55 Deer Resistant Selections
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Evergreen / Coniferous Trees
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana 45' 15'-20' full Medium to Low Blue cone fruit Maroon Purple Bird 3-7 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden
White Spruce Picea glauca 50' 12'-16' full High to Medium Wet-Mesic to Mesic cone 2-4 Deer Resistant
Black Hills Spruce ref Picea glauca densata 50' 12'-16' full part Medium Mesic cone 2-5 Deer Resistant
Black Spruce Picea mariana 50' 10'-15' full part High to Medium Wet-Mesic to Mesic cone 2-4 Deer Resistant
Red Pine Pinus resinosa 75' 35'-55' full Medium to Low Mesic to Dry cone 2-4 Deer Resistant
Canadian Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 55'-60' 30'-35' full part shade Medium Wet-Mesic to Mesic cone 3-4 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden
Ferns
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
Oak Fern ref Gymnocarpium dryopteris 6"-1' 1' part shade Wet to Mesic Deer Resistant Groundcover
Royal Fern Osmunda regalis 3'-6' 2'-3' part shade Wet to Mesic June-August Deer Resistant
Grasses, Rushes, & Sedges
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
Palm (Swamp Oval) Sedge Carex muskingumensis 2'-3' 1' full part shade Wet-Mesic May-June Green 4-7 Deer Resistant Groundcover
Deciduous Shrubs
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
Leadplant Amorpha canescens 2'-3' 2'-3' full part Mesic to Dry June-August Purple August-October pod Yellow Butterfly Bee 3-5 Deer Resistant
False Indigo Amorpha fruticosa 8'-10' 10'-12' full part High to Low Wet-Mesic April-July Purple Violet August-September Brown pod Yellow Butterfly Bee 3-5 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden
Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis 6'-12' 6'-12' full part High to Medium Wet to Mesic June-August White Brown nutlet Yellow Brown Bird Bee 4-5 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden
Bunchberry ref Cornus canadensis 6"-9" 6"+ part shade May-July White July-October Red berry fruit Red Maroon Purple 2-3 Deer Resistant Groundcover
Winterberry Ilex verticillata 6'-10' 6'-8' full part High Wet-Mesic May-July Green White Cream Red berry Yellow Maroon Butterfly Bird 3-7 Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden
Labrador Tea ref Ledum groenlandicum 3' 3'+ full Wet to Wet-Mesic May-June White leaves Maroon Purple Bee Bumblebee 2-4 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden
Common Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius 8'-10' 8'-10' full Wet-Mesic to Dry July Pink White Red berry Maroon Purple 2-5 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Ornamental Garden
Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica 5'-6' 6'-8' full part Medium to Low Mesic to Dry May Yellow Red berry Red Butterfly Bird 4-5 Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Gro-Low Sumac Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' 1'-2' 6'-7' full part Medium to Low Mesic to Dry May Yellow Red berry Red Orange Butterfly Bird 4-5 Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Swamp Rose Rosa palustris 5'-8' 5'-8' full part High to Medium Wet-Mesic June-July Pink Red Orange hip fruit, flowers Red Butterfly Bee Bumblebee 3-5 Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden Fragrant Garden
Prairie Rose Rosa setigera 6'-10' 8'-10' full Mesic Pink Red Orange hip fruit, flowers Red Orange Butterfly Bee Bumblebee Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden Fragrant Garden
Shining Willow Salix lucida 12'-18' 12'-18' full Wet to Wet-Mesic leaves 2-5 Deer Resistant
Red-Berried Elder Sambucus pubens 10'-12' 10'-12' full part High Wet-Mesic May-June White Cream June-August Red Orange berry Yellow Butterfly Bird Hummingbird 4-6 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Ornamental Garden
Silver Buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea 8'-10' 8'-10' full Wet-Mesic to Mesic Yellow August-September Red drupe fruit Yellow Bird 2-5 Deer Resistant
Meadowsweet Spiraea alba 3'-6' 3'-6' full Wet-Mesic July White Red Orange Yellow Bee 3-4 Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden
Hardhack Spirea (Steeplebush) Spiraea tomentosa 2'-4' 3'-6' full Wet to Wet-Mesic Pink Red Yellow Bronze Bee 3-4 Deer Resistant Ornamental Garden
American Bladdernut Staphylea trifolia 10'-15' 10'+ full part Medium Mesic May White Yellow Brown pod Yellow Bee Hummingbird Bumblebee 3-4 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Ornamental Garden
White Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 3'-4' 4'-5' full part Medium to Low Wet-Mesic to Mesic-Dry May-July White September-November White berry Yellow Moth Bird 2-5 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Ornamental Garden
