When it comes to landscaping, one of the primary concerns for gardeners in regions where deer roam is how to protect their plants. While many plants attract these wandering herbivores, evergreens often stand out for their year-round beauty and structure.
However, not all evergreens are created equal when it comes to deer resistance. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 25 deer-resistant evergreens that can enhance your garden while standing up to these animals.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Deer Resistance: The Eastern Red Cedar’s aromatic foliage and needle-like leaves create a natural deterrent for deer. The scent and texture of the leaves are unpleasant for deer, which tend to prefer softer, more palatable plants.
Characteristics: This tree generally grows to about 40 feet tall and can have a spread of up to 20 feet. Its conical shape and vibrant blue-green foliage provide year-round interest. The reddish-brown bark is fibrous and can be peeled to show a striking cinnamon color underneath. Eastern Red Cedar thrives in poor to moderately fertile soils and is highly drought-resistant, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping. The tree produces small, blue-purple berries that attract many bird species, enhancing its ecological value.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Deer Resistance: The sharp spines on American Holly’s leaves act as natural deterrents against deer. The plant’s tough, leathery leaves are unappealing, and the bright red berries are generally not favored by these animals.
Characteristics: American Holly is a slow-growing evergreen that usually reaches heights between 15 to 30 feet. It has a dense, pyramidal growth habit, creating a luscious green backdrop for gardens. The glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round visual interest, especially in winter. American Holly prefers acidic, well-drained soil and can thrive in both sunny and partially shaded areas. Not only does it add ornamental value, but its berries provide food for birds and other wildlife during the colder months.
Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
Deer Resistance: Blue Spruce’s stiff, sharp needles are disliked by deer, who often avoid it in favor of softer and more palatable vegetation. The strong scent also plays a role in deterring browsing.
Characteristics: This majestic tree can reach heights of 60 to 80 feet and displays a beautiful, symmetrical conical shape. The bluish-green needles, which can also appear silvery, give it a unique appearance that stands out in any landscape. Blue Spruce prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils and full sun exposure, easily adapting to various climate conditions. Its strong wood and resistant nature make it a favorite for both landscaping and forestry.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Deer Resistance: The Norway Spruce’s dense, drooping branches and prickly foliage tend to repel deer. The tough texture of the needles deters browsing, and its height provides a natural barrier.
Characteristics: Growing between 40 and 60 feet tall, Norway Spruce has a broad, conical shape with gracefully hanging branches. The dark green needles can grow to 1.5 inches long and have a slightly sweet scent. This tree is fast-growing and adaptable, thriving in various soil roles, including sandy and clay soils. Norway Spruce is often used for windbreaks and privacy screens due to its vigorous growth and thick canopy.
Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
Deer Resistance: Chinese Juniper’s leathery leaves and occasional thorny branches make it unappealing to deer. Its strong aroma also helps deter browsing mammals.
Characteristics: This versatile tree or shrub can reach heights of 15 to 25 feet while spreading widely. The foliage varies among cultivars, ranging from scale-like to needle-like, with color typically a blue-green hue. Chinese Juniper is highly adaptable to various soil types, including poor and dry settings, and it thrives in full sun. The plant is often used for low-maintenance landscaping, rock gardens, or groundcovers, providing significant texture and form.
Pfitzer Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Pfitzeriana’)
Deer Resistance: Pfitzer Juniper is generally avoided by deer due to its fine, needle-like foliage and low growth habit, making it less accessible for browsing.
Characteristics: A sprawling evergreen shrub, Pfitzer Juniper typically reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet with a spread of up to 10 feet. Its soft, feathery texture and gray-green foliage add lushness to gardens. This variety is exceptionally tolerant of various conditions, including drought and poor soils, making it a solid choice for low-maintenance landscapes. Pfitzer Juniper can be pruned into shapes for decorative hedges or left to grow freely.
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)
Deer Resistance: Lodgepole Pine is generally unappealing to deer due to its tall stature and tough needle foliage, which are not suited for their browsing preferences.
Characteristics: Lodgepole Pine can grow up to 60 feet tall with a slender trunk and straight growth habit. Its long needles, bundled in pairs, are flexible and dark green, creating a soft and attractive visual appeal. This tree thrives in various environments, often found in mountainous areas and poor soils, and it’s particularly known for its resilience in challenging conditions. Lodgepole Pine provides habitats for numerous wildlife species while producing cones that remain on the tree for several years.
Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo)
Deer Resistance: The dense and tough foliage of Mountain Pine generally discourages deer from grazing, keeping the plant healthy and thriving in gardens.
Characteristics: Mountain Pine is a small to medium-sized conifer known for its bushy growth habit, reaching heights of 10 to 20 feet, making it an excellent choice for compact spaces. Its dark green needles are typically short and dense, creating a lush appearance. Mountain Pine is adaptable to various soil conditions but prefers well-drained sites. It is often used for rock gardens, slopes, or as a low hedge due to its resistance to deer and rapid growth.
