Home gardeners should realize that no plant species is completely deer-resistant. Deer will browse even on the most resistant plants when faced with starvation. However, careful plant selection, along with repellents and fencing, can reduce deer damage.
Damage caused by deer browsing on trees and shrubs can be a problem in some rural and suburban areas in Iowa. The amount of damage depends upon seasonal factors, weather conditions, availability of alternative foods, and plant palatability.
Prevention of deer browsing is difficult. Home gardeners may be able to avoid some deer damage by careful plant selection. Horticulturists and wildlife specialists at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, 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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