American Highbush Cranberry Viburnum trilobum 6'-10' 6'-10' full part shade Wet-Mesic to Mesic May-June White September-February Red berry fruit Red Maroon Beetle Bird Fly Bee 2-5 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Ornamental Garden
Deciduous Trees
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
Red Maple Acer rubrum 60' 40'-50' full part Wet to Mesic April-May Pink Magenta Red Yellow May-June Red samara Red Orange 3-6 Deer Resistant Shade Tree
Silver Maple Acer saccharinum 60'-80' 40'-60' full part High to Medium Wet to Wet-Mesic March-April Red May-June samara Yellow 3-7 Deer Resistant
Sugar Maple Acer saccharum 60' 40'-50' full part Medium Wet-Mesic April-June Yellow August-October samara sap Red Orange Yellow 3-5 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Shade Tree
Black Sugar Maple Acer saccharum nigrum 60'-75' 40'-60' full part Medium Wet-Mesic to Dry April-May Yellow September-October samara sap Red Orange Yellow 4-8 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Shade Tree
American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis 75'-100' 50' full part High Wet-Mesic March-April Red Yellow Green Brown Orange Brown Brown Bird 5-9 Deer Resistant
Wild Black Cherry Prunus serotina 50'-60' 23'-30' full part High to Low Wet-Mesic to Dry White August-September Black drupe fruit Orange Yellow Bird 3-7 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Shade Tree Fragrant Garden
Wafer Ash ref Ptelea trifoliata 15'-20' 10'-20' full part Wet-Mesic to Dry June Green White Deer Resistant
White Oak Quercus alba 60'-80' 60'-80' full Medium to Low Mesic to Dry nut Red Maroon 4-7 Deer Resistant Shade Tree
Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor 50'-60' 50'-60' full High to Medium Wet to Wet-Mesic nut Orange Yellow 4-5 Deer Resistant Shade Tree
Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa 60'-80' 60'-80' full Medium to Low Green nut Yellow 3-8 Deer Resistant Shade Tree
Red Oak Quercus rubra 60'-80' 40'-50' full part Medium Mesic nut Red 4-7 Deer Resistant Buckthorn Replacement Shade Tree
Prickly Ash out Zanthoxylum americanum 10'-35' 10'-20' full Mesic to Dry April-May Yellow Green Red berry Orange Yellow Butterfly Bird Bee 3-5 Deer Resistant
Vines
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
American Bittersweet Celastrus scandens 3'-35' 6'-12' full part Mesic to Dry May-June Green White September-October Orange Yellow berry Yellow Bird 2-4 Deer Resistant
Virgin's Bower Clematis virginiana 12'-15' 6'-8' full part Wet to Mesic July-August White Cream August-September 3-5 Deer Resistant Groundcover
Woodbine out Parthenocissus inserta 12'-20' 3'-6' part shade Medium Green Blue Black berry Red Bird 3-8 Deer Resistant Groundcover
Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia 50' full part shade Low Wet-Mesic May-June Green September Blue Black berry Red Maroon Bird 2-6 Deer Resistant Groundcover
Riverbank Grape Vitis riparia 35'-75' full part Wet-Mesic to Dry May-June August-September Blue Purple berry fruit Yellow Bird 2-6 Deer Resistant
Wildflowers
Species Photo Common Name Scientific Name Height Width Sun Water Use Moisture Bloom Period Flower Color Fruit Period Fruit Color Fruit Type Edible Parts Fall Color Wildlife Zone Recommended
Yarrow Achillea millefolium 1'-3' 2'-3' full part Mesic to Dry June-September White Deer Resistant
Fragrant Hyssop Agastache foeniculum 2'-4' 1'-2' full part Mesic to Dry June-August Purple Violet Lavender leaves Butterfly Bird Bee Wasp Hummingbird 3-5 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Nodding Onion Allium cernuum 1'-2' 6"-1' full part July-August Pink leaves, shoots, bulbs Bee Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Prairie Onion Allium stellatum 1'-1'4" 4"-8" full part Mesic to Dry July-August Pink leaves, shoots, bulbs Bee 3-5 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Wild Leek Allium tricoccum 8" 4"-8" part shade Wet-Mesic to Mesic-Dry June-July White leaves, shoots, bulbs Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Downy Wood Mint out Blephilia ciliata 1' 10"-1'6" full part Mesic to Dry June-July Purple Lavender Bird Bee Hummingbird Bumblebee 4-8 Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Hairy Wood Mint Blephilia hirsuta 1'4"-2'6" 1'+ part shade Wet-Mesic to Mesic June-September Purple White Bird Bee Hummingbird Bumblebee Deer Resistant Fragrant Garden Rabbit Resistant
Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata 3' 1'-1'6" full part Mesic to Dry June-August White Magenta Red Orange Yellow Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant
Late Figwort Scrophularia marilandica 2'-10' 1'6"-2' full part shade July-September Red Green Maroon Butterfly Bird Ant Bee Wasp Hummingbird Bumblebee Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant
Yellow Pimpernel Taenidia integerrima 3' 1'-2' full part shade Mesic to Mesic-Dry May-July Yellow Butterfly Deer Resistant