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Deer-Resistant Shrubs

The right shrubs give you structure deer leave alone. These are the shrubs rated A or B for deer resistance — boxwood, barberry, bayberry, spirea and more. All 103 are listed below, with hardiness zones.

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PlantBotanical nameType / zonesDeer rating
Anthony Waterer Spirea 🦌Spiraea x bumaldaShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Armstrong Juniper 🦌Juniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'ShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Arrowwood Viburnum 🦌Viburnum dentatumShrubsZ3–8A Rarely damaged
Autumn Olive 🦌Elaeagnus umbellatusShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Barberry 🦌Berberis sp.ShrubsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Bayberry 🦌Myrica pensylvanicaShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Bearberry Cotoneaster 🦌Cotoneaster dammeriShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Beautyberry 🦌Callicarpa sp.ShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Beautybush 🦌Kolkwitzia amabilisShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Blackhaw Viburnum 🦌Viburnum prunifoliumShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged
Blue Mist Shrub 🦌Caryopteris clandonensisShrubsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
Blue Star Juniper 🦌Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'ShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Blueberry Elder, Sweet Elder 🦌Sambucus canadensisShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged
Bog Rosemary 🦌Andromeda polifoliaShrubsZ2–6B Seldom damaged
Brambles 🦌Rubus sp.ShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged
Bridalwreath Spirea 🦌Spiraea prunifoliaShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Broom 🦌Cytisus sp.ShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Buckthorn 🦌Rhammus sp.ShrubsZ2–8B Seldom damaged
Bush Cinquefoil 🦌Potentilla fruticosaShrubsZ2–7A Rarely damaged
Butterfly Bush 🦌Buddleia sp.ShrubsZ5–9A Rarely damaged
California Sweetshrub 🦌Calycanthus occidentalisShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Carolina Silverbell 🦌Halesia carolinaShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Cherry Laurel 🦌Prunus laurocerasusShrubsZ6–8B Seldom damaged
Chinese Holly 🦌Ilex cornutaShrubsZ7–9B Seldom damaged
Chinese Juniper 🦌Juniperus chinensis cv.ShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged
Coast Leucothoe 🦌Leucothoe axillarisShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Common Boxwood 🦌Buxus sempervirensShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Common Lilac 🦌Syringa vulgarisShrubsZ3–7B Seldom damaged
Common Sweetshrub 🦌Calycanthus floridusShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Common Witchhazel 🦌Hamamelis virginianaShrubsZ3–8B Seldom damaged
Coralberry 🦌Symphoricarpos x chenaultiiShrubsZ4–7B Seldom damaged
Cranberry Bush 🦌Viburnum opulusShrubsZ3–8B Seldom damaged
Cranberry Cotoneaster 🦌Cotoneaster apiculatusShrubsZ4–7B Seldom damaged
Crape Myrtle 🦌Lagerstroemia indicaShrubsZ6–10B Seldom damaged
Creeping Juniper 🦌Juniperus horizontalis cv.ShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged
Currant 🦌Ribes sp.ShrubsZ3–8B Seldom damaged
Daphne 🦌Daphne sp.ShrubsZ4–8A Rarely damaged
Deutzia 🦌Deutzia sp.ShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Devil's Walking Stick 🦌Aralia spinosaShrubsZ4–9A Rarely damaged
Doublefile Viburnum 🦌Viburnum plicatum tomentosurnShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Drooping Leucothoe 🦌Leucothoe fontanesianaShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Dwarf Balsam Fir 🦌Abies balsameaShrubsZ3–6B Seldom damaged
English Holly 🦌Ilex aquifoliumShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Firethorn 🦌Pyracantha coccineaShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Forsythia 🦌Forsythia x intermediaShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Fothergillia 🦌Fothergila sp.ShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Fragrant Sumac 🦌Rhus aromaticaShrubsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Glossy Abelia 🦌Abelia sp.ShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Goldust Plant 🦌Aucuba japonicaShrubsZ6–10B Seldom damaged
