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I have lived in northeastern Ohio my whole life, and seeing deer is commonplace, even in densely populated suburban and urban areas.

My husband Jimmy and I like to walk through many of the beautiful public parks, and it isn’t uncommon to see deer grazing.

Quite often, we are able to walk within 5 feet of them, and they are not skittish or frightened by our presence.

It is as if they expect to see us!

Last week we saw a mother nursing her baby from about 15 feet away.

The mother saw us but didn’t mind us watching.

I love seeing them in nature.

Their big brown eyes are adorable, and they are beautiful… until they start devouring my landscape!

 

Realtree.com estimates that Ohio has 18.3 deer per square mile, the third highest in the country.

So Ohio gardeners especially know how deer can make their yard a nightly buffet.

There are many products designed to help keep deer away, however, they generally need to be reapplied regularly.

These are effective for use on a handful of plants but aren’t a realistic, long-term solution for an entire landscape.

One of the best strategies is to continue to add deer-resistant shrubs and plants to your landscape.

Although there isn’t any plant that is “deer-proof,” they certainly have favorite plants and will seek those out over those that they find distasteful.

Deer Resistant Shrubs & Trees

Below is a list of deer-resistant shrubs and trees.

If you live in an area with a high deer population, these plants won’t be their favorites and will make it easier to have a beautiful, enjoyable landscape.

Sometimes young curious deer will taste plants to see if they like them.

If you have a favorite plant that the deer nibble on, use a deer repellent consistently.

Also, see our list of deer-resistant annuals and perennials.

Deer Resistant Shrubs

Please click the plant name and image to see more pictures of each shrub

1. American Holly (Ilex opaca)

Deer are not fond of this pyramidal evergreen because of its sharp leaf edges.

American holly can start out as a moderately sized shrub but it can grow quite large tree (15-30 feet) in some climates.

They prefer a location that is in full sun to part shade with well-draining acid soil to grow well.

The flowers are inconspicuous but the red berries are striking and add a lot of interest through the winter months.

American holly is used to make wreaths, garlands and other Christmas decorations.

Check with your local garden center to see which varieties grow best in your zone.

The Meserve hollies (Ilex x meserveae) have grown successfully for my family in high deer populations.

These aren’t traditionally listed as deer resistant but from my experience they aren’t highly favored.

 

2. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Arrowwood Viburnum is a deciduous shrub (loses it’s leaves in winter) that is low maintenance and easy to grow for the home landscape.

It has showy, white flowers in late spring that develop into blue-black berries  in winter providing food for birds and lots of winter interest.

In addition, the flowers attract butterflies and pollinators.

The leaves turn shads of yellow, red, and, orange in the fall giving it year-round appeal.

Arrowwood Viburnum are also know for tolerating clay soils and growing in the vicinity of black walnut trees.

Plant them in full to part shade locations for best growth.

I would also note. out of personal experience, that many other Viburnums such as doublefile and Korean spice are deer resistant once established. 

They have grown successfully in my own landscapes to maturity in the presence of large deer populations.

3. Barberry (Berberis spp)

Barberry shrubs are known for their colorful foliage.

There are different varieties to select from, each with its unique shade of red, purple, yellow, or green. 

Deer will not eat barberry shrubs unless they are extrememly hungry because there are thorns on the stems.

These are the insurance policy to keep the deer away!

Barberry produce showy berries in the fall that attract birds.

They also have good fall colors to add interest to the landscape in the autumn.

Another benefit to growing barberry shrubs is that they are extremely tolerant of dry soil conditions, clay, and erosion.

They thrive in full sun to part shade locations.

4. Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica)

If you have ever burned a bayberry scented candle then you know what the leaves and berries of this shrub smell like.

It’s that scent and the waxy, tough texture of the Bayberry shrub that keep the deer away.

Bayberry are adaptable to most any environment.

They tolerate dry, wet, salt, and wind.

They produce blue-black berries that create winter interest and attract birds.

There will have to be at least one male plant in the area for berries to form.

They grow best in full sun but will tolerate some shade.

5. Bluebeard, Blue Spirea, Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris spp.)

Bluebeard shrubs have aromatic leaves and flowers which deer prefer not to eat.

The flowers are showy and a beautiful addition to the home landscape.

They attract butterflies and pollinators.

Bluebeards grow best in average soil that drains well but they will tolerate dry soils.

Avoid planting them in wet soils that don’t drain.

There are quite a few new varieties available that are improved and well-suited for the home landscape.

 

6. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp)

As the name suggests, the colorful flowers of these shrubs attract butterflies.

The primary flower colors are shades of pink, purple, and red.

There are many different varieties available.

Those that stay smaller are perfect a home’s foundation landscape, while taller varieties may need more room in the garden to grow.

Butterfly bushes bloom in the summer and grow best in full sun locations with soil that drains well.

7. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

Boxwood is an iconic landscape shrub.

It is used in formal landscape designs to create evergreen hedges, topiary, and define spaces.

Unfortunately, boxwoods have been plagued with disease and health problems that have made them challenging to grow.

Therefore, if you plan on adding these to your landscape, consider doing some research and talking to your local garden center to get the most disease resistant varieties for your area.

In addition, boxwood are susceptible to winter cold and wind damage.

This can create brown dead sections in the plant that are very unsightly.

So although the deer tend to avoid this plant, make sure this is the best choice for your landscape.

 

 

8. Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster is a great addition to a deer-resistant landscape because it combines easy care, year-round interest, and wildlife value.

Most varieties have dense, attractive foliage and a naturally graceful growth habit, with some forming low, spreading groundcovers and others developing into larger, arching shrubs.

