Likelihood of Deer Damage on Trees and Shrubs
This list is only provided for general guidance in selecting plants based on their deer damage potential. Keep in mind that deer are “dietary generalists” and will eat just about anything if they are curious or hungry enough. Also, not all plants below are native to the US or Michigan and those that are both non-native and known to spread aggressively have been flagged.
Trees: Low Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Ash species - Fraxinus spp.
Beech, American - Fagus granidifolia
Birches - Betula spp.
Birch, Paper - Betula papyrifera
Birch, River - Betula nigra
Catalpa - Catalpa speciosa
Chestnut - Castenea dentata
Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba
Gum, Sweet - Liquidambar styraciflua
Hickory, Shagbark - Carya ovata
Ironwood - Ostrya virginiana
Larches - Larix spp.
Lilac, Tree - Syringa reticulata
Locust, Black - Robinia pseudoacacia *Not native to MI and can be very aggressive!
Locust, Honey - Gleditsia triacanthos
Pine, Austrian - Pinus nigra
Pine, Red - Pinus resinosa
Pine, Scotch - Pinus sylvestris
Redbud, Eastern - Cercis canadensis
Redcedar - Juniperus virginiana
Sassafras - Sassafras albidum
Spruce, Colorado - Picea pungens
Spruce, Norway - Picea abies
Spruce, White - Picea glauca
Sycamore - Platanus sycamore
Tuliptree - Liriodendron tulipifera
Trees: Moderate Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Basswood - Tilia Americana
Fir, Douglas - Pseudotsuga menziezee
Fir, White - Abies concolor
Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis
Horsechestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum
Maple, Red - Acer rubrum
Maple, Silver - Acer saccharinium
Maple, Sugar - Acer saccharum
Oak, Northern Red - Quercus rubra
Oak, White - Quercus alba
Willows - Salix spp.
Trees: High Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Aspens - Populus spp.
Cedar, Northern White (arborvitae) - Thuja occidentalis
Cherry, Black - Prunus serotina
Cherry, Choke - Prunus virginiana
Cherry, Pin - Prunus pensylvanica
Fir, Balsam - Abies balsamea
Maple, Norway - Acer platanoides *Not native to US and can be very aggressive!
Pine, Eastern White - Pinus strobus
Shrubs and Small Trees: Low Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Barberry, Common - Berberis vulgaris *Not native to US and can be very aggressive!
Blueberries - Vaccinium spp.
Boxwood, Common - Busux sempervirens
Butterflybush - Buddleia davidii
Dogwood, Flowering - Cornus florida
Dogwood, Kousa - Cornus kousa
Dogwood, Redosier - Cornus sericea
Hawthorns - Crataegus spp.
Hazelnut, American - Corylus Americana
Holly, American - Ilex opaca
Honeysuckle, American - Lonicera canadensis
Laurel, Mountain - Kalmia latifolia
Lilac, Common - Syringa vulgaris
Mountain Ash, American - Sorbus americana
Mulberries - Morus spp.
Rosemary, Bog - Andromeda polifolia
Sassafras - Sassafras albidum
Snowberry - Symphoricarpos albus
Spicebush - Lindera benzoin
Spireas - Spirea spp.
Sumacs - Rhus spp.
Shrubs and Small Trees: Moderate Chance of Deer Browse Damage
American Hornbeam - Carpinus caroliniana
Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis
Magnolias - Magnolia spp.
Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius
Rose, Rugosa - Rosa rugosa
Roses - Rosa spp.
Serviceberries - Amelanchier spp.
Viburnums - Viburnum spp.
Willows - Salix spp.
Witchhazel, American - Hamamelis virginiana
Shrubs and Small Trees: High Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Alders - Alnus spp.
Apples, Crabapples - Malus spp.
Blackberries - Rubus spp.
Cherries - Prunus spp.
Currants - Ribes spp.
Gooseberries - Ribes spp.
Maple, Mountain - Acer spicatum
Plums - Prunus spp.
Raspberries - Rubus spp.
Yew, Canada- Taxus canadensis
References
Resistance of Trees and Shrubs to Deer Damage: Jauron, Richard, 1997 [online]. Horticultural & Home Pest News.
Plants Not Favored by Browsing Deer: Nixon, Phil and Kris R. Bachtell, February 2000. “” The Landsculptor Online Plant Encyclopedia [online].
