Gardening at my home in London for years poses it's challenges around space, lots of shade from buildings and some interesting pests (foxes and cats included). However, the one persistent problem I've encountered in all of the gardens I've created in London is the abundance of slugs and snails, probably related to the buildings creating plenty of damp corners in which they can hide. So, I've spent my gardening years waging war against these slimy menaces (they're not all bad, of course) that plague my garden.
One natural solution I've found (and you really should only use natural solutions!) is Nematodes. It's extremely effective at suppressing your slug population. The only problem with it (aside from the cost), is that it doesn't seem to work on snails, who are just as greedy!
So, the best solution I've found is to live with the nocturnal nibblers and instead plant plants that they don't eat. The only problem here, is that I've commonly found plants that are often listed as slug and snail proof e.g. Foxgloves, Nepeta, Saliva etc. are actually not, when your slug problem is bad enough. They will happily chow down on any of these.
So, through trial and error I've compiled a list of my battle-tested plants that have successfully resisted the slug onslaught, along with a list of supposed slug resistant plants that have been consistently devoured.
Slug Resistant Plant Champions:
These brave botanical warriors have emerged unscathed from my slug-infested London garden:
Verbascum
Our favourite: Clementine
This statuesque perennial boasts elegant yellow flower spikes with dark red centres that provide structure and form if repeated through a border. It thrives in full sun, reaching a height of 60-90cm and a spread of 30-60cm.
Geum
Our favourite: Totally Tangerine
This vibrant perennial produces cheerful, orange flowers from late-spring through to early-summer. It prefers full sun and grows to a height of 30-60cm with a similar spread.
Agapanthus
Our favourites: African Queen & Africanus Alba
These stunning perennials offer a touch of elegance with their large, blue or white flower-heads atop tall stalks. They favour full sun and reach a height of 60-90cm with a spread of 30-60cm. Great structure for the garden
Peony
Our favourite: Pink Hawaiian Coral
These beloved perennials are prized for their large, showy flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. They bloom in late spring and early summer, adding a touch of elegance and fragrance to your garden. Peonies are generally unpalatable to slugs and have always been untouched here, and can add a touch of luxury to your slug-resistant haven. They prefer full sun to partial shade and grow to a height of 60-90cm with a spread of 60-120cm.
Iris
Our favourite: Berlin Tiger
These elegant perennials come in a variety of colours, including blue, purple, yellow, and white, and bloom in late spring and early summer. They are known for their sword-like foliage and delicate flowers, adding a touch of sophistication to your garden. Irises are resistant to slugs in our infested garden and prefer full sun with well-drained soil. They come in various heights depending on the variety, ranging from dwarf irises at 10-20cm to tall bearded irises reaching 90-120cm.
Californian Poppy
Our favourite: Orange King
While most other poppies get decimated in our garden the Californian Poppy always survive the slugs and snails. These cheerful wildflowers boast large, cup-shaped flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and white throughout summer. They are self-seeding and easy to grow, adding a pop of colour to sunny borders. They and thrive in full sun with well-drained soil. They grow to a height of 30-60cm with a spread of 30-45cm.
Lobelia
Our favourite: 'Hadspen Purple'
These charming annuals come in a variety of colours and offer long-lasting blooms from full sun to partial shade. They typically grow to a height of 15-30cm inches and spread 45-60cm and look fantastic spilling over the side of a raised bed.
Ferns
Our favourite: 'Matteuccia struthiopteris'
These shade-loving plants add a touch of prehistoric charm to your garden. They come in various shapes and sizes, but most prefer partial shade to full shade and can grow anywhere from a few inches to a metre tall.
Heuchera
Our favourite: Plum Pudding
This shade-tolerant perennial is prized for its colourful foliage, which comes in various shades of purple, red, and green. Our favourite, Patty's Plum, is, you guessed it, a deep maroon colour with elegant white flower spikes all summer long. It grows to a height of 30-60cm and spreads 30-60cm, thriving in partial shade to full shade.
Rose
Our favourite: It's a Wonderful Life
While some varieties may be more susceptible to slug damage than others, Tottering-by-Gently has stood the test of time in our garden for years.
Erigeron
Our favourite: Lavender Lady
These airy perennials produce masses of daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, and white throughout summer. They are low-maintenance and add a touch of charm to your borders. Erigeron has never been damaged by slugs in our garden resistant to slugs and thrives in full sun to partial shade. They come in various heights depending on the variety, ranging from 30-90cm tall.
Nautia Macedonica or
Our favourite: Macedonian Scabious
Another favourite of ours in the garden, this should be higher up the list really. This charming perennial produces maroon pincushion-like flower heads throughout summer. It attracts butterflies and adds movement and helps tie a border together.