Small flowers appear in spring or early summer, attracting bees and other pollinators, followed by colorful red or orange berries that can persist into fall and winter and provide food for birds.

Once established, Cotoneaster is generally drought tolerant and adaptable to a range of soils, making it a practical choice for slopes, borders, foundation plantings, and other areas where a tough, low-maintenance shrub is needed.

Its foliage texture and branching structure are typically unappealing to deer.

 

9. Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’) is a beautiful deer-resistant evergreen that adds year-round structure and color to the landscape.

Its naturally dense, compact growth forms a tidy pyramidal shape, so it requires very little pruning to maintain its attractive appearance.

The soft-looking, bright green needles provide welcome color throughout the winter, while its slow growth makes it an excellent choice for foundation plantings, entryways, mixed borders, and smaller gardens where a full-size evergreen would eventually become too large.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and, once established, is relatively easy to maintain.

Its classic shape also makes it especially attractive in formal landscapes and four-season garden designs.

Deer generally avoid spruce because of their aromatic, somewhat prickly needles.

10. Dwarf Fothergilla

Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) is a beautiful deer-resistant shrub that provides interest throughout much of the growing season.

In spring, it produces distinctive, fragrant white flowers that resemble small bottlebrushes and attract early-season pollinators.

Its blue-green summer foliage creates an attractive backdrop for other plants before putting on an impressive fall display in shades of yellow, orange, red, and burgundy.

With its naturally compact, rounded growth habit, Dwarf Fothergilla works beautifully in foundation plantings, mixed shrub borders, woodland gardens, and smaller landscapes.

It grows well in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

Once established, it requires relatively little maintenance, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a colorful shrub that deer tend to leave alone.

11. Heath (Erica spp.)

Heath (Erica spp.) is a deer-resistant evergreen shrub that brings beautiful color and texture to the landscape, particularly when many other plants are dormant.

Depending on the variety, its masses of tiny, bell-shaped flowers can appear from winter through spring in shades of pink, purple, white, and rose, providing an important early source of nectar for pollinators.

Its fine, needle-like evergreen foliage forms a low, compact mound, making Heath an excellent choice for rock gardens, borders, slopes, pathways, and mass plantings.

It performs best in sunny locations with acidic, well-drained soil and is relatively low maintenance once established. Its combination of delicate blooms, year-round foliage, and a texture that deer generally find unappealing makes Heath a lovely choice for adding four-season interest to a deer-resistant landscape.

12. Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a deer-resistant, low-growing evergreen shrub valued for its colorful flowers, fine-textured foliage, and year-round interest.

Depending on the variety, masses of tiny flowers appear from late summer into fall in shades of pink, purple, lavender, red, or white, providing welcome color as many other garden plants begin to fade.

Its small evergreen leaves form neat, spreading mounds and may take on attractive bronze, gold, or reddish tones during the colder months.

Heather is especially well suited to rock gardens, slopes, borders, pathways, and mass plantings, where several plants can create a beautiful carpet of color and texture.

It grows best in full sun and acidic, well-drained soil and requires relatively little care once established.

Its fine foliage is generally unappealing to deer, making Heather an attractive choice for adding late-season color and four-season texture to a deer-resistant garden.
 

13. Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are versatile deer-resistant evergreens that provide year-round color, texture, and structure in the landscape.

With varieties ranging from low, spreading groundcovers to upright shrubs and small trees, there is a juniper suitable for almost every garden setting.

Their dense, aromatic, needle-like or scale-like foliage—available in shades of green, blue-green, silver, and gold—is generally unappealing to deer.

Junipers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil and, once established, are exceptionally drought tolerant and low maintenance.

They are excellent choices for slopes, foundation plantings, borders, privacy screens, and difficult areas with dry or poor soil.

Many varieties also produce attractive blue, berry-like cones that provide additional seasonal interest and food for birds.

Their combination of toughness, year-round beauty, and wide variety of shapes and sizes makes junipers especially useful in a deer-resistant landscape.

14. Lilac

Lilacs (Syringa spp.) are beloved deer-resistant flowering shrubs known for their spectacular spring blooms and unmistakably sweet fragrance.

Their clusters of flowers appear in shades of purple, lavender, pink, white, and blue, creating a beautiful display while also attracting butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.

Lilacs are available in a range of sizes, from compact varieties suitable for smaller landscapes to large shrubs that make wonderful informal hedges, screens, or specimen plants.

They perform best in full sun and well-drained soil, and established plants are generally hardy and relatively easy to maintain.

Their attractive green foliage provides a pleasant backdrop throughout the growing season, while their fragrant blossoms make wonderful cut flowers to bring indoors.

With their classic beauty, longevity, and tendency to be passed over by browsing deer, lilacs are an excellent choice for adding spring color and fragrance to a deer-resistant landscape.

15. Andromeda (Pieris japonica)

Andromeda, View on Amazon

Andromeda (Pieris japonica), also known as Japanese Pieris or Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub, is a beautiful deer-resistant evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest in the landscape.

In early spring, it produces graceful clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers in shades of white or pink that resemble lily-of-the-valley blooms and provide an early source of nectar for pollinators.

New foliage often emerges in striking shades of bronze, copper, or red before maturing to glossy deep green, giving the shrub another season of color even after flowering has finished.

Andromeda grows especially well in part shade and acidic, well-drained soil, making it a wonderful companion for rhododendrons, azaleas, and other acid-loving plants.

Its elegant form works beautifully in foundation plantings, woodland gardens, mixed borders, and as a specimen shrub.

Because its foliage contains compounds that make it unpalatable to deer, Andromeda is an especially dependable choice for adding evergreen structure, spring flowers, and colorful new growth to a deer-resistant landscape.

