Deer Resistance

Family: Iridaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: Circumboreal
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 18"
Bloom Time:  April to June
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous fans.  Purple-blue flowers.
Notes: Easy to grow and widespread Iris species that can be found growing with Dactylorhiza and Fritillaria in the wild.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot Very Full!

Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW; Washington, Oregon, Northern California
Soil:  moist, well drained
Light:  part shade, Sun
Height:  8"- 14" tall
Attributes:  Semievergreen, deciduous. Blooms late spring.  Flower stem holds 2 blue - purple with yellow and white centered flowers.  Grass like foliage.
Notes:  Grows in meadows and open forest.  One of the prettiest native Iris.  When established Iris tenax produces abundant flowers that open consecutively for weeks. Plant with other rock garden plants in a sunny perennial garden or on the edge of a shady garden.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Asphodelaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun
Height:  30"
Bloom Time:  July to September
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Clumping.  Mango orange blooms.  Grassy foliage.
Notes:  Blooms over a longer period during the summer months.

Pot Size:  Quart Pot

Family:  Asphodelaceae
Zone: 5-9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height:  24" - 48"
Bloom Time: July to September
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Coral orange flowers open creamy white on tall, spiky stems.  Re-blooming.  Grass-like foliage. 
Notes: Tropical looking and bred to be winter hardy in cooler climates.  

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:Lamiaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range:  Balkans, Hungary
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun, shade
Height: 24" - 30"
Bloom Time: April to May
Resistant to: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:Deciduous.  Clumping, upright.  Coarsely textured, heart-shaped fuzzy leaves occasionally with silver down the center.  Crimson-purple flowers formed in whorls. 
Notes:Does not spread like other species.

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family:  Pteridaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade-shade
Height: 12"-15"
Attributes:  Evergreen, Thick leathery fronds with short creeping rhizome.
Notes: In the wild Lepisorus bicolor grows on moist rocks.  Very adaptable to garden conditions and given two to three years can form a clump to 18' wide.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:Asparagaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 8"
Pest Resistance: Deer
Bloom Time: July to September
Attributes:Evergreen, clumps of strap-like arching, glossy, dark green leaves.  Showy flowers above the foliage with large blue fruit.
Notes:Native to moderately high elevations in dense, moist woodlands.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Campanulaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: Chili
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun
Height: 3' - 6'
Bloom Time: July to November
Attributes:  Deciduous, Scarlet -  red tubular flowers, fuzzy gray - green foliage.
Notes:  Hummingbirds love this plant.  Plants will bloom  from summer until fall. Often they are still blooming in November.  In the garden plant in moist, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun.  Plants are noted to reach six feet tall, however our plants have only grown three feet tall

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Araceae
Zone:  3 - 9
Natural Range:  Alaska south into Northern California
Soil:  Moist, wet
Light:  sun, part sun, shade
Height:  2' - 6'
Bloom Time:  February to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Bright yellow flowers late winter into spring.  Huge fleshy green leaves that add a tropical look to the garden.
Notes: Works well with Primula, Rodgersia, Petasites.  In the garden we have them planted in heavy soil that is seasonally saturated.  Cooler climates can get away with growing them in full sun but they look the best with some shade in summer.
 
Pot size:  Deep 2" Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Part shade
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  May to June, September to November
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: A shorter growing, multi-branched Mahonia.  Unlike most Mahonia this hybrid has both flowers and fruit at the same time.  Hybrid named after Ozzie Johnson.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Part sun, shade
Height: 8'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Bloom Time: February to April
Attributes: Evergreen.  Creamy yellow flowers on short spikes.
Notes: These are open pollinated seedlings.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 8'
Bloom Time: December to March
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow to orange flowers.  Mat like texture with sharp lobes.
Notes: An exciting hybrid bred by Andy Navage director of horticulture at the Bloedel reserve.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 8'
Bloom Time: December to March
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow flowers on short spikes.  Dazzling new growth is bright silvery, maturing to a deep green with a silver sheen.
Notes: One of the best Mahonia species for foliage.  These are open pollinated, seed grown plants with a bit of variation in foliage.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow flowers.  Compound leaves with fern-like appearance.
Notes: Cistus Nursery introduction. Bronze new growth.  Gives the garden a tropical texture.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: China
Soil: Average, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Yellow flowers.  Compound leaves with fern-like appearance.
Notes: Bronze new growth.  Gives the garden a tropical texture.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Pot Size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil: Average
Light: Sun, Part Sun, Shade
Height: 3'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Suckering shrub forming a loose groundcover.  Dark green leaves with yellow flowers and blue fruit.
Notes:  This selection has orange-red flower buds and tends to grow a bit taller.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil: Average
Light: Sun, Part Sun, Shade
Height: 3'
Bloom Time: Spring
Attributes: Evergreen.  Suckering shrub forming a loose ground-cover.  Dark green leaves with yellow flowers and blue fruit.
Notes:  This is the standard low selection with purplish winter foliage.  One of the best evergreen shrubs for the temperate garden.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: Channel Islands
Soil: Average
Light: Part sun
Height: 6' - 10'
Bloom Time: March to April
Attributes: Evergreen.  Upright, rounded shrub with smooth, glossy pinnate leaves.  Yellow flowers with blue fruit.
Notes:  A unique spineless species native to southern Oregon to Southern California but this particular cultivar is only found on the Channel Islands of California.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: Oregon, California
Soil:  Average-dry, humus rich, Well drained
Light: part shade, sun
Height: 6" - 12"
Attributes: Evergreen suckering shrub.  Brilliant purple, red, blue green foliage when planted in at least half a days worth of sun.  Yellow flowers early summer, blue fruit in fall.
Notes:  I can't say enough about this small Mahonia species.  The color is better than any other of the native Mahonia species and each leaf is ringed with a light colored line.  Rarely taller than 6" and forms a loose low clump of foliage.  It often grows in association with Arctostaphylos species.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 5 - 10
Natural Range: Western and Central North America
Soil: Average, dry
Light: Part sun, sun
Height: 1' - 2'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attributes: Evergreen, spreading, stoloniferous shrub.  Upright shrub with pinnate, glossy green leaves.  Yellow flowers with blue fruit.
Notes:  A sturdy low growing species.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 4' - 8'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height:4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, thick, green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: 'Charity' has longer and wider leaves than 'Winter Sun' and also start flowering later.  Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height:4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, thick, green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes:  Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 4' - 6'
Bloom Time:  January to March
Attracts:  Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen, glossy, dark green leaves.  Yellow flowers.  Blue fruit.
Notes: Anna's hummingbirds stick close for nectar when in flower.  Each of the media cultivars flower at slightly different times so it is beneficial to have some of each to keep the birds fed during the winter months.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Francoaceae
Zone:  7 - 11
Natural Range:  South Africa
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 10'
Bloom Time:  June to August
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Semi-evergreen.  Powdery blue leaves with reddish stems and flower bracts.
Notes:  A hardy clone that is reported to grow in Zone 7 and above.  Does best when pruned once it flowers and mulch crown in winter. 
 
