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Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance

Photo: Ageratum houstonianum. Photo: Picea glauca. Photo: Thelyptens noveboracensis.

The following is a list of landscape plants rated according to their resistance to deer damage. The list was compiled with input from nursery and landscape professionals, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension personnel, and Rutgers Master Gardeners in northern New Jersey.

Realizing that no plant is deer proof, plants in the Rarely Damaged, and Seldom Severely Damaged categories would be best for landscapes prone to deer damage. Plants Occasionally Severely Damaged and Frequently Severely Damaged are often preferred by deer and should only be planted with additional protection such as the use of fencing, repellents, etc. Success of any of these plants in the landscape will depend on local deer populations and weather conditions.

KEY:

A = Rarely Damaged
B = Seldom Severely Damaged
C = Occasionally Severely Damaged
D = Frequently Severely Damaged

Results for 'd'
Common Name Latin Name Type Rating
Allegheny Spurge  View photo of Allegheny Spurge Pachysandra procumbens Groundcovers A
Angel's Trumpet Brugmansia sp. (Datura) Annuals A
Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum Shrubs A
Barrenwort  View photo of Barrenwort Epimedium sp. Groundcovers A
Basket of Gold Aurinia saxatilis Perennials A
Big Bluestem  View photo of Big Bluestem Andropogon sp. Ornamental Grasses A
Bigleaf Goldenray  View photo of Bigleaf Goldenray Ligularia dentata Perennials A
Bishop's Weed  View photo of Bishop's Weed Aegopodium podagaria Groundcovers A
Bleeding Heart  View photo of Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis Perennials A
Blue Mist Shrub  View photo of Blue Mist Shrub Caryopteris clandonensis Shrubs A
Bluebell Endymion sp. Bulbs A
Bugleweed  View photo of Bugleweed Ajuga reptans Groundcovers A
Butterfly Bush  View photo of Butterfly Bush Buddleia sp. Shrubs A
Christmas Fern  View photo of Christmas Fern Polystichum arcostichoides Ferns A
Cinnamon Fern Osmunda cinnamomea Ferns A
Common Boxwood  View photo of Common Boxwood Buxus sempervirens Shrubs A
Common Foxglove  View photo of Common Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Biennials A
Corydalis  View photo of Corydalis Corydalis sp. Perennials A
Daffodil  View photo of Daffodil Narcissus sp. Bulbs A
Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis Perennials A
Daphne  View photo of Daphne Daphne sp. Shrubs A
Devil's Walking Stick Aralia spinosa Shrubs A
Drooping Leucothoe  View photo of Drooping Leucothoe Leucothoe fontanesiana Shrubs A
Dusty Miller Centaurea cineraria Annuals A
Dwarf Alberta Spruce  View photo of Dwarf Alberta Spruce Picea glauca 'Conica' Trees A
False Indigo  View photo of False Indigo Baptisia australis Perennials A
Feather Reed Grass  View photo of Feather Reed Grass Calamagrostis sp. Ornamental Grasses A
Fountain Grass  View photo of Fountain Grass Pennisetum alopecuroides Ornamental Grasses A
Fringed Bleeding Heart Dicentra eximia Perennials A
Garden Sage  View photo of Garden Sage Salvia officinalis Perennials A
Germander  View photo of Germander Teucrium chamaedrys Perennials A
Giant Japanese Silver Grass Miscanthus floridulis Ornamental Grasses A
Giant Reed  View photo of Giant Reed Arundo donax Ornamental Grasses A
Golden Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea Ornamental Grasses A
Hard Rush Juncus effusus Ornamental Grasses A
Hayscented Fern  View photo of Hayscented Fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula Ferns A
Horehound Marrubium vulgare Perennials A
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana Perennials A
Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans Ornamental Grasses A
Japanese Blood Grass  View photo of Japanese Blood Grass Imperata cylindrica Ornamental Grasses A
