Deer tolerant shrubs

10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way.

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Updated on 05/24/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Landscape shrubs are not the preferred food for white-tailed deer, but deer will still eat them in a pinch. During a cold winter or at other times when natural food sources are low, your landscape can be devastated by deer feeding on shrubs and small trees. Sometimes the damage is merely cosmetic, and the plant can recover. But if the bark is completely stripped from a shrub or tree, that can mean the end of the plant.

There are many possibilities among evergreen species, flowering shrubs, and other specimens that deer aren't likely to munch on. Here are 10 varieties of deer-resistant shrubs.

Tip

Remember "deer-resistant" is not "deer-proof." Some animals still might choose to take a bite out of these shrubs, especially if food options are limited.

How to Keep Deer Away From Your Landscape

01 of 10

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Boxwoods (Buxus) are broadleaf evergreens, meaning they have broad leaves like deciduous plants but keep their leaves in the winter. This makes them a very popular choice for hedges. They're fairly low maintenance, except for an annual pruning to maintain their shape and remove unhealthy portions. As a bonus, boxwoods contain alkaloids that are distasteful to deer.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Dark green to yellowish-green foliage
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy, evenly moist, well-draining
02 of 10

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Juniper varieties are members of the cypress family and give off a heavy fragrance. And because deer have a sensitive sense of smell, they tend to dislike any plants with a strong odor. Juniper generally is low maintenance, simply requiring some pruning to control its growth. Blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') is a small, slow-growing, rounded bush that is a good choice where a bluish accent is needed. Meanwhile, blue rug juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug') often serves as a ground cover on hillsides. For a different look, try the Pfitzer Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana Glauca'), which is commonly shaped into pom-poms.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8
- Color Varieties: Foliage of blue, green, yellow, or silver
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Sandy, well-draining
03 of 10

The Spruce / K. Dave

You get a 3-for-1 deal with arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). This deer-resistant shrub bears reddish fall foliage and bluish berries in addition to white flowers in the spring. It grows to roughly 6 to 10 feet but can get even taller in the right conditions. Prune the shrub once a year after it's done flowering to control its height. This shrub also will spread, so remove its suckers if you want to keep it contained in one area.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8
- Color Varieties: White flowers, dark green foliage
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
04 of 10

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Andromeda (Pieris japonica) is a dense, flowering, deer-resistant shrub. Although it is an evergreen, it looks best in the early spring when its showy flowers bloom and give off a powerful aroma. The smell is what makes deer recoil and avoid eating the plant. This shrub is fairly low maintenance, simply requiring pruning to keep its shape, though it should be protected from cold winter winds.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: White, pink, or deep rose flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-draining
05 of 10

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Bluebeard or the blue mist shrub (Caryopteris) blooms in late summer at a time when relatively few bushes are flowering. This shrub is a favorite of many pollinators, and it's drought-tolerant. But while bees and butterflies like its flowers, the plant's heavy scent repels deer. To keep the plant well-shaped and flowering, cut it back by about half in the early spring. Also, prune dead and diseased parts as needed.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Blue, purple, or pink flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-draining, neutral pH
06 of 10

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), which is technically a subshrub, has bluish flowers with silvery-gray foliage. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. The plant spreads via underground runners and does not require much maintenance besides some pruning to keep it looking neat.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Bluish-lavender flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Sandy or clay, alkaline, well-draining
Watch Now: How to Grow and Care for Russian Sage
07 of 10

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

Although the butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is considered invasive in many regions, it also can be a striking addition to a landscape. Some new cultivars, such as 'Blue Chip', have few seeds or are seedless, making them less able to spread. These plants are magnets for pollinators—hence their common name—but deer tend to avoid them. They also require little care. Pruning is optional if you wish to keep the bush compact with more prolific flowers. Some gardeners even choose to trim the stems down to the ground in early winter to give their landscape a cleaner look.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Bluish-purple, pink, yellow, red, or white flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Slightly acidic to neutral, well-draining
08 of 10

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

In general, shrub roses are good plants where deer are a problem due to their thorny stems that deer don't like to eat. Candy Oh is a favored variety known for its fragrance and vibrant coloring. It produces beautiful blooms for most of the summer and will attract many pollinators to your garden. In general, prune roses in the early spring before blooms start to show. Remove dead, diseased, and overgrown wood to promote better airflow, which helps to prevent pests and diseases.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Pink, red, purple, yellow, or white flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Average, evenly moist, well-drained
09 of 10