16. P.J.M. Rhododendron

PJM Rhododendron, View on Amazon

PJM Rhododendron (Rhododendron PJM Group) is a compact deer-resistant evergreen shrub prized for its beautiful early-spring flowers and year-round foliage.

Abundant clusters of lavender-pink to purple blooms cover the plant in spring, creating a colorful display and providing an early-season food source for pollinators.

Its small, leathery, dark green leaves often develop attractive bronze or purplish tones during the colder months, giving the shrub additional winter interest.

PJM Rhododendrons are also known for their excellent cold hardiness and generally tidy, rounded growth habit.

They grow best in partial shade with acidic, well-drained soil and work beautifully in foundation plantings, woodland gardens, mixed borders, or as specimen shrubs.

Their combination of showy spring flowers, evergreen foliage, cold tolerance, and foliage that deer tend to avoid makes PJM Rhododendron an excellent choice for a four-season, deer-resistant landscape.

17. Potentilla

Potentilla, View on Amazon

Potentilla, also known as Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa, formerly Potentilla fruticosa), is a hardy deer-resistant flowering shrub valued for its exceptionally long bloom season and easy-care nature.

Its cheerful, five-petaled flowers typically begin appearing in late spring or early summer and can continue well into fall, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

Yellow is the classic flower color, but cultivars are also available in shades of white, pink, orange, and cream.

Potentilla has a compact, mounded habit that works beautifully in borders, foundation plantings, low hedges, and mass plantings.

It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil and, once established, is cold hardy, drought tolerant, and relatively low maintenance.

Its fine-textured foliage and long-lasting flowers provide months of garden interest, while deer generally find the plant unappealing.

For gardeners looking for a tough shrub that delivers reliable color with minimal care, Potentilla is an excellent addition to a deer-resistant landscape.

18. Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a deer-resistant native shrub that offers beautiful multi-season interest while also providing valuable food and habitat for wildlife.

In spring, clusters of small white to pale pink flowers appear among the glossy green foliage, attracting pollinators to the garden.

These are followed by bright red berries that ripen in late summer and often persist well into winter, providing an important food source for birds.

In fall, the foliage puts on an especially impressive display, turning brilliant shades of red, orange, and burgundy. Red Chokeberry is adaptable to a range of growing conditions and can tolerate both moist and periodically dry soils once established, making it useful for native gardens, rain gardens, woodland edges, naturalized areas, and mixed shrub borders.

Its combination of spring flowers, vibrant fall foliage, winter berries, and wildlife value makes Red Chokeberry an excellent choice for adding four-season beauty to a deer-resistant landscape.

19. Rugosa Rose

Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa) is a tough, relatively deer-resistant flowering shrub valued for its fragrant blooms, attractive foliage, and colorful fall fruit.

Beginning in late spring to early summer, it produces wonderfully fragrant, single or semi-double flowers in shades of pink, rose, or white, often continuing to bloom intermittently throughout the summer.

The flowers attract pollinators and are followed by large, bright orange-red rose hips that add fall and winter interest while providing food for birds and other wildlife.

Its distinctive, deeply textured green foliage often develops attractive yellow tones in fall.

Rugosa Rose is exceptionally hardy and tolerant of drought, salt, wind, and poor soils once established, making it useful for difficult sites, hedges, screens, and coastal landscapes.

Its dense, thorny stems also help discourage browsing deer.

However, because Rosa rugosa can spread vigorously and is considered invasive in some parts of North America, gardeners should check local recommendations before planting it and consider a noninvasive alternative where appropriate.

20. Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

Virginia Sweetspire, View on Amazon

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a beautiful deer-resistant native shrub that offers interest through several seasons and is especially valuable for pollinators.

In late spring to early summer, it produces graceful, arching clusters of fragrant white flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Its glossy green foliage remains attractive throughout summer before turning brilliant shades of red, orange, burgundy, and purple in fall, often holding its color well into the season.

Virginia Sweetspire has a naturally graceful, mounding habit and works beautifully in mixed borders, woodland gardens, rain gardens, along streams, and in mass plantings.

It is particularly useful because it tolerates both moist soils and periods of dryness once established, and it can grow in full sun to partial shade.

With its fragrant flowers, exceptional fall color, adaptability, and wildlife value, Virginia Sweetspire is an excellent choice for adding easy-care, multi-season beauty to a deer-resistant landscape.

21. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

22. Cutleaf Stephanandra (Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa’)

Cutleaf Stephanandra (Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa’) is a low-growing, deer-resistant deciduous shrub valued for its graceful, spreading habit and finely textured foliage.

Its arching branches form a dense mound of deeply cut, bright green leaves, creating a soft, almost fern-like appearance in the landscape.

Small clusters of creamy white flowers appear in late spring to early summer, followed by foliage that often develops attractive shades of yellow, orange, and bronze in fall.

Because of its spreading growth habit, Cutleaf Stephanandra is especially useful as a groundcover, for covering slopes and banks, along woodland edges, or at the front of mixed shrub borders, where its branches can help soften hard landscape edges.

It grows in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a variety of soils, although it performs best with consistent moisture and good drainage.

Its combination of delicate texture, graceful form, fall color, and relatively low maintenance makes Cutleaf Stephanandra an attractive choice for a deer-resistant landscape, particularly in areas where a traditional groundcover isn’t practical.

23. Daphne

Daphne is a beautiful deer-resistant shrub prized for its exceptionally fragrant flowers and attractive foliage.

Depending on the variety, clusters of small, tubular flowers appear from late winter through spring in shades of white, pink, or purple, filling the garden with a wonderful fragrance at a time when relatively few other shrubs are blooming.

