I just moved into a new home and need to reno the front garden. I'm looking for new ideas for planting in a mostly shaded area and deer resistant plant material. J
Deer can be kept away from plants through the use of physical barriers. Fences must be at least 8 feet tall, or bordered on either side with deer-resistant shrubs to increase the horizontal jumping distance. Products are available that make plants taste bad, and others that recreate the aroma of a nearby predator. Use plants that deer don't like. These include those with sticky or hairy leaves, thick leathery foliage, and minty/lemony/medicinal smells. Here are some plants said to be deer-resistant: Bleeding heart Daffodil Foamflower Foxglove Larkspur Lavender Lily of the valley Monkshood Ostrich fern Rose campion Scented geranium Snakeroot Yarrow Evergreens: American holly Boxwood Cryptomeria Fir Juniper Spruce Viburnum Many sites online provide information and advice on this subject. As many of them state: A hungry deer will eat almost anything!
I noticed that West Coast Seeds sells a deer-resistant wildflower seed packet - that might be fun to try. I buy a lot of stuff from Veseys, and they indicate which plants are deer resistant. I think their search form might even let you specify "deer resistant" as one of your search criteria. Saltspring Seeds' flower page lists Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) and Sweet Rocket/ Dame's Violet (Hesperis matronalis), both of which are deer resistant. I hope this will give you a bit of a starting point.
You will find an extensive list of deer resistant plants, together with info about the plant hardiness zone, shade-sun requirements and blooming time at http://kootenaygardening.com/garden_club_kimberley_deer_resistant_plants.htm
I live on the Saanich Peninsula and also have deer problems. Do you go past this garden to your front door or garage? Have you thought of something fragrant, or even better an early bloomer? The deer don't nibbled on my Sarcococca ( sweetbox ) & it's fragrance is wonderful this time of year, even better they are evergreen with berries. Also, I have a large number of hellebore that don't seem to appeal to deer and they are all in full bloom right now. There are some wonderful new doubles available at local nurseries. Another bonus to the hellebore, they will tolerate a bit of cold weather as forecast this week. Have fun!!