Fact Sheet 655

Damage to ornamental plants by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hasincreased during the past decade. Thisincrease is attributed to: 1) rising deerpopulations; 2) human populations shiftingto rural and suburban homesites; 3) loss ofdeer habitat to development; and 4) land-owner decisions to prevent deer hunting.

The best approach to managing deerdamage is a wildlife damage managementplan, which includes careful monitoring ofany one of, or a combination of, thefollowing strategies: population management,fencing, repellents/scare tactics, or vegetationmanagement. An in-depth description of alloptions is found in Extension bulletin 354,“Managing Deer Damage in Maryland,”available at your local Maryland CooperativeExtension office. This fact sheet deals withaspects of vegetation management inresidential applications.

In the short run, damage to ornamentalplants is largely irreversible. Damage,particularly in suburban areas with good-quality deer habitat, probably will increase.

However, by planting ornamentals not favoredby deer, landscapers and homeowners canattempt to preserve vulnerable landscapes.

Deer Feeding HabitsDeer feed selectively on fertilized and

unfertilized landscape plantings and managedcroplands. Costly browsing damage may bereduced or eliminated by planting less-preferred species or by establishing susceptibleplants only in protected areas. A few strategiesto consider include planting susceptible plantsclose to the house or in a fenced yard, orplanting preferred species inside a protectivering of less-preferred species. Under mostcircumstances, landscaping based on aknowledge of deer feeding preferencesprovides an alternative to expensive chemicalrepellents and unsightly physical barriers.

Whether deer will target a particular plantspecies or variety depends on their previoushabits and nutritional needs, plantpalatability, seasonal factors, weatherconditions, geographic area, and availabilityof alternative foods. Deer are creatures ofhabit, and previous movement patterns orforaging experiences can determine wheredamage will occur. Also, one plant speciesmay be rarely damaged in one region of thecountry, but highly preferred in another dueto differences in deer pressure and otherfactors. Examples of species with notedregional differences include holly, white pine,and deciduous magnolias. Therefore, cautionmust be taken when using plant preferencelists from areas outside your own.

In general, damage from browsing is mostsevere when snow cover or extreme cold has

Wildlife Damage Management

Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage

WDMPOPULATION

MANAGEMENT

FENCING REPELLENTS/SCARE TACTICS

VEGETATIONMANAGEMENT

(with careful monitoring)

reduced food availability. Another problemtime is early spring when young succulentgrowth of ornamentals provides attractivebrowse before other spring growth is available.When food is in short supply, deer will browseeven the most undesirable plants. Under suchconditions, landscapers should combine otherdamage control measures with careful plantselection. Information on repellents, physicalbarriers (fencing), and deer population controlare available from Maryland CooperativeExtension and the Maryland Department ofNatural Resources Wildlife Division.Ultimately, reducing the deer herd size is themost effective solution.

Plant Damage ListThe following list contains many

ornamental plants adaptable to Marylandlandscapes and notes their susceptibility todeer damage. This information is useful bothto select plants that are unlikely to be damagedby deer and to identify those ornamentals thatfrequently require protection. Four categorieswere created: Rarely Damaged, Seldom Damaged,Occasionally Damaged, and Frequently Damaged.The placement of plants in these categories isbased on the experiences of nursery operators,landscape contractors and designers, MarylandCooperative Extension personnel, research

staff, and professional horticulturists. Theinformation derives from personalcommunications, published articles, andunpublished reports. Please note that deer-browsing resistance of a plant species changesaccording to fluctuations in deer populations,alternative food availability, andenvironmental factors. No plant is safe underall conditions.

This is an evolving list and any suggestionfor additions and changes can be sent to thefollowing address: Fact Sheet 655, MarylandCooperative Extension, 18330 KeedysvilleRoad, Keedysville, MD 21756-1104.

Plants listed in the Rarely Damagedcategory are eaten infrequently by deer andare the best candidates for damage-pronelandscapes. Deer sometimes feed onornamentals listed as Seldom Damaged, butthe browsing is usually minor and generallydoes not detract from the shape orattractiveness of the plant. The categoryOccasionally Damaged includes plants thatcan be severely damaged by deer. Finally,deer prefer ornamentals in the categoryFrequently Damaged. These plants oftenrequire physical or chemical protection.Before planting any of the species listed,check to ensure that they suit local climaticand soil conditions.

