What are Deer Proof Plants In Central Texas? Do They Actually Exist?

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For those of you who have had deer raid your plants and fruit-bearing trees, you know how hard it is to get rid of them. Thankfully, there are plants out there that deer do not prefer or hate. This is why we call these plants deer-proof. 

What makes a plant deer-proof in the first place? Where can I find these plants in the central Texas area? Let’s explore the specifics of deer-proof plants, why deer avoid them, where to get them, and when to plant them.

Where can you find deer-proof plants in Central Texas?

There are many places where you can find plants considered to be deer resistant. Mostly from a garden center or nursery, these outlets will not only provide you with deer-resistant plants but also some knowledge surrounding them. 

Listed below are a few different garden centers and their locations around central Texas.

• The Natural Gardener – Austin, Texas
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Austin, Texas
• Backbone Valley Nursery – Marble Falls, Texas

 

Which Central Texas plants are deer-proof?

While there are so many plants in general considered to be deer resistant, let’s discuss those you can purchase within Austin, Texas. Listed below are a few different plants to consider when searching for your Texas home’s landscaping project. 

• Indigo Bush
• Swamp Milkweed
• Bushy Bluestem
• Red Yucca
• Blackfoot Daisy
• Blue Curls
• Baldwin’s Ironweed

 

What is the most deer-resistant plant in Central Texas?

Sure, there are a plethora of deer-resistant plants out there, but which one is the most deer-resistant? Especially in central Texas? 

A few of these would include Texas sage, daffodils, foxgloves, and salvias. These are all beautiful aromatic plants to consider for landscaping projects or just in your garden! 

 

What ingredient makes a plant deer-proof?

Plants that are considered deer-proof do not carry the same specific ‘ingredient’ – but instead repeat characteristics that we see in the plants that deer avoid. 

These characteristics include thorns, fuzzy leaves or stems, and bitterness, but the biggest factor to consider is how fragrant the plant is. Is it strong like rosemary, mint, or French marigolds? 

If the answer is yes, then surely the deer will avoid it. Strong aromatic plants are considered very off putting to the deer. 

 

At what time of the year should you plant deer-proof plants in Central Texas?

Most deer-proof plants and most plants, in general, are planted anywhere between spring and fall. However, if you are considering a very specific type of plant, you should always look into that plant’s exact time of year it should be planted in. 

Do this by purchasing a farmer’s almanac, asking someone knowledgeable from a nursery or gardening center, or simply doing more research online. Every plant is different, and because of that, every plant has different care instructions regardless if it’s similar to another.

 

Final thoughts on the deer-proof plants of Central Texas

There are various places in central Texas where you can purchase deer-proof plants. A few examples of these include Texas sage, Indigo Bush, Swamp Milkweed, and many more! 

Some of them are more deer-proof than others due to their taste, texture, whether the plant has thorns or not, and most importantly, aroma. If the aromatics of the plant are strong, the deer will not favor them. 

Many of these deer-proof plants are planted in the spring to the fall. However, if you have a specific plant in mind, it’s important to research to make sure you are fulfilling all the correct instructions for that specific plant. 

 

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