11 Deer-Resistant Shrubs

Why Certain Shrubs Deter Deer

Shrubs that are thorny or particularly fragrant are typically not deer-pleasers. "Something that's very thorny is not going to be their first choice if there's something better," Coker says. "Things that are extremely fragrant are not their preference." They'll also forego something they've tasted before and haven't liked.

That knowledge gets passed along from a mother deer to her offspring as they graze together, adds Coker's colleague, wildlife specialist Bronson Strickland. And just like people, individual deer and deer families have different preferences. Part of your challenge, then, is determining what the deer browsing your neighborhood like and don't like or need in their diets.

That's been the experience of Rebecca Tegland, owner of Ederland Gardens Landscaping in Wisconsin's Northwoods. "A plant that the deer won't eat at one customer's house may get eaten right away at another customer's house, even if it's just down the road," she says. Bottom line: Finding your best options can take some experimentation.

Other Ways to Deter Deer From Eating Your Plants

Set another animal on the task: A family dog can help convince deer that your yard isn't the best place to linger. "Just as long as the dog is outside during the day for a while, the deer know it's there," Tegland says. "It really helps a lot."

Sprays, pellets, and sounds can also convince deer to move on—but only for a time. "You're going to constantly have to change that out because deer are really smart, and they get used to what it is that you're using," Coker says. That might happen in as little as 24 hours or as long as a few weeks, depending on how hungry are and even how thirsty the deer in your area are, since they'll also eat a plant for its moisture during a dry spell.

Planting a few deer-resistant shrubs, however, can't hurt. Coker, Strickland, and Tegland recommend giving these options a try.

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Alpine Currant "Green Mound"

Alpine Currant âGreen Moundâ — Â©fitopardo / GETTY IMAGES

Compact, deep green Ribes alpinum is Tegland's go-to foundation plant. "This shrub does really well in the shade," she says. "It'll also stay nice and compact with a little pruning. And I've almost never seen a deer eat it."

Zones: 2 to 7
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun to part shade; well-draining soil; tolerates some drought

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Arborvitae "American"

Thuja Occidentalis / Arborvitae âAmericanâ shrubs — Marina Denisenko / GETTY IMAGES

Unlike many arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis doesn't appeal to most deer. A natural for backdrops and borders, it grows in a trim, vertical shape you can use to create a dense hedgerow or living fence, Coker says.

Zones: 2 to 7
Size: 20 to 40 feet tall x 10 to 15 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun (with afternoon shade in hot climates and in summer) to part shade; well-draining soils with medium moisture (but will tolerate clay soil); avoid exposed, windy sites

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Barberry

A favorite with our experts, Berberis spp. has thorns that deer tend to avoid. "It's trickier for pruning because of the thorns, but there are some really great barberries out there in a lot of different colors, so you can use them in a lot of different spots," Tegland says.

Several types of barberry naturally remain small, Coker adds: "These dwarf varieties won't grow into towering, thorny giants that are difficult to prune."

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 2 to 10 feet tall x 3 to 9 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil

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Boxwood

Beautiful boxwood contains alkaloids that are distasteful to deer. The stuff of hedges and elaborate topiaries, Buxus also makes a great foundation shrub, Tegland says, because it stays green all year round, remains compact, and likes full shade. In her region, USDA Zone 4, keeping these broadleaf evergreens close to the house also helps protect them from winter sun and wind.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 2 to 20 feet tall x 2 to 20 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun (with dappled shade in hotter regions); evenly moist, well-draining soil

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Butterfly Bush

Ornamental, hardy, and self-reliant, Buddleja davidii brings the whole package to a landscape. Coker likes its range of bloom colors, including blues, purples, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and whites. And while humans and pollinators love this deciduous shrub's fragrance, which ranges from honey to lilac, it's a turn-off to deer. Of note: A prolific reseeder, butterfly bush is considered a noxious weed in some regions.

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 3 to 12 feet tall x 3 to 8 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun; moist, well-drained soil

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Crape Myrtle

What good Southerner wouldn't give a shout-out to Lagerstroemia indica, which graces parks, landscapes, and highways throughout the region with showy blooms from July to September? Coker's a fan, especially of dark-leaf cultivars like 'Delta Jazz' and 'Sequoyah.' Most varieties put on gorgeous fall color shows, too.

Zones: 6 to 9
Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 6 to 20 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun; medium-moisture, well-draining soil

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Russian Cypress

Also known as Siberian Arborvitae, ground-hugging Microbiota decussate is a go-to for Tegland on hillsides and among boulders. An evergreen, it has soft, fine-textured, olive-green foliage that turns mahogany brown in the fall. It's wind tolerant and does well in sun or shade. Better still: "I've never seen a deer eat one," she says.

Zones: 3 to 7
Size: 8 to 12 inches tall x 5 to 12 feet wide
Growing conditions: sun or partial shade; well-draining soil without standing water

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Spirea

Spiraea spp. comes in a range of colors and sizes, from big, old-fashioned Bridal Wreath (Spiraea prunifolia), with its cascading clusters of tiny white flowers, to tiny 'Elf,' at just 6 to 8 inches tall. Depending on the species, spirea makes an elegant focal point or tidy accent shrub.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 6 inches to 15 feet tall x 1.5 inches to 20 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil

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Stephanandra

Tegland likes Stephanandra incisa not only for its deer resistance but also for its white flowers, which bloom on coral stems among maple-like leaves on arching branches. In fall, leaves turn yellow and orange. It's a great choice in a rocky boulder area, she says, "and it'll really hold a hillside for you."

Zones: 3 to 8
Size:1 to 3 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

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Weeping White Pine

If you're looking for a conversation piece, this eye-catcher is your shrub, Tegland says. And while you can prune Pinus strobus 'pendula' to keep it low, it will also grow tall enough to stand out all winter long, even in deep snow. Even better, "while the deer will eat a balsam fir, they almost never eat a white pine."

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 15 to 20 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade; prefers sandy, loamy, well-draining soil

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Yucca

Evergreen, drought-tolerant yucca hangs tough all year round. While deer do savor its flowers, they avoid the sharp-tipped leaves—not a problem for most people, who value this superstar for its striking foliage, anyway.