Damage to ornamental plants by white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) has increased during the past decade. This increase is attributed to: 1. rising deer populations; 2. human populations shifting to rural and suburban homesites; 3. loss of deer habitat to development; and 4. landowner decisions to prevent deer hunting.

The best approach to control deer damage is an integrated pest managment (IPM) plan, which includes careful monitoring of any one, or a combination of the following strategies: population management, fencing, repellents, or vegetation management.

In the short run, damage to ornamental plants is largely irreversible. Damage, particularly in suburban areas with good-quality deer habitat, probably will increase. However, by planting ornamentals not favored by deer, landscapers and homeowners can attempt to preserve vulnerable landscapes.

Deer Feeding Habits

Deer feed selectively on fertilized and unfertilized landscape plantings and managed croplands. Costly browsing damage may be reduced or eliminated by planting less-preferred species or by establishing susceptible plants only in protected areas. A few strategies to consider include planting susceptible plants close to the house or in a fenced yard, or planting preferred species inside a protective ring of less-preferred species. Under most circumstances, landscaping based on a knowledge of deer feeding preferences provides an alternative to expensive chemical repellents and unsightly physical barriers.

Whether deer will target a particular plant species or variety depends on their previous habits and nutritional needs, plant palatability, seasonal factors, weather conditions, geographic area, and availability of alternative foods. Deer are creatures of habit, and previous movement patterns or foraging experiences can determine where damage will occur. Also, one plant species may be rarely damaged in one region or the country, but highly preferred in another due to differences in deer pressure and other factors. Examples of species with noted regional differences include holly, white pine, and deciduous magnolias. Therefore, caution must be taken when using plant preference lists from areas outside your own.

In general, damage from browsing is most severe when snow cover or extreme cold has reduced food availability. Another problem time is early spring when young succulent growth of ornamentals provides attractive browse before other spring growth is avialable. When food is in short suply, deer will browse even the most undesirable plants. Under such conditions, landscapers should combine damage control measures with careful plant selection. Damage control measures could include repellents, physical barriers (fencing), and deer population control. Ultimately, reducing the deer herd size is the most effective solution.

Plant Damage List

The following list contains many ornamental plants adaptable to West Virginia landscapes and notes their susceptibility to deer damage. This information is useful both to select plants that are unlikely to be damaged by deer and to identify those ornamentals that frequently require protection. Two categories are included: Rarely Damaged, and Frequently Damaged. The placement of plants in these categories is based on the experiences of nursery operators, landscape contractors and designers, West Virginia Extension Service personnel, research staff, and professional horticulturists. The information derives from personal communications, published articles, and unpublished reports. Please note that deer-browsing resistance of a plant species changes according to fluctuations in deer populations, alternative food availability, and environmental factors. No plant is safe under all conditions.

Plants listed in the Rarely Damaged category are eaten infrequently by deer and are the best candidates for damage-prone landscapes. Frequently Damaged category plants often require physical or chemical protection. Before planting any of the species listed, check to ensure that they suit local climatic and soil conditions.

