Deer Resistant Plants

Soft primrose yellow, fragrant double flowers are born in relatively large clusters that open over a long period. Mathilde Ferrier or Hardy Double Yellow Oleander is an old favorite and makes an excellent container specimen as well as being hardy enough to grow throughout zone 8 (see more info) and warmer regions. In mild winter climates this oleander often acts like large and vigorous growing shrub that can get large enough to be trained into a beautiful small evergreen tree. Item# 756.
 

A White Butterfly Ginger on steroids! The spike-like clusters produce 4" wide, fragrant, butterfly-shaped white flowers with a creamy heart in late summer and into fall atop large sturdy upright stems with large tropical-looking rich green foliage. The Maximum Giant White Butterfly Ginger, likely a tetraploid or hybrid of Hedychium coronarium, has some of the largest stems, flowers, and (up to 2" diameter) rhizomes of any Hedychium we have grown to date! A naturally evergreen, rhizomatous slowly multiplying tropical, it acts like a die-back perennial in areas where freezes occur, reliably returning in zones 7B to 10. The Hedychium Gingers typically grow and flower best where they receive at least some direct sunlight for 3-4 hours during the day and generally have the best looking foliage where they receive shade during the heat of the day. A planting on the east facing side of a house, tree or other structure where they receive morning sun is often optimum. Provide an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil to keep this easy and reliable heirloom growing and flowering. Item# 13184

Medium pink trumpets with deep pink throats are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ Pink Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12436

Deep violet trumpets are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ Purple Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12435

Pure white trumpets are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ White Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12598

Imagine Celeste on steroids as Mega Celeste produces medium to large figs with a flavor nearly as rich and sweet as its namesake. The large pear shaped to turbinate figs have a dark violet skin with white flesh and a dark purplish-red pulp. The eye is small but open and the figs are resistant to spoiling and splitting. Mega Celeste is known to produce a breba crop. This is a likely, but as of yet unconfirmed, unofficial LSU release from Dr. O'Rourke's breeding program. Item# 9918.

Large, semi-double, pale apricot pink fading darker toward the tips and especially on the outer rows of petals into rose and scarlet all centered by a large boss of gold tipped stamens on white filaments and are produced late in the season, March to April. The pollen laden flowers are sure to attract bees and other pollinators. Meredith Camellia is a large type Japonica with a moderate rate of growth, densely branching habit, and is cloaked in dark green glossy foliage eventually developing into a large upright and rounded evergreen shrub. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13236

The upright to arching stems are brightly adorned with hanging clusters of sunny yellow tubular flowers beginning in late spring and continuing until late summer. Mersea Yellow Pine-Leaved Penstemon or Beardtongue is a selection of the native Penstemon pinifolius whose upright to arching stems are adorned with fine 1" long narrow deep green foliage that arises from what can become a woody base. Pineleaf or Pine-Leaved Penstemon is native to the dry desert regions of SE Arizona and SW New Mexico but is tolerant of moist conditions provided it has a very well-drained sandy to rocky mineral soil. It has been reported to be hardy into zone 3 but may require a 'dry' mulch and a protected area. We are hopeful that since this cultivar was developed in England that it will do well in the humid Southeastern US. Item# 11928

From dense spikes of dark colored calyxes emerge purple two-lipped tubular flowers that are produced throughout much of the year on a compact dense and low growing plant with bright green quilted foliage. Mesa Azure Salvia is a hybrid selection from the Mesa series and the nectar rich flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and long tongued bees anytime this tidy plant is in bloom. If flowering slows down a light pruning and fertilizing will send back into production. Mesa Azure Salvia will perform best in a well-drained sunny location and is moderately drought resistant once well-established. Item# 11147

2-3" wide rounded clusters of white to light rose pink flowers, sometimes with green to purple tones, are produced in late spring and summer attracting bees and other smaller pollinators. Mexican Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, is considered one of the better native Milkweeds for garden culture. This West Coast native, rhizomatous perennial grows to about 2-3' high and spreads to about 2-3' wide with its many stems adorned in narrow medium green foliage and are readily utilized by Monarch butterflies as a larval food source. It is highly drought resistant once fully established though plants tend to look and flower best under average moisture conditions. Mexican Whorled Milkweed is found in all West Coast states including into Idaho, Utah, and Nevada as well as into Baja Mexico. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Naturally enters dormancy in late summer returning in spring. Item# 12974

Clear pumpkin orange trumpet shaped blossoms are produced in large clusters atop a compact early flowering heat and sunloving plant. Miami Sunrise Esperanza, a hybrid Tecoma cultivar developed by the Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Miami, FL, has a compact well-branched vigorous habit with exceptional flower power. The flowers of Esperanzas attract hummingbirds, bees, and occassional butterflies. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Miami Sunrise is compact enough to be enjoyed as an easy and low maintenance, medium-sized container plant or as a half hardy perennial in zones 8-10. Protect with a winter mulch in zones 8 and 9. Item# 9357

