EXTENSION BULLETIN E-3042 NEW JULY 2008 Infor- “Deer-Resistant” Plants For Homeowners

conditions and the availability of alterna- tive foods. Deer are creatures of habit, and prior movement patterns or foraging ex- perience can help predict where damage can occur. New plantings added to an exist- ing landscape already severely damaged by deer will likely suffer extreme browsing AUTHORS: pressure. Jordan Pusateri Burroughs Deer may sample some less palatable Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife plants until they determine the plants are Michigan State University varieties they do not prefer. Snow cover may prevent deer from finding food, and

high deer numbers can create competition Thomas A. Dudek for available food, which can cause hungry

MSU Extension, Ottawa County J. Burroughs, MSU deer to eat whatever plants are available. Note that unpalatable landscape plants

Damage to ornamental plants by white- may still incur antler rubbing damage. tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) con- Only physical protection such as exclusion techniques can reduce or prevent deer ant- tinues to increase. This damage has been associated with: ler rub damage to trees and shrubs.

Increasing deer abundance. To minimize deer damage, select landscape

and garden plants that are less preferred by Human population shifts to rural deer. The following tables provide a guide and suburban homesites. to the relative likelihood of deer damage to

Maturing of abandoned agricultural plants used by Michigan landscape con- lands into deer habitat. tractors and landowners. This information can be useful for both selecting plants that Landowner decisions to prevent are less likely to be damaged by deer and deer hunting. identifying those ornamentals that fre- quently require protection. Plants listed as Restrictions on firearm use in rarely damaged are infrequently fed suburban regions. upon by deer and are the best candidates for landscapes prone to deer damage. Deer Deer prefer to feed on certain plant species, sometimes feed on ornamentals listed as including some ornamental plants used for seldom severely damaged, but damage landscaping. Additionally, ornamental is usually minor and has limited effect on plants may be more attractive to deer be- the shape or attractiveness of the plant. cause they are fertilized and irrigated. Deer The category occasionally damaged in- avoid feeding on some species of plants cludes plants that may be severely dam- because they are less palatable. A technique aged by deer. Finally, ornamental plants in Bulletin produced in cooperation to reduce deer browsing of landscape the frequently damaged category ap- with the Michigan State Univer- pear to be preferred by deer and usually sity Department of Fisheries and plants is to substitute less palatable species Wildlife and Department of Horti- of plants for those that deer prefer to eat. require physical or chemical protection culture, MSUE Fisheries and Though no plants are totally resis- whenever deer are present. Wildlife Area of Expertise Team, tant to deer browsing, some are less Michigan Dept. of Natural Before planting any of the following plant Resources and Michigan Natural palatable to deer and are less likely Features Inventory. to receive heavy damage. species, check to make sure that they are adapted to local climate and soil condi- Whether deer will eat a particular plant tions. For additional information, contact species or variety depends on the deer’s your local county Michigan State previous experience, nutritional needs, University Extension office. plant palatability, seasonal factors, weather 2

Botanical name Common name Annuals Ageratum houstonianum Ageratum Plants rarely Anethum graveolens Common dill damaged Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon Capsicum annuum Hot peppers Botanical name Common name Capsicum frutescens Sweet peppers Perennials Citrulus lanatus Watermelon Achillea spp. Yarrow Cucumis melo cantalupensis Canteloupe Aconitum spp. Monkshood Cucumis sativus Cucumber Allium spp. Onion Hyacinthus orientalis Hyacinth Allium christophii Star of Persia Lobularia maritima Sweet alyssum Allium neapolitanum Daffodil garlic Nicotiana spp. Flowering tobacco Allium ostrowskianum Lily leek Pelargonium spp. Scented geranium Anemone x hybrida Japanese anemone Rheum rhabarbarum Rhubarb Anemonella thalictroides Rue anemone Solanum melongena Eggplant Aquilegia spp. Columbine Tagetes spp. Marigold Arabis spp. Rockcress Tropaeolum majus Nasturtium Arisaema thiphylum Jack-in-the-pulpit Aubrietia deltoidea Rock cress Botanical name Cultivar Aurinia saxatilis Basket-of-gold Ornamental Grasses Bergenia spp. Bergenia Ravennae grass, hardy pampas grass Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago Saccharum ravennae Cimicifuga racemosa Snakeroot Colchicum autumnale Colchicum Japanese silver grass Colchicum speciosum Colchicum Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cabaret’ Consolida ambigua Larkspur Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cosmopolitan’ Coreopsis verticillata Threadleaf coreopsis Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ Cyclamen hederifolium Neapolitan cyclamen Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ Dicentra spectabilis Bleeding heart Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ Digitalis spp. Foxglove Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’ Dryopteris marginalis Wood fern Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’

Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower Switch grass Epimedium spp. Barrenwort Panicum virgatum ‘Cloud Nine’ Euphorbia spp. Euphorbia Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blues’ Fritillaria spp. Fritillary Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ Galium odoratum Sweet woodruff Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ Gloriosa superba Glory lily Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ Hemerocallis ‘Stella d’Oro’ ‘Stella d’Oro’ daylily Lamium maculatum Deadnettle Tall purple moor grass Lavandula spp. Lavender Molinia litoralis ‘Skyracer’ Linaria vulgaris Toadflax Molinia litoralis ‘Transparent’

Lindera benzoin Native spicebush Feather-reed grass Lychnis coronaria Rose campion Calamagrostis xacutifolia ‘Karl Foerster’ Matteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich fern Narcissus spp. Daffodil Northern sea oats Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis Royal fern Chasmanthium latifolium

Pachysandra procumbens Allegheny spurge Fountain grass Pachysandra terminalis Japanese spurge Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’ Papaver orientale Oriental poppy Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage Japanese grass Rudbeckia spp. Coneflower Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’

Salvia spp. Sage Sedges Santolina chamaecyparissus Lavender cotton Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’ Scilla spp. Squill Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ Stachys byzantina Lamb's ears Carex flagellifera ‘Toffee Twist’ Tanacetum vulgare Common tansy

Thymus spp. Thyme Tiarella cordifolia Foam flower Yucca spp. Yucca 3

Plants OCCASIONALLY damaged Botanical name Common name Native grasses Botanical name Common name Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem Perennials Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats grama Asparagus officinalis Asparagus Carex muskingumensis Palm sedge Campsis radicans Trumpet creeper Carex pennsylvanica Pennsylvania sedge Parthenocissus quinquifolia Virginia creeper Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye Potentilla fruticosa Bush cinquefoil Koeleria macrantha Prairie June grass Annuals Luzula multiflora Woodrush Abelmoschus esculentus Okra Panicum virgatum Switch grass Cucurbita pepo Squash Schizachrium scoparium Little bluestem Raphanus sativus Radish Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass Solanum tuberosum Potatoes, Irish Sprobolis heterolepis Prairie dropseed Shrubs Shrubs Cornus racemosa Panicled dogwood Buxus sempervirens Common boxwood Cotinus coggygria Smokebush Ilex opaca American holly Cotoneaster spp. Cotoneaster Leucothoe fontanesiana Drooping leucothoe Cotoneaster apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster Pieris japonica Japanese pieris Cotoneaster horizontalis Rockspray cotoneaster Trees Cryptomeria japonica Japanese cedar Betula papyrifera Paper birch Forsythia x intermedia Border forsythia Picea pungens Colorado blue spruce Hamamelis virginiana Common witchhazel Hibiscus syriacus Rose of Sharon Hydrangea anomala petiolaris Climbing hydrangea Plants SELDOM SEVERELY Hydrangea arborescens Smooth hydrangea damaged Hydrangea paniculata Panicle hydrangea Ilex crenata Japanese holly Botanical name Common name Ilex x meserveae China Girl/Boy holly Shrubs Juniperus virginiana Eastern red cedar Celastrus scandens American bittersweet Ligustrum x vicaryi Golden privet Cornus florida Flowering dogwood Lonicera x heckrottii Goldflame honeysuckle Cornus kousa Kousa dogwood Philadelphus coronarius Sweet mock orange Cornus sericea Red osier dogwood Pyracantha coccinea Firethorn Crataegus laevigata English hawthorn Rhododendron spp. Deciduous azaleas Enkianthus campanulatus Redvein enkianthus Rhododendron carolinianum Carolina rhododendron Forsythia spp. Forsythia Rhododendron maximum Rosebay rhododendron llex cornuta Chinese holly Rhus typhina Staghorn sumac llex glabra Inkberry Rosa rugosa Rugosa rose Juniperus chinensis Chinese junipers Salix spp. Willows Kolkwitzia amabilis Beautybush Spiraea x bumalda Anthony waterer spiraea Pinus mugo Mugo pine Spiraea prunifolia Bridalwreath spiraea Salix matsudana tortuosa Corkscrew willow Syringa x persica Persian lilac Sassafras albidum Common sassafras Syringa villosa Late lilac Syringa vulgaris Common lilac Viburnum x juddii Judd viburnum Wisteria floribunda Japanese wisteria Viburnum carlesii Koreanspice viburnum Viburnum plicatum tomentosum Doublefile viburnum Trees Viburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf viburnum Betula pendula European white birch Weigela florida Old-fashioned weigela Fagus sylvatica European beech Gleditsia triacanthos Honey locust Trees Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel Abies concolor White fir Picea abies Norway spruce Acer griseum Paperbark maple Picea glauca White spruce Acer rubrum Red maple Pinus nigra Austrian pine Acer saccharinum Silver maple Pinus resinosa Red pine Acer saccharum Sugar maple Pinus rigida Pitchpine Aesculus hippocastanum Common horsechestnut Prunus serrulata Japanese flowering cherry Amelanchier arborea Downy serviceberry Amelanchier laevis Allegheny serviceberry 4

