Cayuga Landscape Co., Inc.
2712 North Triphammer Road 
Phone (607) 257-3000
PLANTS KNOWN TO RESIST DEER BROWSING
Arranged by Deer Preferences and Plant Type
The lists below are comprised mainly from our customer feedback and from the observations
of those at Cayuga Landscape Company, as well as from other published lists. Deer browsing
occurs on a varying scale around our region. Beware-- that which is deer resistant in one
neighborhood may not be in another! For plantings that you are concerned about and in areas
with high deer populations, proper fencing is usually the best method of protection. Also,we
carry various chemical and biological repellants. These come in several applicant forms which
have success rates that simply vary according to the product and its use in the situation. Taking
the time to read product labels will help inform you of the particulars. Our most important
advice would be to select plants from these lists as a general guideline in effort to avoid using
more control devices than necessary.
Trees
Shrubs
Perennials
TREES
Trees in general are targets during the male rutting season as instruments against which bucks
will rub their antlers. The tree's structure rather than its genus is often what makes a particular
tree more desirable for antler rubbing. On the other hand, particular genera have bark and twigs which
are tasty to deer and may be damaged even though having a resistant structure. Below are some
trees which generally sustain negligible browsing damage:
- Alnus glutinosa -- Common (Black, European) Alder
- Betula papyrifera -- White Birch
- Carpinus caroliniana -- American Hornbeam (occasionally browsed)
- Carya ovata -- Shagbark Hickory
- Catalpa speciosa -- Northern Catalpa
- Cercis canadensis -- Eastern Redbud (occasionally browsed)
- Fagus grandifolia -- American Beech
- Fraxinus ssp -- Ash species
- Gleditsia tricanthos -- Honeylocust
- Gymnocladus dioicus -- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Liriodendron tulipfera -- Tulip tree
- Nyssa sylvatica -- Sourgum
- Ostrya virginiana -- American Hophornbeam
- Picea abies, P. glauca, P. omorika, P. pungens-- Spruces (Norway, White,Serbian and Colorado)
- Pinus nigra -- Austrian Pine
- Robinia pseudoacacia -- Black Locust
- Zelkova serrata-- Japanese Zelkova
Below are some trees which are preferred by deer for browsing:
- Cornus alternifolia, C. kousa, C. mas -- Pagoda and Chinese Dogwood, Cornellian Cherry Malus spp. -- Apple (both fruiting and ornamental)
- Pinus strobus, P. flexilis, P. parviflora -- White, Limber, and Japanese White Pine
- Prunus spp. -- Cherry (both fruiting and ornamental)
- Pseudotsuga menziesii -- Douglas Fir
- Pyrus spp. -- Pear (both fruiting and ornamental)
- Thuja spp. -- Arborvitae
- Tsuga canadensis -- Canadian Hemlock
SHRUBS
In general, there are not many shrubs that deer will not be tempted to at least nibble on. A good rule
of thumb is that if the plant has particularly thorny or aromatic stems or leaves, or if it exudes a
milky sap, is poisonous, or has very stiff needles, then it will be less appealing to deer.
