Client's Question: I'm helping a friend redo her harden. She has a "deer problem". She would like some ideas about plants that are "deer proof". Would CCMG Help Desk please provide us with some lists of plants that are deer proof?
CCMG Help Desk Response: Thank you for contacting Master Gardeners for help with deer resistant plantings for your friend. As we discussed, the information below includes lists of deer resistant plants because there is no such thing as deer proof plants! If deer are hungry enough, they will usually eat almost anything!
For starters, here is an article written by a Contra Costa Master Gardener for your consideration about living with deer in your garden: http://ccmg.ucdavis.edu/files/103012.pdf
Here is a list of deer resistant plants from Contra Costa Water District's excellent 'Gardening in Contra Costa County' website: http://www.contracosta.watersavingplants.com/listplants.php?index=15
This article includes an extensive list of deer resistant California native plants: http://www.laspilitas.com/easy/deer.htm which is very appropriate for consideration in designing a drought resistant garden.
We just had to include the list below from the Marin Master Gardeners' website. Not only do they include plants that are deer resistant, but also plants that are ‘deer candy'. I thought this information might impress your friend!
http://ucanr.edu/sites/MarinMG/Plant_Guide/Reports/Deer_Resistance_Qualities/
And finally, there is the UC Pest Note for deer. This article has a lot of good information regarding living with and excluding deer from your garden: http://www.ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74117.html
Hope this information helps. Let us know if we can be of additional assistance!
Master Gardeners of Contra Costa Help Desk
Note: The Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/