Javelina Resistant Plants

Photo by Dulcey Lima

By Jeff Schalau

Javelina are omnivorous animals with poor eyesight and a keen sense of smell. They browse and eat roots of many plants. Their diet changes with food availability in their environment. They may also nibble on or dig up plants that they do not actually eat.

The plant names on this list represent plants less likely to be eaten by javelina, but there are no guarantees that they won’t touch them. The only certain method to prevent plant injury is through exclusion (a fence of other barrier). This list was complied from a technical report researched and written by Cindy Ticer of Arizona Game and Fish Department. Ticer studied urban javelina in the Prescott area in 1993 and utilized 300 homeowner interviews concerning javelina eating habits.

Common Name Botanical Name

Allysum Allysum .......................... Allysum spp.

Basil.................................................. Ocimum spp.

Butterfly Bush ................................ Buddleia spp.

Carnations...................................... Dianthus spp.

Chili Pepper............................ Capsicum annuum

Chrysanthemum ............... Chrysanthemum spp.

Cosmos .............................................. Cosmso spp.

Cottonwood Trees .......................... Populus spp.

Cucumbers ..................................Cucumis sativus

Daffodils ........................................ Narcissus spp.

Dahlias................................................ Dahlia spp

Daylily ...................................... Hemerocallis spp

Deerbrush .................................... Ceanothus spp.

Easter Lily ............................ Lillium longiflorum

Eggplant .................................. Solanum melogena

Fir Trees ................................................ Abies spp.

Geraniums .................................... Geranium spp.

Gladiola ..........................................Gladiolus spp.

Globe Amaranth ....................... Gomphrena spp.

Hen & Chicks .......................... Echeveria elegans

Hibiscus........................................... Hibiscus spp.

Ice Plant ....................... Mesembryanthemum spp.

Iris ............................................................. Iris spp.

Ivy .......................................................Hedera spp.

Juniper Shrubs ............................. Juniperus spp.

Juniper Trees................................. Juniperus spp.

Larkspur .....................................Delphinium spp.

Common Name Botanical Name

Lilac .................................................. Syringa spp.

Manzanita ............................. Arctostaphylos spp.

Maple Trees ......................................... Acer spp.

Marigolds .......................................... Tagetes spp.

Mountain Mahogany .............. Cercocarpus spp.

Oak Trees ........................................ Quercus spp.

Pampas Grass .........................Cortaderia selloana

Pansies ................................................... Viola spp.

Peonies ............................................. Paeonia spp.

Petunias ........................................ Petunia hybrida

Pine Trees ............................................. Pinus spp.

Portulaca ............................. Portulaca grandiflora

Red-Hot Poker .......................... Kniphofia uvaria

Rose bushes .......................................... Rosa spp.

Rosemary ......................... Rosemarinus officinalis

Sage .............................................. Salvia officinalis

Santolina ................................................ Santolina

Shrub Live Oak ...................... Quercus turbinella

Silktassel....................................... Garrya wrightii

Skunkbush ......................................Rhus trilobata

Snapdragons ..........................Antirrhinum majus

Spruce Trees.......................................... Picea spp.

Sweet William ....................... Dianthus barbatus

Vinca ..................................................... Vinca spp.

Violas ..................................................... Viola spp.

Zinnia ................................................. Zinnia spp.