Shrubs rarely browsed by deer:
EVERGREEN
- Buxus spp. -- Boxwood
- Juniperus chinensis -- Chinese Juniper
e.g, 'Gold Coast', 'Hetzii'
var. Sargentii, 'Sea Green' and
'Robusta Green'
- Picea abies, P. glauca, P. pungens -- Dwarf cultivars of Spruces
DECIDUOUS
- Clethra alnifolia-- Summersweet
- Forsythia spp
- Ligustrumcvs-- Privet
- Kolkwitzia amabilis-- Beautybush
- Physocarpus opulifolius -- Ninebark
- Pieris japonica -- Japanese Andromeda
(Norway, White, and Colorado)
- Spirea spp.-- especially Bridal Wreath, Anthony
Waterer and Little Princess
Shrubs occasionally browsed by deer:
EVERGREEN
- Ilex x meserveae -- Blue Holly hybrids
- Mahonia aquifolium -- Oregon Grapeholly
- Microbiota decussata -- Russian Cypress
- Pyracantha spp. -- Pyracantha species
DECIDUOUS
- Berberis thunbergii --Barberry
- Chaenomeles spp. -- Quince
- Elaeagnus angustifolia -- Autumn Olive
- Hypericum frondosum -- St. John's Wort
- Myrica pennsylvanica -- Northern Bayberry
- Weigela florida -- Cardinal Shrub
- Viburnum spp. -- Most Viburnum species
Shrubs which deer prefer to browse:
EVERGREEN
- Chamaecyparis spp. -- Cypress
- Juniperus horizontalis
- Rhododendron & Azalea
- Taxus spp. -- Yew
- Pinus mugo -- Mugo Pine
- Tsuga canadensis -- Dwarf cultivars of Hemlock
- Pinus strobus -- Dwarf cultivars of White Pine
DECIDUOUS
- Cornus sericea -- Red / Yellow Twig Dogwood
- Cotoneaster horizontalis
- Euonymus spp. -- Wintercreeper/ Burning Bush
- Prunus spp. -- Cherry, Almond
PERENNIALS/BULBS
Herbaceous materials subject to deer browsing will be less palatable if the leaves and stems have
a pungent odor, tough consistency, pubescent or spiny covering, or milky bitter sap. In this manner,
most herbs are deer resistant. Below are some other plants which exhibit these traits.
*occassionaly munched
- Achillea spp.
- Aconitum napellus
- Ajuga reptans
- Alcea zebrina
- Alchemilla mollis, glaucescens
- Allium spp.
- Alyssum montana
- Astrantia major
- Aquilegia spp.
- Arabis caucasica
- Armeria maritima
- Arisaema spp.
- Artemisia spp.
- Arthemis spp.
- Asarum canadense
- Astilbe spp.
- Aster spp.
- Baptisia australis
- Bergenia cordifolia
- Boltonia asteroides
- Buddleia davidii
- Calamagrostis spp.
- Centaurea dealbata, montana
- Centranthus ruber
- Cerastium tomentosum
- Chionodoxa
- Chrysanthemum*
- Cimicifuga racemosa
- Clematis spp.
- Convallaria majalis
- Corydalis lutea
- Crocosmia cvs.
- Draba spp.
- Dianthus deltoides*
- Dicentra spp.
- Digitalis spp.
- Echinacea*
- Echinops spp.
- Epimedium spp.
- Eranthus
- Eupatorium rugosum
- Euphorbia spp.
- Ferns
- Festuca spp.
- Filipendula spp.
- Fritillaria spp.
- Galanthus spp.
- Galium odoratum
- Geranium spp.
- Geum spp.
- Gypsophila
- Helenium spp.*
- Helleborous spp.
- Hesperis matronalis
- Hyacinthia
- Iberis sempervirens
- Iris cristata, siberica
- Jeffersonia diphylla
- Knautia macedonica
- Kniphofia uvaria
- Lamium spp.
- Lavandula spp.
- Limonium tataricum Liriope spicata
- Lychnis spp.
- Lysmachia spp. Mazus reptans
- Miscanthus spp.
- Monarda didyma
- Muscarii spp.
- Narcissus spp.
- Nepeta spp.
- Opuntia humifusa
- Origanum spp.
- Pachysandra
- Papaver orientale
- Pennisetum spp.
- Perovskia spp.
- Phlox divaricata, subulata
- Polemonium caeruleum
- Potentilla spp.
- Primula japonica
- Pulmonaria spp.
- Puschkinia scilloides
- Rosemarinus officinalis
- Rudbeckia hirta*
- Salvia spp.
- Scabiosa caucasica
- Scilla spp.
- Sedumprostrate cvs
- Sempervivum spp.
- Solidago rugosa
- Stachys byzantina
- Thymus spp.
- Tiarella cordifolia, wherryi
- Tradescantia spp.*
- Trillium spp.
- Veronica spp.
- Vinca minor
