Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Monday - December 07, 2009
From: Morgans Point Resort, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Deer resistant vines for trellis
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We would love to have a blooming vine on our trellis, but the deer devour ever attempt. Please recommend something! Thank you.ANSWER:
If you go to our Recommended Species page, under Special Collections you will find a file for Deer Resistant native plants. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to choose 'Vine' from the General Appearance option and find 20 vines listed. Of course, not all those vines are going to be native to Bell County, but here are a few that are native to the county or in its general area. Please understand that these plants are listed as 'Deer Resistant'—they aren't 'Deer Proof'. Many factors can enter into whether a deer will browse a plant—for instance, food shortage during a drought will result in deer eating plants that they would normally avoid. The observations for these plants, however, is that deer NORMALLY avoid them.
Clematis drummondii (Drummond's clematis)
Cocculus carolinus (Carolina coralbead)—the blossoms are not showy, but the berries are.
Ibervillea lindheimeri (Lindheimer's globeberry)—again, the blossoms are not as showy as the fruits.
Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba (tievine)
Maurandella antirrhiniflora (roving sailor)
Matelea reticulata (netted milkvine)
Merremia dissecta (noyau vine)
Passiflora affinis (bracted passionflower)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)—once again the berries are showier than the blossoms.
You might be interested in reading "Gardening in Deer Country" from the the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. It has some very good suggestions for dealing with deer that are eating your landscaping.
Here are some photos of the above plants from our Image Gallery.
More Deer Resistant Questions
Deer and rabbit repelling plants at nature sanctuary in Waterford VA
May 11, 2010 - We have established a native pollinator garden at our nature sanctuary. Last summer deer and perhaps rabbits devastated it. Now people are proposing surrounding it with boxwood which deer don't like-...
view the full question and answer
Deer-resistant plants for Anderson SC
October 27, 2010 - I usually plant pansies in the fall & impatiens in the spring under a large oak tree which gets afternoon sun. My impatiens were beautiful early on, but then were annihilated by something. I think i...
view the full question and answer
Is straggler daisy deer resistant from Austin
October 08, 2012 - Is straggler daisy (horseherb) deer resistant? We have lots of deer in our NW Hills, Austin neighborhood, and a lot of shade where not much will grow. Is that plant a good candidate for ground cover...
view the full question and answer
Flowering Deer Resistant Ground Cover for Dry Rocky Soil: Alabama
March 26, 2012 - My question has been partially answered in the FAQ but I live in Birmingham where the soil is clay and rocky so it's a little different. I want to plant on a rocky slope (small rocks like the size of...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on Deer-Resistant Plants
March 22, 2004 - Do you have a list of Texas plants that are deer resistant?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |