list to include only plants that suit your needs by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option. For instance, you might want to pick "Herb" or "Fern" under Habit (general appearance) and/or "Part shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day" under Light requirement. Next, you need to check to see that the plants you choose are deer resistant. There is a Deer Resistant Species list on the Wildflower Center webpage. For a list more geared to your area there is Easywildflowers (self-described as a site "for and about wildflower seeds and wildflower potted plants native to the Midwest and Eastern USA" with a Deer Resistant Native Plants list. Also, there is a list of Deer-resistant Plants from the Deer-Resistant Landscape Nursery in Clare, Michigan, but you need to be aware that not all the plants listed there are native to Michigan.Here are a few recommendations from these lists:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Asarum canadense (Canadian wildginger)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)
Liatris aspera (tall blazing star)
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)
Deer generally avoid ferns, so you could also use ferns (e.g., Athyrium filix-femina (common ladyfern)
and Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)).
More Deer Resistant Questions
Plants resistant to white-tailed deer from Austin
April 01, 2013 - Could you tell me whether American Beautyberry and Blackfoot Daisy are usually eaten by our Austin white-tailed deer, or not? I get different answers in different publications. It would be great to ...
view the full question and answer
Non-native Indian Hawthorn and Abelia resistance to deer from Ackerman MS
January 16, 2010 - I recently landscaped my yard. I have a large variety of bushes and trees. They have been planted for about a month. Yesterday, while out in the yard, I noticed that about half of my Indian hawthorn...
view the full question and answer
Pruning Holly after Deer Browse
January 16, 2010 - Deer have been eating my Holly Bushes. Can I prune now in January? I live in the North of New Jersey. Will they come back fuller? I just planted them in spring last year. How can I get them fuller
view the full question and answer
Plants with latex-containing sap
December 23, 2008 - Hi, I was on a nature hike this past summer in Yosemite, and our Ranger guide told us about latex in the Milkweed and the Western Dogwood being a defense mechanism against browsing by deer. I'm a lan...
view the full question and answer
Specifications for a property in Corning CA
March 29, 2012 - Drought resistant, deer resistant, low growing (ground cover), and shade tolerant request:
I am looking for a variety of species that not only fit the above preferences, but also a few other things. ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |