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University of Rhode Island GreenShare Factsheets


Plants Least Preferred by Deer

 

A key IPM strategy is to utilize plants which are less preferred by deer. The following list is compiled from observations around the northeastern region. The term least-preferred is used because no plant can be guaranteed deer-proof. Every deer and deer herd is different and dietary preferences will change as deer adapt to weather conditions and available food supply.

Note: the trees and shrubs marked with an asterisk (*) are also free of serious insect and
disease problems and are non-invasive (sustainable).

Trees:

Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)
*Betula lenta (Sweet Birch)
*Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood)
Crataegus spp. (Hawthorn)
*Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar)
*Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green Ash)
*Ilex opaca (American Holly)
*Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar)
*Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)
*Picea glauca (White Spruce)
Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)
Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)
Pyrus communis (Common Pear)
*Pyrus calleryana (Callery Pear)

Shrubs:

*Amelanchier spp. (Service Berry)
*Berberis spp. (except B. thunbergii) (Barberry)
*Buddleia spp. (Butterfly bush)
*Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood)
*Caryopteris spp. (Blue Mist Caryopteris)
*Clethra spp. (Sweet Pepperbush)
*Cornus sericea (Red-twig Dogwood)
*Cotinus coggygria (Smoke Tree)
*Cotoneaster spp. (Cotoneaster)
*Enkianthus campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus)
*Forsythia spp. (Forsythia)
*Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)
*Lagerstroemia spp. (Crape Myrtle)
*Mahonia spp. (Mahonia)
*Myrica spp. (Bayberry)
*Pieris japonica (Japanese Pieris)
*Potentilla spp. (Cinquefoil)
*Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)
*Spiraea spp. (Spirea)
*Yucca spp. (Yucca)

Herbaceous:

Achillea spp. (Yarrow)
Aconitum spp. (Monkshood)
Agapanthus spp. (Lily of the Nile)
Ageratum spp. (Floss flower)
Allium spp. (Allium)
Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)
Anaphalis triplinervis (Pearly Everlasting)
Anemone spp. (Windflower)
Aquilegia spp. (Columbine)
Arabis spp. (Cress)
Armeria maritima (Sea Pink)
Artemisia spp. (Artemisia)
Astilbe spp. (Astilbe)
Aubretia spp. (False Rockcress)
Calendula
spp. (Pot Marigold)
Campanula carpatica (Harebell)
Campanula medium (Canterbury Bells)
Chrysanthemum spp. (Daisy)
Coreopsis spp. (Coreopsis)
Cynoglossum nervosum (Houndstongue)
Delphinium spp. (Delphinium)
Dicentra spp. (Bleeding Heart)
Digitalis spp. (Foxglove)
Dryopteris spp. (Wood Fern)
Festuca spp. (Fescue Grass)
Gaillardia spp. (Blanket Flower)
Helleborus spp. (Lakespur)
Hyacinthoides spp. (Hyacinth)
Hypericum spp. (St. John's Wort)
Iris spp. (Iris)
Linaria macroccana (Toad Flax)
Lupinus spp. (Lupine)
Lychnis spp. (Rose Campion)
Mentha spicata (Spearmint)
Moluccella laevia (Bells of Ireland)
Narcissus spp. (Daffodils)
Nephrolepis (Sword fern)
Nepeta spp. (Cat Mint)
Origanum spp. (Marjarom)
Paeonia lactiflora (Peony)
Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)
Perovskia spp. (Russian Sage)
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Pteridium spp. (Bracken)
Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower)
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Salvia spp. (Sage/salvia)
Santolina spp. (Lavender Cotton)
Sedum kamtschaticum (Yellow Stonecrop)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ear)
Teucrium spp. (Germander)
Trillium spp. (Trillium)
Woodwardia spp. (Chain Fern)

Ground Covers:

*Calluna spp. (Heather)
*Erica spp. (Heath)
Ajuga reptans (Carpet Bugle)
Lavandula augustifolium (Lavender)
*Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry)
Thymus spp. (Thyme)
*Vinca minor (Myrtle; may be invasive)
Zantedeschia spp. (Calla Lily)

Vines:

Lonicera semipervirens (Trumpet Honeysuckle)
Wisteria spp. (Wisteria)


 


Pesticides are poisonous! Read and follow all safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original containers out of reach of children, pets or livestock. Dispose of empty containers immediately, in a safe manner and place. Pesticides should never be stored with foods or in areas where people eat.

When trade names are used for identification, no product endorsement is implied, nor is discrimination intended against similar materials. Be sure that the pesticide you intend to use is registered for the state of use.

The user of this information assumes all risk for personal injury or property damage.


For more information, call the URI CE Gardening and Food Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-1011 or (401)874-2929 from outside Rhode Island; Monday-Thursday between 9 am and 2 pm.

 

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