DEER RESISTANT PLANTS - Recommended for Pender County Landscapes
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North Carolina Cooperative Extension
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
DEER RESISTANT PLANTS
Recommended for Pender County Landscapes
Pender County Cooperative Extension Urban Horticulture Fact Sheet 15
D eer can wreak havoc on a
landscape in a matter of just a few
Tips on Deer and Plants
No plant is deer proof! When hungry, deer will eat
anything to survive. During stressful times such as
nights. There are many options to
drought, plants that are usually avoided may be
reduce the risk of deer damage in
damaged.
landscapes, such as applying
repellents on a regular basis and Deer will eat almost anything in spring, as tender
restricting access through the use of new growth emerges from plants. Deer prefer
fencing. One of the easiest ways to vegetation that is soft to the touch and high in
reduce deer damage in your yard is water content. They especially relish flower buds.
to landscape with plants deer prefer not to eat. This Over fertilized and over watered plants are
fact sheet is intended to serve as a guide for particularly lush and appealing to deer.
choosing landscape plants resistant to deer feeding
Deer resistant does not mean deer proof!
in southeastern North Carolina. Since a starving deer
These are plants deer prefer not to eat. Common
will eat anything to stay alive, no plant is guaranteed!
characteristics of plants that deer prefer not to eat
include:
Deer Feeding Preferences
The plants deer prefer to eat vary from region to Plants with thorny or prickly leaves or
region and can even change seasonally. In the lists stems
on the following pages, deer feeding preferences are Plants with strong scents and pungent
classified as follows: tastes, such as herbs
Plants that are poisonous or produce thick,
Frequently Damaged latex-like sap
Plants that are deer favorites. These are the first
plants deer will seek out to feed on. Plants with hairy leaves
Occasionally Damaged
These are the plants deer will turn to once their
favorites are depleted.
Table of Contents
Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Seldom Damaged
Evergreen Shrubs . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Plant that deer will rarely eat unless there are no
Palms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
other options. Plants that are in bold print are
Deciduous Shrubs . . . . . . . . . . . 4
extremely resistant to deer feeding.
Ornamental Grasses . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using a combination of a variety of methods to Groundcovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
deter deer will give the most dependable results. To Ferns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
find out more about other strategies to minimize Vines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
deer damage in your landscape, visit the online Perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
publications listed in the Learn More section at the Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
end of this fact sheet. Annuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
L A N DSCA PE T REES
Occasionally Damaged
Deer injure trees in Common Name Scientific Name
two ways: By eating Japanese Maple Acer palmatum
foliage and twigs, and Red Maple* Acer rubrum
by rubbing against Serviceberry* Amelanchier species
the bark with their Dogwood* Cornus florida
antlers, which is Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa
especially damaging Witch Hazel Hamamelis species
to young trees or
those with thin bark. Wire cylinders and other ‘Foster's’ Holly*
protective devices are available to protect the ‘Savannah’ Holly* Ilex x attenuata hybrids
‘East Palatka’ Holly*
trunks of young trees from this type of damage.
‘Nellie Stevens’ Holly Ilex x ‘Nellie Stevens’
Goldenrain Tree Koelreuteria paniculata
The shape and mature size of a tree will Saucer Magnolia Magnolia soulangiana
greatly determine its susceptibility to grazing Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
damage. Damage is most common on trees that Bradford Pear Pyrus calleryana
are either young and still small enough to Oaks* Quercus species
reach, those that are low branched, or those Willows Salix species
that do not grow very large. In deer prone
landscapes, trees that grow tall and hold their
branches high are the best choice, though they Seldom Damaged
may need to be protected until they are tall Common Name Scientific Name
enough to be out of a deer’s reach. Trees can Red Buckeye* Aesculus pavia
be protected individually with wire cages, or River Birch* Betula nigra
planted in an area of the landscape that is Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodora
fenced off. Hawthorn* Crataegus species
Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica
* = Plants native to the Southeastern USA
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba
Bold plants are particularly resistant to deer Honey Locust* Gleditsia triacanthos
feeding
American Holly* Ilex opaca
Eastern Redcedar* Juniperus virginiana
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia hybrids
Frequently Damaged
Southern Magnolia* Magnolia grandiflora
