Deer Resistant Shrubs & Trees

This is a quick list of the trees and shrubs we’ve found to be deer resistant in our area.  It certainly is no guarantee, but it’s good start.

Deer Resistant Shrubs & Trees

Andromeda – evergreen; shade tolerant; white flowers; red-leafed new growth.
Arborvitae-Green Giant-evergreen, full sun to partial shade. 50’ tall.
Boxwood – evergreen; shade tolerant; no flowers; slow growing “hedge” shrub.
Butterfly Bush—Full sun, purple flowers
Alberta Spruce – evergreen; full sun; slow growing; formal shrub.
Leucothoe – semi-evergreen; shade-loving; white flowers; low, mounding shrub.
Caryopteris—Blue Mist Shrub—blue flowers in late summer, early fall
Cotoneaster – semi-evergreen; pink flowers; low, sprawling shrub.
Yucca – evergreen; full sun; arid-tolerant; long sword-shaped leaves; white flowers.
Cryptomeria – evergreen; upright, narrow, and open form; good “corner” tree.
Barberry– available in green, gold, and crimson; sun to part shade; wet-tolerant.
Potentilla – full sun; long blooming yellow or orange summer flowers.
Juniper (not all) – evergreen; sun-loving; no flowers.
Gold Star Old Gold
Pfitzer Andorra
Sea Green Tams
Spruce – evergreen tree.
Blue
Bird Nest – low, mounding shrub.
Norway
Douglas Fir – evergreen;
Scotch Broom – Spring flowering, full sun, deciduous, no formal shape

Moderately Safe Shrubs & Trees

White Pine – long-needled, evergreen tree; sun to part shade.
Hemlock – short-needled, evergreen tree; shade tolerant
Mugo Pine – long-needled, low mounding shrub; full sun; arid-tolerant.
PJM Rhododendron – evergreen shrub; early lavender flowers; sun or shade; crimson fall color.
Mountain Laurel evergreen shrub; early July pink flowers; gets tall and sparse.
Japanese Cutleaf Maple – small deciduous red tree; often weeping form; sun to shade.
Forsythia – large, deciduous, arching shrub; sun or shade; outgrows deer browsing.
Japanese Convexleaf Holly – evergreen shrub; sun or shade; small, glossy leaves.
Helleri Holly – low mounding evergreen shrub; sun to part shade; ½” leaves.