Deer-Resistant Portulaca

Bugleweed

• Ajuga reptans, commonly called bugleweed, blooms only in the spring, but is rarely damaged by deer, and has foliage that provides garden interest when it is done blooming. The plants are 3 to 6 inches tall and spread up to 2 feet wide with deeply veined, scallop-edged foliage. A. reptans cv. "Binblasca," or "Black Scallop," has dark maroon foliage and produces small violet-purple flowers in the spring. A. reptans cv. "Catlin's Giant" blooms in blue with bronze-blushed medium green leaves. Arctic Fox and Silver Beauty bloom in purple-blue and have variegated foliage. Bugleweed is grown as a perennial in USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 9. It can be grown in full sun or partial shade and is not particular about the soil.

Ice Plants

• Delosperma species, commonly called ice plants, are deer-resistant flowering plants that are grown as perennials in zones 6 to 10 and annuals in zones 5 and below. They bloom from late spring until first frost. The flowers resemble daisies in form and are covered in clear tiny flakes that shimmer in the sunshine. They grow to between 3 and 6 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The medium green foliage is succulent and tube-shaped, similar to Portulaca. D. nubigenum has 3/4-inch-diameter yellow flowers. D. cooperi produces 2-inch-diameter mauve flowers. The Kelaidis cultivar has 1 1/2-inch pink flowers with yellow centers. Ice plants should be planted in full sun. They are not particular about soil and are drought-tolerant.

Spotted Deadnettle

• Lamium maculatum, commonly called spotted deadnettle, is rarely damaged by deer, blooms throughout the spring and summer, and has attractive foliage. The plants are 3 to 9 inches tall and spread up to 1 1/2 feet. The Dellam or "Golden Anniversary" cultivar has purple-pink flowers. Its triangular-shaped leaves are tricolor yellow-green/medium green and silver. "Pink Chablis" has lighter pink flowers and heart-shaped leaves that are silver with green edges. "Red Nancy" has rose-red flowers and oval toothy leaves that are green with silver centers. Spotted deadnettle is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and can be planted in partial or full shade. It requires soil that drains well.

Vinca

• Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as annual vinca and Madagascar periwinkle, is an annual flowering plant that is rarely eaten by deer. It blooms from late spring until first frost in shades of pink, red, purple or white. These plants are 6 to 18 inches tall and wide, with 2-inch-long glossy green leaves. There are also cultivars with variegated foliage. Vinca major, or large periwinkle, and vinca minor, or periwinkle, are not as resistant to deer as Madagascar periwinkle, but they are seldom severely damaged. They are more cold-hardy and often grown as perennials. Vinca major is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, and vinca minor is hardy in zones 4 to 8. They are available in a variety of flower colors, but they bloom predominantly in the spring with only occasional re-bloom during the summer. Vinca major is 12 inches tall, and vinca minor is about 6 inches tall.