The Most Deer-Resistant Sunrose To Grow For Stunning White Blooms

If you're a passionate gardener, you'll know that there are always challenges you have to overcome when nurturing your plants so that they look their best and fill your yard with splendid color. One challenge many gardeners face in the U.S. is hungry deer that like to munch on those prized plants you've taken such good care of. That's why finding attractive plants that are also deer-resistant is something to get excited about. While there quite a few deer-resistant shrubs to landscape your yard and protect your garden, one species, aptly-named gum rockrose (Cistus ladanifer), is a rose lookalike you might want to consider. This pretty evergreen shrub has the most stunning white blooms with five petals, a prominent yellow center, and a dark red splash of color at the base of each petal. 

What's even more advantageous about this plant is that it has leaves that are sticky thanks to the resin it produces as a defense mechanism against natural enemies in the wild. You might be interested to learn that this fragranced resin is known as labdanum, which is an essential oil commonly used in perfumes. It adds a spicy and musky scent that is long-lasting. If you live anywhere in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11, you can enjoy this pleasant fragrance in your own garden by growing this gorgeous plant, and never have to worry about deer going anywhere near it. This shrub can grow to a height of 5 feet and is even drought-tolerant.

To grow Cistus ladanifer in your own garden, choose a sunny spot that has very well-drained soil. You'll find that another benefit of this Mediterranean plant is that it can easily adapt to growing in poor soils, and its drought-tolerant nature makes it perfect for use in xeriscapes. The flowers on this plant are self-cleaning and only last for a day, so you don't even have to deadhead them. In fact, pruning is not recommended at all for this species. As this plant flowers at the ends of its branches, if you trim these back, you're limiting the future potential of many more blooms.

This is actually good news for time-poor gardeners who want plants that look amazing without requiring a lot of care. Gum rockrose, as well as a number of other beautiful garden plants you don't ever have to worry about pruning, certainly fits this criteria perfectly. Depending on where you live, you can expect to see those spectacular blooms throughout summer, especially in coastal areas. However, if you garden in a more inland setting where temperatures tend to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll find that your Cistus will provide you with a beautiful display of flowers around the middle of spring. Finally, you might also be interested in other flowering plants for your garden that are deer-resistant, to add even more beauty to your yard.