What bushes do deer not eat

Bamboo is an evergreen deer resistant (or semi-evergreen) shrub provides beauty throughout the entire year. Between dark green foliage and stunning red berries, you’ll love surrounding your patio or deck with this shrub, but deer won’t be as impressed. It’s also important to know that while the leaves and stems will keep deer away, they’re also poisonous to pets. 

15.  Arborvitae (

Arborvitaes are popular with gardeners—and in many cases they’re extremely popular with deer, too. For those of us who want an easy to maintain arborvitae that grows well in any soil, our best bet is the Thuja variety. Also known as “Green Giant,” this fast-growing species is one of the quickest privacy screens available, and grows up to 3-4 feet every year! It’s also much less likely than its relatives to be destroyed by deer. 

16. Moonglow

A succulent that is dense and protective.

Deer Resistant Juniper Shrubs 

Again, many of the taller shrubs are also excellent for providing shade. 

Junipers are some of the most common deer resistant shrubs that also happen to be great at providing shade. Some can grow up to 100 feet tall! For some taller varieties to form into a shade providing hedgerow/privacy screen, consider the following (all of which have dense foliage and upright pyramidal forms):

17. Wichita Blue

A type of Juniper, these trees can reach heights upwards of 50 feet, resistant to deer, and would be great for blocking the sun!

18.

Beautiful and hardy, medium height and stout, can provide privacy as well as shade, while being low maintenance.

19. Skyrocket

Another Juniper, the Skyrocket is bush that Deer won’t feast upon that is thick and protects your yard from prying eyes.

20. Blue Point

Tall and evergreen Juniper that brings class and panache to a yard. Very dense foliage and forms a bit of a pyramid when mature.

21. Hetz Columnar

Beautiful, upward, conical shape supported by bright green leaves on tightly packed branches. Fitting accent for a well groomed yard that is  low maintenance relative to other plants in the genus. This is one plant Deer are sure to pass up!

24. Mountbatten

If you’re looking for a multi-functional shrub to add to your landscape, let us help! We have recommendations about flowering, shading, privacy, and more—and can recommend shrubs that will also be deer resistant. Contact us today for help! 

What shrubs are deer resistant?

Despite being toxic when consumed in large amounts, deer love every part of these shrubs (even their flowers), and white-tailed deer particularly enjoy them.

26. Yew shrubs (

Aside from plum yews (Cephalotaxus), these are a well-known favorite for deer. 

27. Wintercreeper (

According to Rutgers University, most Euonymus varieties are damaged by deer, but wintercreeper experiences the worst and is frequently severely damaged by Bambi.  

Since we just discussed most of the plants that deer don’t like to eat in the Northeast, deflection is another effective strategy to offer plants that Deer really do enjoy. let’s flip this question around to discuss which shrubs are not deer resistant. 

What do deer like to eat?

In some cases, landowners will want to support the biodiversity and ecological systems that surround them, and one of the best things to do in this case is provide rabid grazers with some tasty shrubs. Here are a few favorite foods for deer to take their attention off your favorite plants:

• Evergreen azalea (Rhododendron sp.): Despite being toxic when consumed in large amounts, deer love every part of these shrubs (even their flowers), and white-tailed deer particularly enjoy them [15].

• Yew shrubs (Taxus sp.): Aside from plum yews (Cephalotaxus), these are a well-known favorite for deer [16]. 

• Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei): According to Rutgers University, most Euonymus varieties are damaged by deer, but wintercreeper experiences the worst and is frequently severely damaged by Bambi [17].  

What flowers are deer resistant?

Beyond those mentioned above, there are a few more flowering shrubs that will provide you with stunning blooms and an intoxicating fragrance, but aren’t as well loved by deer.

28. Bottlebrush buckeye (

Native to the Southeast, we might be pushing hardiness with this zone 5-9 tolerant shrub. However, if you’re looking for an elegant white flower, it might be one to experiment with. 

29. Lilac (

For fragrance, there’s nearly nothing better than a lilac shrub. It has gorgeous purple flowers, makes for a great hedge, grows well in the Northeast, and can reach heights of up to 12 feet once mature. Plus, deer won’t nibble on them if other food is available. 

30. Witch hazel (

This large shrub has beautiful yellow flowers and a wonderful scent. As a young shrub, your witch hazel might need some additional protection, but once established will be resistant to many diseases and pests. 

Are dappled willow shrubs deer resistant?

Dappled willow shrubs are great to help to prevent erosion, have a beautiful weeping structure, and YES, they are known to be deer resistant.  They’re also fast growing, and can reach up to 20 feet in just a few years.

Are burning bush shrubs deer resistant?