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is native to eastern North America, and it's a deer-resistant shrub you are more likely to see in the wild there than in people's yards. It is the fragrance of bayberry that deters deer from eating it. The plant also is tolerant of drought, erosion, and salt. It's generally low maintenance, though you might have to remove suckers to prevent new plants from spreading where you don't want them.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Color Varieties: Yellowish-green flowers, silver-gray berries
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
10 of 10

The Spruce / K. Dave

'Carol Mackie' Daphne (Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie') is a variegated bush with extremely fragrant flowers. Its fragrance is one of the true delights of the spring garden, but the aroma and poisonous berries are distasteful to deer. The berries also are toxic to people and pets, so take care when planting the shrub. This plant is somewhat difficult to grow, as it requires a delicate balance of soil moisture and sharp drainage. Some shrubs might die without an obvious cause, so choose a planting area that allows for easy removal if necessary.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Light pink or white flowers
- Sun Exposure: Part sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining, neutral to acidic

Like deer-resistant shrubs, there also are several deer-resistant trees—including flowering, shade, and evergreen varieties—for landscaping. Deer might nibble on these trees if they're desperate for food, but the foliage is definitely not their first choice.

Watch Now: Tips for Selecting the Right Shrubs

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Deer-Tolerant Ornamental Plants. University of Georgia Extension
Daphne x Burkwoodii 'Carole Mackie'. North Carolina State University Extension

2022's Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs to Plant

By Arricca Elin SanSone

Published Oct 4, 2022

Reviewed by:

Candace Davison

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. You can learn more about that process here.

Bambi is adorable. Until she starts chewing on your roses or chowing down on your azaleas. The truth is that as suburbia has spread, deer have to go somewhere. And that could be your garden. You may not want these woodland animals to leave your property per se, but you’d appreciate it if you could have some greenery to enjoy—and that’s where these deer-resistant shrubs come in. We’ve rounded up the top 20 shrubs to plant, and have a few tips for living peacefully with your neighborhood deer (without letting them take over your yard).

If you notice chewed-up plants and you’re not sure you have deer damage, look for ragged edges. Because deer have no upper incisors, they bite and tear plants from ground level up to about 6 feet off the ground. Some of your plants may get trampled, too, as they roam your yard.

While damage can occur year-round, you're most likely to notice it in the spring, since that's when new plant growth occurs, according to the Yard and Garden Extension of the University of Minnesota.

A fence that’s 6 to 8 feet tall is most effective for keeping them out of gardens, but it’s not always practical. You can try scare devices, capsaicin or putrescent repellants (yes, they smell like rotten eggs, though the smell fades in a few days), but research shows they only work about half the time. Plus, you usually need to rotate types and reapply after rain. As for homemade repellants (bars of soap, hair, coyote urine), they just don’t work. Deer are incredibly adaptable and will learn to put up with a lot of things once they learn they’re not really in danger.

Your best bet is to combine methods: Use repellants but also plant shrubs they don’t love. If they get hungry enough, if there’s a large deer population in the area or if it’s an especially harsh winter, deer will eat anything—even plants they usually don’t like. But you can at least give these plants, which they’re less likely to munch on, a try.

The bottom line: There’s no such thing as deer-proof plants, only deer-resistant ones.

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1. Boxwood

Boxwood has been a favorite garden shrub for hundreds of years, thanks largely to its classic, uniform look. These shrubs can be left in their natural forms or sheared into shapes for hedges or topiaries.

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2. Juniper

Deer tend to leave junipers alone, and they’re available in many different forms, from ground cover types to more upright shapes. Junipers are super-hardy shrubs in sun, cold or drought conditions, so they work almost anywhere.

$34 AT AMAZON

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3. Forsythia

The bright yellow flowers or forsythia bloom in very early spring before the leaves have emerged, providing a little cheer in an otherwise gloomy landscape. (Spring is coming!) New types are more compact.

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4. Butterfly Bush

This perennial favorite attracts tons of pollinators all summer long. Look for new types, which are not invasive and are more compact and well-behaved in the garden, keeping a smaller profile.

$18 AT AMAZON

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5. Potentilla

Blooming from spring to frost, this hardy shrub needs little care. It can withstand the cold well and tolerates any type of soil.

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6. Beautyberry

Beautyberry is a real showstopper in the autumn landscape. This gorgeous shrub has white flowers and stunning pink or purple berries throughout that time of year.

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Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners

7. Inkberry Holly

Inkberry resembles boxwood, but it’s more disease-resistant. Even better? This compact little evergreen maintains its rounded form without you needing to prune it.

