Tag Archives: Deer Resistant Perennials

Sisyrinchium palmifolium (Palm-Leaf Yellow-Eyed Grass)

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Plant Name: Sisyrinchium palmifolium
Common name: Palm-Leaf Yellow-Eyed Grass
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: Floral Stem 18-24” with 3-5 Flowers each, Leaf 20-24”
Spread: 8-12” Clump  
Bloom Time: May- June 
Flower Color: Bright yellow with a tinge of orange in the throat.
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained; Rich
Water Needs:  Moist in the spring; Tolerates dry Conditions summer & fall.  
Attributes:  Bright Yellow Flowers; Hardy Perennial; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees; Carefree; Blue-green Semi-Evergreen Foliage; Siberian Iris-like leaves
Note: Similar to West coast Native: Blue-eyed Grass (sisyrinchium augustiifolium) and California Native Yellow-Eyed Grass (sisyrinchium californicum).
Uses:  Cut Flowers; Deer Resistant Gardens; Perennial Gardens; Borders, Low-water gardens.       
Native to: South America: Argentina, Brazil, And Uruguay
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a-9b

Report and Photo by: Gena Goddard, AGC Member & Oregon State Flower Judge

Horticulture Report:Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox)

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Plant Name: Phlox stolonifera
Common name: Creeping Phlox
Plant Type: Semi-Evergreen Perennial
Plant Height: 6″ – 12″
Spread: 9″ – 18″
Bloom Time: May – September
Flower Color: Lavender, Blue, or White
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Soil Requirements: Humus Rich, Moist Soil
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Deer Tolerant
Note: Slugs a problem in Moist Soil; Spread by Stolons
Uses: Ground Cover; Cover for Early Spring Bulbs; Border Fronts; Rock Gardens.
Native to: Southeastern US
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9

Report by Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo Credit: Michael Wolf / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Horticulture Report: Agastache foeniculum

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Plant Name:  Agastache foeniculum
Common name: Anise Hyssop
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  2’ – 4’
Spread:  1.5’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color:  Lavender to Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs:  Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds; Fragrant; Good Nectar Plant for Bees
Note:  Deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom.  Spreads by rhizomes & easily self-seeds.
Watch for Rust, Powdery Mildew, & Leaf Spot.
Uses: Herb; Naturalized Gardens; Good Cut or Dried Flower; Back of the Border Gardens.
Native to:  Northern North America
Oregon Native:  Native to Washington, but NOT Oregon
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 -8

Report Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Oregon Native: Monarda didyma (Scarlet Bee Balm)

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Plant Name:  Monarda didyma
Common name: Scarlet Bee Balm
Plant Type:  Perennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 4’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time:  May – October.
Flower Color:  Scarlet Red
Exposure:  Sun to Part Shade.
Soil Requirements: Rich, Moist, Acidic.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Attracts Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies; Nectar Source, Deer Resistant; Good Cut Flower;
Note: Susceptible to Powdery Mildew; in the Mint Family; Deadhead Flowers to Prolong Summer Bloom.
Uses:  Perennial Border; Cottage Garden; Native Plant Garden; Bird & Butterfly Garden.
Native to:   Eastern North America & Oregon & Washington
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, Master Gardener & AGC Member

Horticulture Report: Agastache hyssop

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Plant Name:  Agastache hyssop ‘Black Adder’
(A cross between A. foeniculum & A. rugosum
Common name: Black Adder Giant Anise Hyssop
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  2’ – 3’
Spread:  1.5’ – 2’
Bloom Time: June – Frost
Flower Color:  Smokey Red Violet Flowers Emerge from Nearly Black Buds.
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Tolerates Deer; Fragrant; Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds, & Butterflies.
Note:  Deadhead Spent Flowers to Promote Additional Bloom.  Leave Leaf & Flower Stems for Protection Over Winter.  Crown/Root Rot may occur in poor draining soils. 
Uses: Long-Blooming for Summer Border; Butterfly or Cottage Gardens; Good Cut Flower.
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 9

Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Oregon Native: Thalictrum sparsiflorum (Fewflower Meadow Rue)

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Plant Name:  Thalictrum sparsiflorum
Common name:  Fewflower Meadow Rue
Plant type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Height:  4’ – 6’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June – August
Flower Color:  White to Pinksh
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Average to Medium Well-Drained Soil
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes:  Showy Flower; Deer Resistant.  Blueish, Columbine like foliage with airy clusters atop sturdy stems.
Note:  Powdery Mildew & Rust can occasionally be a problem. Contrary to its name, it produces many flowers.
Uses:  Good Background Plant when grouped.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 7

Submitted by: Viki Ashford