Harlequin Glorybower 🦌Clerodendrum fargesiiShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Hazelnut 🦌Corylus sp.ShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Heath 🦌Erica sp.ShrubsZ5–7A Rarely damaged
Heather 🦌Calliuna sp.ShrubsZ4–7A Rarely damaged
Holly Osmanthus 🦌Osmanthus heterophyllusShrubsZ6–9B Seldom damaged
Inkberry 🦌Ilex glabraShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Japanese Flowering Quince 🦌Chaenomeles japonicaShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Japanese Garden Juniper 🦌Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'ShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Japanese Kerria 🦌Kerria japonicaShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Japanese Pieris, Andromeda 🦌Pieris japonicaShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Japanese Plum Yew 🦌Cephalotaxus harringtoniaShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Japanese Skimmia 🦌Skimmia japonicaShrubsZ6–8A Rarely damaged
Japanese Spirea 🦌Spiraea japonicaShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Japanese Tree Lilac 🦌Syringa reticulataShrubsZ3–7B Seldom damaged
John T. Morris Holly 🦌Ilex x 'John T. Morris'ShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Judd Viburnum 🦌Viburnum x juddiiShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Koreanspice Viburnum 🦌Viburnum carlesiiShrubsZ4–7B Seldom damaged
Leatherleaf Mahonia 🦌Mahonia bealeiShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Leatherleaf Viburnum 🦌Viburnum rhytidophyllumShrubsZ5–8B Seldom damaged
Lydia Morris Holly 🦌Ilex x 'Lydia Morris'ShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Moonglow Juniper 🦌Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'ShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Mountain Juniper 🦌Juniperus scopulorum cv.ShrubsZ3–7B Seldom damaged
Mountain Pieris 🦌Pieris floribundaShrubsZ4–6A Rarely damaged
Mugo Pine 🦌Pinus mugoShrubsZ2–7B Seldom damaged
Oregon Grape Holly 🦌Mahonia aquifoliumShrubsZ5–8A Rarely damaged
Pfitzer Juniper 🦌Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzerana'ShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Prince of Wales Juniper 🦌Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales'ShrubsZ3–9A Rarely damaged
Privet 🦌Ligustrurn sp.ShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Pyrenees Cotoneaster 🦌Cotoneaster congestusShrubsZ6–8B Seldom damaged
Red Chokeberry 🦌Aronia arbutifoliaShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Red Elderberry 🦌Sambucus racemosaShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Red Osier Dogwood 🦌Cornus sericeaShrubsZ2–7B Seldom damaged
Red Twigged Dogwood 🦌Cornus albaShrubsZ2–8B Seldom damaged
Redvein Enkianthus 🦌Enkianthus campanulatusShrubsZ4–7B Seldom damaged
Rockspray Cotoneaster 🦌Cotoneaster horizontalisShrubsZ5–7B Seldom damaged
Rose of Sharon 🦌Hibiscus syriacusShrubsZ5–9B Seldom damaged
Russian Cypress 🦌Microbiota decussataShrubsZ3–7A Rarely damaged
Russian Olive 🦌Elaeagnus angustifoliaShrubsZ2–7A Rarely damaged
Saucer Magnolia 🦌Magnolia x soulangianaShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Savin/Tam Juniper 🦌Juniperus sabin cv.ShrubsZ3–7B Seldom damaged
Sea Buckthorn 🦌Hippophae rhamnoidesShrubsZ3–8B Seldom damaged
Singleseed Juniper 🦌Juniperus squamata cv.ShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Smokebush 🦌Cotinus coggygriaShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Snowberry 🦌Symphoricarpos albusShrubsZ3–7B Seldom damaged
Spicebush 🦌Lindera benzoinShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
St. John's Wort 🦌Hypericum prolificumShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Sweet Box 🦌Sarcoccoca hookerianaShrubsZ6–9A Rarely damaged
Sweet Mock Orange 🦌Philadelphus coronariusShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Sweet Pepperbush 🦌Clethra sp.ShrubsZ4–9B Seldom damaged
Virginia Sweetspire 🦌Itea virginicaShrubsZ5–9B Seldom damaged
Weigela 🦌Weigela floridaShrubsZ4–8B Seldom damaged
Willowleaf Cotoneaster 🦌Cotoneaster salicifoliusShrubsZ6–8B Seldom damaged
Winterberry Holly 🦌Ilex verticillataShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged
Youngstown Andorra Juniper 🦌Juniperus horizontalis 'Youngstown'ShrubsZ3–9B Seldom damaged

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