Deer Resistance Rating for Landscape Plants

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Deer Resistance Rating for Landscape Plants NOW UPDATED FOR 2011 with: More than 80 new plants Comments from fellow gardeners New tips on gardening with deer. The following is a list of more than 500 landscape plants rated according to their resistance to deer damage. The list includes the Latin and common name (including cultivar or variety), plant height, light preference, bloom color and time, and deer resistance rating for each plant. The list can be sorted by clicking on the desired column. Click HERE to see the list! The plants listed were tested for at least a three-year period in our trial gardens in Athens OH (Zone 6a). The gardens are situated on a 6-acre lot, next to our house and surrounded by woods. In a given evening it isn't unusual to see five deer browsing in the yard; on a really good night you may see ten or more. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: We understand that what works in our gardens may not work in yours. Deer are individuals, and different situations make them adapt differently. Therefore, let us know if you grow something on the list and agree of disagree with our rating. If you don't see a plant on the list, suggest that we add it to our trial. During the growing season we will continually update the list with your input. Each year we will also add plants from the ongoing trial. We realize that no plant is deer proof. Success of any of these plants in the landscape can also depend on weather conditions and availability of other food sources. *The trick to having a garden in deer country is making sure your garden is not the best buffet in town.* Other Plant Lists Best Deer Resistant Landscape Plants - Cincinnati Zoo Deer-Resistant Plants - David Jensen Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance - Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJ) Deer defenses - Cornell University Department of Horticulture Deer Resistant Plants - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage - West Virginia Extension Service Contact: Dr. Roxanne Malé-Brune, Ohio University, 220H RTEC, Athens OH 45701 Email: male-bru@ohio.edu

NOW UPDATED FOR 2011 with:

More than 80 new plants
Comments from fellow gardeners
New tips on gardening with deer.

The following is a list of more than 500 landscape plants rated according to their resistance to deer damage. The list includes the Latin and common name (including cultivar or variety), plant height, light preference, bloom color and time, and deer resistance rating for each plant. The list can be sorted by clicking on the desired column.

Click HERE to see the list!

The plants listed were tested for at least a three-year period in our trial gardens in Athens OH (Zone 6a). The gardens are situated on a 6-acre lot, next to our house and surrounded by woods. In a given evening it isn't unusual to see five deer browsing in the yard; on a really good night you may see ten or more.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:
We understand that what works in our gardens may not work in yours. Deer are individuals, and different situations make them adapt differently. Therefore, let us know if you grow something on the list and agree of disagree with our rating. If you don't see a plant on the list, suggest that we add it to our trial.

During the growing season we will continually update the list with your input. Each year we will also add plants from the ongoing trial.

We realize that no plant is deer proof. Success of any of these plants in the landscape can also depend on weather conditions and availability of other food sources.

The trick to having a garden in deer country is making sure your garden is not the best buffet in town.

Other Plant Lists

Best Deer Resistant Landscape Plants - Cincinnati Zoo
Deer-Resistant Plants - David Jensen
Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance - Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJ)
Deer defenses - Cornell University Department of Horticulture
Deer Resistant Plants - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage - West Virginia Extension Service

Contact: Dr. Roxanne Malé-Brune, Ohio University, 220H RTEC, Athens OH 45701
Email: male-bru@ohio.edu