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8. Rose Of Sharon

These reliable summer bloomers add late season color to your garden. New varieties are more cold-hardy and have lacy blooms that come in lovely shades of pale pink or blue.

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Photo Courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.

9. Red Osier Dogwood

This attractive shrub has bright red stems in winter, which contrast beautifully against a field of snow. Look for dwarf varieties, which are more manageable in small gardens.

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10. Mugo Pine

This rugged dwarf evergreen has a charming, squat shape and interesting “candles” in the spring. Mugo pines have a great architectural form and make excellent foundation plantings or accent plants.

$65 AT AMAZON

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11. Pieris

Pieris is also called lily of the valley shrub for the oodles of dangling pink or white bell-shaped flowers that appear in very early spring. It’s an eye-catching shrub that should be part of every garden for its charming appearance and welcome spring color.

$32 AT AMAZON

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12. Mahonia

This dramatic evergreen shrub has upright fern-like branches and sprays of yellow flowers in late fall to early winter. Plant it in mixed borders or as a foundation shrub.

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13. Caryopteris

Bees love caryopteris (particularly its brilliant blue flowers) in late summer to early fall, when many other garden plants are fading. This lesser-known shrub is a great addition to any garden.

$30 AT AMAZON

Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners

14. Arrowwood Viburnum

This hardy native shrub has tons of white flower clusters in early summer, followed by pretty blue fruit in the fall. Arrowwood viburnum tops out around 5 feet tall, so it won’t overwhelm most gardens.

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15. Barberry

Barberry is a compact shrub that maintains a nice, rounded or pillar shape with no little or no pruning. Look for newer varieties that have gorgeous bright orange, red or chartreuse foliage all season long.

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16. Weigela

Weigela has beautiful burgundy, green or variegated leaves with stunning tubular flowers in spring. Some types rebloom later in the summer, too, so you get more bang for your buck.

$29 AT AMAZON

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17. Lilac

This classic spring bloomer has the most amazing scent that works well in traditional or cottage gardens. New varieties of lilac also are more compact and less leggy, and some types rebloom in summer or fall.

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18. Spirea

This hardy shrub has tiny clusters of flowers that appear in late spring to early summer. Spirea comes in many different varieties, but look for dwarf types if you don’t have a lot of space. Reblooming types offer a second show later in the season.

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19. Deutzia

This low-growing shrub makes a beautiful groundcover or foundation planting. Deutzia also has lovely arching branches and a profusion of lovely pink or white flowers in spring.

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Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners

20.

Siberian Cypress

This compact evergreen hugs the ground and has feathery foliage that turns bronze in winter. It can take even the harshest climates (it is called “Siberian,” after all).

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MEET THE EXPERT:

Arricca Elin SanSone is a gardener with more than 15 years of experience. In addition to PureWow, she writes for Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce and many other national publications. She also trials new plant cultivars and field tests garden products to evaluate practicality and durability.

List of plants, shrubs and trees that deer do not eat - Ideas for the home

Deer love to gnaw on the tips of delicious plants.

When planning your landscaping in areas where deer live, consider choosing deer-resistant plants, trees, and shrubs. Garden fencing rarely works because deer can jump over fences of any height. Choosing plants that the animals find unpleasant gives the best chance that the deer will protect the garden and reduce the damage an unwanted visitation can cause.

Trees

Southern magnolia offers attractive foliage and flowers.

According to the North Carolina State University website, the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) grows to a height of approximately 90 feet and is resistant to deer. The glossy green leaves are up to 8 inches long and are rarely attacked by deer. In spring, the tree produces fragrant white flowers that can be up to 12 inches in diameter. Grows well in USDA zones 7-9.

In areas that suffer from cold winters, consider planting a common locust tree (Gleditsia triacanthos) that can withstand USDA zone 4 temperatures. According to the Oregon State University website, the tree is rarely visited by deer. The deciduous tree grows up to 60 feet in height. It produces 8-inch leaves that turn bright yellow during the fall months.

Shrubs

Oleander tolerates salt fog well.

Texas A&N The M University website lists oleander (Nerium oleander) as a deer resistant shrub. It grows up to 20 feet tall. This evergreen plant produces spear-shaped foliage. During the summer months, it produces flowers in shades of salmon, pink, red, lavender, and white. All parts of the oleander are poisonous, so care should be taken when planting the bush in areas frequented by children or pets. The bush grows best in bright sunlight. Hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10.