Rich purplish-pink, ruffly edged, nearly 3" wide flowers with a deep red-purple blotch and darker flecking are produced in midspring and are held against a foil of medium to coarse-textured foliage with the flowers attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and curious passersby. Michaele Lux Evergreen Azalea is an unusual and uncommon Aromi hybrid that develops into a small to medium-sized, densely branched shrub. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Images courtesy of Maarten Van der Giessen, Van der Giessens Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12573

Small, single to semi-double, red to red-burgundy flowers centered by a large boss of contrasting yellow stamens are produced early in the season, October to November, and the pollen laden flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Midnight Lover Sasanqua Camellia is a moderate to vigorous growing, large evergreen shrub with medium-textured, deep green, glossy foliage and reliable zone 7 cold hardiness. Its vigor lends it to use as a screen, hedge, or specimen plant. The Sasanqua Camellias are much more tolerant of growing conditions than standard Japonica Camellias and can tolerate less than perfect soils and full sun to light shade conditions. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13235

The deep maroon foliage provides a contrasting foil for the ball-like clusters of 2" long, tubular light pink flowers whose nectar and pollen attract a variety of pollinators like hummingbirds, larger butterflies, and long-tongued bees. Midnight Oil Eastern Beebalm, a selection of Monarda bradburiana, is a many stemmed, clump-forming to slowly spreading, upright growing, native, herbaceous perennial selected for its unique, dark and mysterious foliage. This species is noted for its earlier flowering, excellent disease resistance, a naturally shorter 18-24" high habit, drought resistance as compared to other species of Monarda, and tolerance for thinner, poorer, and/or gravelly soils. Plants may lose foliage when drought stressed so average moisture is generally preferred under garden conditions. Provide a full to mostly sunny to partially shaded site in well-drained, average moist soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13167

The 2-3" wide pure white frilly double flowers nearly glow against a backdrop of glossy dark green medium textured foliage over an extended period in fall and early winter. Mine-No-Yuki Sasanqua Camellia is an heirloom medium to large evergreen shrub with a vigorous upright to spreading habit. As with many old favorites this one has garnered a few extra cultivar names which include: Snow on the Mountain, White Doves, and Snow on the Ridge. Sasanqua Camellias make excellent fall and early winter flowering hedges, screens, or specimen plants for the garden and landscape. Image courtesy of Bobby Green and Green Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10393

Spikes of dark calyxes and tubular buds open to display the burgundy, fuchsia, to deep rose colored two-lipped tubular flowers that are produced from spring to fall atop this densely branching compact perennial Salvia with excellent flower power. Garnered 4 out 5 stars in Salvia trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! Mirage™ Burgundy Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, compact rounded habit, and exceptional flower power. Its vigorous well-branched compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The dark colored flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Darwin Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12546

Spikes of deep dark red two-lipped tubular flowers are produced from spring to fall atop this dwarf densely branching perennial Salvia. A 5-star performer in Salvia trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! Mirage™ Cherry Red Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, and exceptional flower power. Its dwarf and compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The dark colored flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12204

Spikes of deep purple calyxes and tubular buds open to display the dark purple colored two-lipped tubular flowers that are produced from spring to fall atop this densely branching compact perennial Salvia with excellent flower power. Mirage™ Deep Purple Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, compact rounded habit, and exceptional flower power. Its vigorous well-branched compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The dark colored flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Darwin Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12547

Spikes of deep rose tubular buds open to display starkly contrasting near white lower petals creating a bright two-tone effect and are produced from spring to fall atop this densely branching perennial Salvia with excellent flower power. The top performer in trials at Welby Flower Trials in 2020! Mirage™ Rose Bicolor Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, and exceptional flower power. Its vigorous well-branched semi-compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The two-toned flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Darwin Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12423

Spikes of deep purple calyxes and tubular buds open to display the deep violet colored two-lipped tubular flowers that are produced from spring to fall atop this densely branching compact perennial Salvia with excellent flower power. A five-star performer in Salvia trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! Mirage™ Violet Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, compact rounded habit, and exceptional flower power. Its vigorous well-branched compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The dark colored flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Darwin Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12425

Spikes of white to creamy white two-lipped tubular flowers are produced from spring to fall atop this densely branching compact perennial Salvia with excellent flower power. A five-star performer in Salvia trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens! Mirage™ White Salvia, a form of Autumn Sage or Salvia greggii, was selected for its heat and cold tolerance, compact rounded habit, and exceptional flower power. Its vigorous well-branched compact habit is perfectly suited for use as a low maintenance and forgiving container specimen as well as in hot and sunny garden and landscape settings. The tubular flowers are sure to attract low flying hummingbirds as well as the occassional butterfly and larger bees with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. Images courtesy of Darwin Perennials, all rights reserved. Item# 12426

The pure white, medium-sized, rose or perfect form flowers have each petal neatly spirally arranged and are produced in midseason or Dec-February. Miss Biloxi Camellia has a moderate rate of growth, with a dense habit that is initially upright and eventually becoming rounded with age. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13006