The lady checking out in front of me at the garden center had two cute little pots of ‘polka dot plant,’ Hypoestes phyllostachya, and she had a single question for the clerk: “Will deer eat it?” For those of us living among free-roaming herds of deer, that is always the question! Do deer graze in your garden? It seems that ever-growing herds of deer continue moving into more and more areas across the United States. Even suburbs and small towns...
James City County-Williamsburg Master Gardeners conducted a survey of local residents in order to identify the shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals that are often or sometimes browsed by deer in this area, as well as those that usually are not. Among the participants of the survey were landscapers and other professionals, Master Gardeners, members of all local garden clubs, and other residents of neighborhoods where deer damage occurs. The lists below are based on the participants’ personal experiences while living...