are camellias deer resistant
Common Name(s): Sasanqua camellia. Category: Shrubs. Comment: Drought tolerant; excellent fall blooming shrub for accent or tall foundation planting; makes a good small tree form; numerous cultivars available, including dwarf forms. These plants are mildly resistant to damage by deer. Camellia bushes usually bloom in the fall, winter or spring months. Around 250 species of the camellia bush (Camellia spp.) are available, including thousands of cultivars. Originally native to Asia, this plant typically thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. Although deer will eat the camellia bush if their favorite natural food sources aren't available or are depleted, they will usually avoid this shrub with its colorful blossoms. These plants can range from evergreens to flowering shrubs, and will improve the aesthetic value of your home. If you’re landscape is often visited by deer, consider planting deer-resistant foundation plants. These plants are generally unappealing to deer and are rarely damaged by wildlife. Taking the time, energy and expense of trying to beautify your yard, to have ravenous deer eat it all down to nubs can be extremely frustrating! With careful planning and selection you can make your yard a beautiful, colorful garden sanctuary. There are no deer Proof plants, but there are ones that they are much less likely to eat. I've put together a list of what I think are the best deer resistant plants for our area of South Carolina. Comment: Numerous Cultivars are available. Camellia is one of those old southern favorites. It blooms in early spring when not much else is blooming and adds color to what might otherwise be considered a dreary landscape. Bloom color ranges from white to all shades of pink and red. Using landscape plants NOT preferred by deer is one way to prevent or at least lessen damage. The plants deer prefer to eat vary from region to region and change seasonally. No plant is completely deer proof. During the spring, times of drought, and hunger deer will eat anything to survive. They tend to prefer soft vegetation with high water content. Over fertilized and over watered plants are particularly lush and appealing. They also enjoy flower buds. Flowering Foundation Shrubs. Japanese camellias are a deer-resistant evergreen shrub that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 and work well as a foundation plant. Each cultivar of Japanese camellia produces stunning, fragrant blooms in a wide array of colors. The camellia species are generally not the preferred vegetation of deer in general. According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, camellia species are classified as occasionally damaged, meaning that deer only turn to these plants when their favorites aren't available to eat. No plants are really deer-proof, although some are generally avoided by them. Consider planting your camellia bushes near such unappetizing plants, like lavender (Lavandula spp.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis Mozart or Irene) or California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), says the the California Flora Nursery. Occasionally Damaged-These plants are most likely eaten after the favorites are gone. Rarely Damaged-These are rarely eaten when other options exist. Plants in bold tend to be extremely resistant to deer feeding.
Yes