Is Big Sagebrush deer resistant?

An evergreen shrub that may sit at a foot and a half or reach nine feet, hung with small velvety silver leaves — sweet and pungent to crush, blue-gray when you see them en masse. The aromatic oils keep deer off through the growing season, but be honest about winter: it is a valuable forage plant then, browsed by deer, elk, moose, antelope and bighorn sheep, and a young plant is worth protecting.

Most failures start at the point of purchase. Commercial seed of this species may belong to any of three subspecies — Basin, Mountain or Wyoming — so a plant bought blind can sulk wherever you put it. Ask the nursery which one it is. After that the only real risk is water: it is extremely drought tolerant and rots at the root if kept too wet.

One siting rule overrides the rest. The volatile oils are flammable enough to make even green plants burn, so keep it well clear of the house in fire country.