Deer can do major damage to gardens, especially those close to wooded areas, but you can minimize the damage by planting trees and shrubs that are less attractive to what some call “rats with antlers.”
While no plant is deer-proof, there are definitely some that deer are less likely to eat.
Deer damage can also vary depending on seasonal factors, weather conditions, availability of other plants, and deer populations. So while deer may love nibbling on your yews one year, they may leave them completely alone for the next several years.
Sprays, hanging soap, scattering human hair (or even human urine) in gardens usually has very little if any effect, studies show. The one sure-fire way to prevent damage is to erect a fence of at least 8 feet, with no openings.
However, horticulturists and wildlife specialists at Cornell University have identified trees and shrubs that are rarely or seldom, occasionally, and frequently damaged by deer. Those plant species adapted to Iowa are listed below.
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Plants Rarely or Seldom Severely Damaged By Deer
| Common name | Botanical name |
|---|---|
| Barberry | Berberis spp. |
| Redosier Dogwood | Cornus sericea |
| Forsythia | Forsythia spp. |
| Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos |
| Beautybush | Kolkwitzia amabilis |
| Norway Spruce | Picea abies |
| White Spruce | Picea glauca |
| Colorado Spruce | Picea pungens |
| Mugo Pine | Pinus mugo |
| Austrian Pine | Pinus nigra |
| Scotch Pine | Pinus sylvestris |
| Common Lilac | Syringa vulgaris |
Plants Occasionally Severely Damaged By Deer
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
|---|---|
| White Fir | Abies concolor |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum |
| Silver Maple | Acer saccharinum |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum |
| Common Horsechestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier spp. |
| Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster spp. |
| Witchhazel | Hamamelis viginiana |
| Rose of Sharon | Hibiscus syriacus |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea spp. |
| Privet | Ligustrum spp. |
| Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus |
| Potentilla | Potentilla fruticosa |
| Douglas Fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii |
| White Oak | Quercus alba |
| Northern Red Oak | Quercus rubra |
| Willow | Salix spp. |
| Anthony Waterer Spirea | Spiraea x bumalda ‘Anthony Waterer’ |
| Bridalwreath Spirea | Spiraea pruniflora |
| Persian Lilac | Syringa x persica |
| Japanese Tree Lilac | Syringa reticulata |
| American Linden | Tillia americana |
| Canadian Hemlock | Tsuda canadensis |
| Old Fashioned Weigela | Weigela florida |
Plants Frequently Severely Damaged By Deer
| Common Name | Botanical name |
|---|---|
| Norway Maple | Acer platanoides |
| Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis |
| Clematis | Clematis spp. |
| Corneliancherry Dogwood | Cornus mas |
| Winged Euonymous (Burning Bush) | Euonymous alatus |
| Apples, Crabapples | Malus spp. |
| Cherries, Plums | Prunus spp. |
| Rhododendrons | Rhododendrons spp. |
| Hybrid Tea Rose | Rosa x hybrid |
| Yews | Taxus spp. |
| American Arbovitae | Thuja occidentalis |
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