11 Deer-Resistant Shrubs That Will Protect Your Garden From Grazing

Alpine Currant 'Green Mound'

Compact, deep green Alpine Currant "Green Mound" (Ribes alpinum 'Green Mound') is Tegland's go-to foundation plant. "This shrub does really well in the shade," she says. "It'll also stay nice and compact with a little pruning. I've almost never seen a deer eat it."

• Zones: 2 to 7
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-draining soil; tolerates some drought

Arborvitae 'American'

Unlike many arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis doesn't appeal to most deer. A natural for backdrops and borders, it grows in a trim, vertical shape you can use to create a dense hedgerow or living fence, Coker says.

• Zones: 2 to 7
• Size: 20 to 40 feet tall x 10 to 15 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun (with afternoon shade in hot climates and in summer) to part shade; well-draining soils with medium moisture (but will tolerate clay soil); avoid exposed, windy sites

Native Barberry

A favorite with our experts, barberry (Berberis spp.) has thorns that deer tend to avoid. "It's trickier for pruning because of the thorns, but there are some really great barberries out there in a lot of different colors, so you can use them in a lot of different spots," Tegland says.

Several types of barberry naturally remain small, Coker adds. "These dwarf varieties won't grow into towering, thorny giants that are difficult to prune." Also, be sure that the barberry you plant is non-invasive in your area.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 2 to 10 feet tall x 3 to 9 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Boxwood

Beautiful boxwood (Buxus) contains alkaloids that are distasteful to deer. The stuff of hedges and elaborate topiaries, boxwood also makes a great foundation shrub because it stays green all year round, remains compact, and likes full shade, says Tegland. In her region, USDA Zone 4, keeping these broadleaf evergreens close to the house also helps protect them from winter sun and wind. 

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 2 to 20 feet tall x 2 to 20 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun (with dappled shade in hotter regions); evenly moist, well-draining soil

Butterfly Bush

Ornamental, hardy, and self-reliant, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) brings the whole package to a landscape. Coker likes its range of bloom colors, including blues, purples, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and whites. And while humans and pollinators love this deciduous shrub's fragrance, which ranges from honey to lilac, it's a turn-off to deer. Of note: A prolific reseeder, butterfly bush is considered a noxious weed in some regions.

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: 3 to 12 feet tall x 3 to 8 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

Crape Myrtle

What good Southerner wouldn't give a shout-out to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)? This shrub graces parks, landscapes, and highways throughout the region with showy blooms from July to September. Coker's a fan, especially of dark-leaf cultivars like 'Delta Jazz' and 'Sequoyah.' Most varieties put on gorgeous fall color shows, too. 

• Zones: 6 to 9
• Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 6 to 20 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; medium-moisture, well-draining soil
  

Russian Cypress

Also known as Siberian Arborvitae, ground-hugging Microbiota decussate is a go-to for Tegland on hillsides and among boulders. An evergreen, it has soft, fine-textured, olive-green foliage that turns mahogany brown in the fall. It's wind tolerant and does well in sun or shade. Better still: "I've never seen a deer eat one," she says.

• Zones: 3 to 7
• Size: 8 to 12 inches tall x 5 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun or partial shade; well-draining soil without standing water

Spirea

Spiraea spp. comes in a range of colors and sizes, from big, old-fashioned bridal wreath (Spiraea prunifolia), with its cascading clusters of tiny white flowers, to tiny 'Golden Elf,' at just 6 to 8 inches tall. Depending on the species, spirea makes an elegant focal point or tidy accent shrub.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 6 inches to 15 feet tall x 1.5 inches to 20 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Stephanandra

Known for being deer-resistant, Stephanandra incisa yields showy white flowers, which bloom on coral stems among maple-like leaves on arching branches. In fall, leaves turn yellow and orange. It's a great choice in a rocky boulder area and it'll really hold a hillside for you, says Tegland.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size:1 to 3 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

Weeping White Pine

If you're looking for a conversation piece, this eye-catcher is the shrub for you. And while you can prune weeping white pine (Pinus strobus 'pendula') to keep it low, it will also grow tall enough to stand out all winter long, even in deep snow. "While the deer will eat a balsam fir, they almost never eat a white pine," says Tegland.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 15 to 20 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; prefers sandy, loamy, well-draining soil

Yucca

Evergreen, drought-tolerant yucca hangs tough all year round. While deer do savor its flowers, they avoid the sharp-tipped leaves—not a problem for most people, who value this superstar for its striking foliage, anyway. 

• Zones: 4 to 11
• Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 3 to 15 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full or partial sun; exceptionally well-draining soil