Name: Deer Resistant Seed Mix
SKU: DEER
Price: 30 USD
Availability: InStock

for Full to Partial Sun and Medium-Wet to Medium-Dry Soils.
White-tailed deer populations have increased in many areas and are now commonly observed near our homes. This is mostly due to loss of their natural habitat and disappearance of their natural predators. As a result, our favorite plants in our home landscapes and adjacent wooded areas have become tempting food targets for deer.

Like all indigenous animals in North America, deer co-evolved with native plants, making them their preferred food source. The dwindling stands of native plants in nature are imperiled by swelling deer populations. Deer may browse on any plant if food is scarce, but there are many plants that they don't find palatable. This seed mix is made up of native species they tend to shy away from; plants with rough texture (i.e Silphium species), milky sap (Milkweeds), or minty, citrus, or onion aroma (Hyssop, Mountain Mint, Bee Balm and Allium species) are all included in this native seed mix.

*Our experiences with deer food preferences here in the Upper Midwest may vary from observed behavior in other regions. Additionally, deer can respond differently to local conditions or seasonal variations. This seed mix will be an ever-evolving design. If you have insights to offer from your own experience, please let us know.

Although some of the native plants in this seed mix have ranges that extend beyond zones 3-7, the majority will do best in this zone range. For more detailed information please see the RANGE MAP for each species. View the complete species list, including % by weight, under COMPONENTS.

For seed mixes of 1/8 acre or less, we include a temporary cover crop at no additional charge. ReGreen is a sterile, short-lived perennial wheat hybrid that can be planted spring or fall.

Add a Seed Mix Enhancement for that extra splash of color!

Establishing a native plant community from seed can take 3 years or more - learn more.

All mixes are subject to change without notice depending on availability of species.

Deer Resistant© Seed Mix by Prairie Moon® Nursery 11.67 lbs per acre \| 111 Seeds per sq/ft (FILTER PLANTS IN THIS SEED MIX)
WILDFLOWERS
Botanical Name (Common Name)	% by wt.
Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)	0.80
Agastache scrophulariaefolia (Purple Giant Hyssop)	0.54
Allium stellatum (Prairie Onion)	1.34
Arnoglossum atriplicifolium (Pale Indian Plantain)	0.54
Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)	1.61
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)	0.80
Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea)	17.14
Coreopsis lanceolata (Lance-leaf Coreopsis)	4.15
Dalea candida (White Prairie Clover)	1.07
Dalea purpurea (Purple Prairie Clover)	2.41
Drymocallis arguta (Prairie Cinquefoil)	0.54
Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower)	2.68
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)	1.61
Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master)	3.21
Euphorbia corollata (Flowering Spurge)	0.54
Eutrochium purpureum (Sweet Joe Pye Weed)	0.54
Heliopsis helianthoides (Early Sunflower)	2.14
Hypericum pyramidatum (Great St. John's Wort)	0.80
Liatris spicata (Dense Blazing Star)	2.14
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)	0.54
Monarda punctata (Spotted Bee Balm)	1.07
Oenothera biennis (Common Evening Primrose)	0.27
Oligoneuron album (Upland White Goldenrod)	0.54
Oligoneuron rigidum (Stiff Goldenrod)	0.54
Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine)	1.34
Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)	0.80
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)	0.54
Pycnanthemum virginianum (Mountain Mint)	1.07
Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower)	1.07
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)	4.28
Silphium integrifolium (Rosin Weed)	0.27
Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant)	0.54
Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)	0.54
Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio Spiderwort)	1.61
Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain)	1.34
Total of WILDFLOWERS:	60.91%

GRASSES, SEDGES & RUSHES
Botanical Name (Common Name)	% by wt.
Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-oats Grama)	5.35
Bouteloua gracilis (Blue Grama)	8.57
Carex brevior (Plains Oval Sedge)	1.07
Elymus canadensis (Canada Wild Rye)	10.71
Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)	0.54
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)	10.71
Sporobolus compositus (Rough Dropseed)	2.14
Totals of GRASSES, SEDGES & RUSHES:	39.09%

(FILTER PLANTS IN THIS SEED MIX)
Last updated 2/27/24

8 Questions asked on Deer Resistant Seed Mix

Meredith December 15

Hello, Can this mix be customized a bit? Such as a species or two taken out of the mix? Thanks!

