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Landscape Design Perennials Iowa Gardening

Tall Phlox and Alliums?

3 years ago

I want to plant tall Phlox this fall (my mom’s neighbor has some and they are gorgeous) but I’m afraid the local deer will eat them off. Any idea if Alliums would grow well in the same area? I have a couple Itoh Peonies, Dianthus, and Yarrow which all seem to do well in that corner of my yard. The deer, however, are undeterrable from my tulips in the front yard in the spring. I hate to plant something just to have it be deer food.

Featured Answer

laceyvail 6A, WV

3 years ago

The deer will LOVE your phlox. There are so many plants that are not terribly palatable to deer; why attract more by planting things they love? Skip the tulips too. My pardancandas are in bloom now and highly deer resistant. Also in bloom in my yard are Agastaches of several varieties. Butterflies love them.

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Comments (6)

laurietope
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for the ideas. I probably should have mentioned I’m in Zone 4 so I’m a little more limited in my plant choices. Most of Iowa is in Zone 5 but I’m nearly at the Minnesota border. Those plants look lovely though.
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maackia
3 years ago
We have severe deer pressure here in west-central WI, but they will not touch alliums. We’ve got them scattered all about the property, and to my knowledge we’ve never had any issues with deer browse. I should add we’ve got a bumper crop of rabbits and they also leave them alone. Alliums should do fine for you.
laurietope
Original Author
3 years ago
Very pretty! I’m excited to try out Alliums and hopefully they keep the deer away from the Phlox. Even if they don’t, the Alliums should be pretty. Here’s my plan.
karin_mt
3 years ago
Maybe consider Russian sage instead of phlox? We have deer (also zone 4) and the few patches of phlox that I haven't removed always get eaten down to the nubs. Russian sage has a similar bloom time, and deer don't touch it.
Thyme2dig NH Zone 5
3 years ago
If you want to stick with phlox, maybe invest in some liquid fence spray. I find it does quite a good job deterring the deer. When I remember to use it.......LOL!

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