Pride of Barbados Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Full Sun, well-drained soil
8′ x 8′, reseeds readily
Herbaceous perennial. Do not cut back until late winter. Will be late to emerge in the spring.
Deer resistant in most areas.
Zone 8 (W. Indies and subtropics of the Americas)
Tropical Milkweed Asclepias currasavica
Full Sun/Part Sun
3′-4′ x 3′-4′
Re-seeding annual. Collect seeds when seedpods are ripe and save to plant next year.
Somewhat deer resistant, but not reliable.
Zone 8 (S.Central, Central America)
Firecracker Fern Russellia equisetiformis
Full Sun/Part Sun
3′-4′ and spreads! Attracts hummingbirds.
Herbaceous perennial. Cut back the the ground in late February.
Not deer resistant.
Zone 9 (Mexico Guatemala)
Mexican Firebush Hamelia patens
Sun/Part Sun
There are compact forms that only reach 3′ but the species can reach 4′-6′.
Herbaceous perennial. Does not come back in severe winters.
Deer resistant.
Zone 8 (S. Central America)
Jerusalem Sage Phlomis fruticosa
Full Sun, well-drained soil
4′ x 4′
Evergreen perennial. Deadhead spent blooms below next set of leaves. Shape in late February.
Deer resistant.
Zone 6 (Greece, Italy, Turkey)
Mexican Bush Sage Salvia leucanthe
Full Sun/Part Sun
Standard size is 3′-5′ x 3′-5′ / ‘Santa Barbara’ is dwarf version at 2’-3’
Bloom color may be purple with purple calyx or white with purple calyx (pictured)
Herbaceous perennial
Deer resistant
Zone 8 (Central and Eastern Mexico)
Russian Sage Perovaskia atriciplifolia
Full Sun
Standard size is 4’x4’, dwarf versions are 2’x2’
Herbaceous perennial
Deer Resistant
Zone 4 (Afghanistan)
Society Garlic Tulbaghia violcea
Sun
1 ½’x1 ½’,
Evergreen in mild winters. May freeze back in extreme cold
Deer resistant. Do not plant near front door as the odor smells like a skunk!
Zone 7 (S. Africa)
Mexican Oregano Poliomintha longiflora
Full Sun, well-drained soil
3′-4′ x 3′-4′
Mostly evergreen. Prune to shape in late February.
Fairly deer resistant, but deer may browse.
Zone 8 (SW US)
Pink Skullcap Scutellaria suffrutescens
Full sun/Part sun
1′ tall by 2′-3′ wide
Evergreen perennial. Pruned during growing season by “ponytailing” foliage and trimming top.
Deer resistant in most areas.
Zone 7 (N. Mex.)
Creeping Germander Teucrium cossonii
Full sun, well-drained soil.
6″ tall by 3′ wide, may cascade over walls
Evergreen most winters, but may die back in severe winters.
Deer resistant
Zone 8 (Mediterranean)
Globe Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua
Sun, well-drained soil
2′-3′ by 2′-3′, flowers come in orange, pink, red or white.
Evergreen most winters. May die back in extreme cold.
Summer blooms. Prune to shape in late winter or between blooms
Zone 8 (SW US, NW Mex.)
Green or Gray Santolina Santolina chamaecyparissus
Full Sun, well-drained soil
1′ tall by 3′ wide, may cascade over wall
Evergreen perennial
Deer resistant
Zone 6 (Mediterranean)
Upright or Prostrate Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Full sun, well-drained soil
Upright to 5′ tall. Prostrate form 2′-3′ tall by 10′ wide
Evergreen perennial. Does not prune well into woody growth. May shape new growth during growing season.
Deer resistant
Zone 8 for most varieties. Upright variety ‘Arp’ hardy to zone 7, Prostrate is less hardy. (Mediterranean)
Gopher Plant Euphorbia rigida
Full sun, well-drained soil
1′-2′ by 1′-2′, chartreuse flowers in February
Evergreen perennial, prune after flowering
Deer resistant
Zone 7 (Mediterranean)
African bulbine Bulbine frutescens
Sun, well-drained soil
1′ tall and spreads up to 10′, yellow and orange flowered varieties available
Herbaceous perennial
NOT deer resistant
Zone 8 (S.Africa)
Blue Plumbago Plumbago auriculata
Full sun to Part Sun
3′-4′ by 3′-4′
Herbaceous perennial. Prune to the ground in late February. Mulch in winter to protect roots. Do not plant in the fall.
Deer resistant in most areas.
Zone 8 (S.Africa)
Leadwort Plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Part Sun to Dappled Shade
1′ tall by 18″ wide. Not related to Plumbago at all. Nice groundcover for partial shade.
Herbaceous perennial. Foliage turns red in the winter. Cut back to ground in late February.
Not reliably deer resistant.
Zone 5 (Tropical regions of S. Africa)
Sun
Size depends on variety. Must have well-drained soil. Prune in late winter just before growth begins. Do not prune into woody growth as it will not fill in.
Evergreen, Deer resistant
Zone 5 for English and French varieties
(Mediterranean to E Africa)
Mystic Spires Salvia Salvia farinacea x ‘Indigo Spires’)
Sun, Part sun
2′-3′ by 2′-3′
Herbaceous perennial. Cut back when it freezes to the ground.
Deer resistant
Zone 7
Sun
Size depends on variety.
Many varieties are zone 9 and may or may not come back in Zone 8. Always check the Zone to see if it is an annual in your area.
Cut back in late winter and wait to see if it is going to come back. Be patient.
Deer resistant in most areas, but not as reliable as the native Texas Lantana.