Verbena is a widely cultivated flowering plant, often grown as an annual for its vibrant, long-lasting blooms, though many varieties are perennial in warmer climates. These plants are popular for their mounding, trailing, or upright habits, making them suitable for containers, borders, and hanging baskets. When gardeners consider adding this colorful plant to their landscape, the question of its palatability to local wildlife frequently arises. Verbena is generally considered highly resistant to deer browsing.
The General Resistance of Verbena
The primary defense mechanism that makes verbena unappealing to deer lies in its specific physical and chemical composition. The foliage of many Verbena species possesses a notably rough, coarse, or even slightly fuzzy texture. Deer are known to prefer plants with smooth, tender leaves, and this tactile aversion serves as a significant deterrent to browsing animals.
In addition to the texture, verbena plants contain compounds that contribute a strong, distinctly bitter flavor and often a pungent scent. These chemical characteristics repel deer, whose highly developed sense of smell guides their foraging choices. This combination of unappealing scent, taste, and texture leads to its classification on the “seldom severely damaged” list in horticultural studies, indicating it is not a preferred food source.
Variables That Override Deer Avoidance
While verbena is generally avoided, no plant is completely deer-proof, and several environmental variables can override a deer’s natural reluctance. The most significant factor is high deer pressure, often referred to as the “starvation principle.” During periods of drought, winter, or overpopulation, when preferred food sources are scarce, a severely hungry deer will consume nearly any available plant material, including bitter foliage.
The level of resistance can vary depending on the specific cultivar or species planted. Tall Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is an upright variety that may be sampled more readily than dense, low-growing hybrid types if other forage is limited.
Young plants are always more vulnerable than established, mature ones. Their new growth is often more tender and lacks the full concentration of defensive chemical compounds found in older foliage, making them an easier target.
Practical Deterrence Methods for Gardens
For gardeners facing persistent browsing, employing proactive measures can significantly reduce damage. One of the simplest methods involves using taste-based repellents, often containing putrescent whole egg solids, which impart an offensive flavor to the foliage. Rotating this type of repellent with a scent-based product, like those that mimic predator odors, helps prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single defense strategy.
Physical barriers offer the most reliable protection, especially for high-value or newly planted verbenas. Temporary netting or wire cages placed around vulnerable groupings can shield them until they establish a robust structure. Strategic placement also works as a deterrent, such as planting verbena close to the house or mixing them with other highly aromatic plants like rosemary or lavender to create a concentrated area of unpleasant scents.