Suggestions for slug-proof perennials please

In my old garden in dryish Hertfordshire, I only had slug problems with hostas and delphiniums, but now I live in damp Devon, I seem to be losing plants by the score!

Most of the garden is currently covered in a few types of perennials, presumably as they are slug-proof (and rabbit proof). I have Alchemilla, Hardy geraniums, crocosmia, Libertia, Lysimachia, and Japanese anemones.

I am gradually clearing patches and trying to plant new things, but am getting frustrated when they get eaten. Sedum and Heucheras seem to do ok, but bearded irises were destroyed, as were tanacetum.

I should add that as we are keen birdwatchers, we don't use slug pellets. We have resulted to nematodes for the veggies. I have a slug trap which I move around, but my garden is over an acre, so a lot to cover.

So suggestions please for slug resistant perennials, and if they are also rabbit resistant, that will be a bonus! I can't afford to buy plants only to have them eaten.

Thanks!

 

Hiya Heucherella
I find astilbes slug resistant .......neither flower nor foliage is eaten. Astilbes give excellent value.....from beautiful new spring foliage to the flowers in mid summer and then the foliage into late autumn. For something different check out astilbe Shogun....fantastic dark foliage unlike any other astilbe.
Astrantias too seem not to be bothered by slugs etc.
Acteas ...cimicifugas.....also. Beautiful architectural perennials, again with dark almost black foliage.
Nepetas, liriopes?
Have you tried grasses like festuca or carex like Testacea and Buchanii? All evergreen and with colourful foliage.
Verbena Bonariensis, penstemons, geum Totally Tangerine, heathers, diosmas, santolinas, veronicas, veronicastrums, sanguisorbas, etc. Have you tried gauras? My feeling is that light, airy, floaty and therefore relatively dry plants are disliked by slugs.
Hope this helps.

 

Excellent, thank you for all those suggestions. I will write myself a shopping list! I have already bought a nice Astrantia, but hadn't dared plant it.

 

Fuchsias, Japanese anemones, hardy geraniums & aquilegias too

 

I have a couple of vincas which have been shunned by the hordes of slugs and snails in my garden.

 

Great idea for a thread

 

Great suggestions, thank you.

 

No coreopsis under any circumstances.... mine was like the nectar of the gods to my sluggies!

 

Ok, useful warning, thanks!

 

Phlomis doesn't suffer with slug damage (plus, it's evergreen).

 

Dicentra Spectabilis is another I can think of - I have "Alba" and it just flourishes.
Japanese Anemone.
Eryngium "Bowles Mauve".
Day Lilies get left alone.

 

Funny isnt it? I have a large day lily, Hyperion, that slugs and snails feast on here. It is on top corner and on my night time torch and salt trips that is the first plant I go to. One thing though, apart from an equally large tradescantia which is also attacked, nothing else there suffers.

 

I do have a few day lilies, and the foliage does suffer, particularly on younger plants.

 

I'll consider myself lucky that mine are strong and slug free then

 

Found this this morning on my new treasure, Hemerocallis 'Frosted Pink ice'...