- 15 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs<\/a>
- 1. Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus)<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Juniper (Juniperus)<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Russian Sage (Salvia yangii)<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Dogwood (Cornus alba or Cornus sericea)<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)<\/a><\/li>
- 11. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia or Buddleja)<\/a><\/li>
- 12. Bayberry (Myrica)<\/a><\/li>
- 13. Spirea \u2018Goldflame\u2019 (Spirea japonica \u2018Goldflame\u2019)<\/a><\/li>
- 14. Barberry \u2018Crimson Pygmy\u2019 (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea)<\/a><\/li>
- 15. Hydrangea \u2018Oakleaf\u2019 (Hydrangea quercifolia)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How Deer Damage Yards<\/a><\/li>
- Other Ways to Repel Deer<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
15 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs<\/strong><\/h2>
1. Boxwood Shrubs (<\/strong>Buxus<\/em><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"shrubs](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/boxwood-shrubs-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Needpix<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Are you one of those homeowners who wonders, \u201cDo deer eat boxwood?\u201d If so, the answer is no. These popular broadleaf evergreens are deer-resistant due to the bitter taste of their alkaloids. <\/p>
Since Boxwood shrubs<\/a> keep their leaves and stay green in the winter, they are ideal for formal hedges, borders, and topiaries. In the spring, Boxwood\u2019s spring-flowering habit brings forth inconspicuous yellow flowers. <\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 5 through 9. Some varieties are hardy to Zone 4.<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Foliage ranges from dark green to yellowish green<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> From 2 to 12 feet, though some can grow as high as 20 feet<\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> They prefer partial shade but can tolerate full sun. Overexposure can burn or bronze the foliage.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Extremely drought-tolerant once established<\/li>
- Soil type:<\/strong> Boxwoods will adapt to various types of soil but prefer loamy, evenly moist, well-draining soil. The ideal soil pH<\/a> is 6.5 to 7.<\/li> <\/ul>
2. Juniper (<\/strong>Juniperus<\/em><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"juniper](\"https:\/\/storage.needpix.com\/rsynced_images\/juniper-669793_1280.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Needpix<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> These deer-resistant evergreen shrubs are extremely versatile. With more than 170 varieties, juniper serves as ground cover<\/a>, accent plantings, topiaries, and privacy screens. This low-maintenance plant repels deer through the oils in its needles and its prickly texture.<\/p>
Junipers<\/a> are male or female. Females produce small yellow flowers followed by berries. Depending on the variety, female junipers are pollinated from December to February or November to April. Note that juniper pollen can cause allergy symptoms in people, so take care where you plant them.<\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Blue, green, yellow, gray, or silver, depending on variety<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> Depending on the species, junipers can grow from 4 inches to 50 feet tall<\/a>.<\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> Prefers full sun but can handle light shade<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> High, once established<\/li>
- Soil type:<\/strong> Juniper tolerates a wide range of soils, including clay, but prefers a well-drained sandy clay or loam. Juniper grows best in moderately acidic to slightly alkaline soil, between 6.0 to 7.5 pH.<\/li> <\/ul>
3. Russian Sage (Salvia yangii<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"File:Russian](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/a\/a6\/Russian_sage_by_RO_II.jpg\/711px-Russian_sage_by_RO_II.jpg\")
Photo Credit: <\/a>Rationalobserver<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Technically a subshrub, Russian sage is a low-maintenance, deer-resistant perennial that produces small, bluish-lavender flowers throughout the summer. <\/p>
Russian sage has fragrant foliage that attracts hummingbirds, honey bees, and butterflies<\/a> but repels deer. This shrub also flourishes in dry conditions, making it a go-to option for xeriscaping<\/a>.<\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 4 to 9.<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Silver-green stems with blue-purple flowers in the summer.<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> From 2 to 4 feet, depending on the variety<\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> Prefers full sun<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Once established, it needs little water.<\/li>
- Soil type:<\/strong> These shrubs thrive in well-drained soil but can also tolerate clay. Russian sage<\/a> prefers alkaline soils of pH 7 and greater.<\/li> <\/ul>
4. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"File:Viburnum](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Viburnum_dentatum_3zz.jpg\/800px-Viburnum_dentatum_3zz.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In the category of deer-resistant flowering shrubs, arrowwood viburnum is worth mentioning. It bears beautiful red foliage, blue and red berries in the fall, and white flowers in May and June. Arrowwood viburnum is generally low-maintenance, and its fragrance and texture are unappetizing to deer.<\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 2 to 8<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> White flowers, dark green foliage, and bluish berries<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> 3 to 10 feet<\/a><\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> Likes full sun, but will tolerate part shade<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Low. The shrub needs moist soil.<\/li>
