These deer resistant shrubs tend to be low on the menu for hoofed garden visitors .
Selecting plants that cervid do n’t see invoke is thebest strategy for minimise graze damagein your yard ( other than constructing a 10 - metrical unit - tall fencing around your property ) . The abide by cervid - resistant shrubs fit that account . Usually . recollect that if your hoof it visitant are hungry enough , they ’ll eat just about anything in your yard .
The industrial plant that deer hate the most have less palatable features such as fragrant flowers , aromatic leaves , prickly leaves , fuzzy or hirsute leaves , and sappy leaves and staunch .
Credit: Ed Gohlich
Arrowwood Viburnum
cervid do n’t care mostviburnums , but the one they are least fond of seems to be the arrowwood genus Viburnum ( Viburnum dentatum ) . This low - maintenance , multi - caulescent , aboriginal cervid - resistant bush put up flat white bloom bunch in the spring with an unpleasant odour ( at least to cervid ) , keep up by small , bluish - black fruit that squirrels andbirds favor . Its fall leaf semblance varies from thudding yellow to bright orange or red .
Growing Conditions : Full sun to part shade and intermediate soil
Size:6 to 10 feet tall and wide
Credit: Bill Stites
Zones:2 - 8
Bayberry
Denny Schrock
Although bayberry wax is used to scent wax light , thatfragrance is untempting to deer . This shrub ’s glossy green leaves are usually deciduous but are semi - evergreen in the southern share of its reach . Usebayberry(Myrica pensylvanica ) as a hedge flora , in a sundry bush mete , or a rain garden . If you require fruit to develop , include both male and distaff plants .
grow Conditions : Full sun and dry to wet dirt
Credit:Denny Schrock
Size:5 to 10 substructure tall and all-encompassing
Zones:3 - 7
Boxwood
Boxwood(Buxusspp . ) is an evergreen shrub with small ellipse leave-taking that have a distinct aroma ( some would say odor ) and bitter savor that cervid do not like . Depending on the selection — there are over 70 coinage and hundreds of variety — boxwood works wellas a foundation plant , hedge , and for topiaries .
acquire condition : Full sunlight to part spook and well - drained , evenly moist stain
Size:2 to 12 pes tall and wide ( depending on variety )
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Zones:5 - 9
Butterfly Bush
Carson Downing
As attractive as the butterfly bush ( Buddleiaspp . ) is to butterfly and other pollinators ( not to note gardeners ) , its strong , sweet scent repels deer . This deciduous shrub produces foresightful clustering of regal , pink , white , or yellow flowers throughout summer , flanked by attractive sweet gray - green leaves . A long - blooming improver to amixed border garden , varieties are available in a compass of sizes .
Growing condition : Full sun and medium grime
Credit:Carson Downing
Size:1 - 5 feet improbable and wide ( calculate on form )
Because it can spread by seed to unwanted areas , butterfly bush is considered invasivein some parts of the area . confirm whether it ’s safe to imbed where you live . Better yet , front for varieties that produce minimal — or no — executable seed including : ‘ Miss Molly ’ , ‘ Miss Ruby ’ , and Miss Violet ’ ; or ‘ Pink Micro - Chip ’ or ‘ Purple Haze ’ from the Lo and Behold Series .
Daphne
Doug Hetherington
Daphne ( Daphnespp . ) is anotherdeer - resistant shrubwith a scent that humanity study endearing but is off - putting for Bambi and his ilk . Plus , all parts of this evergreen or semi - evergreen shrub are toxic . Daphnebears its fragrant blooming in late winter or former saltation . Some excerption sport beautifully variegated leaves .
grow Conditions : Part shade and moist , well - drained soil
Credit:Doug Hetherington
Size:1 - 4 feet magniloquent and wide ( depending on salmagundi )
Drooping Leucothoe
droop leucothoe(Leucothoe fontanesia ) is a broadleaf evergreen bush known as doghobble . Like daphne , all parts of this plant are poisonous , so deer unremarkably give it wide berth . From spring to early summer , it produces attractive clusters of fragrant livid bell - shaped flowers . It is well suited to growing in a moistwoodland gardenor along the banking concern of a current . It also look great in front of or between taller bush in a mixed border .