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Rarely DamagedBotanical Name Common Name

Trees

Aesculus parviflora Bottlebrush BuckeyeAmelanchier arborea Downy ServiceberryAmelanchier canadensis ShadbushAmelanchier laevis Allegheny ServiceberryBetula albo-sinensis Chinese Paper BirchBetula nigra ‘ Heritage’ Heritage BirchBetula papyrifera Paper BirchChamaecyparis pisifera Japanese FalsecypressCryptomeria japonica Japanese CedarIlex x aquipernyi ‘Dragon Lady’ Dragon Lady HollyIlex x aquipernyi ‘ San Jose’ San Jose HollyPicea pungens glauca Colorado Blue SprucePinus sylvestris Scotch PinePseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir

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Shrubs and Climbers

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi BearberryAsimina triloba PawpawBerberis spp. BarberryBuxus spp. BoxwoodCaryopteris x clandonensis CaryopterisCalastrus scandens American BittersweetCornus sericea Red Osier DogwoodCephalotaxus harringtonia var. koreana Japanese Plum-YewElaeagnus angustifolia Russian OliveGaultheria procumbens Creeping WintergreenGaultheria shallon ShallonHibiscus syriacus Rose of SharonIlex x ‘John T. Morris’ John T. Morris HollyIlex x ‘Lydia Morris’ Lydia Morris HolliesLeucothoe spp. LeucothoeLigustrum vulgare European PrivetPieris japonica Japanese AndromedaRhamnus cathartica Common BuckthornSambucus canadensis Blueberry ElderSarcoccoca hookeriana var. humilis Dwarf Sweet Christmas Box

Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs

Achillea spp. YarrowAconitum spp. MonkshoodAgeratum houstonianum AgeratumAllium christophii Star of PersiaAllium neapolitanum Daffodil GarlicAllium ostrowskianum Lily LeekAnemone x hybrida Japanese AnemoneAnemonella thalictroides Rue AnemoneAnethum graveolens Common DillAquilegia spp. ColumbineAurinia saxatilis Basket-of-GoldAntirrhinum majus SnapdragonArabis spp. Rock-cressArisaema triphylum Jack-in-the-PulpitAubrietia deltoidea Rock CressBergenia spp. BerginiaCeratostigma plumbaginoides PlumbagoCimicifuga racemosa SnakerootColchicum autumnale ColchicumColchicum speciosum ColchicumConsolida ambigua LarkspurConvallaria majalis Lily-of-the-valleyCoreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ Threadleaf CoreopsisCyclamen hederifolium Neopolitan CyclamenDicentra spectabilis Bleeding HeartDigitalis spp. FoxgloveDryopteris marginalis Wood FernEcinacea purpurea Purple ConeflowerEpimedium spp. BarrenwortEuphorbia spp. EuphorbiaFritillaria spp. FritillaryGalium odoratuim Sweet WoodruffGloriosa superba Glory Lily

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Hemmerocallis ‘ Stella de Oro’ Stella de Oro DaylilyHesperis matronalis Dame’s RocketHyacinthus orientalis HyacinthLamium maculatum DeadnettleLavandula spp. LavenderLinaria vulgaris ToadflaxLobularia maritima Sweet AlyssumLychnis coronaria Rose ChampionMatteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich FernNarcissus spp. DaffodilNicotiana spp. Flowering TobaccoOnoclea sensibilis Sensitive FernOsmunda regalis var. spectabilis Royal FernPachysandra procumbens Allegheny SpurgePachysandra terminalis Japanese SpurgePapaver orientale Oriental PoppyPelargonium spp. Scented GeraniumPervoskia atriplicifolia Russian SageRanunculus spp. ButtercupRheum rhabarbarum RhubarbRudbeckia spp. ConeflowerSalvia spp. SageSantolina chamaecyparissus Lavender CottonScilla spp. SquillStachys byzantina Lamb’s EarsTagetes spp. MarigoldTanacetum vulgare Common TansyThymus spp. ThymeTiarella cordifolia Foam FlowerTropaeolum majus NasturtiumYucca spp. Yucca

