Adding plants to your landscape is a great way to enhance the beauty of your outdoor space in New Jersey. However, if you have deer on your property, you might be hesitant about what type of flowers or plants to add. Deers love munching on certain vegetation types, and if they like the taste of something, they can ruin your whole garden in one delicious sitting! That's why you should add deer-resistant plants among the others in your landscape. In fact, here are three plants that you can add to your landscape that are deer-resistant: coreopsis, Russian sage, and iris. Coreopsis has bright yellow flowers and blends nicely with other shades of yellow. Russian sage produces purple spikes on top of green foliage, making it an eye-catching addition to any flower bed. Iris features colorful blooms that come in various shapes and sizes.

1. Coreopsis

Coreopsis plant part of garden in Westfield, NJ.

The first plant on our list of deer-resistant plants is the coreopsis. This perennial flower grows upright stems with clusters of bright yellow flowers along them. When fully grown, a single stem could reach up to 3 feet tall. Coreopsis blooms during the summer months, starting in June and lasting through August.

This plant thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade as well. It prefers soil that is well-drained and doesn’t require much water to thrive as long as it receives some direct sunlight each day. The best time to transplant this plant is during the early spring before it starts blooming.

Coreopsis attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to your landscape because of its sweet-smelling nectar!

2. Russian Sage

Russian sage in a garden in Westfield, NJ.

Russian sage is a deer-resistant, evergreen shrub that produces small purple flowers from early summer until the fall season arrives. The leaves of this shrub are grayish-green in color and have a fine texture. As a member of the mint family, this shrub has square-shaped branches and aromatic foliage.

This plant needs full sun exposure to thrive. However, it can still survive in light shade conditions. Because of its drought resistance, Russian sage only requires infrequent watering once established. Planting this shrub in well-draining soil is crucial for success. It does not like wet feet, so if the drainage isn't good, you may want to consider choosing another option for your landscape.

3. Iris

Iris is a genus of flowering plants native to Europe, Asia, North America, and other parts of the world. There are more than 300 species within this genus. Depending on the type of iris planted, their flowers can range in size from just a few inches all the way up to over 12 inches in diameter.

Iris plants prefer full sun exposure or partial shade. These perennials do not need a lot of fertilizer because too much nitrogen can encourage leaf growth over flower production. Irises should be pruned immediately after they bloom to encourage re-blooming in the future. This plant is known for attracting a lot of bees, so this is also a great addition if you want to support the local bee population while also warding off deer.

There are 3 types of cultivated irises: bearded, beardless, and aril.

Give us a call today to schedule our planting and softscapes installation service.

Choosing the right plants for your landscaping can be difficult, especially when you have obstacles like deer to contend with, but we can make it easy! Here at Stream Line Lawn & Landscape, we have professional landscape designers and installers who can give you advice on what plants are ideal for your property and where they will look best. Before we start installing your plants, though, we will sit down with you for the design phase of our service, where you can share your vision and discuss your needs. Our services are available to property owners in Westfield, NJ, as well as to other nearby areas such as Watchung and Warren. If you want to add beauty and value to your property via new landscape beds filled with gorgeous plants, then give us a call at (833) 452-9666 to schedule our planting and softscapes installation service.