No garden fantasy is sweeter than that of discovering vibrant flowering plants that gophers will not eat. I have sadly watched whole plants disappear underground right before my very eyes, cartoon fashion.
Others failed to thrive over time because their roots were constantly being gnawed. I have learned to use gopher baskets to protect my roses, fruit trees, and most landscape plants....but here are a few that I feel comfortable planting directly in the ground.
Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) is a good bet since the tall spires of hanging bells are poisonous and should not be eaten under any circumstances. I have watched gophers dig around their roots...but they won't eat them. Plus they stayed alive all year (zone 10) and bloomed anew in spring.
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Foxglove, Digitalis
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I have never lost one to a gopher.
One of the prettiest gopher proof plants. Comes in so many beautiful colors. Digitalis, commonly known as Foxglove, can be fatal even in small doses. It was the original source of the drug (called digitalis) used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart rhythm problems (atrial arrhythmias). Digitalis increases blood flow throughout your body and somehow gophers know not to eat it. Smart little devils.
Getrude Jekyll loved white foxglove and used it abundantly. I am in zone 10 and mine are still producing blooms in autumn.
This is a picture of second year blooms. |
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| Moonshine Yarrow |
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| Appleblossom Yarrow |
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| Cistus |
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| Cistus or Rockrose |
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| Spanish Lavender |
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| Penstemmon |
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| Society Garlic |
Mimulus
Monkey Flower
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| Echium candicans, commonly known as Pride of Madeira. Careful.....these can give an allergic reaction, like a skin rash. |
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Belladonna Lily, Naked Ladies, or Belladonna Amaryllis
The sap and bulb are especially toxic to children.
Harmful to dogs and cats, causing vomiting, depression, diarrhea, excess salivation and tremors.
The flowers come at the end of summer and are lovely.
Gophers may avoid them however....the snails love them to death and congregate on the yummy blossoms causing quit a bit of damage.
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| Jerusalem Sage |
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| Salvia (Love and Wishes foreground, Amistad background aka Friendship Sage) |
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| Geranium Incanum... this spreads easily on its own but is easy to contain. |
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| Sea Thrift or Sea Pinks (Armeria maritima) |
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| Sea Thrift |
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| Daylilies |
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| Bearded Iris |
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| Pride of Madeira |
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| Coreopsis |
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Mallow or Malva
Malva is an edible weed that tastes like spinach. The large family of Malvaceae plants include cotton, okra, and hibiscus. All parts of the plant are edible and it has no poisonous look-a-likes.
Mallow contains compounds which activate the immune defense system as well as substances that soothe infections. Its medicinal uses are still being researched. |
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Columbine, Aquilegia
The flowers of various species of columbine were consumed in moderation by Native Americans as a condiment with other fresh greens, and are reported to be very sweet, and safe if consumed in small quantities.
The plant's seeds and roots are highly poisonous however, and contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed as food. Columbine poisonings may be fatal. |
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| Salvia |
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Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium
This easy flowering plant spreads quickly but is also easy to remove when it is not wanted.
I use it extensively because of the large gopher population on our property. They never eat this.
Feverfew has been used as a herbal treatment to reduce fever and to treat headaches, arthritis and digestive problems.
Feverfew can cause allergic reactions, including contact dermatitis. Other side effects have included gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. When the herb is chewed or taken orally it can cause mouth ulcers and swelling and numbness of the mouth. Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women. It may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding, and may also interact with a variety of medications metabolized by the liver. |
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| Ranunculus and Foxglove |
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| Scabiosa, Pincushion Flower |
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| Lavender |
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Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa)
a good companion plant to tomatoes, an alternative to rotating crops,
provides both nitrogen and an instant mulch that preserves moisture and keeps weeds from sprouting. |
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| Grapes |
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Avocado
Gophers will eat the roots of young avocado trees. As avocado trees mature, gophers are no longer attracted to the large, tough roots. |
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| Limonium, Daspia, Marsh-Rosemary, Statice, Sea Lavender |
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Statice
Statice cut flowers are long lasting in the vase, whether fresh or dried. |
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Brugmansia, Angel's Trumpet
All parts of Brugmansia are potentially poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous. |
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| Ranunculus and Foxglove |
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| Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia |
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Nasturtium, Tropaeolum
All parts of Tropaeolum majus are edible. The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient; it has a slightly peppery taste reminiscent of watercress, and is also used in stir fry. The flowers contain about 130 mg vitamin C per 100 grams (3.5 oz), about the same amount as is contained in parsley. Moreover, they contain up to 45 mg of lutein per 100 g, which is the highest amount found in any edible plant. The unripe seed pods can be harvested and dropped into spiced vinegar to produce a condiment and garnish, sometimes used in place of capers. |
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| Polygala, Milkwort |
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| Wild Iris, Fortnight Lily |
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| Hummingbird Sage, Salvia spathacea, |
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| Penstemon, beard-tongues |
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| Toadflax, Linaria |
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| Toadflax |
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| Snapdragons |
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| Giant Bird of Paradise |
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| Echiveria |
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| Echiveria |
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| Echiveria |
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| Huchera, Coral Bells |
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I first discovered Candytuft (Iberis) when I planted a bag of wildflower seeds labeled "butterfly mix." I adore these beautiful flowers because they reseed themselves at the end of the season. They are perfect for bouquets....and the butterflies do love them. Mine grow unmolested in a gopher infested area.
Other plants that gophers seem to dislike include: euphorbias, oleander, castor beans, daffodils, allum, and marigolds.
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