Cold hardy Russian olive shrub (Elaeagnus angustifolia) grows well in USDA zones 3-8. It is listed on the West Virginia University Help Desk website as a deer-resistant shrub. It grows up to 20 feet tall. The Russian olive is a low maintenance shrub with attractive silvery green foliage. The shrub has a tendency to invasive. It can be carefully trained to form a tree or grown as a hedge. It grows well in wet or dry soils and has the ability to fix nitrogen in nutrient-poor soil. Plant the Russian olive in full sun or partial shade.

Plants

Icelandic poppy is difficult to transplant, but germinates easily from seed.

Lamb ear (Stachys byzantina) grows as a perennial in USDA zones 4-7, but in zones 8 and above, the plant must be treated as an annual because it cannot survive the summer heat. Lamb's ear grows like a mat, making it an ideal groundcover. It produces 4-inch thick leaves that grow in a rosette shape. The leaves are silvery green and covered with soft white fur. There are various varieties that have larger or smaller foliage. In summer, it produces flower spikes in shades of pink or yellow. According to the University of Minnesota, he resists deer.

The Penn State Cooperative Extension website offers Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) to resist deer. Grows in USDA zones 4 to 10. The plant prefers full sunlight or partial shade. It self-seeds easily and is a good choice for a wildflower garden. Grows up to 2 feet in height. During the summer months, it produces yellow, orange, red, or white paper-like flowers with fern-like leaves. The plant tolerates drought well.

Deer Resistant Plants: Best Bambi Bestsellers For Growth 💡 Gardening | Ru.homeinteriorz.com

List of deer-resistant perennials
List of deer-resistant bushes
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List of deodorizing decorative grass

is indeed

List of deer-resistant perennials

In our quest to pluck Bambi, it is often not necessary to sacrifice our project plans ("tune", "yes", "sacrifice", "no"). That's a good thing too: after all, why would we even bother landscaping if the end result - in the name of the court's bumby proof - didn't please the eye? Luckily, you'll find this list of perennials filled with gorgeous plants that fulfill a variety of needs in your design plan.

Do you need a low growing plant with yellow flowers for your rock garden that is not usually eaten by Bambi? How about a long flowering perennial that looks great as a border plant? Or a tall perennial that you can grow in the back row of a gardener's planting? We list all of these and more in this list of perennials.
List of deer-resistant shrubs

Don't think that because they are usually bigger and stronger than perennials, shrubs are somehow less likely to appear on the Bambi menu. On the contrary, arborvitae, for example, is one of his favorite snacks. As with perennials, we must select and select our shrubs to minimize the chance of damage.

What type of bush are you looking for? In our article, we will discuss the following examples:
1. Shrubs grown for their foliage, for example, you hedge
2. Shrubs grown for their flowers that can serve as patterns in your landscape
3. A shrub that fits into #1 and #2
Refractory Lamp List

Fortunately, deer plants are well represented in the following two categories: spring-blooming bulbs and ornamental grasses.

Whether they ward off strong odors to the spring breeze and/or are toxic (or both), or simply don't have a good taste for this biggest of garden pests. Spring bulbs provide several options for protection against bambi. This is welcome news for you, who has everything he can do to fight off incursions against his spring bulbs made by rabbits and squirrels without worrying about another pest joining freedom for all.
List of deodorizing ornamental grasses

Considering that the Bambi is a grazing animal, it can be assumed that he would like to eat ornamental grasses, generally speaking. But it would be wrong, and we would be happy to be wrong, we might add!

Many ornamental grasses are herding plants. In this brief introduction, we will limit ourselves to listing just a few examples:
- Short type
- Intermediate height type
- High type
- An example of how people use as if it were an ornamental grass, but which is actually in the Lily family
List of deer protective coverings
Soils can be counted among the true workhorses of the landscape. As low maintenance vegetation, they can save you money in the long run. But they do more than just save money. Have you ever mowed grass on a steep slope? Such a complex task is exciting, time-consuming and potentially dangerous.
Learn more

Deer tolerant shrubs

10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping

Tip

Watch Now: How to Grow and Care for Russian Sage

Watch Now: Tips for Selecting the Right Shrubs

2022's Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs to Plant

1. Boxwood

2. Juniper

3. Forsythia

4. Butterfly Bush

5. Potentilla

6. Beautyberry

7. Inkberry Holly

8. Rose Of Sharon

9. Red Osier Dogwood

10. Mugo Pine

11. Pieris

12. Mahonia

13. Caryopteris

14. Arrowwood Viburnum

15. Barberry

16. Weigela

17. Lilac

18. Spirea

19. Deutzia

20.

MEET THE EXPERT:

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