Preventing Deer Damage: Swift, C.E. and M.K. Gross, 2004.
Trees: Low Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Ash species - Fraxinus spp.
Beech, American - Fagus granidifolia
Birches - Betula spp.
Birch, Paper - Betula papyrifera
Birch, River - Betula nigra
Catalpa - Catalpa speciosa
Chestnut - Castenea dentata
Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba
Gum, Sweet - Liquidambar styraciflua
Hickory, Shagbark - Carya ovata
Ironwood - Ostrya virginiana
Larches - Larix spp.
Lilac, Tree - Syringa reticulata
Locust, Black - Robinia pseudoacacia *Not native to MI and can be very aggressive!
Locust, Honey - Gleditsia triacanthos
Pine, Austrian - Pinus nigra
Pine, Red - Pinus resinosa
Pine, Scotch - Pinus sylvestris
Redbud, Eastern - Cercis canadensis
Redcedar - Juniperus virginiana
Sassafras - Sassafras albidum
Spruce, Colorado - Picea pungens
Spruce, Norway - Picea abies
Spruce, White - Picea glauca
Sycamore - Platanus sycamore
Tuliptree - Liriodendron tulipifera
Trees: Moderate Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Basswood - Tilia Americana
Fir, Douglas - Pseudotsuga menziezee
Fir, White - Abies concolor
Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis
Horsechestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum
Maple, Red - Acer rubrum
Maple, Silver - Acer saccharinium
Maple, Sugar - Acer saccharum
Oak, Northern Red - Quercus rubra
Oak, White - Quercus alba
Willows - Salix spp.
Trees: High Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Aspens - Populus spp.
Cedar, Northern White (arborvitae) - Thuja occidentalis
Cherry, Black - Prunus serotina
Cherry, Choke - Prunus virginiana
Cherry, Pin - Prunus pensylvanica
Fir, Balsam - Abies balsamea
Maple, Norway - Acer platanoides *Not native to US and can be very aggressive!
Pine, Eastern White - Pinus strobus
Shrubs and Small Trees: Low Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Barberry, Common - Berberis vulgaris *Not native to US and can be very aggressive!
Blueberries - Vaccinium spp.
Boxwood, Common - Busux sempervirens
Butterflybush - Buddleia davidii
Dogwood, Flowering - Cornus florida
Dogwood, Kousa - Cornus kousa
Dogwood, Redosier - Cornus sericea
Hawthorns - Crataegus spp.
Hazelnut, American - Corylus Americana
Holly, American - Ilex opaca
Honeysuckle, American - Lonicera canadensis
Laurel, Mountain - Kalmia latifolia
Lilac, Common - Syringa vulgaris
Mountain Ash, American - Sorbus americana
Mulberries - Morus spp.
Rosemary, Bog - Andromeda polifolia
Sassafras - Sassafras albidum
Snowberry - Symphoricarpos albus
Spicebush - Lindera benzoin
Spireas - Spirea spp.
Sumacs - Rhus spp.
Shrubs and Small Trees: Moderate Chance of Deer Browse Damage
American Hornbeam - Carpinus caroliniana
Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis
Magnolias - Magnolia spp.
Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius
Rose, Rugosa - Rosa rugosa
Roses - Rosa spp.
Serviceberries - Amelanchier spp.
Viburnums - Viburnum spp.
Willows - Salix spp.
Witchhazel, American - Hamamelis virginiana
Shrubs and Small Trees: High Chance of Deer Browse Damage
Alders - Alnus spp.
Apples, Crabapples - Malus spp.
Blackberries - Rubus spp.
Cherries - Prunus spp.
Currants - Ribes spp.
Gooseberries - Ribes spp.
Maple, Mountain - Acer spicatum
Plums - Prunus spp.
Raspberries - Rubus spp.
Yew, Canada- Taxus canadensis
References
Resistance of Trees and Shrubs to Deer Damage: Jauron, Richard, 1997 [online]. Horticultural & Home Pest News.
Plants Not Favored by Browsing Deer: Nixon, Phil and Kris R. Bachtell, February 2000. “” The Landsculptor Online Plant Encyclopedia [online].
Preventing Deer Damage: Swift, C.E. and M.K. Gross, 2004.