Rosemary
Our favourite: Tuscan Blue
This fragrant herb not only adds a touch of culinary delight to your garden but also deters slugs with its strong aroma. It prefers full sun and can grow to a height of 60-90cm with a similar spread.
Geranium
Our favourite: Rozanne
This vibrant perennial boasts cheerful, blue flowers that bloom continuously throughout summer. It thrives in full sun and grows to a height of 30-60cm with a spread of 60-90cm.
Allium
Our favourite: Millennium
These ornamental onions offer stunning purple flower-heads in midsummer and possess the added benefit of deterring slugs and snails with their strong scent. They prefer full sun and grow to a height of 60-90cm with a similar spread.
Verbena Bonariensis
Our favourite: Purple Top
One of our absolute favourite plants, every garden should have. This tall, architectural perennial produces clusters of purple flowers throughout summer and attracts butterflies and bees. It thrives in full sun and can reach a height of 90-150cm with a spread of 30-60cm.
Trachelospermum Jasminoides
This evergreen climber is prized for its fragrant, white flowers that bloom in late spring and summer. It prefers partial shade to full sun and can grow up to 3 metres tall with a similar spread.
Aquilegia
Our Favourites: Black Barlow & Lime Sorbet
These delicate perennials boast beautiful, nodding flowers in a variety of colours in late spring and early summer. They prefer partial shade and grow to a height of 30-60cm with a spread of 30-45cm.
Osteospermum
Our favourite: Purple Sun
These cheerful daisies come in a variety of vibrant colours, like yellow, pink, and purple, and bloom throughout summer. They thrive in full sun and grow to a height of 30-60cm with a spread of 30cm
Euphorbia
Our favourite: Bonfire
This diverse group of plants offers a wide range of shapes, sizes, and flower colours. All varieties, like the popular 'Fireglow' and 'Diamond Frost', are resistant to slugs, thanks to their milky sap which is toxic to them. Euphorbias thrive in full sun and a dry sandy soils and come in various heights and spreads, depending on the specific variety.
Penstemon
Our favourite: Husker Red
These vibrant perennials boast tall spikes of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, and white, blooming throughout summer and attracting hummingbirds. They prefer full sun and grow to a height of 30-90cm with a spread of 30-60cm, adding a touch of elegance and a burst of colour to your garden.
Ajuga
This low-growing perennial forms a carpet of evergreen foliage in shades of green, purple, and bronze (all on one plant I should add). It produces small blue flowers in the spring, adding a touch of colour and texture to your borders. Ajuga thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows to a height of 15-20cm with a spread of 30-60cm, making it a great ground cover option - it can be invasive if planted in a border and not kept in-check.
Alchemilla Mollis
This charming perennial is prized for its large, rounded leaves that resemble scalloped cups. In the morning dew, these leaves often collect sparkling water droplets, which Fergal (our cat) likes to lick in the mornings. Alchemilla Mollis produces small, yellow flowers in late spring. It thrives in partial shade and grows to a height of 30-60cm with a spread of 60-90cm.
Hellebores
Our favourite: Candy Love
These winter-blooming perennials offer a welcome splash of colour in the late-winter and early spring months, when many other plants are dormant. Their large, cup-shaped flowers come in shades of white, pink, purple, and green, braving the cold and adding cheer to your winter garden. Hellebores prefer partial shade and grow to a height of 30-60cm with a spread of 30-60cm.
Lavender
Our favourite: Hidcote
This fragrant shrub is not just loved for its beautiful purple flowers and calming scent, but also for its resistance to slugs and snails - they don't get a single nibble in our heavily infested garden. Lavender thrives in full sun and grows to a height of 60-90cm with a similar spread, adding a touch of Mediterranean charm and fragrance to your garden.
Campanula
Our favourite: Hirsch Blue
These charming perennials come in various shapes and sizes, with some boasting delicate, bell-shaped flowers and others offering clusters of star-shaped blooms. They come in a variety of colours, including blue, white, and pink, and bloom throughout summer. Campanulas prefer full sun to partial shade and come in various heights and spreads depending on the specific variety.
Cyclamen
Our favourite: Alpinum
These delicate perennials are known for their beautiful, heart-shaped leaves and vibrant flowers that come in shades of pink, purple, and white. They bloom in the fall and winter, adding a touch of colour to the cooler months. Cyclamen prefer partial shade and grow to a height of 10-15cm with a spread of 15-20cm, making them a great choice for shady areas.