We already mentioned wintercreeper, which is in the same Eunoymus family as burning bush. These are similar to wintercreeper and yew, so NO, they are generally not deer resistant.

Are flowering almond shrubs deer resistant?

Flowering almond shrubs are cold-tolerant, but their deer resistance is unknown. We’d recommend going with a shrub that has a better record of being resistant to hungry deer. 

Are mock orange shrubs deer resistant?

Mock orange shrubs have an intoxicating fragrance, plus, YES, they are deer resistant. They can also tolerate drought and make for a perfect privacy screen. 

Are camellia shrubs deer resistant?

YES, camellia shrub, also known as camellia bush (Camellia spp.), is deer resistant, and may actually prevent deer from coming close to some of your other plants.  

Are dogwood shrubs deer resistant?

We mentioned a Rutgers University study of deer resistance earlier, and they found that some varieties of dogwood are known to be seldom damaged by deer, so YES, there are some deer resistant types of dogwood shrubs. These include kousa dogwood, red osier dogwood, and red twigged dogwood. 

Other varieties of dogwood may become more damaged, however. 

Are spirea shrubs deer resistant?

Using the same university study, we can conclude that YES, many spirea shrubs will also not be the meal-of-choice for deer.  

Are barberry shrubs deer resistant?

YES, we mentioned barberry shrubs earlier. Thanks to their spiny leaves, there are many small and tall varieties that are deer resistant. 

Are boxwood shrubs deer resistant?

We can say that the versatility of boxwood shrubs and the fact that YES—they are deer resistant—make boxwood a great addition to any landscape. 

Are holly shrubs deer resistant?

YES, holly shrubs are deer resistant, thanks to the fact that their berries may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. 

Are ninebark shrubs deer resistant?

The fact that they have purple leaves and are easy to grow and maintain make ninebark shrubs a good garden choice. Here’s another reason: YES, all ninebark species are avoided by deer and other animals. 

Are rose of Sharon shrubs deer resistant?

Also known as Hibiscus syriacus, we can say that YES, rose of Sharon is generally avoided by deer—and provides seasonal color for humans.

Is sweet pea shrub deer resistant?

YES, it is generally thought that sweet pea shrub is deer resistant. However, it’s only well suited to USDA zones 9-10, meaning that the Northeast is too cold for this plant. 

Read more about climate zones in our climate zone guide. 

Is sweet pea shrub petite butterfly deer resistant?

YES, but this variety is also better suited to warmer climates. 

Is sweet shrub deer resistant?

Also known as Carolina allspice, we can say that YES, this shrub provides fragrance, summer blooms, and a shrub that is generally avoided by deer.

What evergreen shrubs are deer resistant?

This article has already mentioned several evergreen shrubs that will look great year-round, without appealing to hungry deer. This includes many juniper species, boxwood, pieris, heavenly bamboo, and holly. 

Deer proof your yard today!

We offer a variety of deer resistant plants and shrubs in our landscaping service and sell them at our Garden Center and Plant Nursery in Holbrook!

Table of Contents

Want to Learn More?

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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.

What does a deer eat

What a deer eats in nature depends on the habitat and species of the animal, however, without exception, all species are herbivores. The basis of the diet of the reindeer consists of lichen, twigs and herbs, and mushrooms are their favorite delicacy in the summer.

Content

• 1 Diet of reindeer in nature
  • 1. 1 Mosses
  • 1.2 Sedge and grasses
  • 1.3 Legumes
  • 1.4 Horsetail plants
• 2 shrubs and shrubs
• 3 mushrooms and moss
• 4 animal feeds
• 5 Features of migration nutrition deer

Northern density diet in nature

due to a long winter and cold climate of the northern deer are large part of the year to dig food out from under the snow. The legs of the mammal are quite strong, and wide hooves make it possible to dig a meter layer of snow without much effort. The only exception is snow with crust - 30 cm depth is already unbearable for most individuals. nine0003

A distinctive feature of reindeer is the ability to absorb lichens and reindeer moss well. They differ from other species in a relatively small proportion of twigs and bark in the diet. Under natural conditions, the reindeer feeds not only on lichens, but also:

• Cereal plants, sedge.
• Leguminous plants.
• Horsetail.
• Sprigs of various shrubs and shrubs.
• Mushrooms.
• Different types of moss. nine0043
• Feed of animal origin.
• Lichens.

Mosses

When answering the question of what reindeer eats, most people remember moss moss.

