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Deer Resistant

Deer Resistant Plants For The North

Deer Resistant Plants For The North - Nature Hills Nursery

Nature Hills Nursery |

Anyone that marvels at their backyard landscape is almost always also cringing at the natural neighbor nearby-- deer. Any gardener would be a tad annoyed to spend hours planting, pruning and watering their yard just to have a pesky deer or two negatively affect its visual appearance.

Broken branches, peeled off tree bark and even eaten blossoms-- we see it all the time. You plant to enjoy the outdoors, but yet nature is merely a step away from destroying your peaceful garden.

Nature Hills knows that instead of running off the deer, and other wildlife, altogether, you would simply just like them to leave your happy plants be and go about their day roaming the woods.

To do so, we have outlined below five plant varieties that are known to be specimens deer don't particularly enjoy eating and that strive in the Northern growing zones:

Birch Trees

Being one of our top selling trees, Birch Trees are among the loveliest deciduous trees with their exquisite branching, unique bark and attractive foliage. Northern climates are often found using Birch Trees in any landscape they can.

These Northern beauties are seen gracefully spread out in open meadows in the Northern Hemisphere. However, because of their distinctive bark color and beautiful rustling leaves, Birch Trees are appearing more and more in small space gardens and backyards.

We can totally see why! With the year-round interest, also comes its deer resistant feature-- rarely nibbled on or back rubbed against.

Be sure to place it in a site that is full sun or partial shade, with well-draining soil. After digging the hole as deep as the tree’s root system and twice as wide, give it a good watering. Then apply a layer of mulch over the newly established roots.

To ensure extra wildlife protection, spray a deer repellant upon planting. It’s basically a stinky spray that deer don’t enjoy the smell of, so they stay clear.

With Birch Trees in the landscape, you’ll never have a dull season outdoors!

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Boxwood Shrubs

Emerald green color and garden structure will always be abundant with Boxwood Shrubs. Across the United States, these shrubs are prized for their ability to bring a clean look to front and back yards.

The best part about adding Boxwood Shrubs, is their ability to be any shape or even size you wish for. Have a small, dull area that is lacking color? Add in a boxwood. Or, do you have a dying hedge row that needs to be replaced fast? Add in a boxwood.

Some gardeners get a kick out of creating shapes and figures with their shrubs! You can too with the right pair of shears and a slightly mediocre artistic eye.

Here at Nature Hills, our favorite boxwood design accent is a well-kept garden with various foliage colors. Use these shrubs for dark green foliage mixed in with lighter shades of leaves.

Upon plant arrival, you’ll want to dig your hole no deeper than the pot, but twice as wide as the root ball. They prefer well-drained soil and will need frequent watering during its growing phase and in late fall. Be sure to read your specific plant’s care instructions!

And, even though Boxwood Shrubs are eye-catching to us, these are plants that deer don’t prefer for the most part. Therefore, you can keep your elegant green structure for years to come!

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Butterfly Bushes

These flowering favorites are pretty self-explanatory--Butterfly Bushes attract butterflies, not deer! You’ll have everything from Monarchs and Hummingbirds to Bumblebees and even humans admiring your native bushes.

The joy of Butterfly Bushes comes in the forms of colors. Mix and match or stay with your individual aesthetic. Each garden can look a little different with arched forms of bright reds, pinks, blues, whites, and purples. Not to mention the additional colors shown by the attracted butterflies!

Use Butterfly Bushes in outdoor mass plantings for a garden full of unique blossoms. Or as a filler in one of your shrub borders-- although it will most likely steal the show.

Others enjoy growing their bush in a decorative container to place as a patio accent that greets their guests. Or, bring the fun indoors as incredible cut flowers that light a room up.

Deer avoid Butterfly Bushes more often than not even though they are strikingly beautiful. However, we suggest applying a spray repellant on planting day to ensure they stay clear.

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Arrowwood Viburnums

Arrowwood Viburnums are four seasons of interest shrubs! In other words, they hog the stage year round-- the garden stage that is.

You’ll notice that these Viburnums are commonly used by professional landscape designers because of their good looks and ability to grow strong for years to come. In your garden, they will work hard for small space landscapes. On the other hand, they can help define a large-scale garden too.

We like to use our Arrowwood Viburnums as a hedge row for extra privacy. That way we get to admire the blossoms, foliage and attractive berries.

During the winter, natural wildlife will pay a visit for the colorful fruit that grows on Arrowwood Viburnums. Birds are a top fan, but the berries are not a favorite food source for roaming deer. Never worry about your shrubs being eaten on by them!

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Feather Reed Grass

Gardeners plant Feather Reed Grass for a stunning vertical accent that most other plants cannot fulfill. With feathery topped stalks, this ornamental grass provides a unique texture.

In the spring and summer seasons, green foliage shows through. But once autumn hits, an elegant brown takes its place.

Most people use Feather Reed Grass as a marvelous garden background that adds dimension. Since they can grow taller, Feather Reed Grass will stand silently behind a few flowering shrubs and ground covers, but they won’t go unseen!

You’ll appreciate their low-maintenance care requirements and the fact that deer aren’t the least amount attracted to them. From full sun to partial shade and wet to dry conditions, you have a hardy ornamental grass on your hands.

It’s a staple to have in a landscape! Why not get a grass that is here to stay?

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Nature Hills would like to explain that when deer populations are high and natural food is limited, deer are more likely to browse on any plant-- no plant is labeled 100% deer proof plant.

It is important to remember that when adding any new plant into an area that has a lot of deer, they may sample the newly installed plant just to see if they like it or not. For that reason, it is always a great idea to have Bonide’s Go Away Deer & Rabbit Repellent handy to spray all newly planted plants before going to bed the first night. Just to remind deer that they will not like what has been added to the garden.

