Grasses and Shrubs - Deer Resistant and Drought Tolerant

 

Here is a list of drought tolerant and deer resistant grasses and shrubs that have proved reliable on the Gulf Islands:

See the article on "Grasses to the Rescue" in Gardens West magazine - Nov/Dec 2007

 

Grasses that required no water after their second year (all plants need water until they are well established):

Helichtotrichon - blue oat grass
Stipa arundinacea sometimes called Anemanthele lessoniana
Stipa tenuissima - Mexican feather grass
Stipa neae - more upright form of feather grass
Stipa gigantea
Briza media - Quaking grass
Festuca glauca - Elijah Blue
Festuca amethystima - gorgeous violet flowers
Carex buchananii
Carex flagellifera
Chasmanthium latifolium - Northern Sea Oats
Bouteloua gracillus - Mosquito grass
Elymus magellanicus - non spreader
Pannicum virgatum - many varieties

 

Grasses requiring some supplemental watering - depending on location, exposure and how established they are:

Miscanthus -all varieties
Pennisetum - all, more than many others
Calamagrostis Karl Forrester & Overdam
Scizachyrium - little bluestem
Andropogon - big bluestem
Arundo donax - likes moisture - grown in a container
Erasgrostis - Love grass - spectacular in a container, drapes beautifully
Bulbous oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius b. 'Variegatum').
Bamboos

 

Cautions - invasive, self seeding grasses!

Golden millet - self seeds, not a big problem in very dry location
Lymus - some varieties Canyon Prince
Phalaris
Luzulu

 

Drought Tolerant Shrubs

Corokia
Japanese pepper bush
Perovskia
Ruskus
Cistus
Grevillea
Lavender and rosemary
Choisya
Acacia
Junipers
Boxwood
Callistemon
Buddleia - butterfly bush
Lonicera - Baggin's Gold and other cultivars
Australian mint bush
Pieris
Elderberry
Saracoccia - sweet box
Windmill palm