Japanese Painted Fern  View photo of Japanese Painted Fern Athyrium goeringianum (nipponicum) Ferns A
Japanese Pieris, Andromeda  View photo of Japanese Pieris, Andromeda Pieris japonica Shrubs A
Japanese Sedge  View photo of Japanese Sedge Carex sp. Ornamental Grasses A
Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum Trees A
Larkspur Consolida ambigua Annuals A
Lavendar Lavandula sp. Perennials A
Lavender-Cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus Perennials A
Lydia Morris Holly Ilex x 'Lydia Morris' Shrubs A
May Apple Podophyllum Perennials A
Meadow Rue Thalictrum sp. Perennials A
Monkshood Aconitum sp. Perennials A
Mountain Pieris Pieris floribunda Shrubs A
Pachysandra  View photo of Pachysandra Pachysandra terminalis Groundcovers A
Pampus Grass Cortaderia selloana Ornamental Grasses A
Pitch Pine Pinus rigida Trees A
Pot Marigold  View photo of Pot Marigold Calendula sp. Annuals A
Purple Rock-Cress Aubretia deltoidea Perennials A
Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa Shrubs A
Red Pine Pinus resinosa Trees A
Rodgers Flower Rodgersia sp. Perennials A
Royal Fern Osmunda regalis Ferns A
Russian Cypress  View photo of Russian Cypress Microbiota decussata Shrubs A
Silver Mound  View photo of Silver Mound Artemisia sp. Perennials A
Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus Annuals A
Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis Bulbs A
Spider Flower  View photo of Spider Flower Cleome sp. Annuals A
Spotted Deadnettle  View photo of Spotted Deadnettle Lamium sp. Groundcovers A
Sweet Woodruff  View photo of Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum (Asperula odorata) Groundcovers A
Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus Perennials A
Threadleaf Coreopsis  View photo of Threadleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata Perennials A
Variegated Purple Moor Grass Molinia caerulea 'Variegata' Ornamental Grasses A
Varigated Oat Grass Arrhenatherum elatius Ornamental Grasses A
Wild Ginger  View photo of Wild Ginger Asarum canadense Perennials A
Wood Fern Dryopteris marginalis Ferns A
American Bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vines B
Anthony Waterer Spirea Spiraea x bumalda Shrubs B
Bearberry Cotoneaster Cotoneaster dammeri Shrubs B
Beebalm  View photo of Beebalm Monarda didyma Perennials B
Black-Eyed Susan  View photo of Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia sp. Perennials B
Blueberry Elder, Sweet Elder Sambucus canadensis Shrubs B
Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia Shrubs B
Bridalwreath Spirea Spiraea prunifolia Shrubs B
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Perennials B
California Sweetshrub Calycanthus occidentalis Shrubs B
Calla Lily Zantedeschia sp. Bulbs B
Candytuft Iberis sempervirens Perennials B
Candytuft Iberis umbellata Annuals B
Cardinal Flower  View photo of Cardinal Flower Lobelia sp. Perennials B
Carnation, Pinks Dianthus sp. Perennials B
Colorado Blue Spruce Picea pungens Trees B
Common Sassafras Sassafras albidurn Trees B
Common Sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus Shrubs B
Corkscrew Willow Salix matsudana tortuosa Trees B
Crape Myrtle  View photo of Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Shrubs B
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides Trees B
Delphinium Delphinium sp. Perennials B
Deutzia  View photo of Deutzia Deutzia sp. Shrubs B
Dill Anethumus graveolens Annuals B
Doublefile Viburnum  View photo of Doublefile Viburnum Viburnum plicatum tomentosurn Shrubs B
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Trees B
Downy Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea Trees B
Dragon Lady, San Jose Holly Ilex x aquipernyi Trees B
Drooping Sedge Carex pendula Ornamental Grasses B
Dwarf Balsam Fir Abies balsamea Shrubs B
Dwarf Mondo Grass Ophiopogon japonicus Ornamental Grasses B