Variegated Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’)
Deer Resistance: The bitter taste and aromatic qualities of Variegated Boxwood leaves contribute to its resistance against deer browsing, making it a sturdy option in deer-prone areas.
Characteristics: Variegated Boxwood is a classic evergreen shrub that usually grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Its glossy, oval leaves are bright green with creamy white edges, providing an attractive contrast in any setting. Boxwoods can be shaped into various topiaries or left to grow naturally, making them versatile in design. They thrive in well-drained soils and partial shade while exhibiting excellent drought resistance once established.
Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
Deer Resistance: The tough texture of Pitch Pine needles and their rough bark keep deer at bay. Deer typically avoid this species due to its height and unpalatable foliage.
Characteristics: This resilient tree generally reaches heights of 40 to 60 feet, with a pyramidal shape and horizontal branches. The needles are typically long and bundled in groups of three, with a distinctive dark green color. Pitch Pine thrives in poor, sandy soils and is adapted to a variety of conditions, including coastal environments. It also provides habitat for various wildlife and is often used in reforestation efforts and timber production.
Leyland Cypress (× Cupressocyparis leylandii)
Deer Resistance: Leyland Cypress is generally avoided by deer due to its dense foliage and strong growth habit, making it less vulnerable to browsing.
Characteristics: A fast-growing evergreen, Leyland Cypress can reach heights of 60 to 70 feet in just a few years. Its pyramid shape and feathery, bright green leaves create an excellent privacy screen or windbreak, while its attractive form enhances landscapes. This cypress tolerates a range of soil conditions, including poor drainage, and thrives in full sunlight. Its rapid growth makes it especially popular among homeowners looking to create barriers or hedges quickly.
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
Deer Resistance: The dense, scale-like foliage of American Arborvitae is generally unappealing to deer, contributing to its effectiveness as a natural barrier against browsing.
Characteristics: This lush conifer can grow between 40 and 60 feet tall, with a compact, pyramid shape. The dark green foliage turns a lovely yellow-green in winter. American Arborvitae prefers moist, well-drained soils and responds well to pruning, making it ideal for hedges and topiaries. Its dense growth habit serves as excellent wildlife habitat, providing shelter and food sources for various birds and small mammals.
Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)
Deer Resistance: Japanese Yew has a bitter, toxic chemical (taxine) in its foliage and seeds, which deters deer, making it a low-risk choice for gardens concerned with browsing.
Characteristics: This evergreen shrub or small tree can grow up to 20 feet tall, featuring dark green, needle-like leaves that are soft to the touch. Japanese Yew prefers well-drained soils and can thrive in shade, making it an excellent option for woodland gardens or shaded areas. Its dense foliage can be pruned into various shapes or left to grow naturally, providing a versatile addition to landscapes. While toxic to deer, the berries are a food source for birds.
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
Deer Resistance: Western Red Cedar resists deer browsing due to its aromatic foliage and grained, fibrous bark. The tough texture and pleasant scent keep deer at bay.
Characteristics: This tree can grow to be between 70 and 100 feet tall with a broad, conical shape. Its dark green, scale-like leaves turn golden-brown in winter and have a distinct fragrance. Western Red Cedar thrives in moist, well-drained soils and is often used in landscaping for its aesthetic appeal and decay-resistant wood, which is valuable for fencing and construction.
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
Deer Resistance: While Dawn Redwood is deciduous, it has a resinous texture that is generally unappealing to deer. Its height and robust structure also help prevent browsing.
Characteristics: This fast-growing tree can reach heights of 100 feet, displaying a stunning conical form. The feathery, bright green foliage turns a beautiful reddish-brown in the fall before dropping in winter. Dawn Redwood thrives in moist regions, preferring fertile, well-drained soils. It provides excellent shade and habitat for various wildlife, and its unique appearance often draws attention in landscapes.
Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea)
Deer Resistance: The height and thick needles of Italian Stone Pine are typically not preferred by deer, making it an excellent choice for landscapes where deer browsing is a concern.
Characteristics: This iconic tree can reach heights of 20 to 80 feet with its distinctive umbrella-shaped canopy. The long, slender needles give the tree a unique aesthetic appeal. Italian Stone Pine is highly drought-resistant and can thrive in poor, dry soils. It produces edible pine nuts, making it a dual-purpose plant in both ornamental and food-producing landscapes.
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Deer Resistance: Scots Pine’s long, flexible needles and rough bark are generally unappealing to deer, keeping the plant relatively safe from browsing pressure.
Characteristics: This tall evergreen typically reaches 50 to 80 feet and features a distinctive orange-brown bark. The long, slender needles are grouped in pairs and provide a soft texture. Scots Pine adapts well to various soil types, including sandy and acidic soils. Its durability and rapid growth make it a popular choice for timber production, while its ecological value supports various wildlife species.