Seldom DamagedBotanical Name Common Name

Trees

Ammelanchier canadensis ShadbushBetula pendula European White BirchCornus florida Flowering DogwoodCornus kousa Korean DogwoodCrataegus laevigata English HawthornFagus sylvatica European BirchGleditsia triacanthos Honey LocustIlex opaca American HollyLindera benzoin SpicebushPicea abies Norway SprucePicea glauca White SprucePinus nigra Austrian PinePinus mugo Mugo PinePinus resinosa Red PinePinus rigida Pitch PinePrunus serrulata Japanese Flowering CherrySalix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’ Corkscrew WillowSassafras albidum Common Sassafras

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Shrubs and Climbers

Buddleia spp. Butterfly BushCalycanthus occidentalis California SweetshrubCeanothus spp. CheonothusChoisya ternata Mexican OrangeCistus spp. Rock RoseCornus sanguinea Bloodtwig DogwoodDaphne spp. DaphneEnkianthus campanulatus Redvein EnkianthusForsythia spp. ForsythiaHippophae rhamnoides Sea BuckthornIlex glabra InkberryJasminum nudiflorum Winter JasmineJuniperus chinensis Chinese JuniperKerria japonica Japanese KerriaKolwitzia amabilis Beauty BushLaurus nobilis LaurelLonicera spp. HoneysuckleMahonia spp. Grape HollyMyrica pensylvanica BayberryNandina spp. Heavenly bambooOsmanthus heterophyllus Holly OsmanthusPhiladelphus spp. Mock OrangePrunus laurocerasus Cherry LaurelRibes spp. CurrantSpirea spp. SpireaSyringa villosa Late LilacSyringa vulgaris Common LilacViburnum juddii Judd ViburnumViburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf ViburnumViburnum carlesii Koreanspice ViburnumViburnum plicatum Doublefile ViburnumWeigela florida Old Fashion Weigela

Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs

Agapanthus spp. Lily-of-the-NileAlcea spp. HollyhockArtemisia spp. WormwoodAruncus dioicus Goat’s BeardAsarum spp. GingerAster spp. AsterAstilbe spp. AstilbeBegonia spp. BegoniaChrysanthemum spp. ChrysanthemumCoreopsis spp. TickweedCrocosmia hybrids MontbretiaDelphinium spp. DelphiniumHelleborus niger Christmas RoseHelleborus orientalis Lenten RoseHypericum spp. St. John’s-wortIris spp. IrisKniphofia spp. Red Hot PokerLantana spp. LantanaLilium tigrinum Tiger LilyLobelia spp. LobeliaLupinus spp. Lupine

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Mentha spp. MintNepeta spp. CatmintOphiopogon japonicus Dwarf Mondo GrassOxalis spp. SorrelPotentilla spp. PotentillaRomneya coulteri Californian Tree PoppyTiarella spp. FoamflowerUmbellularia californica California LaurelVeronica spp. VeronicaZinnia spp. Zinnia

Occasionally DamagedBotanical Name Common Name

Trees

Abies concolor White FirAbies fraseri Fraser FirAcer griseum Paperbark MapleAcer palmatum/green-leaved only Japanese MapleAcer rubrum Red MapleAcer saccharinum Silver MapleAcer saccharum Sugar MapleAesculus hippocastanum Horse ChestnutChamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic White CedarJuniperus virginiana Eastern Red CedarLarix decidua LarchLiquidambar styraciflua Sweet GumMichelia figo Banana ShrubMetasequoia glyptrostroboides Dawn RedwoodPseudolarix kaempferi Golden LarchPyrus calleryana Callery PearQuercus alba White OakQuercus prinus Chestnut OakQuercus rubra Red OakRhus typhina Staghorn sumacRobinia spp. LocustSalix spp. WillowSyringa reticulata Japanese Tree LilacTilia americana American LindenTilia cordata Littleleaf Linden

Shrubs and Climbers

Bambusa spp. BambooCampsis radicans Trumpet VineChaenomeles speciosa Japanese Flowering QuinceComus racemosa Panicled DogwoodCotinus coggygria/not purple-leaved Smoke BushCottoneaster spp. CottoneasterHamamelis spp. Witch HazelHydrangea arborescens Smooth HydrangeaHydrangea anomala petiolaris Climbing HydrangeaHydrangea paniculata Panicle HydrangeaIlex crenata Japanese HollyLonicera x heckrottii Goldflame HoneysuckleParthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper

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Pyracantha coccinea FirethornRhododendron spp./deciduous tree forms RhododendronRosa multiflora Multiflora RoseRosa rugosa Rugosa RoseSpirea x bulmada ‘Anthony Waterer’ Bumald SpireaSpirea prunifolia Bridalwreath SpireaSyringa x persica Persian LilacWisteria floribunda Japanese WisteriaViburnum opulus European Cranberry Bush

Frequently DamagedBotanical Name Common Name

Trees

Abies balsamea Balsam FirAcer palmatum/red-leaved varieties Japanese MapleAcer platanoides Norway MapleCedrus atlantica Atlas CedarCercis canadensis RedbudChionanthus virginicus Fringe Treex Cupressocyparis leylandii Leyland CypressFraxinus excelsior European AshIlex ‘Nellie Stevens’ Nellie Stevens HollyKuelreutaria paniculata Goldenrain TreeMagnolia soulangeana Saucer MagnoliaMalus spp. Apple and CrabapplePrunus spp. Cherry and PlumPinus strobus White PinePyrus spp. PearThuja occidentalis ArborvitaeTsuga spp. Hemlock

Shrubs and Climbers

Chaenomeles japonica QuinceClematis spp. ClematisCornus mas Cornellian Cherry DogwoodEuonymus alatus Winged EuonymusEuonymus fortunei WintercreeperHydrangea macrophylla Bigleaf HydrangeaHydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf HydrangeaIlex cornuta Chinese HollyIlex x merserveae Merserve HollyIlex verticillata Common WinterberryKalmia latifolia Mountain LaurelRhododendron austrinum Florida AzaleaRhododeneron nudiflorum (periclymenoides) Pinksterbloom AzaleaRhododendron vaseyl Pink Shell AzaleaRhododendron hybrids Evergreen Azaleas & RhododendronRosa hybrids Hybrid RosesRubus spp. Blackberry & RaspberrySorbus aucupatia European Mountain AshSyringa patula Manchurian LilacTaxus spp. YewVaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry

Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage

byPrepared by

Jonathan S. KaysRegional Extension Natural Resource Specialist

Western Maryland Research and Education Center

Michael V. BartlettLandscape Designer Bethesda, Maryland

Lisa CurtisAssociate Professor

Department of Biology/HorticulturePrince George’s Community College

Reviewed byRussell J. Balge, Ph.D.

Regional Extension SpecialistCommercial Horticulture

Western Maryland Research and Education Center

V2003

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park,and local governments. Thomas A. Fretz, Director of Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland.

The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University’s policies, programs, and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondis-crimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil RightsAct of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal require-ments should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742.

Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs

Aegopodium podagaria Bishop’s WeedAthyrium niponicum var. pictum Japanese Painted FernCherianthus spp. WallflowerHedera helix English IvyHelianthus spp. SunflowerHosta spp. HostaHemerocallis spp. & hybrids DaylilyIberis sempervirens CandytuftLilium spp. LilyMatthiola incarna StockPelargonium spp. GeraniumPolygonatum biflorum Solomon’s SealRanunculus asiaticus ButtercupTrillium spp. TrilliumVinca minor PeriwinkleViola spp. Pansies & Violas

ReferencesFargione, M.J., P.D. Curtis, and M.E. Richmond. 1991. “Resistance of Woody Ornamental Plants

to Deer Damage.” Publication No. 147HGFS800.00. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.Bartlett, Michael. 1995. “Deer Resistant Plants.” Bethesda, MD: Landscape Designs.Gibbs, D. 1995. “Deer Resistant Plants for the Home Landscape.” Chevy Chase, MD: Maryland-

National Capitol Park and Planning Commission.

AcknowledgmentsSpecial thanks to M.J. Fargione, P.D. Curtis, and M.E. Richmond, whose Cornell Cooperative

Extension Publication (No. 147HGFS800.00), "Resistance of Woody Ornamentals to DeerDamage," provided the framework for this publication.