GardenDeer-resistant Annuals: Colorful Plants for Sun and Shade

Deer-resistant Annuals: Colorful Plants for Sun and Shade

There are a lot of plants that are Deer-resistant annuals as they are colorful and some love sun as some love shades.

So here are some of the deer-resistant annuals for sun and deer-resistant annuals for shades:

Deer-resistant Annuals for Sun

1. Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana species)

Flowering tobacco also known as Nicotiana species is a sweet-smelling plant that deer won’t like. They have a lot of variety Nicotiana alata and N. sylvestris are used in most of the garden.

Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana species)
Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana species) Source: Savvy Gardening

They also have tubular flowers which are adored by hummingbirds just remember not to plant them near tomatoes because they can attract tomato and tobacco hornworms that can lay eggs on your tomatoes. They are also easy to grow from seeds that are both deer-resistant and have no pest or disease issues.

2. Canna lilies (Canna indica)

Canna lilies also known as Canna indica is a deer-resistant and sun-loving plant that can grow for years just remember to dig up the tuberous roots each autumn.

Canna lilies (Canna indica)
Canna lilies (Canna indica) Source: Savvy Gardening

You can also later use the tuberous roots by storing them in a box of peat moss for the winter. Canna can grow up to 5 feet tall and it also adds color to the late summer garden.

3. Salvias (Salvia coccinea, S. farinacea, S. leucantha, etc)

Salvias also known as Salvia coccinea, S. farinacea, and S. leucantha are frost-sensitive annual salvia varieties that no longer bloom. They are both full sun and drought-tolerant known for their classic deer-resistant.

Salvias (Salvia coccinea, S. farinacea, S. leucantha, etc)
Salvias (Salvia coccinea, S. farinacea, S. leucantha, etc) Source: Clemson HGIC – Clemson University

4. Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Pot marigolds also known as Calendula Officinalis an old-school, deer-resistant plants and they return on their own from seed dropped the previous fall. They are also used as herbal products and the flowers of the plant are edible.

Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) Source: Savvy Gardening

They can bloom different colored flowers according to their verities like orange, yellow, rust, salmon, and even pink. While they can also be both single- and double-petaled varieties.

5. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum species)

Snapdragons also known as Antirrhinum species 6 inches to 36 inches tall have unique flowers that look like tiny dragon heads that snap open like a jaw when pressed on both sides. They attract bumble bees and deer-resistant annuals that come in many colors from pink, purple, and burgundy, to red, yellow, orange, and white.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum species)
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum species) Source: Savvy Gardening

6. Love-in-a-mist (Nigella sativa)

Love-in-a-mist also known as Nigella Sativa can bloom just in three or four weeks difference with white, pale blue, dark blue, or pink colors. Their seeds are also edible and have a peppery flavor that’s often used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Love-in-a-mist (Nigella sativa)
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella sativa) Source: Savvy Gardening

Deer-resistant Annuals for Shade

1. Caladiums (Caladium bicolor and hybrids)

Caladiums also known as Caladium bicolor and hybrids that are known for foliage that’s among the most attractive of all deer-resistant. They have heart-shaped leaves that can even be tolerant of partial to full shade. Just remember to dig the tuber up in the fall and overwinter it in a box of peat moss.

Caladiums (Caladium bicolor and hybrids)
Caladiums (Caladium bicolor and hybrids) Source: Savvy Gardening

2. Begonias (Begonia species)

Begonias also known as Begonia species produce beautiful flowers that thrive in the shade and are resistant to deer. They come in stunning forms, sizes, shapes, and textures with the colorful, seer-sucker foliage and the blooms of begonias to the non-stop color of the angel and dragon-wing they sometimes feel like there are a million different choices.

Begonias (Begonia species)
Begonias (Begonia species) Source: Savvy Gardening

3. Persian shield (Strobilanthes atropurpurea)

Persian shields also known as Strobilanthes atropurpurea produce purple leaves edged with a silvery grey and woody shrub but during cold climates, you can grow it as an annual. They are show-stopping foliage plants the deer don’t like and annuals for shade that the deer don’t like.

Persian shield (Strobilanthes atropurpurea)
Persian shield (Strobilanthes atropurpurea) Source: Savvy Gardening

4. Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri)

The wishbone flower also known as Torenia fournieri that have bloom colors like pink, purple, blue, or white is thumbnail-sized and has a wishbone-shaped anther inside. They have two trailing varieties and clumping varieties also they bloom their heads off all summer long.

Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri)
Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri) Source: Savvy Gardening

Also Read: Inexpensive Porch Ceiling Ideas: Upgrade Your Outdoor Space with Style on a Budget

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