Many varieties have glossy evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, providing additional color and texture throughout the year.

Daphne grows best in partial shade with rich, well-drained soil and works beautifully near entryways, patios, pathways, woodland gardens, and mixed borders, where its fragrance can be fully appreciated.

Once established, it generally requires little pruning and is best left undisturbed, as Daphne can be sensitive to transplanting.

Its combination of early flowers, wonderful fragrance, attractive foliage, and resistance to browsing deer makes Daphne a lovely addition to a deer-resistant landscape.

24. Drooping Leucothoe

Drooping Leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana) is a graceful deer-resistant evergreen shrub valued for its arching branches, attractive foliage, and ability to thrive in shady areas of the landscape.

In spring, clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers hang beneath the branches, resembling tiny lily-of-the-valley blooms and attracting early-season pollinators.

Its glossy green leaves provide year-round texture, while new growth may emerge with bronze or reddish tones and often develops beautiful burgundy, purple, or bronze coloring in fall and winter.

Drooping Leucothoe grows best in partial to full shade and moist, acidic, well-drained soil, making it particularly useful in woodland gardens, shady borders, foundation plantings, and alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, and other acid-loving plants.

Its naturally arching form also works beautifully on slopes and beneath taller trees and shrubs. With its evergreen foliage, delicate spring flowers, colorful winter leaves, and tendency to be avoided by deer,

Drooping Leucothoe is an excellent choice for adding four-season interest to a deer-resistant shade garden.

25. Mugo Pine

Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo) is a hardy deer-resistant evergreen shrub valued for its dense foliage, rugged appearance, and year-round color.

Its compact, spreading growth habit and rich green needles provide structure and texture throughout every season, making it especially useful in landscapes that need winter interest. Depending on the variety,

Mugo Pine can remain a small, tidy mound or develop into a much broader shrub, so choosing a cultivar that fits the available space is important.

It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and, once established, is tolerant of cold temperatures, wind, drought, and relatively poor soils.

Mugo Pine works beautifully in foundation plantings, rock gardens, slopes, mixed borders, and evergreen gardens, and dwarf varieties are particularly useful in smaller landscapes.

Its aromatic, somewhat prickly needles are generally unappealing to deer, while its low-maintenance nature makes it an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a tough, four-season evergreen for a deer-resistant landscape.

26. Oregon Grape Holly

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium) is a distinctive deer-resistant evergreen shrub that provides color, texture, and wildlife value throughout the year.

Despite its common name, it is neither a grape nor a true holly, but its glossy, spiny-edged leaves resemble holly foliage and help discourage browsing deer.

In spring, clusters of cheerful bright yellow flowers appear above the foliage, attracting bees and other early-season pollinators.

These are followed by attractive blue-purple berries that resemble small grapes and provide food for birds and other wildlife.

The deep green foliage often develops beautiful bronze, burgundy, or purplish tones in fall and winter, adding welcome color to the cold-season landscape.

Oregon Grape Holly grows well in partial shade and is adaptable once established, making it useful in woodland gardens, foundation plantings, mixed borders, naturalized areas, and native plant gardens.

Its combination of evergreen foliage, colorful flowers and berries, pollinator value, and resistance to deer makes Oregon Grape Holly an excellent choice for creating a four-season, deer-resistant landscape.

27. Bottlebrush Buckeye

Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is a striking deer-resistant native shrub prized for its dramatic summer flowers, handsome foliage, and ability to thrive in partially shaded landscapes.

In early to midsummer, long, upright clusters of white flowers with delicate pinkish-red stamens rise above the foliage, creating the distinctive bottlebrush appearance that gives the shrub its name.

The blooms attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, making Bottlebrush Buckeye an especially valuable addition to a wildlife-friendly garden.

Its large, palmate green leaves create a lush, almost tropical appearance during summer before often turning attractive shades of yellow to golden yellow in fall.

This substantial, spreading shrub grows well in partial shade to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil, although established plants can tolerate some dryness.

It is particularly effective in woodland gardens, naturalized areas, shrub borders, and as a large specimen or mass planting.

With its impressive flowers, bold foliage, native wildlife value, and tendency to be avoided by deer, Bottlebrush Buckeye is an excellent choice for adding texture and summer interest to a deer-resistant landscape.

 

 

Deer Resistant Trees

1. Betty Magnolia

Betty Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Betty’) is a beautiful deer-resistant flowering shrub or small tree prized for its spectacular spring blooms and manageable size.

Large, fragrant, tulip-shaped flowers emerge in mid to late spring, typically featuring rich reddish-purple or deep pink petals on the outside with a lighter pink or creamy interior.

Because it blooms somewhat later than many early magnolias, its flowers are less likely to be damaged by a late spring frost.

After flowering, attractive dark green foliage provides a lush presence throughout the summer.

Betty Magnolia grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil and makes a striking specimen plant in foundation plantings, mixed borders, and smaller landscapes.

Its naturally rounded habit and relatively compact mature size make it particularly useful where a traditional large magnolia would overwhelm the space.

With its dramatic spring flowers, attractive form, and tendency to be avoided by deer, Betty Magnolia is an excellent choice for adding color and elegance to a deer-resistant landscape.

2. Chinese Elm

Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia), also known as Lacebark Elm, is a deer-resistant deciduous to semi-evergreen tree valued for its graceful form, adaptability, and beautiful ornamental bark.

As the tree matures, its bark exfoliates in irregular patches to reveal an attractive mosaic of gray, brown, tan, orange, and green, providing wonderful interest even after the leaves have fallen.

Its small, glossy green leaves create a fine-textured canopy during the growing season and may turn shades of yellow, orange, red, or purple in fall, depending on the climate and growing conditions.