- Soil type:<\/strong> Not only is arrowwood viburnum deer-resistant, but it also grows well in a variety of soil conditions with proper drainage. It can tolerate soil that\u2019s acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty and loamy, and clay.<\/li> <\/ul>
5. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Lilac](\"https:\/\/cdn.pixabay.com\/photo\/2017\/05\/01\/18\/09\/lilac-bush-2276160_960_720.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Deer avoid lilac bushes<\/a> because of their strong aroma. The white, purple, and Persian fragrant flowers start to bloom in early spring. The shrub resists deer but not pollinators<\/a>. Butterflies and bees will flock to your yard. Lilac is easy to grow from cuttings, or you can buy young shrubs at your garden center.<\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone: <\/strong>Zones 2 to 7<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> White, pink, or purple flowers, dark green foliage<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> Smaller varieties grow 2 to 3 feet high. Some reach 12 feet or more.<\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> A lilac needs full sun if you want it to flower.<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Low. Lilac needs moist, well-draining soil. But too much water will stunt its growth.<\/li>
- Soil type:<\/strong> Lilacs thrive in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. They need a pH near 7.0.<\/li> <\/ul>
6. Dogwood (<\/strong>Cornus alba<\/em><\/strong> or <\/strong>Cornus sericea<\/em><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"white](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dogwood-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Whiteway<\/a> \/ Canva Pro \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> These fast-growing woody plants come in several varieties, including a ground cover named Canadian bunchberry<\/a>. Dogwood is toxic to humans and distasteful to deer. They ignore the fruit, fragrant flowers, and the bright red twigs in the winter. Choose from Cornus alba<\/em> or Cornus sericea<\/em> for bright red winter twigs and deer resistance.<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> The most common dogwood is the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida<\/em>), which goes dormant in the winter and blooms again in early spring. However, the flowering dogwood is a tree, not a shrub. <\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 2 or 3 to 7<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> White or yellowish-white flowers in spring, white berries in summer, and red twigs in winter<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> Can range from 5-10 feet tall, depending on variety and environmental conditions<\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> Full sun to partial shade<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> Low; prefers moist soil with good drainage<\/li>
- Soil type:<\/strong> Cornus alba<\/em> prefers acidic to neutral soil with a pH ranging from below 6 to 8. Cornus sericea<\/em> prefers neutral to alkaline soils.<\/li> <\/ul>
7. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Physocarpus_opulifolius\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Physocarpus_opulifolius_Arkansas-1-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> A member of the rose family, ninebark is perfect for those looking for fast-growing deer-resistant shrubs. It produces beautiful blooms during late spring and early summer. Ninebark<\/a> is adaptable to most conditions and can be used as a hedge or shrub border, or for erosion control. <\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 2 to 8<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Usually frothy white flowers; dark green leaves that turn yellow to red in the fall<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> 3 to 8 feet<\/li>
- Sun tolerance:<\/strong> Does best with full sun, but tolerates partial shade<\/li>
- Drought tolerance:<\/strong> This deciduous shrub prefers well-drained soil but tolerates drought and occasionally wet soil conditions.<\/li>
- Soil type: <\/strong>Ninebark prefers acidic, loamy soil but tolerates alkaline and clay soils.<\/li> <\/ul>
8. Japanese Pieris (<\/strong>Pieris japonica<\/em><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h3>
![\"Pieris](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Pieris_japonica_10.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Stan Shebs<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Japanese pieris, sometimes known as Andromeda,<\/a> is an evergreen shrub that deer tend to pass by. In early spring, it produces drooping clusters of white flowers that attract pollinators. Note: The leaves and nectar of Japanese pieris are highly toxic<\/a>, so use caution if you have young children and pets.<\/p>
- USDA<\/strong> <\/strong>Hardiness<\/strong> Zone:<\/strong> Zones 4 to 8<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Glossy green leaves; new leaves are purple to bronze-red<\/li>
- Mature height:<\/strong> 9 to 13 feet tall<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Glossy green leaves; new leaves are purple to bronze-red<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Usually frothy white flowers; dark green leaves that turn yellow to red in the fall<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> White or yellowish-white flowers in spring, white berries in summer, and red twigs in winter<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> White, pink, or purple flowers, dark green foliage<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> White flowers, dark green foliage, and bluish berries<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Silver-green stems with blue-purple flowers in the summer.<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Blue, green, yellow, gray, or silver, depending on variety<\/li>
- Color:<\/strong> Foliage ranges from dark green to yellowish green<\/li>
- 2. Juniper (Juniperus)<\/a><\/li>
- 1. Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus)<\/a><\/li>