Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a popular, drought-tolerant perennial admired for its striking silver-gray foliage and late-season lavender-blue flower spikes. This woody sub-shrub provides a beautiful, airy texture and is highly valued for its low maintenance requirements. Russian Sage is widely considered to be highly deer-resistant, making it an excellent choice for landscapes where deer browsing is a persistent concern.
Why Deer Avoid Russian Sage
The primary defense mechanism of Russian Sage lies in its pungent, aromatic foliage. As a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), its leaves contain high concentrations of volatile oils. When the leaves are crushed, these oils release a strong, herbal scent that deer find highly offensive. This intense fragrance acts as a powerful deterrent, signaling that the plant is not suitable for consumption.
Beyond the strong scent, the physical texture of the foliage also contributes to the plant’s unpalatability. The stems and leaves are covered in fine, silvery hairs, giving them a fuzzy, slightly rough texture. Deer prefer plants with smooth, soft, and succulent leaves that are easy to chew and digest. The combination of the off-putting texture and the strong, bitter flavor causes deer to avoid browsing on the plant.
Variability in Deer Resistance
While Russian Sage possesses strong natural defenses, no plant is completely deer-proof. The term “deer-resistant” means the plant is low on a deer’s preference list, not that it will never be eaten. External factors can override a deer’s natural aversion, primarily extreme food scarcity, such as during severe drought conditions or harsh winter months when preferred forage is unavailable.
In desperate situations, a starving deer will consume almost any available material to survive. Regional differences in deer populations also influence browsing behavior. Deer may learn to tolerate the taste of Russian Sage if population density is high and competition for food is intense. Young or juvenile deer are less experienced foragers and may sample plants that adults typically avoid, leading to occasional browsing damage.
Other Plants Deer Generally Avoid
Russian Sage shares its deer-resistant status with many other plants that employ similar defense strategies. These plants generally fall into categories defined by their undesirable characteristics. Many avoided plants, like Bee Balm (Monarda) and Catmint (Nepeta), possess the strong, aromatic foliage common in the mint family.
Other species deter browsing through physical texture, such as the velvety, hairy leaves of Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) or the tough, leathery foliage of certain Yucca varieties. A third strategy involves toxicity or a bitter taste, where plants contain compounds that are unpalatable or poisonous to deer. Incorporating a variety of plants with these distinct traits helps create a diverse landscape that is significantly less appealing to deer.