Botanical name Common name Annuals (continued) Botanical name Common name Brassica rapa Turnip Trees (continued) Daucus carota sativa Carrot Chaenomeles speciosa Japanese flowering quince Helianthus spp. Sunflower Larix decidua European larch Ipomoea batatas Potatoes, sweet Magnolia x soulangiana Saucer magnolia Lactuca sativa Lettuce Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn redwood Matthiola incarna Stock Pinus strobus Eastern white pine Pelargonium spp. Geranium Prunus avium Sweet cherry Phaseolus spp. Beans Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir Pisum sativum Peas Pyrus communis Common pear Ranunculus asiaticus Buttercup Quercus alba White oak Spinacia oleracea Spinach Quercus prinus Chestnut oak Viola spp. Pansies & violas Quercus rubra Northern red oak Zea mays Corn, sweet Syringa reticulata Japanese tree lilac Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire' Littleleaf linden Shrubs Tilia Americana Basswood Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar Tsuga canadensis Eastern hemlock Euonymus alatus Winged euonymus Tsuga caroliniana Carolina hemlock Rhododendron spp. Rhododendrons Rhododendron spp. Evergreen azaleas Rhododendron catawbiense Catawba rhododendron Plants frequently Rhododendron periclymenoides Pinxterbloom azalea damaged Rosa x hybrid Hybrid tea rose Taxus spp. Yews Botanical name Common name Taxus baccata English yew Perennials Taxus brevifolia Western yew Aegopodium podagaria Bishop's weed Taxus cuspidate Japanese yew Thuja occidentalis American arborvitae Aquilegia spp. Columbine Athyrium niponicum var. pictum Japanese painted fern Trees Syringa reticulata Wallflower Abies balsamea Balsam fir Clematis spp. Clematis Abies fraseri Fraser fir Euonymus fortunei var. coloratus Wintercreeper euonymus Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ maple Euonymus fortunei 'Kewensis' Wintercreeper Cercis canadensis Eastern redbud Fragaria spp. Strawberries Cornus mas Cornelian cherry dogwood Hedera helix English ivy Malus spp. Apples Hemerocallis spp. Daylily Prunus spp. Cherries Hosta spp. Hosta Prunus spp. Plums Iberis sempervirens Candytuft Sorbus aucuparia European mountain ash

Lilium spp. Lily Polygonatum biflorum Solomon's seal Tables based on text by M.J. Farglone, P.D. Curtis and M.E. Richmond. 1991. Resis- Trillium spp. Trillium tance of woody ornamental plants to deer damage. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell Coop. Ext. Tulipa spp. Tulips with information from Dr. Arthur Cameron, MSU Department of Horticulture. Vinca minor Periwinkle

Annuals PLEASE REMEMBER: Beta vulgaris Beets Under some conditions, deer may eat unpalatable Brassica oleracea Kohlrabi or “deer-resistant” plants — no plant species will Brassica oleracea botrytis Cauliflower be avoided by deer under all conditions. Brassica oleracea capitata Cabbage Brassica oleracea italica Broccoli

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