Eastern Red Cedar  View photo of Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Trees B
European White Birch Betula pendula Trees B
Foam Flower  View photo of Foam Flower Tiarella cordifolia Perennials B
Forsythia  View photo of Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia Shrubs B
French Marigold  View photo of French Marigold Tagetes patula Annuals B
Gas Plant  View photo of Gas Plant Dictamus alba Perennials B
Gladiolus Gladiolus sp. Bulbs B
Goldenrain Tree  View photo of Goldenrain Tree Koelreuteria paniculata Trees B
Goldenrod  View photo of Goldenrod Solidago sp. Perennials B
Goldust Plant  View photo of Goldust Plant Aucuba japonica Shrubs B
Hardy Geranium Geranium macrorrhizum Perennials B
Harlequin Glorybower Clerodendrum fargesii Shrubs B
Hens and Chickens  View photo of Hens and Chickens Sempervivum sp. Perennials B
Honey Locust  View photo of Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos Trees B
Jacob's Ladder Polemonium caeruleum Perennials B
Japanese Anemone Anemone x hybrida Perennials B
Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica Trees B
Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' Shrubs B
Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora Trees B
Judd Viburnum Viburnum x juddii Shrubs B
Kousa Dogwood  View photo of Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa Trees B
Ladys' Mantle  View photo of Ladys' Mantle Alchemilla sp. Perennials B
Leatherleaf Viburnum Viburnum rhytidophyllum Shrubs B
Maltese Cross  View photo of Maltese Cross Lychnis chalcedonica Perennials B
Meadow Sage Salvia nemorosa Perennials B
Obedient Plant Physostegia sp. Perennials B
Plumbago  View photo of Plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Groundcovers B
Plume Poppy Macleaya cordata Perennials B
Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrubs B
Red Maple Acer rubrum Trees B
Red Osier Dogwood Cornus sericea Shrubs B
Red Twigged Dogwood Cornus alba Shrubs B
Red-Hot Poker  View photo of Red-Hot Poker Kniphofia tritoma Perennials B
Redvein Enkianthus  View photo of Redvein Enkianthus Enkianthus campanulatus Shrubs B
Ribbon Grass Phalaris arundinaceae Ornamental Grasses B
Rue Anemone Anemonella thalictroides Perennials B
Sea Buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Shrubs B
Sedge Scirpus lacustris Ornamental Grasses B
Shadbush Amelanchier canadensis Trees B
Singleseed Juniper (1) Juniperus squamata cv. Shrubs B
Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpos foetidus Perennials B
Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Perennials B
Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Trees B
Speedwell  View photo of Speedwell Veronica sp. Perennials B
Spicebush Lindera benzoin Shrubs B
Spiderwort Tradescantia sp. Perennials B
Striped Maple Acer pensylvanicum Trees B
Swamp Milkweed  View photo of Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Perennials B
Sweet Mock Orange  View photo of Sweet Mock Orange Philadelphus coronarius Shrubs B
Sweet William Dianthus barbatus Biennials B
Toad Lily  View photo of Toad Lily Tricyrtis hirta Perennials B
Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera Trees B
Verbena Verbena x hybrida Annuals B
Weigela Weigela florida Shrubs B
White Boltonia Boltonia asteroides Perennials B
Winter Jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum Vines B
Wisteria Wisteria floribunda Vines B
Wood Sorrel Oxalis sp. Bulbs B
Yarrow Achillea filipendulina Perennials B
Yellow Foxglove  View photo of Yellow Foxglove Digitalis grandiflora Perennials B
Youngstown Andorra Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Youngstown' Shrubs B
Alternate-Leaved Dogwood Cornus alternifolia Trees C
Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides Trees C
Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica Trees C
Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum Trees C
Balloon Flower Platycodon grandiflorus Perennials C
