Slug and Snail Resistant Herbaceous Perennials

These 14 slug and snail resistant herbaceous perennials are just a few of the numerous herbs, shrubs, and other plants that are slug and snail resistant. They may suffer a bit of damage but basically will survive. (Even in a very wet spring like we’ve had this year)

14 Slug and Snail Resistant Herbaceous Perennials – The List

Firstly the list in alphabetical order by Botanical Latin name, although I’ve put one of the common names next to it to help you. Then we look at each herbaceous perennial in a bit more detail, mainly where in the garden you could plant it. My aim was to give you plants for your pleasure for as much of the year as possible. With the bonus that they’re pretty much all providing food for pollinating insects and other good creatures that you’d like to have in your garden.

Alchemilla mollis, ladies mantle
Aquilegia, columbine
Campanula poscharskyana
Centaurea montana, perennial Cornflower
Centranthus ruber, red valerian
Euphorbia
Geranium, hardy, border
Hellebore
Heuchera
Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Dicentra, bleeding heart
Japanese anemone
Nepeta, catmint
Pulmonaria, lungwort
Stachys byzantina, lambs ears

Before we get into the detail, remember that whilst the plants listed are pretty resistant, and when they do get a bit nibbled are tolerant enough to keep growing, there are times when they may fall foul to molluscs. This is most likely when the plant have young fresh foliage and emerging shoots. The most resistant of our 14 slug and snail resistant herbaceous perennials are those with hairy, furry or leathery leaves.

But it’s also about working with your garden rather than against it, thereby making less work for yourself Which includes accepting a certain degree of slug and snail decimation as collateral damage – they’re not the only pests in your garden after all!

14 Slug and Snail Resistant Herbaceous Perennials – The Plants

Alchemilla mollis, ladies mantle

A favourite of Her Majesty Queen Camilla, Alchemilla mollis is best known for the pretty way raindrops nestle in the furry leaves where they meet the stems. Happiest in dappled sunlight, morning sun or light shade, they are pretty adaptable. A good ground cover plant and there are other types of Alchemilla if you would prefer a slightly different leaf form. The flowers appear late spring, but its predominantly grown for that soft green foliage.

Aquilegia, columbine

One of the quintessential cottage garden plants, Aquilegia, also known as columbine, granny’s bonnets is easy to grow and will self-seed. As well as these happy-go-lucky perennials, that will grow pretty much anywhere, there are named varieties. The latter may be slightly less drought tolerant but are still slug and snail resistant. Flowers from mid spring to midsummer, depending on variety.

Campanula poscharskyana

This is the low-growing, spreading alpine campanula that is found as ground cover in hot sunny corners, growing in the cracks in paving and trailing over old walls. Campanula poscharskyana, Siberian bellflower flowers from late spring through to mid-autumn.

Centaurea montana, perennial Cornflower

With grey green, slightly furry leaves the perennial cornflower also please by blooming over a long period from mid spring to late autumn. The inky-blue flowers are attractive to pollinators, especially bees. Named cultivars offer flowers in various colours from white, to purple, but they’re not necessarily as hardy as the ‘original’ which is native to central European meadows and woodlands. If the foliage gets a bit mildewy just cut back and it will regrow fresh.

Centranthus ruber, red

A common site in the drystone walls of southwest England and coastal areas of east Anglia this Centranthus will grown in most any place it can find. Many will decry it because of this, but it is such a good pollinator for bees butterflies and especially the Hummingbird Hawk Moth. (See a reel of the moth in action in my garden over at Spitfires and Slow Worms on Instagram) Although called red valerian, you’ll also find it with pale pink, coral oink and white flowers. Blooming time is early spring to late autumn.

Euphorbia

Specifically Euphorbia epithymoides, syn Euphorbia polychrome, cushion spurge. It will thrive in most soils but thrives in drier and well-drained soil (which tells us that its drought tolerant). Be aware that the milky sap can cause an allergic skin reaction, particularly in sunlight. Euphorbia epithymoides ‘Bonfire’ has wonderful yellow spring flowers surrounded by orange bracts.