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Deer Resistance: White Spruce’s short, soft needles and tall stature deter deer, as they tend to prefer more accessible, palatable options.
Characteristics: This native conifer typically grows 50 feet tall and displays a classic conical shape. The needles are light green and give off a pleasant scent when crushed. White Spruce thrives in a variety of soil conditions, including poorly drained areas, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Due to its strong growth and dense canopy, it provides excellent shelter for birds and other wildlife.
Noble Fir (Abies procera)
Deer Resistance: Noble Fir’s thick, fragrant needles are generally avoided by deer. Their sharp texture and strong scent create a natural barrier against browsing.
Characteristics: This stunning tree can reach heights of 60 to 100 feet, boasting a symmetrical shape and soft, dark green needles. Noble Fir thrives in moist, well-drained soils in cooler climates, making it a staple in mountainous regions. Its aromatic foliage and sturdy branches make it a favored species for Christmas trees and ornamental landscaping, while its dense growth serves as a habitat for various wildlife.
Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
Deer Resistance: Loblolly Pine is often avoided by deer due to its tall stature and tough foliage, which provides limited browsing opportunities.
Characteristics: This fast-growing tree can reach heights well over 100 feet, featuring a straight trunk and a pyramidal shape. Loblolly Pine has long, slender needles that create a lush canopy, offering shelter for wildlife. It thrives in a variety of soil types, including clay and sandy soils, and is frequently used in timber production, making it economically valuable.
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
Deer Resistance: Balsam Fir features aromatic, soft needles that are typically unappealing to deer, allowing this tree to thrive in deer-populated areas.
Characteristics: This popular conifer typically grows to heights of 30 to 50 feet, displaying a classic conical form. The needles are glossy and dark green, offering a striking appearance. Balsam Fir prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils and thrives in cooler climates. This tree is often used in holiday decorations due to its pleasant scent and attractive shape, and it also provides excellent habitat for wildlife.
Korean Fir (Abies koreana)
Deer Resistance: Korean Fir’s needles are generally avoided by deer due to their acidic composition and unique texture, making it an excellent choice in gardens where deer presence is high.
Characteristics: This compact evergreen typically grows to heights of 20 to 30 feet, showcasing attractive, glossy needles that bloom in hues of green and bluish tones. Korean Fir produces stunning cones that mature to a purple hue, adding visual interest. It prefers well-drained, acidic soils and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Its deer resistance and appealing aesthetics make it a favored choice for ornamental landscapes.
Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica)
Deer Resistance: The strong scent and texture of Cryptomeria are generally unappealing to deer, discouraging browsing and keeping the plant intact.
Characteristics: This tree can reach heights of 60 feet and boasts a graceful, pyramidal shape. Its soft, feathery foliage varies in color from bright green to reddish-brown in winter. Cryptomeria thrives best in moist, well-drained soils and full sun, adapting to a range of environmental conditions. Its fast growth and aromatic qualities contribute to its popularity in gardens, often providing excellent background foliage in landscaped settings.
Frazier Fir (Abies fraseri)
Deer Resistance: The aromatic foliage of Frazier Fir tends to deter deer, who are typically less inclined to browse on its strong, resilient needles.
Characteristics: This tree can grow between 30 and 50 feet tall and features a narrow, conical shape. Its strong, fragrant needles and layered branches contribute to its aesthetic appeal and popularity as a Christmas tree. Frazier Fir prefers moist, well-drained soils and is commonly found in high-altitude areas. Its robust structure and soft appearance are ideal for providing shade and habitat for various wildlife.
Understanding Deer Preference
Before diving into specific deer-resistant evergreens, it’s important to understand the behavior and dietary preferences of deer. Deer are opportunistic feeders, primarily eating a variety of plants based on availability, season, and nutritional value. In winter months when natural food sources dwindle, they are more likely to browse on evergreens. However, certain evergreens are less appealing due to their taste, texture, or chemical properties, making them less likely to be grazed upon by deer.
The Benefits of Deer Resistant Evergreens
Incorporating deer-resistant evergreens in your landscape not only helps maintain the beauty of your garden but also minimizes the need for fencing or repellents. Additionally, evergreens provide year-round interest with their foliage and structure. They can serve as windbreaks, privacy screens, or simply as focal points within your landscape. By selecting plants that deer are less likely to munch on, you can create a low-maintenance, flourishing garden.
Tips for Choosing Deer Resistant Evergreens
When selecting deer-resistant evergreens, consider the following factors:
Local Deer Population: In areas where deer are prevalent, even the so-called-resistant species can be browsed under extreme hunger conditions.
Soil Conditions: Choose evergreens that are well-suited to your soil type — whether clay, sandy, or loamy.
Sunlight Requirements: Ensure that the evergreens you select match the available sunlight in your garden, whether it be full sun, partial shade, or full shade.
Size and Growth: Consider the mature size of the evergreen. Some might be small shrubs while others will grow into large trees, affecting their placement in your landscape.