Lastly, remember that in the fall season, deer can cause a lot of damage to younger trees from rubbing their antlers on the trunks.This strips off all of the bark from these young trees causing it to be vulnerable. To help prevent back rub damage on your trees, read How To Protect Trees From Deer Damage.

With the 5 above deer resistant plants that thrive in the North, your landscape will never look better year round! Now, instead of running off your natural neighbors-- you can sit back with a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the early morning scenery each day.

Happy gardening!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do deer eat birch trees, and are any birch varieties more resistant than others?
Birch trees are generally considered deer resistant, as deer rarely nibble on their foliage or rub against their distinctive bark, making them a smart choice for Northern growing zones. While all birch varieties tend to be less appealing to deer, popular selections like the River Birch (Betula nigra) and Heritage Birch (Betula nigra 'Cully') are top performers in Northern landscapes. For best results, apply a deer repellent spray at the time of planting to give your new tree an extra layer of protection while it establishes.

Is butterfly weed a good deer resistant perennial for northern gardens?
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is an excellent deer resistant perennial for northern gardens, thriving in zones 3 through 9 and producing vibrant orange blooms from early summer through fall. Deer tend to avoid it due to its milky sap, which is mildly toxic and unappealing to browse. As a bonus, it attracts butterflies and serves as a host plant for monarch caterpillars, making it a true wildlife garden workhorse. Plant it in full sun with well-draining soil, and avoid overwatering since it is highly drought tolerant once established.

Are elm trees deer resistant, or do deer commonly damage them?
Elm trees are not considered reliably deer resistant, and deer will commonly browse young elm foliage, rub their antlers against the bark, and damage lower branches. If you are planting elms in deer-prone areas, focus your protection efforts on young trees under five years old, as established trees are better able to recover from browsing pressure. Apply a deer repellent spray at planting time and reapply every 30 days or after heavy rainfall, and consider using a physical trunk guard or wire cage around new plantings for the first few seasons.

Which deer resistant shrubs grow best in cold northern climates?
Boxwood shrubs are among the top deer resistant choices for northern climates, thriving in zones 4 through 9 with their dense, emerald green foliage that deer tend to avoid. Their versatility in size and shape makes them ideal for hedgerows, borders, or small accent plantings in yards that experience heavy deer pressure. For best results, plant boxwoods in well-draining soil with full sun to partial shade, and apply a deer repellent spray at the time of planting to give new shrubs an extra layer of protection while they establish.

How do you protect young deer resistant plants until they are established?
Even deer resistant plants can be vulnerable when they are young and newly planted, so it is important to take protective measures until they are fully established. Upon planting, apply a deer repellent spray directly to the foliage and stems, and reapply after heavy rain or every few weeks during the growing season. Adding a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone helps the plant establish quickly, reducing the window of vulnerability. For the best results, combine repellent sprays with physical barriers like wire caging during the first one to two growing seasons.

Can deer resistant plants completely replace the need for fencing or repellents in the North?
Deer resistant plants significantly reduce browsing damage in Northern growing zones, but no plant is completely deer proof, especially during harsh winters when food sources are scarce and deer will eat almost anything. Combining deer resistant selections like Birch Trees and Boxwood Shrubs with additional protective measures gives you the best results. Nature Hills recommends spraying a deer repellent upon planting and reapplying throughout the season, particularly in fall and early winter when deer pressure increases. Browse our deer resistant plant collections and pair your selections with a quality repellent spray for a well-rounded protection strategy.

Do deer feeding habits change in northern regions during winter months?
Deer feeding habits do shift in northern regions during winter months, as food sources become scarce and deer grow less selective, making them more likely to browse on plants they would typically avoid. This increased winter browsing pressure is especially relevant in USDA Zones 3 through 6, where snow cover eliminates ground-level forage and pushes deer to target woody shrubs, tree bark, and evergreen foliage. To protect your landscape year-round, apply deer repellent spray before the first frost in fall and reapply every 30 days through winter, and consider planting naturally resistant specimens like Birch Trees and Boxwood Shrubs as a long-term solution.

How many deer resistant plants should you include to protect a garden bed effectively?
There is no single magic number of deer resistant plants that guarantees full protection, as effectiveness depends on your garden size, deer pressure in your area, and how the plants are arranged. A layered approach works best, mixing deer resistant trees like River Birch with shrubs such as Boxwood to create a more complete visual and aromatic barrier around vulnerable plants. For Northern growing zones, combining at least two to three deer resistant varieties throughout a bed significantly reduces browsing activity. Supplement your plantings with a deer repellent spray, especially at establishment, and reapply after rainfall to maintain a consistent deterrent.

Which deer resistant flowering shrubs attract pollinators in northern gardens?
While the article focuses on deer resistant plants for northern gardens including birch trees and boxwood shrubs, it does not specifically address flowering shrubs that attract pollinators. For northern gardeners looking for deer resistant flowering shrubs that also support pollinators, Nature Hills offers excellent options like Butterfly Bush, Russian Sage, and native Spirea varieties that thrive in zones 3 through 6. Visit naturehills.com to filter plants by deer resistance, pollinator support, and your specific growing zone to find the best match for your landscape.

Should you choose native or non-native deer resistant plants for gardens in the North?
Both native and non-native plants can serve as effective deer resistant options in Northern growing zones, and the best choice depends on your specific landscape goals. Native species like River Birch naturally thrive in Northern climates and support local ecosystems, while non-native options like Boxwood Shrubs offer reliable structure and year-round color. Focus on selecting plants suited to your hardiness zone that are known to be unappealing to deer, and always apply a deer repellent spray at the time of planting for added protection regardless of the plant's origin.
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