Plants Less Tasty to Deer

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Compiled by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, Inc.

Photos by Ken Gilliland ©2004

 
KEYS TO FLOWER COLOR: B  Blue V  Violet/Purple
R  Red 0  Orange
G  Green W  White
P   Pink Y  Yellow
 
 

SHRUBS & PERENNIALS

  • Arctostaphylos spp., Manzanita  P/W – tough, thick foliage
  • Artemisia californica, Coastal Sagebrush – bitter, scented foliage
  • Baccharis spp., Coyote Brush  W – waxy, scented foliage
  • Berberis spp., Barberry  Y – prickly leaves
  • Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush  R – scented foliage
  • *Carpenteria californica, Bush Anemone  W – tough, shiny foliage
  • *Ceanothus purpureus and cultivars, California Lilac  B/V – spiny foliage
    • Not safe: most Ceanothus with smooth (non-prickly) leaves, such as C. arboreus and C. griseus
  • *Dendromecon spp., Bush Poppy  Y – tough, waxy foliage
  • Epilobium canum latifolia and E. canum, California Fuchsia  R/W – thin, tough foliage
  • Eriogonum fasciculatum, California Buckwheat  W – dry, needle-like foliage
    • Not safe: Eriogonum arborescens, Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat, Eriogonum crocatum, Conejo Buckwheat or Eriogonum giganteum, St. Catherine’s Lace
  • Erigeron glaucus, Seaside Daisy B/V – bitter/unpalatable
  • Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy  O – poisonous
  • Fragaria spp., Wild Strawberry  W – bitter/unpalatable
  • Iris spp., Iris B/R/V/W – bitter/unpalatable
  • Lupinus spp., Lupine  B/P/V – poisonous
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  • Mimulus spp., Monkey Flower O/P/R/Y– bitter/unpalatable
  • Monardella spp., Coyote Mint  P/V/W – scented foliage
  • Penstemon spp., Penstemon, Beard-Tongue  B/P/R/V – bitter/unpalatable
  • Prunus spp., Cherry  W – bitter, waxy foliage
  • Rhus spp., Sumac  P/W including R. integrifolia, R. laurina and R. ovata, Sugar Bush – scented foliage
  • Ribes spp., Currant  P/R/W – scented foliage
  • Romneya coulteri, Matilija Poppy  W – tough, bitter foliage
  • Salvia spp., Sage  B/P/V/W – scented foliage
  • *Sisyrinchium bellum and cultivars, Blue-Eyed Grass  B/V – bitter/unpalatable
  • Tellima grandiflora, Fringe-Cups  R/W – bitter/unpalatable

 * fresh foliage may occasionally be nibbled in spring

TREES

  • Aesculus californica, California Buckeye  W – poisonous
  • Conifers (most) – tough, needle- or scale-like foliage
  • Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius, Santa Cruz Ironwood  W – scented foliage
  • Quercus spp., Oak (most), especially prickly varieties such as Q. agrifolia, Coast Live Oak
  • Sambucus mexicana, Elderberry  W/Y – bitter
  • Washingtonia filifera, California Fan Palm – tough, stringy leaves