Seasonal Interest Landscape: A Unique Selection of Deer Resistant Shrubs

Can you have a beautiful garden without deer spray and fencing?  The answer is, yes!  This blog offers a beautiful selection of deer resistant shrubs. Expanding numbers of deer in suburban and urban areas result in herds eating food that they typically wouldn’t touch if our ecosystems were balanced.  Though deer are beautiful, the expanding populations are devouring under story plant growth. This upsets the natural ecosystem and reduces food and protection for small mammals and birds.  When choosing plants and flowers for your gardens, consider ones that feed birds and provide under story vegetation.  Penn State has an informative webinar called  Woods in Your Backyard , which guides homeowners in enhancing plant diversity to balance the impact of reduced woodlands from urban sprawl and development.  As we continue to support a healthy ecosystem and create outdoor spaces to enjoy, we want to be attentive to destruction from deer browsing. 

To help sort through all of the internet resources on deer resistant plans,  we’ve put together a list of ‘deer resistant’ shrubs divided by sun requirements and seasonal interest with links (click on picture) to websites for more growing information.   This is not an exhaustive list, but a selection of our favorites.  For detailed information on all types of deer resistant plants visit Cornell's Extension Website. 

SUN & PART SUN

LIGHT:  SUN AND PART SUN
​SEASON: SPRING
Daphne, Snowmound Spirea and Dwarf Nikko Deutzia

Carol Mackie Daphne Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'

Snowmound Spirea Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound'

Dwarf Nikko Deutzia Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko'

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LIGHT:  SUN AND PART SUN
​SEASON: SPRING & FALL
Winterthur Viburnum, Korean Spice Viburnum

Winterthur Viburnum

Korean Spice Viburnum

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LIGHT:  SUN / PART SUN
​SEASON: SUMMER
Coralberry (Proudberry by Proven Winners)

Proud Berry® Coral Berry Symphoricarpos sp.

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LIGHT: SUN / PART SUN
​SEASON: Winter Interest
​Winterberry

Berry Nice® Winterberry Holly Ilex verticillata 'Spriber'

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LIGHT: SUN / PART SUN
​SEASON: EVERGREEN
​Boxwood

Winter Gem Boxwood Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem'

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FULL SUN

LIGHT:  FULL SUN
​SEASON: SPRING
Lilac, Weigela

Korean Lilac Syringa pubescens subsp. patula

Dark Horse Weigela Weigela florida 'Dark Horse' Plant Patent #14,381

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LIGHT:  FULL SUN
​SEASON: SPRING / SUMMER / FALL
Spirea Double Play

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LIGHT: FULL SUN
​SEASON: EVERGREEN
All junipers:  Deer do not eat. 

Jazzy Jewel™ Andorra Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'MonGeo' Plant Patent #28,082

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FULL SHADE

LIGHT: PART SUN / SHADE 
​SEASON: SPRING / SUMMER / FALL
​Carolina Allspice

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LIGHT: PART SUN / SHADE / FULL SUN
​SEASON: SUMMER / FALL
Clethra, Chokeberry

Clethra

Chokeberry

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LIGHT: SHADE
​SEASON: Evergreen
Leucothoe (Broadleaf Evergreen), Japanese Plum Yew

Leucothoe

Japanese Plum Yew