Hydrangeas
Our favourite: Limelight
While not completely slug-proof, some varieties of hydrangeas, like the 'Annabelle' and 'Limelight' varieties, have both survived completely untouched by the slug and snails in our garden. These beautiful shrubs offer large clusters of blooms in shades of white, pink & lime green, thriving in partial shade to full shade and growing to a height and spread of 1-2 metres.
Hylotelephium, formerly known as Sedum
Our favourite: Autumn Joy
This diverse group of succulents offers a wide range of shapes, sizes, and foliage colours, from green and blue to red and purple. Many varieties, like the popular 'Autumn Joy' and 'Lime Zest', have grown happily in our garden for years, thanks to their thick, fleshy leaves that are less appealing to these slimy pests. Sedums thrive in full sun to partial shade and come in various heights and spreads, depending on the specific variety, making them great options for adding texture and colour to your garden.
Eryngium or Sea Holly
These architectural perennials are known for their unique, spiky flower heads that come in shades of blue, purple, and white. They bloom in mid to late summer and add a touch of drama and sculptural interest to your borders. Eryngium thrives in full sun and grows to a height of 30-90cm with a spread of 30-60cm, making a bold statement in your garden.
Tested: Snail & Slug Resistant Plant Failures
These plants, despite being constantly billed as as slug and snail proof in articles across the web have not stood the test of time well in our garden. It seems when slugs have to eat something then the plants below are on the chopping block:
Salvia
Our favourite: Mirage Deep Purple
We've tried lots of varieties in our garden from the worst hit, 'Amistad' and 'Caradona' to the slightly better faring, but still eventually completely consumed 'Gregii' variety, of which 'Mirage Deep Purple' pictured above is a favourite of ours. These vibrant perennials come in a variety of colours and offer long-lasting blooms. While some varieties may be more resistant than others, slugs seem to find them quite palatable in general.
Nepeta
Our favourite: Neptune
This fragrant perennial is known for its attractive blue flowers and cat-attracting or repelling properties (depending on your cat's whims). However, it is consumed within a few weeks when planted in our garden. The older plants fare better but as they are herbaceous perennials, the new growth in the spring year mean this is an annual our garden - an extensive annual if you buy it
Foxgloves
Our Favourite: Sutton's Apricot
These majestic biennials boast tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, and yellow. They bloom in late spring and early summer, adding a touch of drama to your borders. Unfortunately, in my garden, slugs and snails munched on the leaves, leaving behind unsightly holes. Foxgloves prefer partial shade and grow to a height of 60-120cm with a spread of 60-75cm
Astrantia
Our favourite: Major, Florence
These charming perennials produce star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, surrounded by interesting bracts. They bloom in late spring and early summer, adding a touch of elegance and texture to your shade garden. While often advertised as slug-resistant, my Astrantia plants get completely devoured by slugs and snails after just a few weeks. They prefer partial shade and grow to a height of 30-60 centimetres with a similar spread.
Polemonium
Our favourite: Bressingham Purple
These tall perennials produce clusters of bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, white, and pink throughout summer. They add a vertical element to your borders and are attractive to hummingbirds. In my garden, slugs nibbled on the leaves of my Polemonium, it never quite gets eaten back to ground level but the overall effect and impact is ruined. They prefer partial shade to full shade and grow to a height of 60-120 centimetres with a spread of 30-60 centimetres.
Agastache
Our favourite: Navajo Sunset
These fragrant perennials produce spikes of colourful flowers in shades of blue, purple, and pink throughout summer. They attract butterflies and bees and add a touch of colour and fragrance to your garden. While Agastache is often listed and written about as being slug-resistant, my plants were not immune to slug damage, with plants eventually stripped back to ground-level. They prefer full sun and grow to a height of 30-120 centimetres with a spread of 30-60 centimetres.
Achillea
Our favourite: Sassy Summer Sunset
These low-maintenance perennials produce flat clusters of tiny flowers in shades of yellow, pink, red, and white throughout summer. They are known for their drought tolerance and attract butterflies. Unfortunately, my Achillea Yarrow suffered significant slug damage, with many leaves being completely devoured. They prefer full sun and grow to a height of 30-90 centimetres with a spread of 30-60 centimetres.
Poppies (excluding Californian)
Our favourite: Lilac Pompom
These vibrant annuals come in a variety of colours, including red, pink, orange, and white, and bloom throughout summer. They are self-seeding and easy to grow, adding a burst of colour to your borders. While Californian poppies have been resistant (see above) to slugs in my garden, other poppy varieties were not spared, with significant leaf damage and destruction. Poppies prefer full sun and come in various heights depending on the variety, ranging from 30-90 centimetres tall.
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