Growing condition : Part shade to Sunday and coherent moisture
Size:2 to 6 feet improbable and 4 to 8 groundwork all-embracing
Credit:Denny Schrock
Zones:4 - 6
Forsythia
The promising yellow flowers that cover the spare stems of this deciduous deer - resistant shrub in other spring supply a pollyannaish showtime to the develop time of year . However , forsythiais not attractive to deer , who do n’t like the acid flavor of the bloom and leaves . While not particularly showy , the leaves are a pleasing immature backdrop for brightly coloredannual and perennial bloom . In fall , the leaves may turn burgundy .
Growing Condition : Full Lord’s Day to part shade and average dirt moisture
Size:3 to 8 feet marvelous and 4 to 12 feet wide-cut ( reckon on variety )
Credit: Bill Stites
Zones:4 to 9
Fragrant Sumac
Native to the eastern United States , fragrantsumac(Rhus aromatica ) spreads by radical suckers to create a dense brush . It attracts birds and butterflies so this deer - resistant shrub makes a good addition to wildlife ornaturalized planting . Its leaf and stems emit a strong scent when bruised , one that cervid find unsavory . It often has outstanding red , yellow , and orange fall foliage colour .
Growing Conditions : Full sun to part shade and average to dry soil
Size:2 to 4 feet tall with a spread of 10 metrical unit
Credit:Denny Schrock
Zones:3 - 9
Juniper
Marty Baldwin
There are more than 50 species and century of varieties ofjuniper(Juniperusspp . ) , none of which are much favour by cervid . They crop in size and form from low - growing , all-inclusive - spreadinggroundcoversto just deer - resistant shrubs and hulk trees . Depending on the natural selection , juniper shrubscan be grow as a ground cover , foundation planting , screen , or hedging . They are also very useful forplanting on a slopeto prevent erosion . A few of the more popular types are the common juniper ( Juniperus communis ) , shoring juniper ( J. conferta , shown here ) , creeping juniper(J. horizontalis ) , and Himalayan juniper ( J. order Squamata ) .
size of it : variable star , depending on eccentric
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Lilac
While humanslove lilacs(Syringaspp . ) for their clump of sweetly sweet-scented spring flowers , the strong scent seems to repel cervid . lilac are long - go deer - resistant shrubsthat are well - adapted to cool climates . peak color ranges from purple or pinkish to whiten . Use these bush as a specimen , an addition to a molding , or a loose hedgerow .
Growing weather : Full sun and moist , well - drain , impersonal to alkaline soil
Size:2 - 12 + feet ( depending on kind )
Credit: Jacob Fox
Zones:2 - 7
Weigela
Weigela(Weigela florida ) is an old - fashioned deciduous shrub thatblooms in springand early summertime . It has acquire new popularity with some great varieties that fun peak in shade of pink , red , yellow , and clean . Its arching stem turn are flanked with glossy , oblong folio that are typically average green . Varieties with Bourgogne , thick purple , atomic number 79 , chartreuse , or motley leaf are uncommitted , add up to its seasonal pursuit . It is seldom bothered by cervid or other pests , and once instal , it is drouth - tolerant .
produce consideration : Full sun to part shade and average territory moisture
Size:2 to 10 ft tall and across-the-board ( depending on variety )
Credit: Todd Dacquisto
Zones:4 - 9
More Deer-Resistant Plants
If you ’re attend fordeer - resistant perennialsto brace with your bush in a mixed border , Nepeta cataria and foxglove are two plants to add to your garden . Deer - resistant annuals , include calendula and angelonia , will add tons of colour to your backyard for the summer . Regionally , plant former - summertime blooming lupine in thePacific Northwestandfall - efflorescence chrysanthemumin the Southern United States Department of State . ticklish columbineloves the shade , and deer stay aside from its pretty flowers . design adeer - resistive gardento minimize the possibility of your flowers being bolt up byhungry , Energy - eyed friends .
Daphne odora . North Carolina State University Extension .
Leucothoe fontanesiana . North Carolina State University Extension .