Chinese Elm grows best in full sun and is remarkably adaptable, tolerating heat, drought, urban conditions, and a variety of soil types once established.

Its strong yet graceful branching habit makes it an attractive choice as a specimen, shade, lawn, or street tree, particularly where a durable, relatively low-maintenance tree is needed.

Although no tree is completely deer-proof, Chinese Elm is generally considered resistant to browsing, making it a practical choice for adding shade, distinctive bark, and four-season character to a deer-resistant landscape.

3. Colorado Blue Spruce

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is a striking deer-resistant evergreen tree prized for its distinctive blue-green to silvery-blue needles, classic pyramidal shape, and year-round beauty.

Its stiff, sharply pointed needles and dense branching create excellent structure in the landscape while also making the tree generally unappealing to browsing deer.

Colorado Blue Spruce grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and is especially well suited to regions with cold winters and relatively dry climates.

Once established, it has good tolerance for cold, wind, and periods of drought, although it performs best where there is good air circulation and adequate space for its mature size.

Its bold color makes it a beautiful specimen tree, windbreak, privacy screen, or backdrop for mixed borders, and its evergreen foliage provides valuable color and shelter for birds throughout winter.

With its dramatic blue foliage, strong architectural form, and resistance to deer, Colorado Blue Spruce can be an impressive addition to a four-season, deer-resistant landscape.

4. Flowering Dogwood

Dogwood trees (Cornus spp.) are beautiful deer-resistant ornamental trees valued for their spring flowers, graceful branching, colorful fall foliage, and year-round interest.

Depending on the species and variety, their showy spring display may feature white, pink, or reddish-pink bracts surrounding small flowers, creating one of the most recognizable sights of the spring garden.

Many dogwoods also produce colorful berries in late summer or fall that provide food for birds and other wildlife, while their green leaves often turn brilliant shades of red, burgundy, orange, or purple in autumn.

Their attractive branching structure and, in some species, distinctive bark add interest even during winter.

Dogwoods are especially lovely as specimen trees, along woodland edges, in mixed borders, or beneath taller trees, with growing requirements varying by species.

While dogwoods are often considered relatively resistant to deer, young trees and tender new growth may still be browsed when deer pressure is high, so newly planted trees may benefit from protection.

With their spring beauty, fall color, wildlife value, and manageable size, dogwoods are a wonderful addition to a deer-resistant, four-season landscape.

5. Kousa Dogwood

Kousa Dogwood Tree in bloom

Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa), also known as Chinese Dogwood, is a beautiful deer-resistant ornamental tree that provides interest through several seasons.

In late spring to early summer, after many other flowering trees have finished blooming, it produces an abundant display of creamy white, star-shaped bracts that may gradually develop soft pink tones as they age.

These are followed later in the season by distinctive round, reddish-pink fruits that resemble small raspberries and are attractive to birds and other wildlife.

Its dark green foliage provides a lush canopy during summer before turning striking shades of red, burgundy, and purple in fall.

As the tree matures, its attractive exfoliating bark develops a mottled pattern of tan, gray, and brown, adding valuable winter interest.

Kousa Dogwood grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil and makes an excellent specimen tree for lawns, woodland edges, mixed borders, and smaller landscapes.

It is also generally more resistant to dogwood anthracnose than the native flowering dogwood. With its late-season flowers, colorful fruit and foliage, distinctive bark, and tendency to be avoided by deer, Kousa Dogwood is an excellent choice for adding four-season beauty to a deer-resistant landscape.

6. European Hornbeam

European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a handsome deer-resistant deciduous tree valued for its dense foliage, attractive form, and versatility in the landscape.

Its deeply veined, dark green leaves create a lush canopy throughout the growing season before turning shades of yellow to golden yellow in fall, and some of the dried leaves may remain on the branches into winter.

European Hornbeam responds exceptionally well to pruning, making it a popular choice for formal hedges, privacy screens, pleached plantings, and shaped specimens, although it is equally attractive when allowed to develop its natural rounded form.

It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions once established.

Its dense branching also provides valuable shelter and nesting habitat for birds.

With its elegant appearance, excellent tolerance of pruning, year-round structure, and tendency to be avoided by browsing deer, European Hornbeam is a versatile choice for adding structure and privacy to a deer-resistant landscape.

7. Honeylocust

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) is a graceful deer-resistant deciduous tree valued for its light, airy canopy, delicate foliage, and adaptability to challenging growing conditions.

Its small leaflets create a fine-textured appearance and provide filtered shade, allowing enough sunlight to reach the ground for grass and many garden plants to grow beneath the canopy.

In fall, the foliage turns an attractive golden yellow before dropping, adding a bright splash of seasonal color.

Honeylocust grows best in full sun and, once established, is highly adaptable, tolerating heat, drought, compacted soil, road salt, and urban conditions.

For home landscapes, thornless and seedless cultivars are generally preferred because the native species can develop large thorns and long seed pods.

Its open branching habit makes Honeylocust an excellent choice as a shade tree, lawn tree, or street tree, particularly where dense shade is undesirable.

Although hungry deer may browse young growth, established Honeylocust trees are generally less appealing to deer than many other landscape plants.

With its graceful form, beautiful fall color, filtered shade, and impressive durability, Honeylocust is a versatile choice for a deer-resistant landscape.

8. Hawthorn

Hawthorn trees (Crataegus spp.) are hardy deer-resistant ornamental trees that provide beautiful flowers, colorful fruit, and valuable wildlife benefits throughout the seasons.

In spring, their branches are covered with clusters of small white, pink, or sometimes red flowers, creating an eye-catching display while providing nectar for bees and other pollinators.