Geranium, hardy, border

Hardy or border Geraniums, not the pot Geraniums used as bedding. Also known as cranesbills for the shape of many of their seedheads, they come in a wide range of leaf shape and flower colour. Looking out of my study window I can see a dozen or more plants, all different. From the earlier flowering Geranium phaeum through to the red tinges Geranium macrorrhizum foliage in late autumn there is much to enjoy. Some prefer a sunnier spot, others like shade, but they’re pretty tolerant of most garden conditions.

Halfway through our list of 14 slug and snail resistant herbaceous perennials we’ve reached a mid-winter to mid spring blooming plant.

Hellebore

Common names of Christmas rose and Lenten or Easter rose for the Hellebore gives us the clue for the flowering period. Not that they’re related to roses as it happens! Great in shadier spots, you can have our British natives – Helleborus foetidus, roast beef plant, stinking hellebore and Helleborus viridis, green Hellebore, bear’s foot. Hellebore prefer shadier spots in the garden.

Heuchera

Also known as coral bells, I’ve always added these to planting designs for their colourful year-round foliage. As low ground cover plants they are good for the front edge of a border, adding a soft formality. With so many colours to choose from – lime green, to peach, orange, red, purple and nearly black I’m not going to suggest any in particular. Cut off older foliage when it looks scruffy and you’ll get a fresh burst of colourful leaves. They prefer dappled shade, although the darker colours often tolerate more sun.

Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Dicentra, bleeding heart

Another go-to cottage garden plant. The delicate foliage and drooping flowers carried on arching stems are very attractive. Generally they prefer morning sun followed by dappled shade, but in cooler areas, full sun shouldn’t be a problem if the soil is moist (but not permanently damp). It’s very pretty in spring, but the foliage usually dies back when the flowers do so it doesn’t have a such a long period of interest as many of our other slug and snail resistant plants.

Japanese anemone

Admittedly I cheated by not giving the Latin name in the list, my only reason was that there were two plants beginning with A and none with J. Japanese anemone, Anemone x hybrida, Anemone huphenis puts out foliage quite early on in the season, but it’s from late summer through to late autumn that they bloom. There are smaller varieties that will grow in a pot. They may spread outside their clump ‘zone’, but just dig up those you don’t want.

Nepeta, catmint

Not, Nepeta cataria, the catmint used for catnip toys, but the (mainly) silver leaved Nepeta. From small mounds of aromatic foliage through to larger plants with arching stems of blue-lilac flowers this is a wonderful garden plant. As you’d expect, the silver leaved species and cultivars do better where they get plenty of sun. They make good companion plants for roses and fruit trees. Resistant to molluscs it’s probably yours or your neighbours’ cats that will chomp at this herbaceous perennial!

Pulmonaria, lungwort

One of my favourite plants (see blog link below for more) Pulmonaria is another cottage garden stalwart. They’ll take a sunny spot in spring, but need dappled shade during the hotter summer months. The flowers last for quite a while and I cut back the leaves when deadheading to encourage fresh foliage which stays on all summer. Slugs and snails are not keen on the hairy leaves, so the spotted or silver foliage covers the ground prettily all summer long.

Stachys byzantina, lambs ears

Also known as bunny ears, Stachys byzantina, syn Stachys lanata, needs a sunny spot in your garden. The white woolly leaves hug the ground then in late spring to midsummer erect flower stems with whorls of pinky-purple flowers are borne above. Chop back the flower stems before they run to seed for a second flush of flowers. Or cut back roughly half as soon as you spot the flowering stems to extend the blooming season. NB they like the sun but dislike too much rain, so remove soggy, browning leaves.

and finally

As I’ve only covered 14 slug and snail resistant herbaceous perennials in this blog, you are right in expecting that there will be others to help you find herbs, shrubs, bulbs, fruit and vegetable crops that are also able to fight off and / or survive depravation by mollusc.

If you’d like help creating a slug and snail resistant planting design for your garden, or have queries regarding your existing garden, do get in touch to ask about our design and consultancy services. But if you’d prefer hands-on personal help from yours truly, with a mix of practical sessions and theory in our bespoke Gardening Lessons and Courses check out the blog link below plus link for the pdf download with more info

For further gardening advice and inspiration, ideas for pest resistant gardens and more, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet You could also come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook

And on that note, you can have a peek at the progress of my garden renovation, Spitfires and Slow Worms, on Instagram and Facebook