Deer Resistant Trees, Shrubs, & Vines

Plants Rarely Damaged:

Betula papyrifera White birch Deciduous 50' to 70'
Berberis koreana Korean barberry Semi-evergreen 4' to 6'
Buxus sempervirens Boxwood Evergreen 5' to 15'
Ilex opaca American holly Evergreen 15' to 30'
Leucothoe axillaris Coast leucothoe Evergreen 2' to 4'
Leucothoe fontanesiana Leucothoe Evergreen 3' to 6'
Picea pungens Colorado spruce             Evergreen 30' to 60'
Pieris japonica Japanese pieris Evergreen 6' to 8'

Plants Seldom Damaged:

Berberis koreana Korean barberry Evergreen 4' to 6'
Betula pendula European white birch Deciduous 40' to 60'
Celastrus scandens American bittersweet Deciduous 15' to 20'
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood Deciduous up to 30'
C. kousa Kousa or Korean dogwood Deciduous up to 30'
C. sericea (stolonigera) Redosier dogwood Deciduous 6' to 10'
Crataegus laevigata English hawthorne Deciduous 15' to 20'
Enkianthus campanulatus Redvein enkianthus Deciduous 6' to 12'
Fagus sylvatica European beech Deciduous 50' to 60'
Forsythia spp. Forsythia Deciduous 8' to 10'
Gleditsia triacanthos Common honey locust Deciduous 50' to 60'
Ilex cornuta Chinese holly Evergreen 8' to 15'
I. glabra Inkberry Evergreen 4' to 8'
Juniperus chinensis Chinese juniper Evergreen 50' to 60'
Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel Evergreen 5' to 12'
Kolkwitzia amabilis Beautybush Deciduous 6' to 10'
Picea abies Norway spruce Evergreen 40' to 60'
P. glauca White spruce Evergreen 40' to 60'
Pinus mugo Mugo pine Evergreen 5' to 20'
P. nigra Austrian pine Evergreen 50' to 70'
P. resinosa Red pine Evergreen 50' to 70'
P. rigida Pitch pine Evergreen 40' to 60'
P. sylvestris Scot’s pine Evergreen 30' to 50'
Prunus serrulata Japanese flowering cherry Deciduous 15' to 25'
Salix matsudana >Tortuosa Dragon’s claw willow Deciduous 40' to 50'
Sassafras albidum Sassafras Deciduous 40' to 50'
Syringa vulgaris Lilac Deciduous 8' to 15'
Wisteria floribunda Wisteria
(may naturalize in minimally managed areas)		 Deciduous up to 35'

Plants Occasionally Damaged:

Abies concolor White fir                                     Evergreen 50' to 75'
Acer griseum Cinnamon bark maple Deciduous up to 30'
A. rubrum Red or swamp maple Deciduous 40' to 70'
A. saccharinum Silver maple Deciduous up to 70'
A. saccharum Sugar Maple Deciduous 75' to 100'
Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnut Deciduous 50' to 75'
Amelanchier arborea Shadblow Deciduous 15' to 25'
A. laevis Allegheny serviceberry Deciduous 15' to 25'
Campsis radicans Trumpetcreeper Deciduous 25' to 40'
Chaenomeles speciosa Common flowering quince Deciduous 6' to 10'
Cornus racemosa Gray dogwood Deciduous 10' to 15'
Cotinus coggygria Smoketree Deciduous 12' to 15'
Cotoneaster apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster Deciduous 3'
C. horizontalis Rockspray cotoneaster Deciduous 5' to 6'
Cryptomeria japonica Japanese cryptomeria Evergreen 50' to 60'
Forsythia japonica Japanese forsythia Deciduous 8' to 10'
Forsythia x intermedia Border forsythia Deciduous 6' to 9'
Hamamelis virginiana Witchhazel Deciduous to 30'
Hibiscus syriacus Rose of Sharon Deciduous 8' to 10'
Hydrangea arborescens Smooth hydrangea Deciduous 3' to 5'
H. paniculata Panicle hydrangea Deciduous 10' to 20'
H.  Anomalla subsp. petiolaris Climbing hydrangea Deciduous up to 30'
Ilex crenata Japanese holly Evergreen 6' to 10'
I. x meserveae Meserve hybrid hollies Evergreen 12' to 15'
Juniperus virginiana Eastern redcedar Evergreen 40' to 50'
Larix decidua American larch Deciduous 80' to 100'
Lonicera x heckrottii Goldflame honeysuckle Deciduous 10' to 15'
Magnolia x soulangiana Saucer magnolia Deciduous up to 30'
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn redwood Deciduous 75' to 100'
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper Deciduous 30' to 50'
Philadelphus coronarius Sweet mockorange Deciduous 8' to 10'
Pinus strobus White pine Evergreen 50' to 80'
Potentilla fruticosa Bush cinquefoil Deciduous 1' to 4'
Prunus avium Sweet cherry Deciduous 15' to 30'
Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir Evergreen to 150'
Pyracantha coccinea Firethorn Semi-evergreen 10' to 12'
Pyrus callerana 'Bradford' Bradford pear Deciduous 30' to 40'
P. communis Common pear Deciduous 25' to 30'
Quercus alba White oak Deciduous 60' to 80'
Q. prinus Chestnut oak Deciduous 60' to 70'
Q. rubra Red oak Deciduous to 75'
Rhododendron maximum Rosebay rhododendron Evergreen 8' to 15'
R. minus Peidmont rhododendron Evergreen 3' to 6'
Rhus typhina Staghorn sumac Deciduous 15' to 25'
Salix spp. Willow Deciduous 15' to 25'
Spiraea japonica 'Bumalda' Bumalda spirea Deciduous 4' to 5'
S. prunifolia Bridalwreath spirea
(may naturalize in minimally managed areas)		 Deciduous 4' to 5'
Syringa persica Persian lilac Deciduous 4' to 8'
S. reticulata Japanese tree lilac Deciduous 20' to 30'
S. villosa Late lilac Deciduous 6' to 10'
Tilla americana American basswood Deciduous to 70'
T. cordata 'Greenspire' Greenspire linden Deciduous 50' to 60'
Tsuga canadensis Canadian hemlock Evergreen 40' to 70'
T. caroliniana Carolinia hemlock Evergreen 40' to 60'
Viburnum carlesii Korean spice viburnum Deciduous 4' to 6'
V. x juddii Judd viburnum Deciduous 6' to 8'
V. plicatum f. Tomentosum Doublefile viburnum Deciduous 8' to 10'
V. rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf viburnum Evergreen 10' to 15'
Weigela florida Old fashioned weigela Deciduous 6' to 9'

Plants Frequently Damaged:

Abies balsamea Balsam fir Evergreen 50' to 60'
A. fraseri Fraser fir Evergreen 30' to 40'
Arborvitae sp. Arborvitae Evergreen 20' to 40'
Cercis canadensis  Eastern redbud Deciduous 20' to 30'
Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar Evergreen to 50'
Clematis spp. Clematis Deciduous to 20'
Cornus mas Dogwood Deciduous to 20'
Euonymus fortunei Wintercreeper Semi-evergreen .5' to .75'
Hedera helix English ivy
(may naturalize in minimally managed areas)		 Evergreen 20' to 80'
Malus spp. Apple and crabapple Deciduous to 20'
Prunus spp. Cherry, peach and plum Deciduous to 25'
Rhododendron spp. Rhododendron Evergreen 3' to 10'
Rosa hybrids Roses Deciduous 3' to 10'
Sorbus aucuparia European mountain ash Deciduous 20' to 40'
Taxus species Yews Evergreen 2' to 20'
Thuja occidentalis American arborvitae Evergreen 30' to 50'

Revised by UConn Home and Garden Education Center 2016.