These blooms are followed by small red, orange, or yellow berry-like fruits called haws, which often persist into fall or winter and provide an important food source for birds.

Many varieties also develop attractive yellow, orange, red, or burgundy fall foliage, while their branching structure adds winter character after the leaves have dropped.

Hawthorns generally grow best in full sun and well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of conditions once established.

Their relatively compact size makes them useful as specimen trees, in mixed borders, wildlife gardens, and smaller landscapes.

Many species have thorny branches that help discourage browsing deer, although thornless cultivars are also available for areas near walkways and patios.

With their spring flowers, colorful fruit, wildlife value, and multi-season beauty, hawthorns are an excellent addition to a deer-resistant landscape.

9. Katsura

Katsura trees (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) are graceful deer-resistant deciduous trees prized for their attractive heart-shaped foliage, elegant branching, and beautiful seasonal color.

New leaves often emerge with bronze or reddish-purple tones in spring before maturing to soft blue-green or green during summer.

In fall, the foliage puts on a lovely display of yellow, apricot, orange, and sometimes pinkish-red, and fallen leaves are famous for producing a sweet fragrance often compared to caramel, brown sugar, or cotton candy.

Katsura trees develop an attractive rounded to pyramidal form and provide pleasant, filtered shade as they mature, making them beautiful specimen or shade trees for lawns, large garden beds, and mixed landscapes.

They grow best in full sun to partial shade and prefer moist, well-drained soil, particularly when young, as they do not tolerate prolonged drought especially well.

Although no tree is completely deer-proof, Katsura is generally considered resistant to browsing.

With its distinctive foliage, exceptional fall color, unusual autumn fragrance, and graceful form, the Katsura tree makes a memorable addition to a deer-resistant, four-season landscape.

10. Leonard Messel Magnolia

Leonard Messel Magnolia (Magnolia × loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’) is a beautiful deer-resistant flowering tree or large shrub prized for its abundant early-spring blooms and graceful, compact form.

Before the foliage fully emerges, its branches become covered with fragrant, star-shaped flowers featuring soft pink petals on the outside and pale pink to white interiors, creating a delicate two-toned display.

The flower buds are somewhat more tolerant of spring frost than those of some other magnolias, making ‘Leonard Messel’ a dependable choice for gardens in colder climates.

After flowering, medium-green foliage fills out the rounded canopy and provides an attractive backdrop throughout the summer.

It grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil and works beautifully as a specimen tree, in mixed borders, near patios, or in smaller landscapes where its spring flowers can be fully appreciated.

Although no plant is completely deer-proof, magnolias are generally less appealing to browsing deer.

With its spectacular flowers, manageable size, cold hardiness, and elegant branching habit, Leonard Messel Magnolia is an excellent choice for adding early-season beauty to a deer-resistant landscape.

11. Paper Birch

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) is a beautiful deer-resistant native tree best known for its striking white bark and graceful, natural form.

As the tree matures, its distinctive bark becomes bright white and peels away in thin, papery layers, creating exceptional year-round interest, particularly during winter when the trunk stands out against the landscape.

Its fresh green leaves create a light, airy canopy during summer before turning a lovely golden yellow in fall, while dangling catkins add subtle spring interest.

Paper Birch grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil, making it especially well suited to northern climates.

It can be grown as a single-trunk tree or in attractive multi-stemmed clumps and works beautifully as a specimen tree, along woodland edges, or in naturalized landscapes.

Paper Birch also provides food and habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Although deer may occasionally browse young growth, established trees are generally less appealing than many other landscape plants.

With its brilliant white bark, delicate foliage, fall color, and native wildlife value, Paper Birch is an excellent choice for adding four-season beauty to a deer-resistant landscape.

12. Pawpaw

Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) are distinctive deer-resistant native trees valued for their lush foliage, unusual flowers, edible fruit, and importance to native wildlife.

Their large, tropical-looking green leaves create a dense, attractive canopy during summer before turning a beautiful golden yellow in fall.

In spring, unusual deep burgundy to purplish-brown flowers appear along the branches, followed in late summer to early fall by large green fruits with soft, custard-like flesh and a sweet flavor often described as a blend of banana, mango, and vanilla.

Pawpaws are also the primary host plant for the beautiful zebra swallowtail butterfly, making them an especially valuable addition to a wildlife-friendly landscape.

They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate partial shade, although mature trees generally produce the most fruit with more sunlight.

For good fruit production, it is usually best to plant two genetically different pawpaw trees for cross-pollination.

Deer generally avoid the leaves and twigs, although they may eat fallen fruit.

With their tropical appearance, native status, edible harvest, fall color, and wildlife benefits, pawpaw trees are a fascinating addition to a deer-resistant landscape.

13. Pine

Pine trees (Pinus spp.) are versatile deer-resistant evergreens valued for their year-round color, distinctive needle-like foliage, and ability to provide structure and privacy in the landscape.

With species and cultivars ranging from compact, shrubby forms to majestic shade and screening trees, pines can be used as specimen trees, windbreaks, privacy screens, woodland plantings, and evergreen backdrops.

Their long, aromatic needles and resinous growth are generally unappealing to deer, although tender new growth on young trees may occasionally be browsed when food is scarce.

Many pines thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and once established, numerous species are tolerant of drought, cold, wind, and relatively poor soils.

Their cones add natural texture and seasonal interest, while dense branches provide valuable shelter and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife, particularly during winter.

Because mature size, soil preferences, and climate tolerance vary considerably among species, choosing a pine suited to your growing conditions is important.

With their rugged beauty, year-round greenery, wildlife benefits, and generally good resistance to deer, pine trees are an excellent foundation for a four-season, deer-resistant landscape.

