Lantana is a popular, colorful flowering shrub or groundcover known for its continuous blooms and ability to thrive in hot, sunny conditions. Gardeners frequently turn to this plant when dealing with browsing wildlife. Lantana is generally considered highly resistant. This plant is a poor food source for deer and is consistently rated as “seldom severely damaged” by major university extension services. The plant’s defense mechanisms are effective against most deer in most conditions. However, it is important to understand that no plant is completely deer-proof, and certain circumstances can lead to browsing.
Why Lantana is Naturally Unappealing to Deer
Lantana possesses multiple physical and chemical deterrents that make it unpalatable and mildly toxic to grazing animals. The foliage emits a strong, pungent, and aromatic scent that is highly repulsive to a deer’s sensitive nose, acting as an immediate warning sign.
The leaves and stems of the plant have a rough, coarse, or fuzzy texture. This physical characteristic is generally avoided by deer, which prefer the smooth, tender texture of more succulent plants. This combination of an unpleasant scent and a tough texture usually causes a browsing deer to quickly move on to a more desirable food source.
The most significant deterrent is the presence of toxic compounds within the plant, primarily a group of pentacyclic triterpenoids called lantadenes. These compounds, specifically lantadene A and lantadene B, are found throughout the plant, though concentrated in the leaves. When consumed in large quantities by grazing animals, these toxins cause cholestasis and hepatotoxicity, meaning they interfere with bile flow and damage the liver.
The deer’s natural instinct guides them to avoid plants with these strong, bitter tastes and the associated discomfort or illness. While the plant’s flowers are less toxic than the leaves, the overall chemical profile of the plant is a significant deterrent.
Factors That Can Override Deer Resistance
The resistance of Lantana is not absolute, and certain factors can lead deer to sample or consume the plant. The most common cause is severe food scarcity, such as during periods of prolonged drought or harsh winter weather. When preferred food sources are unavailable, a starving deer will often ignore the plant’s natural defenses to survive.
Deer behavior and local population habits also play a role in resistance failure. In areas with extremely high deer density, competition for food may force animals to become less selective. Additionally, a small percentage of deer populations may develop a tolerance or simply have different local preferences, making them more likely to browse plants generally considered resistant.
The plant’s natural toxicity can also vary depending on the specific cultivar or the age of the growth. Some sterile hybrid varieties are bred for less seed production, which may also alter the concentration of defensive compounds. Furthermore, deer are more inclined to sample tender, new growth, which can occur after heavy pruning or excessive fertilization, as this new foliage may be less concentrated with the unpleasant toxins and more moisture-rich.
Using Lantana Effectively in Deer-Prone Gardens
Strategic use of Lantana can help protect a broader landscape. The plant works well as a living barrier when planted along the perimeter of a garden bed or property line. Placing a dense row of Lantana can act as a first line of defense, discouraging deer from entering the area where more palatable plants are located.
Gardeners should avoid practices that encourage the tender, nutrient-rich growth that deer find more appealing. Specifically, use fertilizer sparingly, as excessive feeding stimulates soft, lush growth that is less fibrous and potentially less concentrated with defensive chemicals. Maintaining the plant’s natural, slightly tougher structure helps preserve its deterrent qualities.
Lantana can also be incorporated into companion planting strategies to increase the overall deer resistance of a garden. Pairing it with other highly aromatic, resistant plants like Salvia, Lavender, or Rosemary creates a multi-layered sensory barrier.