This is the most common and unusual food of northern animals. Yagel has a low protein content, which is rather poorly absorbed by the body. Yagel contains few salts and even fewer vitamins. This high-calorie feed gives animals only energy, but the body needs proteins, vitamins, amino acids, and salts. In winter, deer get them from subcutaneous fat reserves. And in the summer replenishes stocks, eating green fodder and mushrooms. nine0003

Of the more than fifty species of lichens that deer feed on, deer cladonia is the most valuable.

Reindeer cladonia is a valuable lichen and an important component of reindeer moss. Reindeer moss is a large group of various lichens and not a single species of moss. In addition to reindeer, reindeer love to eat both Alpine and forest cladonia. However, it is the deer subspecies that is most common in the tundra. The size of an adult plant reaches 20 - 25 cm. Cladonia contains usnic acid, a strong natural antibiotic and some vitamins. nine0003

During the winter months, reindeer moss makes up about 80% of the animal's daily diet. The rest is grass left under the snow, twigs, mushrooms, seaweed washed ashore.

Sedges and grasses

In the short northern summer, animals feed almost continuously, stocking up on valuable vitamins, minerals and salts. Different types of sedge, grasses and cotton grass occupy a significant part of the animal's diet, however, even with an abundance of green fodder, deer eat both reindeer moss and reindeer moss. nine0003

Mammals also dig up some species of sedge grasses from under the snow during the winter months, as the leaves remain green even under snow cover.

In the spring, the most valuable food for deer is vaginal cottongrass. Of all the cereal species of plants growing in the tundra, the most nutritious and favorite is arctophila. The vitamin-rich plant retains its juiciness until the onset of cold weather and the first snow. Other cereals commonly eaten by animals:

• Bluegrass.
• Reed grass.
• Arctagroist.
• Forbs.

The summer tundra season is rich in herbs and even with the condition that it accounts for no more than 15% of the daily diet, it is this food that plays the most important role in weight gain and subcutaneous fat. Various types of carnation plants, buckwheat crops, sorrel, willow-herb and mytnik, cloudberries, golden rod and many other types of herbs grow in the tundra zone. Juicy and rich in vitamins and minerals, herbs are also an essential feed for calves. nine0003

Legumes

Legumes rich in protein are a good summer food. Of all the species, reindeer or caribou, as they are also called, prefer mouse peas, kopeck, seaside rank and astragalus.

Horsetail plants

Early spring and late autumn caribou's daily menu includes variegated horsetail and reed horsetail, and marsh horsetail is a favorite treat throughout the year. It remains green for a long time and retains its juiciness and nutritional value. nine0003

Shrubs and shrubs

More than forty species of different willows, alders and tundra birches are eaten by caribou. Young leaves and twigs of shrubs sometimes make up more than half of the animal's diet, and even newborn calves willingly feast on fresh green leaves. The bark of shrubs, catkins and buds are less commonly eaten. Of all the types of willows, the most preferred for caribou are shaggy, gray, Lapland and iron willow.

The listed types of willows are low-growing and the leaves are available even in fairly dense willow thickets. Among birches, the most popular among animals are dwarf, shrub and skinny. Of the shrubby plants, caribou most often eat blueberries and lingonberries, they are very fond of cloudberries, blueberries, crowberries and rowan fruits. nine0003

Berries are an important part of the animal's diet in preparation for a long and cold winter.

Mushrooms and mosses

The favorite delicacy of all northern caribou is mushrooms, rich in essential proteins. Pigs, russula and serushki are eaten by animals from August to November. Sometimes mushrooms are dug up from under the snow. During the search for mushrooms, the herd can disperse for many kilometers.

Mosses form an important part of the diet of animals living on the island's scarce pastures and are eaten throughout the year. Populations living on rich continental pastures eat mosses quite rarely and more often - along with other types of food. nine0003

Feed of animal origin

Being herbivores, caribou also eat feed of animal origin, replenishing the reserves of salts, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Animals eat eggs and even chicks, gnaw on fallen deer or elk antlers, bones of dead animals. Lemmings or deer mice are especially popular.

In coastal areas during the summer, during low tides, deer can also eat various shellfish and lick salt from rocks. nine0003

Peculiarities of reindeer migratory feeding

A wide range of habitats and seasonal migrations, as well as a change in diet depending on the time of year, have led to the fact that reindeer are able to eat a variety of feeds in terms of their chemical composition and quality. No other species of deer can boast of this. In total, the menu of the reindeer includes more than 500 plant species, which is more than half of all represented in the Arctic.

Reindeer is the only species of the entire family that makes seasonal migrations. nine0003

At the beginning of summer, the animals migrate closer to the coast, where the grass sprouts earlier and less midges, and in the winter they return to the continental part, where deer moss abounds and snow cover is not so deep.

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