Plants That Out-Smart Ocean Shores Deer:
Right place, right plant. That is the prime mantra most gardeners use in plant selection, after determining soil type and sun/shade availability. But for Ocean Shores gardeners the first consideration in plant selection is: Will it survive the deer? Many lists exist but “Deer Resistant Plants – Western Washington,” (available on the Garden by The Sea Website) is probably the best for us. Noted on the first page “The information compiled is through research from various academic sources, as well as first-hand knowledge and review by the North Beach Chapter of the WSU Mater Gardeners of Grays Harbor/Pacific Counties.” That means gardeners who daily encounter deer have approved the addition of each plant on the list. The entries in bold have been tested time and time again and found as deer resistant to Ocean Shores deer as any.
But also, as stated on the cover of this list “deer will eat anything if hungry enough, and fawns are notorious for nibbling all sorts of plants when learning what to eat.” There is just no such thing as a completely deer proof plant.
However, here are a few well-tested ones from this list:
Perennials typically will do better in our Cool Coastal Climate. Even though we see few hard freezes, our soil typically does not warm up in time or last long enough for many annuals. Since perennials last more than one season, they are often more adaptable:
Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) – All varieties bloom in the spring, with bulbs planted in the fall. Yellow varieties do better against the deer. After blooms die, keep leaves as long as possible to feed bulbs for bigger blooms the following year.
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphyllus uva-ursi.) – A native ground cover with all season interest. White or pink flowers bloom in spring and summer followed by red, edible berries in fall. Leaves turn red or purple in winter.
Lavender (Lavendola sp.) This is an evergreen shrub with blue, lavender, pink or white flowers having various bloom times. All varieties are great pollinators with special attraction for bees. No varieties need a lot of water. Many culinary herbs have a similar growth habit and do well in Ocean Shores as well. A few from our list to try are Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, or Oregano.
Lupine (Lupinus sp.) There are several species in blue, lavender, pink, or while. All are great pollinator plants blooming in the spring. They do fairly well surviving our drier summers but are often susceptible to various fungi during wetter months.
Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa.) This is the lovely blue groundcover seen all over Ocean Shores. It prefers sandy soils and does not need a lot of water during the summer. It contrasts well with daffodils or red/orange poppies.
Poppy (Papaver orientale.) – A great pollinator flower, that blooms in the late spring and early summer. Plant nursery starts in the fall for best result. Place close together in a large group to help subvert the deer.
Rhododendrons (not Azaleas.) – Shrub varieties bloom from spring to summer in many colors. Only mature plants can survive deer. Purchase the largest plants you can and protect from deer until at least three feet high.
Annuals generally need soil temperatures of 60o to germinate which does not usually happen until late May. For this reason, you will have better luck with nursery-started plants.
African Daisy (Osteospermum sp.) These summer annuals need full sun and come in a variety of colors. They do well in drier conditions.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis.) These cool season annuals bloom from late spring to fall. They have a good chance of germinating from seeds.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus.) Blooming late spring to summer, these pink, orange or red flowers are great pollinators. Plant from nursery plants or try starting seeds in the fall.
The deer in Ocean Shores have no natural predators. Although most female deer produce one faun per season, Ocean Shores deer usually produce two. They are all voracious eaters and can decimate a garden in a few trips. To see an effective deer fence come visit Garden by The Sea, where you can see many of the above plants, and which in ten years has not been visited by a single deer.
For information about the Garden, contact: Karen Young at Karen@GardenByTheSeaOceanShores.org
This article was originally printed in The Ocean Observer, June 2018.
