Deer Resistance

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid; versipelle x delavayi
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 24" - 36"
Bloom Time: April to June
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous.  New growth emerges olive green with a bronze cast.  Can sends up several flushes of new growth through the growing season.  Red flowers held between the foliage in spring.  Often re-blooming in the fall.
Notes: This is a very large and upright selection that Andy Navage bred while director of the Horticulture at the Bloedel Reserve.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid; versipelle x delavayi
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 18" - 24" 
Bloom Time: April to June
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous.  New growth emerges chocolate to orange colored, becoming olive green and cinnamon.  Can sends up several flushes of new growth through the growing season.  Red flowers held below the foliage in spring.  Often re-blooming in the fall.
Notes: Can be a bit variable but these plants have a tall stature with leaves shaped more like delavayi but mostly a solid coloration rather than mottled.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Primulaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 2'
Bloom Time:May to July
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies
Pest Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous. Spikes of multi - tiered whorled yellow blooms in late spring. Lance shaped leaves formed in a rosette.
Notes:  A long lived perennial that looks great when planted in masses with Iris.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family:Primulaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: Southeastern Tibet; Tsangpo
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun, sun
Height: 47”
Bloom Time: May to July
Attracts:Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Resistant to: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous. Rosette forming. Butter yellow to orange bell flowers a top of the scape. Lightly scented.
Notes:An easy and rewarding perennial that has proven to be shade tolerant and still floriferous.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Japan
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 2'
Attributes:  Deciduous, Spikes of multi - tiered whorled crimson blooms mid spring.  Lance shaped leaves formed in a rosette.
Notes:  A long lived perennial that looks great when planted in masses with Iris.
Companion plants:  Rheum, Aconitum, Iris, Gunnera, ferns

Great Plant Picks

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous with needles resembling a true larch.  Slow growing, broadly conical tree with horizontal branching.  Needles appear in clusters on short shoots.  Bright gold fall foliage.
Notes: Not often available.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family: Bromeliaceae
Zone:8 - 10
Natural Range: Bolivia, Argentina
Soil:  Average
Light: Part sun, sun
Height: 1' - 3'
Bloom Time:  Summer
Attributes: Evergreen.  Mounded offsetting clumps with tall flower spikes.  Green-creamy yellow flowers in summer
Notes: Flowering plant does not die once it flowers.  Hardy to mid to upper teens.  Needs good winter drainage.  Can be grown well in pots and tucked inside during extra cold temps.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot  Full

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  California
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  60'
Bloom Time:  March to April
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Blue-green leaves.  Light colored bark.  Slow growing.
Notes:  Quercus douglasii is native to Coast ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. 
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  California
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  60'
Bloom Time:  March to April
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Irregular, spreading and arching branches.  Yellow and orange fall foliage.
Notes:  The late winter early spring, leafless silhouette is quite stunning.  In the wild Quercus lobata grows in rich deep soil in dense riparian forests and open foothill woodlands and savannas.  Elevations between 600 - 1,700m. 
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Colorado
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant
Light: Sun
Height: NA
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attracts: NA
Pest Resistance: Deer
Attributes: Deciduous dentate gray foliage.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Southwest
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant
Light: Sun
Height: NA
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attracts: NA
Pest Resistance: Deer
Attributes: Deciduous gray foliage.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Ranunculaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Vosges Mountains France
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 18"
Bloom Time: April to July
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous, clumping, Masses of quarter size double white flowers with a creamy yellow center.  Flowers are held above rich green serrated foliage.
Notes: Many layers of petals that sparkle and dance about above the foliage.  Well behaved.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Ranunculaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: Europe
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Sun to Part sun
Height: 24"
Bloom Time: March to May
Attributes: Deciduous.  Tall wispy stems above deep green palmately lobed foliage.  Numerous, bright yellow double flowers with a bit of green in the center.
Notes:  Makes great cut flowers.