Common Name Scientific Name
Sweetbay Magnolia* Magnolia virginica
Redbud* Cercis canadensis
Black Gum* Nyssa sylvatica
Atlantic White Cedar* Chamaecyparis thyoides Pines* Pinus species
Fringe Tree, Carolina Cherrylaurel* Prunus caroliniana
Chionanthus virginicus
Old Man’s Beard*
Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus serrulata
Crabapples Malus species Live Oak* Quercus virginiana
Cherries and Plums Prunus species Bald Cypress* Taxodium distichum
Pears Pyrus species Chastetree Vitex agnus-castus3
EV ERGREEN SH RU B S
Seldom Damaged Occasionally Damaged
Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name
Abelia Abelia x grandiflora Camellias Camellia species and varieties
Century Plant Agave americana Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus
Wintergreen Japanese Holly Ilex crenata
Berberis julianae
Barberry Mahonia Mahonia bealei
Japanese Boxwood Buxus microphylla Viburnum Viburnum species and varieties
Bottlebrush Callistemon rigidus
Plum Yew Cephalotaxus harringtonia Frequently Damaged
Summersweet, Common Name Scientific Name
Clethra alnifolia
Pepperbush*
Japanese Euonymous Euonymous japonicus
Eleagnus Eleagnus pungens
Wintercreeper Euonymous fortunei
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Fatsia Fatsia japonica
Pineapple Guava Acca sellowiana Aucuba Aucuba japonica
Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides Indian Hawthorn Raphiolepis species and varieties
Chinese Holly Ilex cornuta Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira
Inkberry Ilex glabra Azaleas Rhododendron species and varieties
Yaupon Ilex vomitoria Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis
Anise Shrub Illicium species
Chinese Juniper
Kerria
Juniperus chinensis
Kerria japonica
PA L M S
As a group, palms are very resistant to deer feed-
Leucothoe Leucothoe species ing. The following palms are hardy in New Hanover
Japanese Privet Ligustrum japonicum County and make interesting landscape additions.
Loropetalum Loropetalum chinensis
TRUNK FORMING PALMS
Banana Shrub Michelia fuscata Windmill Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei
Jelly or Pindo Palm, Butia capitata
Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera Palmetto or Cabbage Palm*,
Nandina Nandina domestica Sabal palmetto
Oleander Nerium oleander SHRUB FORMING PALMS
Osmanthus fragrans Dwarf Palmetto*, Sabal minor
Tea Olive Needle Palm*, Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Saw Palmetto*, Serenoa repens
Southern Yew Podocarpus macrophyllus Mediterranean Fan Palm, Chamaerops humilis
Pyracantha Pyracantha species and varieties
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis For more information about growing hardy palms,
consult the Palm Reader, the website of the
Sweet Box Sarcococca species
Southeastern Palm and Exotic Plant Society:
Yucca Yucca species
http://www.ces.uga.edu/agriculture/
* = Plants native to the Southeastern USA horticulture/palmeader.html
Bold plants are particularly resistant to deer feeding4
DECI DU OU S SH RU B S
Frequently Damaged
ORNAMENTAL
Common Name Scientific Name
Burning Bush Euonymous alata
GRASSES
Roses Rosa species and hybrids
Blueberries* Vaccinium species In general, ornamental grasses are avoided by deer
and should be considered highly resistant to deer
grazing. There are lots of different types of
Occasionally Damaged ornamental grasses available. Most are long lived
Common Name Scientific Name and tough, making attractive and low maintenance
additions to the landscape. They provide a nice
Flowering Quince Chaenomeles speciosa contrast to shrubs and can be planted in mass as a
Smokebush Cotinus coggyria
groundcover. The following ornamental grasses are
recommended for area landscapes:
Forsythia,
Forsythia x intermedia
Yellowbells
Hydrangea macrophyllus Korean Feather
Hydrangea Reed Grass
Hydrangea paniculata
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Virginia Sweetspire* Itea virginica
River Oats*
Japanese Spirea Spiraea x bumalda, Spiraea japonica Chasmanthium latifolium
Thunberg Spirea Spiraea thunbergia Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloeana
Viburnum Viburnum species Maiden Grass
Weigela Weigela florida Miscanthus sinensis
Pink Muhly Grass*
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Seldom Damaged Blue Muhly Grass*
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
Common Name Scientific Name Panic Grass*
Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii Panicum virgatum
Fountain Grass
Butterflybush Buddleia davidii Pennisetum alopecuriodes
Sweetshrub* Calycanthus floridus & Pennisetum orientale
Indian Grass*
American Beautyberry* Callicarpa americana
Sorghastrum nutans
Blue Mist Shrub Caryopteris x clandonensis
Deutzia Deutzia gracilis For more information about these and other
Fothergilla* Fothergilla gardenii ornamental grasses, see the plant list on ornamental
grasses, available from the NHC Cooperative
Winter Jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum
Extension office or online at
Spring Flowering Spiraea cantoniensis, S. nipponica,
Spireas Spiraea x vanhouttei www.gardeningnhc.org
Click on the plant information link to access this
* = Plants native to the Southeastern USA and many other lists of recommended plants!