Pot size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Phrymaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light:  Sun, part shade
Bloom Time:  June to October
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous, 12” - 24" tall.  Summer blooming. Orange to scarlet red tubular flowers. Thick, fleshy tuber like root.
Notes:  This is a perennial Mimulus that hummingbirds go crazy for.  The foliage emerges early in the spring and slowly starts to put up a flowering stem.  By early summer it is in full flower.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:Asparagaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 8"
Pest Resistance: Deer
Bloom Time: July to September
Attributes:Evergreen, clumps of strap-like arching, glossy, dark green leaves.  Pinkish-white flowers above the foliage with blue fruit.
Notes:Native to moderately high elevations in dense, moist woodlands.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Paeoniaceae
Zone: 4 - 8
Natural Range: Japan
Soil: moist, well drained
Light: part shade
Attributes: Deciduous.  Spring blooming. 2' tall.  Red - pink new growth, pure white flowers with yellow stamen.  Bright red seed case with blue seeds.
Notes:  An easy species that is underutilized in gardens.  Plant in an area sheltered from the hot sun, but not deep shade.
Companion plants: Trillium,  Cypripedium, Cardamine, Erythronium, Epimedium, Paris, Smilacina.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  2’ - 6'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Cross between yellow flowering P. ludlowii and white flowering ostii.  So far foliage looks similar to P. ludlowii
Notes:  Seedlings from hand pollinated cross

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Paeoniaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Western China
Soil: Moist, well drained
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 7'
Bloom Time:  May
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous.  Shrub-like.  Spring blooming. Attractive ferny foliage. Deep yellow flowers with gold anthers. Larger petals and more cup shaped than P. delaveyi.  Large black seeds late summer-fall.
Notes:  Requires little maintenance one established and can be quite drought tolerant.

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family: Paeoniaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: China, Russia, Korea, Japan
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade
Height: 24"
Bloom Time:  April to June
Pest Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous. Clumping.  Spring blooming.  Red - pink new growth, Pink flowers with yellow stamen.  Bright red seed case with blue seeds.
Notes:  Plant in an area sheltered from the hot sun, but not deep shade.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Paeoniaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range:  China;  Hubei, Shaanxi
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light:  Part sun
Height:  24"
Bloom Time:  April to May
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Spring blooming.  Red - pink new growth.  Deep red underside of leaves.  Large white flowers with yellow stamen.  Large, bright red seed case with blue seeds.
Notes:  An easy species that is not often found in cultivation. Plant in an area sheltered from the hot sun, but not deep shade.  A favorite of mine in the garden for both foliage and flower.  Blooms later than P. japonica but earlier than P. obovata.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade-sun
Height: 30' - 75', Smaller in cultivation
Attributes:  Evergreen, medium sized, blue green needles.
Notes: Growing at elevations of 1600-3800 m.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade-sun
Height: 30' - 75', Smaller in cultivation
Attributes:  Evergreen, medium sized, blue green needles.  Pendulous branchlets.
Notes: Usually grows in pure stands but is occasionally found mixed with Abies sibirica.  Growing at elevations of 1200-3500 m.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Gray, irregularly flaking bark.  Upward facing, short needles.  Yellow-brown seed cones to 3" long. 
Notes: Mixed mountain forests from elevations between 1400m to 2800m.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:  Average, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun
Height: 30'
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Large seed cones similar to Pinus sabiniana.
Notes:  Native to elevations of 300-2,100m, usually found on dry rocky slopes and ridges among oaks.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: Guatemala, Mexico
Soil:  Moist to dry, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 60', smaller in cultivation.
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes: Evergreen.  Long green needles.  Drooping
Notes: In the wild is often associated with Gaultheria, Liquidambar, Quercus.  Native to the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala from 1000 m - 1500 m above sea level.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 11
Natural Range:  Mexico; Sierra Madre Occidental
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Dark green needles of five and seven per fascicle.
Notes:  In the wild Pinus durangensis grows at moderately high altitude between 1,500 - 2,800m

Pot size: 4" Band Pot

Zone:8 - 10
Natural Range: Mexico, southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles to 5" long.  Ovoid seed cones are solitary or in whorls of 2-5.  The sheath around the needle fascicles is shed as the needles expand.
Notes:  The natural range is primarily in Mexico that extends into the United States.  In the wild Pinus leiophylla grows between 1600m and 3000m altitude.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot