Deer Resistant Plants
Woody plants rarely damaged may include:
Berberis spp. (Barberry)
Buxus sempervirens (Common boxwood)
Picea pungens (Colorado blue spruce)
Forsythia spp. (Forsythia)
Herbaceous plants & perennial flowers that are rarely damaged may include:
Allium spp. (Allium)
Dicentra spp. (Bleeding heart)
Dendranthema spp. (Chrysanthemum)
Aquilegia spp. (Columbine)
Coreopsis spp. (Coreopsis)
Digitalis spp. (Foxglove)
Liatris spicata (Gay-feather)
Iris spp. (Iris)
Lavandula anustifolia (Lavender)
Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-valley)
Lupinus polyphyllus (Lupine)
Narcissus spp. (Narcissus)
Lychnis (campion)
Salvia spp. (Sage)
Achillea spp. (Yarrow)
Other plants that are seldom damaged may include:
Cornus sericea (Red osier dogwood)
Calastrus scandens (American bittersweet)
Fagus (Beech)
Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust)
Juniperus chinensis (Chinese junipers)
Syringa vulgaris (Common lilac)
Juniperus virginiana (E. red cedar)
Pinus resinosa (Red pine)
These plant names are on lists that also include Pinus resinosa (Red pine), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Cornus florida (Flowering dogwood), Picea abies (Norway spruce), and Tulipa spp. (Tulip), as seldom damaged by deer. However, these species are consumed vigorously by deer in Michigan especially in winter. Therefore, beware of any list indicating plants seldom damaged by deer. Deer, especially hungry deer, will browse on almost any plantthat is well fertilized, watered, and mulched.
Woody Plants - Occasionally Damaged:
Common name (Botanical name)
Basswood (Tilia spp.)
American Basswood (Tilia americana)
Greenspire Linden (Tilia cordata 'Greenspire')
Border Forsythia (Forsythis x intermedia 'Lynwood')
Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
Cranberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus)
Rockspray Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
Goldflame Honeysuckle L(onicera x heckrottii)
Hollies
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
China Boy Holly (Ilex x meserveae'China Boy')
China Girl Holly (Ilex x meserveae'China Girl')
Hydrangeas
Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens)
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
Paniculated Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
Japanese Flowering Quince ( Chaenomeles japonica)
Lilacs (Syringa spp.)
Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa x reticulata)
Late Lilac (Syringa villosa)
Persian Lilac (Syringa x persica)
Maples
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Panicled Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Pears (Pyrus spp.)
Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana'Bradford')
Common Pear (Pyrus communis)
Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
Rhododendrons
Deciduous Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)
Carolina Rhododendron (Rhododendron carolinianum)
Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Roses (Rosa spp.)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)
Serviceberries
Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)
Smokebush ( Cotinus coggygria)
Oaks (Quercus spp.)
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Spiraea
Anthony Waterer Spiraea (Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer')
Bridalwreath Spiraea (Spiraea prunifolia)
Staghom Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium)
Sweet Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)
Viburnums
Judd Viburnum (Viburnum x juddi)
Leather leaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum)
Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum)
Koreanspice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Weigela (Weigela florida)
White Fir (Abies concolor)
Willows (Salix spp.)
Woody Plants - Frequently Damaged:
Common name (Botanical Name)
Apples (Malus spp.)
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
Cherries (Prunus spp.)
Clematis (Clematis spp.)
Cornelian Dogwood (Cornus mas)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Hybrid Tea Rose (Rosa x hybrida)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Peaches (Prunus persica)
Plums (Prunus spp.)
Rhododendrons (Rhododendrons spp.)
Catawba Rhododendrons (Rhododendron catawbiense)
Evergreen Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)
Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei radicans)
Yews (Taxus spp.)
English Yew (Taxus baccata)
Western Yew (Taxus brevifolia)
Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)
English/Japanese Hybrid Yew (Taxus x media)
© Copyright 2008-2012 Thornapple River Nursery . 8080 28th Street . Ada, MI 49301 . Phone: (616) 676-0102 . Fax: (616) 676-1599 . info@thornapplerivernursery.com
