Native Plants
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.
rate this answer
Sunday - June 28, 2009
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer resistant plants for erosion control on steep hill
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I would like control a steep hill behind my house that is red clay, northern exposure with little sun. What plants would you recommend that deer will not eat?ANSWER:
Grasses are ideal for erosion control because of their extensive fibrous root systems. Additionally, deer rarely eat grasses. Below are grasses native to Pennsylvania that will grow in clay soils in part shade (2 to 6 hours of sun per day).Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Deer also rarely eat ferns and ferns are ideally suited for shady sites. Here are a few that are native to Pennsylvania.
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)
Pteridium aquilinum (western brackenfern)
Woodwardia areolata (netted chainfern)
Here are other plants that you could add to the grass or fern mix that are native to Pennsylvania and deer resistant.
Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Oenothera speciosa (pinkladies)
Ratibida columnifera (upright prairie coneflower)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)
Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod)
More Deer Resistant Questions
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
An evergreen, deer-resistant shrub for Memphis
July 24, 2013 - I need an evergreen, deep to partial shade, deer resistant shrub or tree. Does such a plant exist?
view the full question and answer
Deer-resistant plants for a steep hillside in Allison Park PA
July 30, 2010 - What do you recommend for a steep hillside, mostly shade and acidic? The deer have eaten everything except the weeds.
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
Lupines for attracting deer in South Carolina
April 06, 2007 - I live in SC and was watching a TV show called "Making it Grow" and they did a segment on Lupine. The lady on the show said that the plant attracted whitetail deer and I was wondering if that was t...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |