Using Butterfly Bushes As A Natural Hedge To Keep Deer Out Of The Garden - Knowledgebase Question

Poughkeepsie, NY
Avatar for LindaScora
Question by LindaScora
March 21, 2001
I live in Zone 5 of New York state, and deer have been a problem for a while now.

I'm told that I could use the butterfly bush to create a hedge to, if not keep out, at least deter the deer and maybe force them to go elsewhere.

I have about a 90' line to work with, so I don't even know how many plants that would be. I'd like something that grows relatively fast, and is to too invasive. I don't want to be fighting the plants as well as the wildlife. It sounds like a "pretty" shrub, and I would gro high enough so they couldn't jump over. (It would also keep out the 2 legged critters, too.) Do you think this is a viable solution?

Barberry was recommended, but that is too invasive for me.
Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


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Answer from NGA
March 21, 2001
)

SOME COMMON DEER RESISTANT PLANTS

Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name
Abies sp. + fir Heder helix g.c. English ivy
Acer negundo + box-elder Ilex sp. = holly
Ageratum* flossflower Iris sp. * iris
Ajuga* bugle weed Juniperus sp.= juniper
Aquilegia* columbine Kerris japonica = Japanese rose
Berberis sp.= barberry Larix decidua + European larch
Buxus= boxwood Lupinus sp.* lupine
Catalpa sp. + catalpa Maclura pomifera + Osage orange
Cercis sp. + redbud Narcissus sp.* Narcissus
Chamaecyparis sp= false-cypress Paeonia suffruticosa= tree peony
Clematis sp.* clematis Papaver orientalis * Oriental poppy
Cotinus coggygria +smoketree Picea sp. + spruce
Crataegus sp. + hawthorn Pinus sp. + pine
Cytisus scoparius=Scotch broom Rhododendron sp. rhododendron
Daphne sp. daphne Robinia pseudoacacia+ black locust
Delphinium* larkspur Symphoricarpos albus= snowberry
Digitalis* foxglove Syringa vulgaris= lilac
Ginkgo biloba + maidenhair tree Tulipa sp.* tulips
Gymnocladus dioica+ Kentucky coffee tree Yucca* Yucca
_____________________________________________________________________
+ tree or tree-like
* herbaceous plant
= shrubby
g.c. ground cover


West Virginia Extension offers a discussion of deer damage and a list of plants at

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/ho...

Cornell University has also published a list and a discussion at

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/che...

I hope these help!


)

SOME COMMON DEER RESISTANT PLANTS

Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name Common Name
Abies sp. + fir Heder helix g.c. English ivy
Acer negundo + box-elder Ilex sp. = holly
Ageratum* flossflower Iris sp. * iris
Ajuga* bugle weed Juniperus sp.= juniper
Aquilegia* columbine Kerris japonica = Japanese rose
Berberis sp.= barberry Larix decidua + European larch
Buxus= boxwood Lupinus sp.* lupine
Catalpa sp. + catalpa Maclura pomifera + Osage orange
Cercis sp. + redbud Narcissus sp.* Narcissus
Chamaecyparis sp= false-cypress Paeonia suffruticosa= tree peony
Clematis sp.* clematis Papaver orientalis * Oriental poppy
Cotinus coggygria +smoketree Picea sp. + spruce
Crataegus sp. + hawthorn Pinus sp. + pine
Cytisus scoparius=Scotch broom Rhododendron sp. rhododendron
Daphne sp. daphne Robinia pseudoacacia+ black locust
Delphinium* larkspur Symphoricarpos albus= snowberry
Digitalis* foxglove Syringa vulgaris= lilac
Ginkgo biloba + maidenhair tree Tulipa sp.* tulips
Gymnocladus dioica+ Kentucky coffee tree Yucca* Yucca
_____________________________________________________________________
+ tree or tree-like
* herbaceous plant
= shrubby
g.c. ground cover


West Virginia Extension offers a discussion of deer damage and a list of plants at

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/ho...

Cornell University has also published a list and a discussion at

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/che...

I hope these help!


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