Basswood Tilia americana Trees C
Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla Shrubs C
Black Locust Robinia pseudoacia Trees C
Blanket Flower  View photo of Blanket Flower Gaillardia sp. Perennials C
Bloodtwig Dogwood Cornus sanguinea Shrubs C
Caladium Caladium sp. Bulbs C
Canterbury Bells Campanula medium Biennials C
Carolina Rhododendron Rhododendron carolinianum Shrubs C
Catawba Rhododendron Rhododendron catawbiense Shrubs C
Checkermallow Sidalcia malviflora Perennials C
Climbing Hydrangea  View photo of Climbing Hydrangea Hydrangea anomala petiolaris Vines C
Dahlia Dahlia sp. Annuals C
Daylily Hemerocallis sp. Perennials C
Deciduous Azaleas (1) Rhododendron sp. Shrubs C
Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis Trees C
Eastern Redbud  View photo of Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis Trees C
English Daisy Bellis perennis Perennials C
English Ivy  View photo of English Ivy Hedera helix Groundcovers C
English Ivy  View photo of English Ivy Hedera helix Vines C
European Larch Larix decidua Trees C
Flowering Dogwood  View photo of Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida Trees C
Garden Lily Lilium sp. Bulbs C
Garden Petunia  View photo of Garden Petunia Petunia sp. Annuals C
Gerbera Daisy Gerbera jamesonii Annuals C
Goat's Beard Aruncus sp. Perennials C
Goldflame Honeysuckle  View photo of Goldflame Honeysuckle Lonicera x heckrottii Vines C
Gooseneck Loosestrife Lysimachia clethroides Perennials C
Greenspire Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' Trees C
Hardy Begonia  View photo of Hardy Begonia Begonia grandis Perennials C
Hardy Geranium Geranium clarkei Perennials C
Hardy Geranium Geranium sanguineum Perennials C
Hardy Geranium Geranium x cantabrigiense Perennials C
Heavenly Bamboo  View photo of Heavenly Bamboo Nandina sp. Shrubs C
Hybrid Tea Rose Rosa x hybrid Shrubs C
Leyland Cypress Cupressocyparis leyandii Trees C
Meadowsweet Filipendula sp. Perennials C
Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra Trees C
Norway Maple Acer platanoides Trees C
Oakleaf Hydrangea  View photo of Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Shrubs C
Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata Shrubs C
Panicled Dogwood Cornus racemosa Shrubs C
Pink Turtlehead Chelone sp. Perennials C
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Prunus x cistena Shrubs C
Rosebay Rhododendron Rhododendron maximum Shrubs C
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum superbum Perennials C
Shasta Daisy Leucanthemum maximum Perennials C
Showy Sedum Sedum spectabile Perennials C
Smooth Hydrangea  View photo of Smooth Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens Shrubs C
Spurge Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon' Perennials C
Sundrops Oenethera sp. Perennials C
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Trees C
Trumpet Creeper  View photo of Trumpet Creeper Campsis radicans Vines C
Winged Euonymus Euonymus alata Shrubs C
American Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis Trees D
Candy Lily Pardancanda x norrisii Perennials D
Evergreen Azaleas (1) Rhododendron sp. Shrubs D
Hardy Geranium Geranium endressii Perennials D
Pinxterbloom Azalea Rhododendron penclymenoides Shrubs D
Rhododendrons (1) Rhododendron sp. Shrubs D

Footnotes

1 Check other rating categories to find additional species or cultivars of this genus.

2 May eat buds.

Credits

Content: Pete Nitzsche, Pedro Perdomo, and David Drake
Photos: Pete Nitzsche
Database Design: Kathy Robinson and Phil Wisneski
Website Design: Phil Wisneski

Special thanks to our cooperators on this project: Helen Heinrich, Certified Landscape Architect; James Messina, Certified Landscape Architect, Landscape Plus; Valerie Sudal, Garden Writer, The Newark Star-Ledger; and numerous landscapers, Master Gardeners, and nurserymen who provided ratings.