Bold plants are particularly resistant to deer feeding5
V I N ES A N D GROU N DCOV ERS
Frequently Damaged MORE GROUNDCOVER
POSSIBILITIES
Common Name Scientific Name
There are many perennials,
Clematis Clematis species and hybrids ornamental grasses, and low growing
Wintercreeper Euonymous fortunei shrubs that make excellent
English Ivy Hedera helix groundcovers when planted in masses.
To find out about more plants
recommended for use as
Occasionally Damaged groundcovers in New Hanover
County, see the plant list on recommended
Common Name Scientific Name
groundcovers available from the New Hanover County
Trumpet Vine* Campis radicans Cooperative Extension office or online at:
Goldflame Honeysuckle Lonicera x heckrottii www.gardeningnhc.org
Clumping Liriope Liriope muscari Click on the plant information to link to access many
Spreading Liriope Liriope spicata lists of recommended plants!
Virginia Creeper* Parthenocissus quinquifolia
Lady Banks Rose Rosa banksia
Japanese Wisteria Wisteria floribunda
FERN S
Seldom Damaged Deer rarely browse fern foliage, making them an
excellent addition to deer ravaged landscapes. Most
Common Name Scientific Name ferns prefer shade and moist soil and are attractive
Ajuga, Bugleweed Ajuga reptans combined with shrubs and perennials or used as a
groundcover. The following ferns are recommended
Crossvine* Bignonia capreolata
for use in New Hanover County
Climbing Fig Ficus pumila landscapes.
Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens EVERGREEN FERNS
Junipers Juniperus species Autumn Fern,
Dryopteris erythrosora
Coral Honeysuckle* Lonicera sempervirens Christmas Fern*,
Patridgeberry* Mitchella repens Polystichum acrostichoides
Florida Shield Fern*,
Mondo Grass Ophiopogon japonicus Dryopteris ludoviciana
Cherokee Rose Rosa laevigata Holly Fern,
Cyrtomium falcatum
Rosmarinus officinalis Tassel Fern,
Creeping Rosemary
‘Prostratus’ Polystichum polyblepharum
Star Jasmine Trachelopsermum asiaticum DECIDUOUS FERNS
Southern Maidenhair Fern*,
Confederate Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Large Leaf Periwinkle Vinca major Lady Fern*, Athyrium filix-femina
Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum
Periwinkle, Vinca Vinca minor
Royal Fern*, Osmunda regalis
*= Plants native to the Southeastern USA Cinnamon Fern*, Osmunda cinnamomea
Bold plants are particularly deer resistant Southern Shield Fern*, Thelypteris kunthii6
PEREN N I A L S
Frequently Damaged Seldom Damaged
Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name
Daylilies Hemerocallis species and hybrids Yarrow Achillea species and hybrids
Hosta Hosta species and varieties Blue Star* Amsonia species
Columbine Aquilegia species
Occasionally Damaged ‘Powis Castle’
Artemisia x ‘Powis Castle’
Artemisia
Common Name Scientific Name
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum x superbum Butterflyweed* Asclepias tuberosa
Hardy Ice Plant Delosperma cooperi Cast Iron Plant Aspidistra elatior
Gerbera Daisy Gerbera jamesonii False Indigo* Baptisia species
Hardy Hibiscus* Hibiscus moscheutos Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia species and hybrids
Evergreen Candytuft Iberis sempervirens Leadwort Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Iris Iris species and hybrids Green and Gold* Chrysogonum virginianum
Phlox* Phlox species Coreopsis* Coreopsis species and hybrids
Black Eyed Susan* Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldstrum’ Dianthus Dianthus gratianopolitanus
Sedum Sedum species Purple Coneflower* Echinacea purpurea
Stoke's Aster* Stokesia laevis Joe Pye Weed* Eupatorium dubium
Verbena* Verbena canadensis Gaura* Gaura lindheimeri
Speedwell, Veronica Veronica spicata Blanket Flower Gaillardia x grandiflora
Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis
Coralbells, Alumroot* Heuchera species and hybrids
HERBS AS ORNAMENTALS
Deer tend to avoid plants with strong fragrances, which Red Hot Poker Kniphofia species
makes many herbs great choices for deer prone land- Lantana Lantana species
scapes. In general, herbs grow best in full sun and well
drained soils. The following perennial herbs are attractive Sleeping Hibsicus* Malvaviscus drummondii
in the landscape and grow well in Bee Balm* Monarda didyma
New Hanover County.
Catmint Nepeta species and hybrids
Thyme, Thymus species
Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Russian Sage Perovskia hybrids and varieties
Sage, Salvia officianalis Mexican Petunia Ruellia brittoniana
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum
Oregano, Oreganum species Texas Sage* Salvia greggii
Mint Marigold, Tagetes lucida Anise Sage Salvia guaranitica
Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare
Anise Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum Mexican Bush Sage Salvia leucantha
Southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum Purple Heart Setcreasia purpurea
Mexican Oregano, Poliomentha longiflora
French or Spanish Lavender, Lavandula stoechas ‘Fireworks’ Goldenrod* Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
Lavender Cotton, Santolina chamaecyparissus and S. virens Lamb's Ear Stachys byzantina
Also, annual herbs such as basil, parsley, and perilla Society Garlic Tuhlbughia violacea
make great additions to containers or bedding displays! Prickly Pear * Opuntia species7
A N N UA L S
Frequently Damaged
ZONING
Common Name Scientific Name
DEER OUT
Celosia Celosia argentea
OF THE
Impatiens Impatiens species LANDSCAPE
Sweet Potato Ipomoea batatas
Sometimes there are plants you just want to grow no matter
Johnny Jump Ups Viola tricolor what. Maybe it was one of your mother’s favorites or some-
thing that reminds you of a special occasion in your life. What
Pansies Viola x wittrockiana
happens if you have deer problems and one of your ‘can’t live
without it’ plants happens to be a deer favorite? Fencing off
Occasionally Damaged you entire yard can be very expensive, while constantly reap-
plying repellents soon becomes a time consuming task.
Common Name Scientific Name
One approach creative gardeners have borrowed from the
Flowering Kale Brasscia oleacea xeriscape concept is to divide the landscape into zones. Deer
Sunflowers Helianthus annuus prone plants are only planted in areas closest to the house,
that are easiest to manage intensely. This zone is either
Moss Rose, Purslane Portulaca species protected from deer by fencing or regular application of
Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia repellents. In the area fartherest away from the house only
highly deer resistant plants are used. In the mid-zone, or
area between, less resistant plants can be used with the
Seldom Damaged understanding that they may receive occasional damage.
Common Name Scientific Name
Ageratum Ageratum houstonianum
Snapdragons Antirrhinum majus
BU L B S
Begonia Begonia semperflorens
Frequently Damaged
Ornamental Peppers Capsicum species Tulips and Crocus are deer favorites! Neither perennialize
Cleome Cleome hassleriana well in this area and should be treated like annuals. Summer
blooming Lilies are also frequently eaten by deer.
Coleus Solenostemon scutellariodes
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Occasionally Damaged
Grape Hyacinths (Muscari species) and
Polka Dot Plant Hypoestes phyllostachya
Dahlias are both occasionally browsed by
Melampodium Melampodium padulosum deer. Both perennialize fairly well in south-
eastern North Carolina.
Pentas Pentas lanceolata
Mexican Oregano Plectranthus species Seldom Damaged
Mealycup Sage Salvia farinacea Many of the bulbs that come back reliably
year after year in this area are also deer
Marigold Tagetes species resistant. Spring blooming perennial bulbs
Curry Plant Helichrysum angustifolium include Daffodils, Summer Snowflake
(Leucojum aestivalis), Amaryllis, Scillas, and
Vinca Catharanthus roseus Ornamental Onions (Allium species).
Dusty Miller Senecio cineraria Deer resistant summer blooming perennial
bulbs include Agapanthus, Crinum Lilies, Crocosmias,
Zinnias Zinnia species Oxalis, Colchicum, and Hardy Cyclamen
Petunias Petunia species (Cyclamen hederifolium).8
LEARN MORE!
The following online resources can help you learn more about how to
manage deer and reduce damage:
NCSU Wildlife Publication—Deer
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/pdf/wildl
Designing for Deer Resistance, Jeff Chorba Design
http://home.ptd.net/~jchorba/green1.htm ife/DEER.PDF
Deer Control Options, ATTRA factsheet
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/deercontrol.html
For More Information
about the plants listed and other garden and landscape topics:
WEBSITES
For more detailed information about each plant and to see images, visit the Plant Fact Sheets on the NC Cooperative
Extension Consumer Horticulture website: www.ncstate-plants.net
More fact sheets of recommended plants and other local garden and landscape information is available from the Pender
County Cooperative Extension website at http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu.
VISIT US!
If you have questions about plant selection and maintenance, lawn care, vegetable gardening or plant pest problems, call or
visit your local North Carolina Cooperative Extension office. The Pender County Cooperative Extension Center is
located at 801 South Walker Street in Burgaw. Our office hours are 8am—5pm, Monday—Friday. Contact us by telephone
at (910) 259-6361. For residents of other counties in North Carolina, find out how to contact your local
Cooperative Extension office at http://ces.ncsu.edu.
Prepared by:
Charlotte Glen, Extension Agent
Agriculture—Horticulture
North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Pender County Center
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