Grazing deer can be a major nuisance for gardeners in Coastal BC, on the Gulf Islands, and in the interior portions of the province. Vegetable gardens, full of tender greens and food, should be protected with sturdy fences, tall enough so that deer cannot leap over. Other garden areas, though, can be planted with a variety of flowers and herbs that either repel deer or produce odours or chemicals that offend their palates. Below is a brief list of the varieties, including some available here. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it guaranteed β subject to approval by today's discerning deer.
A = Annual, B = Biennial, P = Perennial
Acanthus mollis (Bear's Breeches) P
Achillea (Yarrow) P
Aconitum (Monkshood) P
Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) P
Agastache (Licorice Mint) P
Ageratum (Floss Flower) A
Ajuga (Bugleweed) P
Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle) P
Allium sativum (Garlic)Β
Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) P
Amsonia (Blue Star) P
Anemone (Windflower) P
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) A
Aquilegia (Columbine) P
Arabis (Rock Cress) P
Argyranthemum (Marguerite Daisy) A
Armeria (Sea Thrift) P
Artemesia (Wormwood/Meadow Rue) P
Aruncus (Goat's Beard) P
Asarum (Wild Ginger) P
Asclepias (Milkweed) P
Astilbe (False Goat's Beard) P
Aubretia P
Baptisia (False Indigo) P
Brachycome (Swan River Daisy) A
Brunnera P
CalendulaΒ (Pot Marigold) A
Campanula (Bell Flower) A/P
Catananche (Cupid's Dart) P
Cataranthus (Madagascar Periwinkle) A
Centaurea (Bachelorβs Buttons) A
Centranthus (Red Valerian) P
Cerastium (Snow in Summer) P
Clarkia (Godetia) A
Convallaria (Lily of the Valley) P
Coreopsis (Tickseed) P
Cosmos A
Crocosmia (Montbretia) P
Cyclamen P
Cynara (Artichoke) A/P
Dahlia A/P
Delphinium (Larkspur) A
DianthusΒ (Pinks) P
Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts) P
Digitalis (Foxglove) B
Doronicum (Leopard's Bane) P
Echinacea (Coneflower) P
Echinops (Globe Thistle) P
Epimedium (Barrenwort) P
Eryngium (Sea Holly) P
Eschscholzia (California Poppy) A
Euphorbia (Wood Spurge) P
Felicia amelloides (Blue Marguerite) A
Ferns P
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) P
Galium (Sweet Woodruff) P
Gazania A
Gunnera P
Helenium (Sneezeweed) P
Helianthemum (Sun Rose) P
Helianthus (Sunflower) A
Heliopsis (False Sunflower) P
Heliotrope A
Helleborus (Hellebore) P
Hemerocallis (Day Lily) P
Impatiens A
Iberis (Candytuft) A
Ipomoea (Morning Glory) A
Iris P
Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker) P
Lavandula (Lavender) P
Leptinella (Brass Buttons) P
Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy) P
Levisticum (Lovage) P
Liatrus (Blazing Star) P
Limonium (Statice) A
Lithodora P
Lobelia A
Lobularia maritima (Alyssum) A
Lupinus (Lupins) P
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) P
Matthiola (Stocks) A
Melissa (Lemon Balm) P
Mentha requienii (Corsican Mint) P
Mimulus (Monkey Flower) A
Monarda (Bergamot) P
Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not) A
Nepeta (Catmint) P
Nicotiana (Ornamental Tobacco) A
Oenothera (Evening Primrose) P
Osteospermum (African Daisy) A
Oxalis P
Paeonia (Peony) P
Papaver (Poppies) A/P
Penstemon P
Perovskia (Russian Sage) P
Phlox P
Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder) P
Pulmonaria (Lungwort) P
Ricinus (Castor Bean) A
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) A/P
Sagina (Irish Moss) P
Salvia (Sage) P
Salvia (Ornamental Sage) A
Santolina (Lavender Cotton) P
Saponaria (Soapwort) P
Sedum P
Solanum jasminoides (Potato Vine) A
Stachys (Lamb's Ears) P
Symphyotrichum (Douglas Aster) P
Tagetes (Marigolds) A
Thymus (Thyme) P
Tiarella (Foam Flowers) P
Tropaeolum (Nasturtium) A
Verbascum P
Verbena A
Veronica (Speedwell) P
Zantedeschia (Calla Lily) P
Zinnia A
And of course, itβs quite safe to rely on our very popular Deer Resistant Wildflower Blend.