14. River Birch

River Birch (Betula nigra) is a beautiful deer-resistant native tree prized for its distinctive peeling bark, graceful branching, and ability to thrive in moist areas of the landscape.

Young trunks have attractive salmon, cinnamon, cream, and tan bark that curls and exfoliates in papery layers, creating wonderful texture and year-round interest.

Its glossy green leaves form a light, airy canopy during summer before turning yellow in fall, while dangling catkins provide additional seasonal interest.

River Birch grows best in full sun to partial shade and is particularly well suited to moist or occasionally wet soils, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, low-lying areas, along ponds and streams, or as a specimen shade tree.

It is often grown as a multi-trunk tree, which showcases its ornamental bark especially well.

River Birch is also more tolerant of heat and wetter soils than many other birch species.

Although deer may occasionally browse tender growth on young trees, established River Birches are generally less attractive to them.

With its beautiful bark, native wildlife value, adaptability, and graceful form, River Birch is an excellent choice for adding four-season interest to a deer-resistant landscape.

15. Russian Olive

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a tough, deer-resistant deciduous tree or large shrub recognized for its narrow, silvery-gray foliage, fragrant flowers, and ability to tolerate difficult growing conditions.

Small yellow, sweetly fragrant flowers appear in late spring to early summer, followed by olive-shaped silvery fruits. Its pale foliage provides an attractive contrast to darker green plants, and the tree is exceptionally tolerant of drought, poor soils, wind, cold, and salty or alkaline conditions once established.

However, Russian Olive spreads readily by seed and has become highly invasive in many parts of the United States, particularly in the West and Great Plains, where it can displace native vegetation and alter valuable riparian habitats.

For that reason, it is prohibited or discouraged in a number of states and is generally not recommended for new landscape plantings, despite its resistance to deer.

Gardeners who like its soft, silvery appearance are better served by choosing a noninvasive, regionally appropriate alternative that provides similar color and texture without the ecological risks.

16. Serbian Spruce

Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika) is an elegant deer-resistant evergreen tree prized for its narrow, graceful form and distinctive two-toned foliage. Its slender needles are glossy dark green on top with silvery-white undersides, creating a beautiful shimmering effect as the branches move in the breeze.

The tree naturally develops a tall, narrow pyramidal shape with gracefully arching branches and slightly upturned tips, making it especially useful where gardeners want the beauty of a large evergreen without an exceptionally wide footprint.

Serbian Spruce grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil and is generally tolerant of cold winters and a range of landscape conditions once established.

It makes an attractive specimen tree, privacy screen, windbreak, or evergreen backdrop, and its dense branches provide valuable year-round shelter for birds.

The somewhat stiff, aromatic needles tend to make it unappealing to browsing deer, although young trees may still need protection where deer pressure is especially high.

With its graceful silhouette, silvery foliage, cold hardiness, and year-round color, Serbian Spruce is an excellent choice for adding height and structure to a deer-resistant landscape.

 

17. Sour Gum

 

Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), also known as Black Gum or Black Tupelo, is a beautiful deer-resistant native tree prized for its brilliant fall color, attractive form, and exceptional wildlife value.

Its glossy dark green leaves create an attractive canopy throughout summer before turning spectacular shades of scarlet, crimson, orange, yellow, and purple in fall, often making it one of the first trees in the landscape to show autumn color.

Small, inconspicuous flowers appear in spring and provide nectar for bees and other pollinators, while female trees can produce dark blue-black fruits that are an important food source for birds and other wildlife when a suitable pollinator is nearby.

Sour Gum grows best in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a range of soil conditions, including moist or occasionally wet sites, although it performs best in acidic, well-drained soil.

Its strong central form makes it an excellent specimen, shade, or native woodland tree, and mature trees develop attractive deeply furrowed bark that adds winter interest.

With its outstanding fall foliage, native status, wildlife benefits, and tendency to be avoided by deer, Sour Gum is an excellent choice for adding four-season beauty to a deer-resistant landscape.

18. Smoke Tree

Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria), also known as Smoke Bush, is a striking deer-resistant deciduous shrub or small tree prized for its unusual, airy flowers and richly colored foliage.

In late spring to early summer, tiny flowers are followed by delicate, feathery hairs that form large, billowy clusters around the branches, creating the soft, smoky appearance that gives the plant its name.

Depending on the variety, the rounded leaves may be green, deep purple, burgundy, or golden, and many cultivars develop brilliant shades of orange, red, and scarlet in fall.

Smoke Tree grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and, once established, is relatively drought tolerant and easy to maintain.

Its dramatic color and texture make it an excellent specimen plant, focal point, mixed-border shrub, or backdrop for perennial gardens.

It can also be pruned as a large shrub or trained into a small tree, giving gardeners flexibility in how it is used.

With its distinctive smoky blooms, colorful foliage, low-maintenance nature, and tendency to be avoided by deer,

Smoke Tree is an excellent choice for adding bold color and texture to a deer-resistant landscape.

19. Susan Magnolia

Susan Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Susan’) is a beautiful deer-resistant flowering shrub or small tree prized for its spectacular spring blooms, compact size, and graceful form.

In mid to late spring, it produces an abundance of fragrant, tulip-shaped flowers in rich reddish-purple to deep pink, with lighter coloring on the inside of the petals.

Because ‘Susan’ typically blooms later than many early-flowering magnolias, its blossoms are less likely to be damaged by late spring frosts.

The flowers may also appear sporadically again later in the growing season.

After blooming, attractive dark green foliage creates a lush backdrop throughout summer.

