Its leaves get lighter, the more sun it gets. Easily growing in a dense 2-3 feet tall (60-90 cm) fountain-like clump, this western Mediterranean native is … Blue oat grass boasts one of nature’s most elusive plant colors. The following list represents plants that deer and rabbits usually will not eat. Read the title of the blog, and then reread it again. Blue oat grass is spiky, spunky and blue — characteristics that invite comparisons to blue fescue. Quite ornamental. Rarely Damaged Perennials Growth can reach up to 3'. Flowers are borne from the tips of the tapered leaves tipped with golden oat-like seed heads. Read our, Learn Deer Resistant Plants to Grow for Your Garden, Easy-to-Grow Sometimes Means It Is Invasive, Plant These 5 Herbs to Deter Those Pesky Deer, A State-by-State Guide to Deer Resistant Plants, 16 Silver Foliage Plants to Brighten Your Landscape, 15 Best Zone 7 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 12 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping. Leaf blades are a pretty blue-gray, but what’s striking about this grass are the beautiful, bottlebrush-like flower spikes it sends out in summer. Please click here and share with us. When most people mention grass, they are talking about the common lawn grasses that many of us have been mowing since our childhoods. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. When Blue Oat Grass … (60 cm) above the foliage on slender, arching stems. It thrives in full, hot sun but should not be grown too dry in arid climates. This deer-resistant ornamental grass is cold hardy to zone 5. Many herbs make great ground covers and bring much more than just visual interest to the landscape. Blue oat grass is deer, pest and disease resistant and often planted in perennial borders, meadow-like areas and rock gardens. 6-10'' high. But since pachysandra spreads via rhizomes, it is easier just to divide it in the spring. Water plants regu… ‘Sapphire’ Blue Oat Grass is deer resistant and salt tolerant. Many deer-resistant ground covers are also shade-tolerant, which solves yet another landscaping challenge. Missouri Botanical Garden, Nepeta Cataria. Mass plantings add a dramatic effect to gardens. More and more people are discovering the virtues of perennial ground covers and mulching. Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) and its American relative, Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), both grow to about 1-foot by 1-foot. google_ad_client="pub-6734027531580525";google_ad_slot="0773886947";google_ad_width=120;google_ad_height=600; Do you know some other deer resistant ornamental grasses that should be on this list? Yes, Blue oat grass is deer resistant According to the resource from University of California, These grass has Moderate water requirements and can grow in less water as they are also drought resistant. The idea behind deer-resistant gardening is to fill your yard with plants they don’t prefer, in hope… This grass is clumped at the bass and splays out with height. Missouri Botanical Garden, Helictotrichon Sempervirens. Deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough, and they can adapt and eat plants that are considered “resistant.” However, they do have their favorites, and they’re more attracted to places where their favorite food is easily available. Handsome, good textural and color contrast in full sun siting. And with a name like "blue fescue," you know the color (really a bluish-gray, which is what glauca means in Latin) is a major selling point. Plant Care. Houzz Contributor. Deer Resistant Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit, Copyright 2007 Deer-Departed LLC. Very deer- and rabbit-resistant… David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Rarely Damaged Shrubs We would love to add your suggestions and read your story. Do you know some other deer resistant ornamental grasses that should be on this list? It grows as an accent plant, and looks great combined with blanket flower (Gaillardia), Russian sage (Perovskia), or Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. Well-behaved and highly charming, Blue Oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) is a showy ornamental grass that grows in attractive, round clumps of gracefully arching narrow steel blue leaves. Plant nursery-grown transplants 18 to 24 inches apart in early spring. Distinguishing traits. Resembles a very tall Festuca. It is a strong clumping grass that mimics the shape of a large, upside down shaving brush. Rarely Damaged Annuals As with lilyturf, these ground covers are such vigorous growers that you may wish to keep them in check: Deer-resistant ground covers need not just sit there and look pretty. Missouri Botanical Garden, Liriope Spicata. You will have to weigh your concerns about deer control against any concerns about their invasiveness before using these plants. Deer in different areas seem to be attracted to different plants. "Grass is grass," you say? All of them should be grown in full sun. From afar, its large clumps and projected flowers are commanding and regal, but up close they bend and sway in a soft way, with long blue-gray blades radiating out from the center. Asters (Aster spp.) These large mammals move into gardens and yards more as their natural habitat is lost. While deer are attracted to all plants and grasses, there are ornamental grass options that rank highest as deer-resistant. Make your cuts at these nodes to divide the plants. Blue Oat Grass: Deer resistant grass: NJ: Imperata cylindrica: Japanese Blood Grass: Deer resistant grass: NJ: Juncus effusus: Hard Rush: Deer resistant grass: NJ: Koeleria glauca: Large Blue June Grass: Deer resistant grass: NJ: Leymus arenarius glausous: Lyme Grass: Deer resistant grass: NJ: Miscanthus floridulis: Giant Japanese Silver Grass Blue oat grass grows as an upright tuft or mound, reaching a height 2 to 3 feet when in flower. These are some low-growing perennials that deer will not generally eat. As fall approaches, the foliage of Allegheny spurge becomes dappled with silvery flecks. See that word resistant? Blue fescue is kind of a miniature version of Blue oat grass. Compared to lawn grass, they save on water. Prior to planting, enrich the planting area with well-decomposed compost, mixing it into the soil in the planting hole and the surrounding area. Blue Fescue – Festuca. Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, supplies the landscape with spiky tufts of unmistakable blue ornamental grass. Most ornamental grasses are considered deer resistant, including such ones as blue fescue, little bluestem, blue oat grass, maiden grass, reed grass, and panic grass. Plants are sensitive to heat and humidity, though ‘Sapphire’ performs better than the most varieties. But these two pachysandras are equally effective in deer control. Extremely versatile, it can be used for edging, rock gardens, containers, or in grouped at the front of the border.   Blue oat grass: Helictotrichon sempervirens is a cool-season ornamental grass that can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8 and is effective for deer control. Deer resistant plants are your best choices for gardening in areas that deer either live in or pass through. Plants that humans find aromatic often have the opposite effect on deer. Provides a beautiful backdrop during the winter months. Dig under your plants and inspect the rhizomes. Beige panicles are produced June through August, eventually achieving a light brown hue by fall. Deer Resistant Native Grasses. Is Blue oat grass deer resistant? If you want more of them, you can take cuttings of the stems or leaves of both types of pachysandra. In North America, the Japanese pachysandra is the more vigorous ground cover and will fill in an area faster. Also deer and drought resistant, you can grow Blue oat grass down to zone 4. I am a lifelong student of the landscape and have practiced design at scales ranging from window planters to entire neighborhoods. Deer know no border and tend to feed on any suitable plant they think is tasty. Like lilyturf, some ground covers are invasive. Best in full sun and a moist, well-drained soil. Missouri Botanical Garden, Stachys Byzantina. It’s important to remember that unless you build a very tall fence, there is no such thing as a deer-proof garden. Blue Festuca is a … blue sedge, Carex glaucodea Pennsylvania sedge, Carex pensylvanica tussock sedge, Carex stricta Indian woodoats, Chasmanthium latifolium slender woodoats, Chasmanthium laxum wavy hairgrass, Deschampsia flexuosa bottlebrush, Elymus hystrix Virginia wildrye, Elymus virginicus soft rush, Juncus effusus coastal panicgrass, Panicum amarum (Coastal Plain ecoregions only) switchgrass, Panicum virgatum little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans Most gardeners grow these plants for their leaves, not their blossoms. Grows in grassy, tuft-like clumps. The deer find their smell offensive and leave them alone, making these plants effective for deer control. Japanese pachysandra has a white flower. As these ... Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ ) * Blue Avena Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) * Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’) Blue oat grass maintains its attractive light brown fall color through the winter. These are a great fit to the landscape with the blue oat. Blue oat grass boasts one of nature’s most elusive plant colors along with panicles of brownish spikelets in fall that reach far above the foliage. Companion plants include barberry, smoke bush, lavender, penstemon, nepeta, artemisia, lamb’s … Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon semervirens) is a dramatic ornamental grass with a blue hue and long upright blades. It could also be caused by the different plants available in the wild the deer are accustomed to eating, which will vary from place to place. Flowers appear at the top of the grass and resemble wheat or oats. Missouri Botanical Garden, Chasmanthium Latifolium. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. These have golden flowers with blade narrow blue leaves. A good choice for waterwise, firewise, and coastal landscapes. Missouri Botanical Garden, Galium Odoratum. Grows up to 30 inches tall. Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass) - A cool season evergreen clump-forming grass that grows to 2 feet tall by up to 3 feet wide with blue-gray leaves radiating out like a bristly porcupine. Probably the best blue-leaved grass for average garden conditions. The list was compiled with input from nursery and landscape professionals, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension personnel, and Rutgers Master Gardeners in northern New Jersey. Please click here and share with us. Missouri Botanical Garden, Lamium Galeobdolon. 'Sapphire Fountain' and 'Saphirsprudel') – is a virtually evergreen grass with alluring bright blue color. Delicate open panicles of small, straw-colored spikelets appear in early-mid summer, held about 2ft. Rarely Damaged Ferns Very nice habit. Missouri Botanical Garden, Euonymus Fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'. Deer Control For Your Lawn. Missouri Botanical Garden. Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) grows in neat, densely rounded clumps of metallic, silvery blue foliage.This reliable, attractive grass is often used in garden design and landscaping. The plant spreads slowly and is not considered invasive. That is key to remember when it comes to deer. Plus, this tough ornamental grass is easy to grow and resistant to deer, drought, and even air pollution. . Even after its leaves have dried and died, it provides visual interest to the winter landscape. Besides being ornamental, herbs can be edible and can have medicinal uses. We would love to add your suggestions and read your story. Like the pachysandras described above, ornamental grasses can serve as substitutes for lawn grass. Click Here To Review our privacy policy and Our Disclaimer. Plant the 'Sapphire' selection of Blue Oat Grass in any average, draining soil. Rarely Damaged Roses Its petite size and vibrant color makes it an excellent little accent plant in rock gardens and small beds. Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Rabbit Resistant Evergreen Massed Specimen ... Blue Oat Grass: USDA Zone: 3-9: Plant number: 8.200.100. Spectacular blue-gray mounded foliage makes Blue Oat Grass standout from everything else in your perennial garden. Deer Resistant Trees Brian Barth November 4, 2019. The spectacular, non-fading blue foliage and unique growing habits make this ideal for borders. The following is a list of landscape plants rated according to their resistance to deer damage. Blue Oat Grass is an herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with a mounded form. In spring, Allegheny spurge produces spiky, fragrant flowers ranging in color from white to pink. Planting Deer Resistant Plants Does Help. Plants form a well-behaved clump of bright silvery-blue leaves, with taller arching stems of flowers appearing in early summer. Combines well with other grasses. Rarely Damaged Palms Wet, clay soils may lead to root rot. Deer resistant. There are two pachysandras to consider when deciding on ground covers for deer control. This is similar in appearance to Blue Fescue, but is much larger. Landscape Attributes. They are known as "ornamental grasses." This grass does not tolerate hot, humid summers and flowering may be reduced under those conditions. Blue Oat Grass *** evergreen, tough: Hesperaloe parviflora: Red False Yucca ** may eat flowers, but foliage is tough/spikey: Imperata cylindrica: Japanese Blood Grass *** red tips: Juncus spp. Uses For Deer Resistant Blue Oat Grass The bright blue color of this deer resistant grass makes it a perfect addition to rock gardens. Blue Avena Grass shines in the garden with its bright blue foliage and tall graceful late spring flowering spikes that age to tawny brown by mid-summer. Are Asters Susceptible to Deer or Rabbits?. Pachysandra Procumbens. Fortunately, there is no shortage of such perennial ground cover plants, plus short shrubs such as Blue Rug juniper and Blue Star juniper. In full shade, pachysandra's foliage is a more attractive, darker green. This ground cover attains a size of about 2 to 3 feet high (with a similar width) and … If you are adding ornamental grass to a landscape exposed to visits by deer, plant a resistant variety to prevent heavy feeding and destruction. It produces a thick stand of healthy, dark green foliage when planted in soil that is rich in organic matter. Flower and rock gardens and small areas where you would like to draw special attention. An easy care selection, blue oat grass can be cut back hard in spring as needed. But some grasses are not meant to be mowed. We’ve said it before and will keep on saying it, “there is no such thing as a deer-proof plant”. This could be due to a sudden shortage of food caused by bad weather. Hystrix patula, Bottlebrush Grass, is a medium sized, upright ornamental grass that is very shade-tolerant and native to the US. Deer Resistant Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric). Missouri Botanical Garden, Thymus Vulgaris. Resembling Blue Fescue (Festuca Glauca) but significantly bigger, it is the best of the mid-sized blue-leaved grasses. The herbs discussed here are all aromatic but not to deer, who refuse to eat them precisely because of their smell. FOLIAGE COLOUR: Clear steel blue COLD HARDINESS: Zone 3 ( Should survive up to -39.9° Celsius ) WATER NEEDS: Average to dry - Drought tolerant OTHER FEATURES: Attractive Foliage, Border, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Low Maintenance. 8 Deer-Resistant Elegant Evergreen Shrubs to Plant This Fall Who knew that such beautiful shrubs could be deer-resistant? An easy-to-grow plant, blue-eyed grass thrives in full sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Below each node, you will see roots feeding some vegetation above. You might as well take advantage of their tolerance of shade since shady areas are often problematic in landscaping. Many bulbs generally are deer resistant, and include daffodils, fritillaries, Dutch iris, grape hyacinths, hyacinths, squill, and alliums. This is an eye-catching ornamental grass that remains vibrant all summer long. Missouri Botanical Garden, Lysimachia Punctata. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Rarely Damaged Bulbs Blue fescue ( Festuca glauca) is a deer-resistant, sun-loving ornamental grass with icy blue foliage and pale yellow flowers. It is non-spreading and will grow 2 - 3' tall and just as wide. Many citizens have been asking the Town about deer-resistant plants that they can use in their landscaping. 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