Will Sunflowers Keep Deer From Eating My Garden?

Sunflowers

• Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a widely used flower in gardens and in the cut flower industry. There are more than two dozen varieties, each of which will produce a flower with bold color and rough green stems. These plants do best when given a well-draining, nutrient-rich soil and several hours of sun per day. Although sunflowers are normally hardy, they are sometimes eaten by deer. If you are concerned about deer damage, there are better options.

Shrubs

• In place of sunflowers, you should look for plants that will withstand deer damage. There are more than a dozen shrubs that fit this bill, including the butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii). These plants are quick, hardy growers that produce purple flowers and glossy green leaves. Butterfly bush does best in Zone 5 through 10 and prefers an area with partial to full sun with well-draining soil. As its name suggests, it will attract large numbers of butterflies. Additional options include the common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), American holly (Ilex opaca), arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and the bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica).

Trees

• In place of sunflowers, which often grow to be 5 or 6 feet in height, you may want to consider planting a small tree. There are nearly a dozen tree varieties that will resist deer, and most of them will do well in a wide range of growing zones. The American holly (Ilex opaca) may be grown as a shrub or small tree, and is ideal for adding color to a garden year-round. It does best in Zone 5 and Zone 6 and will grow to a maximum height of 30 feet. Additional choices include the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) and the red pine (Pinus resinosa).

Flowers

• There are several dozen flower options that will do well against deer. Among them are the begonia (Begonia pendula), a plant that produces large, boldly colored flowers in yellow, orange, pink, white and red. Begonias reach a maximum height of 15 inches and are ideal for planting along borders, in window boxes and in containers. Other options include the fig buttercup (Ranunculus ficaria), the angel's trumpet (brugmansia), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), which are all deer-resistant. If you're looking to grow flowers from bulbs, consider the autumn crocus (Colchicum), snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) and daffodils (Narcissus).