Susan Magnolia grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil and works beautifully as a specimen plant, in foundation plantings, mixed borders, or smaller gardens where a large magnolia would be impractical.

Although no plant is completely deer-proof, magnolias are generally less appealing to browsing deer.

With its dramatic spring flowers, manageable size, and attractive rounded habit, Susan Magnolia is an excellent choice for adding color and elegance to a deer-resistant landscape.

20. Sweet Gum

Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a handsome deer-resistant native tree prized for its glossy, star-shaped foliage, stately form, and spectacular autumn color.

Its bright green leaves create a dense canopy throughout summer before turning an impressive mixture of yellow, orange, red, burgundy, and deep purple in fall, often with several colors appearing on the same tree.

Mature trees also develop deeply ridged gray-brown bark that adds texture and winter interest. Sweet Gum grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, although established trees are adaptable to a range of landscape conditions.

Its tall, pyramidal form when young gradually develops into a broader canopy, making it an attractive specimen or shade tree for larger properties.

The tree’s distinctive spiky seed balls provide food for some birds and wildlife, although they can create litter beneath mature trees; fruitless or nearly fruitless cultivars are available for gardeners who prefer less cleanup.

Although young trees may occasionally be browsed, Sweet Gum is generally considered resistant to deer.

With its exceptional fall foliage, native wildlife value, and impressive form, Sweet Gum is a beautiful choice for adding shade and four-season interest to a deer-resistant landscape.

21. White Fringe Tree

White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a beautiful deer-resistant native small tree or large shrub prized for its delicate spring flowers, graceful form, and wildlife value.

In late spring to early summer, the branches become covered with clusters of fragrant, narrow white flowers that resemble soft fringe, giving the tree an airy, almost cloud-like appearance when in full bloom.

Its glossy green foliage provides an attractive backdrop throughout summer before often turning yellow in fall.

Female plants may produce clusters of dark blue to bluish-purple fruits in late summer or fall when a male plant is nearby for pollination, providing food for birds and other wildlife.

White Fringe Tree grows well in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil, although it is adaptable once established.

Its relatively compact size makes it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes, woodland edges, mixed borders, native gardens, or as a specimen near a patio or entryway.

Although no plant is completely deer-proof, White Fringe Tree is generally considered resistant to browsing.

With its unusual fragrant flowers, manageable size, native wildlife benefits, and graceful appearance, White Fringe Tree is an excellent addition to a deer-resistant landscape.

22. White Oak

White Oak (Quercus alba) is a magnificent deer-resistant native shade tree valued for its longevity, broad spreading canopy, beautiful fall color, and exceptional importance to wildlife.

Its distinctive leaves have rounded lobes and emerge soft green in spring before developing a rich green color through summer, then turning attractive shades of red, burgundy, bronze, and brown in fall.

Mature White Oaks develop massive, picturesque branches and attractive light gray, furrowed bark, giving them impressive character throughout the year.

The tree produces acorns that provide an important food source for birds, squirrels, and many other wildlife species, while oaks as a group support an extraordinary diversity of native insects and caterpillars that in turn feed birds.

White Oak grows best in full sun and deep, well-drained soil and is remarkably drought tolerant once established, but it needs plenty of room to reach its mature size.

It makes an outstanding specimen or shade tree for larger landscapes and can live for several centuries under favorable conditions.

While deer may eat acorns and occasionally browse young seedlings or tender growth, established White Oaks are generally resistant to serious deer damage.

With its majestic form, ecological value, fall color, and remarkable longevity, White Oak is an exceptional choice for creating a beautiful, wildlife-friendly, deer-resistant landscape for generations to come.

23. Whitespire Birch

Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia ‘Whitespire’) is an attractive deer-resistant deciduous tree prized for its bright white bark, graceful form, and delicate foliage.

Its clean white trunk provides beautiful year-round interest, standing out especially well against evergreen plantings or a winter landscape, while its glossy green leaves create a light, airy canopy during the growing season before turning yellow in fall.

Whitespire Birch grows relatively quickly and is commonly available in both single-trunk and multi-stem forms, making it a versatile choice as a specimen tree, in small groupings, or as an accent in mixed landscapes. I

t grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, and it generally performs best where its roots can remain cool and evenly moist.

Whitespire is often selected for its reported resistance to bronze birch borer, although resistance can vary and trees may still experience stress from heat, drought, or other pests.

Deer may occasionally browse young growth, but established birches are generally less attractive to them than many other landscape plants.

With its striking white bark, graceful foliage, fall color, and four-season appeal, Whitespire Birch is a beautiful choice for adding brightness and vertical interest to a deer-resistant landscape.

24. Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce (Picea abies) is a stately deer-resistant evergreen tree valued for its fast growth, dense foliage, and graceful, traditional evergreen form.

Its deep green needles cover sweeping branches that often develop distinctive drooping secondary branchlets, giving mature trees an elegant appearance.

Long, narrow brown cones hang from the branches and provide additional texture and seasonal interest.

Norway Spruce grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, although established trees are adaptable to a variety of conditions and are exceptionally cold hardy.

Because it can eventually become a very large tree, it is best suited to landscapes where it has plenty of room to mature and is particularly useful as a specimen tree, privacy screen, windbreak, or evergreen backdrop.

Its dense branches also provide valuable year-round shelter and nesting habitat for birds and other wildlife.

The stiff, aromatic needles are generally unappealing to deer, although young trees may occasionally be browsed where deer pressure is high.

With its rapid growth, handsome evergreen foliage, graceful form, and excellent cold tolerance, Norway Spruce is a dependable choice for adding year-round structure and privacy to a deer-resistant landscape.

Looking for deer-resistant annuals and perennials? Click here for a list!