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family:  Polygonaceae
Zone: 5 - 8
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 3' -4'
Bloom Time:  Summer
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous. Clumping. Colossal deeply lobed leaves with metallic purple and red new growth to green. Green to red to purple undersides of the foliage. 6’ tall flower spikes with red flowers
Notes:  Superb prehistoric looking stature.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Ericaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 6'
Bloom Time: April
Attributes: Evergreen. Lavender - blue flowers.
Notes:  Floriferous species that booms early in the year.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Ericaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 6'
Bloom Time:  May
Attributes: Evergreen. Pink flowers.  Gray green leaves with tan indumentum
Notes:  Great foliage.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Hypoxidaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: South Africa
Soil:  Average, gritty well drained
Light: Sun
Height: 4"
Bloom Time:  Summer
Attributes: Deciduous bulb with fuzzy, grassy leaves appearing late spring, abundant deep pink flowers.
Notes:  Surprisingly hardy in our garden coming back with temps below 10 degrees.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Anacardiaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: E. Ashia; China, Japan, Korea
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: part shade, sun
Height: 15-30 feet tall
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Pubescent branches, dioecious flowers June, then turning brilliant scarlet in fall.  Non suckering tree like multi-branching.
Notes:  In the wild Rhus trichocarpa grows in dense forests and thickets the mountains of Japan between 900 - 1200 m.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 6'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Attributes:  Deciduous.  White flowers in late winter-early spring before the foliage emerges.
Notes:  Versatile and adaptable shrub.

Great Plant Picks

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 3 - 8
Natural Range: Europe
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 36"
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Small yellow-green flowers in spring followed by many large red fruit in mid summer. 
Notes:  A more compact and busy form.

Pot Size:  Quart Pot

Family: Asparagaceae
Zone:6 - 10
Natural Range: Japan
Soil:  Average
Light: Part sun
Height: 12"
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  White, green and grey variegated foliage.  Bright red berries in fall.
Notes:Nice, vigorous form with bright foliage for the shady garden.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Asparagaceae
Zone:6 - 10
Natural Range: Japan
Soil:  Average
Light: Part sun
Height: 12" - 18"
Bloom Time:  Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Thick, upright green foliage.  Bright red berries in fall.
Notes:Nice, vigorous form for the shade garden or pot. 

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Aparagaceae
Zone:  7 - 10
Natural Range:  China
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light:  Part shade, shade
Height:  16" - 36"
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Dark green leaves with light green-yellow midrib.  Unusual green flowers.
Notes: Forms a loose clump of rich green leaves.  Related genera are Tupistra and Campylandra.

Pot size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Papaveraceae
Zone:  7 - 11
Natural Range:  California
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun
Height:  5'
Bloom Time:  June to August
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, blue-green foliage.  Large papery withe flowers with a yellow pompom like pollen.
Notes:  Can be a bit tricky to get established and has delicate roots but once established is quite vigorous.  
 
Pot size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Zingiberaceae
Zone: 5 - 9

Natural Range: Nepal
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich, well drained

Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 10”
Bloom Time:  June to August
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous. Compact foliage with red stems and large red flowers resembling an orchid.
Notes:  According to some sources was introduced in the early 1980s, but according to John Grimshaw was actually introduced as late as 1992 by Oxford University’s Ganesh expedition. This scarce beauty is only now becoming available in the US.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:Zingiberaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid; Roscoea auriculata x R. cautleyoides
Soil: Moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 12” – 18”
Bloom Time: July to August
Pest Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous, Clumping. Reddish buds and bracts.  Long blooming creamy white-yellowish orchid like flowers often with purple blotching on the lip.   Thick fleshy corn like foliage. Flowers open in succession.
Notes:A little known very hardy Ginger that adapts well to the garden. In the wild Roscoea grows at high elevations in open forests, perennial meadows and among Rhododendrons.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Rosaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun, shade
Height: 6' - 8'
Bloom Time:  March to May
Attributes: Deciduous.  Thicket-forming shrub with upright shots and leaves said to resemble a butterfly.  Very showy bright purple-pink double flowers.  Showy yellow or red edible fruit in summer.
Notes: Also known as R. spectabilis 'Flore Pleno'.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Dryopteridaceae 
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: South America; Chile
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 1' - 3'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen. Thick leathery triangular fronds.
Notes:  When grown in full sun the fronds are upright and denser.  While when grown in shade tend to grow out more arching to flat.  Quite summer drought tolerant when established.  In Chile we found these growing in dappled shade underneath Azara and Sophora tree along with other ferns such as Blechnum.  In the full sun they can be found growing with Eryngium.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Asparagaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range: Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Turkey, Crimea
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light:  Part shade
Height:  2' - 4'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Evergreen, Glossy green leaves.  Small, unusual creamy green and purple flowers formed in the center of the leaves.  When pollinated red fruit.
Notes:  Great evergreen shrub like perennial.

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family:Lamiaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 4'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, Bees
Pest Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
Bloom Time: July to September
Attributes:Deciduous, scented foliage.  Tall stems with many yellow flowers.
Notes:Even in our mostly shady and wet garden Salvia campanulata has proven very adaptable and versatile. 

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot