Deer are known for their graceful beauty, but they can also be a pesky problem for gardeners when they nibble on prized plants. But fear not! With a palette of strong and resilient shrubs, your landscape can thrive and withstand the relentless onslaught of these four-legged foragers. Elevate your landscape while keeping the deer at bay with our curated list of deer-resistant shrubs:
Abelia is a true warrior against hungry herbivores with tough, leathery leaves and fragrant blooms that double as a deer deterrent. Suntastic™ Peach Abelia shines with variegated foliage that features shades of green, yellow, and peach and has a compact growth habit that doesn’t require regular pruning.
Holly is notorious for thick, pointed leaves that are often spiky, making many beautiful varieties unappealing to deer. The berries can also cause stomach discomfort when eaten, so deer typically avoid them. Oakland® Holly adds unique texture and visual interest to the landscape with a dense, pyramidal form and distinct oak-shaped leaves.
Deer prefer softer, more tender plants, which can make groundcovers an enticing buffet—but not Loropetalum! While many Loropetalum varieties can tower at ten feet or higher, Purple Pixie® Loropetalum is a stunning low-growing deer-resistant groundcover, with vivid purple foliage consists of thick and leathery coin-shaped leaves. This variety’s creeping habit can create a natural barrier, protecting delicate plants and prized plantings, and reaching just 1-2 feet at maturity, it’s an ideal.
Nandina foliage adds visual interest to the landscape with multi-colored hues, but it also has a bitter taste, making it a shrub that deer will want to steer clear of. Blush Pink™ Nandina stuns with brightly colored emerging foliage that matures to deep green. Planted en masse, Blush Pink™ can create a breathtaking display as a groundcover or low hedge that deer will want to avoid.
While gardenia blooms emit a scent that is heavenly to humans, it’s a fragrance that deer are not fond of. ScentAmazing® Gardenia reblooms from spring to fall when deer are most active. The dual combination of blooms and thick, waxy leaves make gardenias a picturesque powerhouse for deterring deer.
Don’t let deer turn your meticulously curated garden into a nibbled wasteland. Plant shrubs that not only offer visual appeal but also possess natural defenses against browsing. By prioritizing plant species that appeal to humans, not their four-legged friends, you can create a beautiful garden that even the most determined deer CAN resist.