Prairie Moon December 17

No, unfortunately we cannot alter these pre-designed seed mixes for small areas. But, if you have a larger area, and/or a budget of at least $200 you can request a quote for a Custom Seed Mix design.

Andrea April 30

What is the height range for this mix?

Prairie Moon May 1

Thanks for writing, Andrea. Like all our diverse seed mixes, this one will yield a plant community of mixed heights. It will take several years for many species to attain their mature height, but those could range from 1-5 feet, depending on your site and seasonal conditions.

Phil May 27

How resistant are we talking? I've bought deer resistant wildflowers from other suppliers over the years and the multitudes of PA deer mow them down before most ever bloom. That said, there are many varieties in your mix that I've never tried. Thanks!

Prairie Moon May 27

Hi Phil. I think it's worth a try. True, our deer here in SE MN may not behave as yours in PA, but this mix is full of classic deer-resistant genus such as Asclepias (Milkweed), Allium (Onions), Pycnanthemum or Monarda (Mints and Bee Balms). The popular Prairie grasses they also tend to avoid. The best method would be to prepare your site to be weed-free by fall with whatever means you determine to be best (prairiemoon.com/blog/site-prep).

Elizabeth July 2

Are the different seeds mixed together in one seed mix or are the individual plant seeds individually packaged?

Prairie Moon July 3

Hi Elizabeth. They are all mixed together. If you look at the 2nd photo on our seed mix web pages, it shows how the seed mixes are packaged. For proper seed sowing techniques, we mix all the small wildflower and grass seed in one labeled bag, and then all the large wildflower and grass seed in another bag. The hand-sowing guide that will come with your seed mix order suggests, if spring planting, you sow large seed first, and then small seed. If you are fall planting, you can mix both the large and small seed bags together. You should not plant in the summer.

Brandy April 5

Is there a list of what is in this mix this year? I live in New England and want to be sure that what I am planting is native to us here as well as to you.

Prairie Moon April 6

Hi Brandy, Yes, you can view this information on our website. To see the species list for any Seed Mix, scroll down and look underneath the main photo and click on COMPONENTS. This will reveal a list of plants. Then, you can also click on the purple hyperlink that says PHOTOS OF PLANTS IN THIS SEED MIX to get taken to another webpage to view the plant list in a different format with all the photos and the website FILTER tool for states-select data.

Kimberly August 26

Our yard is mostly sand and includes a septic field. This looks like the right mix, love the deer resistance aspect, but am a bit concerned re root depth over the septic.

Prairie Moon August 27

Hi Kimberly, Because there are some medium-wet plants in this seed mix, it is not ideal for septic fields because they are moisture-seeking and the roots could interfere with the septic system. You'll want to choose a mix for drier soils, the "Shortgrass Echinacea Seed Mix" is a nice choice.

Elizabeth June 25

How would this mix do in clay soil? We have an intense deer population AND clay soil! Thank you I’m advance :).

Prairie Moon June 26

Hi Elizabeth. The Deer Resistant Seed Mix will do exceedingly well in clay soil! The plant species in this mix are considered deer resistant - but only once they are established. If the local deer population is a problem, you may want to take extra precautions to protect your seedlings while they are developing.

Richard July 3

What percentages of this mix are perennials versus annuals?

Prairie Moon July 3

Hi Richard. Of the 42 species included in the Deer Resistant seed mix, the only annual species is the Partridge Pea. Two biennial species included are Common Evening Primrose and Black-Eyed Susan. Each of these species will self-sow to continue their population within the site. Canada Wild Rye is a short-lived perennial grass that will self-sow to some extent, but often fades from the mix over the course of several years.

Native plant communities provide the inspiration for our seed-mix designs. All our mixes feature high seeding rates and a diverse balance of native species, which, when mature, will provide blossoms throughout the year. No matter what you want from a seed mix, you will need to make sure it fits the soil-moisture holding capacity and sun conditions of your site.

E stablishment of the diverse native-plant communities represented in our seed mixes can take three to five years. The most critical process before planting is preparing the site by removing unwanted species and working to deplete the soil’s weed seed bank. Find detailed site prep, planting and care instructions for our seed mixes through the following links:

ESTABLISHING A NATIVE SEED MIX - 3 YEAR PLAN

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR HAND SOWING A NATIVE SEED MIX

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

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