Rarely Damaged
Botanical Name	Common Name
Trees
Aesculus parviflora	Bottlebrush Buckeye
Amelanchier arborea	Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis	Shadbush
Amelanchier laevis	Allegheny Serviceberry
Betula albo-sinensis	Chinese Paper Birch
Betula nigra 'Heritage'	Heritage Birch
Betula papyrifera	Paper Birch
Chamaecyparis pisifera	Japanese Falsecypress
Cryptomeria japonica	Japanese Cedar
Picea pungens glauca	Colorado Blue Spruce
Pinus sylvestris	Scotch Pine
Pseudotsuga menziesii	Douglas Fir
Shrubs and Climbers
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	Bearberry
Asimina triloba	Pawpaw
Berberis spp.	Barberry
Buxus spp.	Boxwood
Caryopteris x clandonensis	Caryopteria
Calastrus scandens	American Bittersweet
Cornus sericea	Red Osier Dogwood
Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. horeana	Japanese Plum-Yew
Elaeagnus angustifolia	Russian Olive
Gaultheria procumbens	Creeping Wintergreen
Hibiscus syriacus	Rose of Sharon
Ilex x 'John T. Morris'	John T. Morris Holly
Ilex x 'Lydia Morris'	Lydia Morris Hollies
Leucothoe spp.	Leucothoe
Ligustrum vulgare	European Privet
Pieris japonica	Japanese Andromeda
Rhamnus cathartica	Common Buckthorn
Sambucus canadensis	Blueberry Elder
Sarcoccoca hookeriana var. humilis	Dwarf Sweet Christmas Box
Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs
Achillea spp.	Yarrow
Aconitum spp.	Monkshood
Ageratum houstonianum	Ageratum
Allium christophii	Star of Persia
Allium neapolitanum	Daffodil Garlic
Allium ostrowskianum	Lily Leek
Anemone x hybrida	Japanese Anemone
Anemonella thalictroides	Rue Anemone
Anethum graveolens	Common Dill
Aquilegia spp.	Columbine
Aurinia saxatilis	Basket-of-Gold
Antirrhinum majus	Snapdragon
Arabis spp.	Rock-cress
Arisaema thiphylum	Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Aubrietia deltoidea	Rock Cress
Bergenia spp.	Berginia
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides	Plumbago
Cimicifuga racemosa	Snakeroot
Colchicum autumnale	Colchicum
Colchicum speciosum	Colchicum
Consolida ambigua	Larkspur
Convallaria majalis	Lily-of-the-valley
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'	Threadleaf Coreopsis
Cyclamen hederifolium	Neopolitan Cyclamen
Dicentra spectabilis	Bleeding Heart
Digitalis spp.	Foxglove
Dryopteris marginalis	Wood Fern
Ecinacea purpurea	Purple Coneflower
Epimedium spp.	Barrenwort
Euphorbia spp.	Euphorbia
Fritillaria spp.	Fritillary
Galium odoratuim	Sweet Woodruff
Gloriosa superba	Glory Lily
Hemmerocallis 'Stella de Oro'	Stella de Oro Daylily
Hesperis matronalis	Dame's Rocket
Hyacinthus orientalis	Hyacinth
Lamium maculatum	Deadnettle
Lavandula spp.	Lavender
Linaria vulgaris	Toadflax
Lobularia maritima	Sweet Alyssum
Lychnis coronaria	Rose Champion
Matteuccia struthiopteris	Ostrich Fern
Narcissus spp.	Daffodil
Nicotiana spp.	Flowering Tobacco
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis	Royal Fern
Pachysandra procumbens	Allegheny Spurge
Pachysandra terminalis	Japanese Spurge
Papaver orientale	Oriental Poppy
Pelargonium spp.	Scented Geranium
Pervoshia atriplicifolia	Russian Sage
Ranunculus spp.	Buttercup
Rheum rhabarbarum	Rhubarb
Rudbeckia spp.	Coneflower
Salvia spp.	Sage
Santolina chamaecyparissus	Lavender Cotton
Scilla spp.	Squill
Stachys byzantina	Lamb's Ears
Tagetes spp.	Marigold
Tanacetum vulgare	Common Tansy
Thymus spp.	Thyme
Tiarella cordifolia	Foam Flower
Tropaeolum majus	Nasturtium
Yucca spp.	Yucca

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Frequently Damaged
Botanical Name	Common Name
Trees
Abies balsamea	Balsam Fir
Acer palmatum/red-leaved varieties	Japanese Maple
Acer platanoides	Norway Maple
Cedrus atlantica	Atlas Cedar
Cercis canadensis	Redbud
Chionanthus virginicus	Fringe Tree
x Cupressocyparis leylandii	Leyland Cypress
Fraxinus excelsior	European Ash
Ilex 'Nellie Stevens'	Nellie Stevens Holly
Kuelreutaria paniculata	Goldenrain Tree
Magnolia soulangeana	Saucer Magnolia
Malus spp.	Apple and Crabapple
Prunus spp.	Cherry and Plum
Pinus strobus	White Pine
Pyrus spp.	Pear
Thuja occidentialis	Arborvitae
Tsuga spp.	Hemlock
Shrubs and Climbers
Chaenomeles japonica	Quince
Clematis spp.	Clematis
Cornus mas	Cornellian Cherry Dogwood
Euonymus alatus	Winged Euonymus
Euonymus fortunei	Wintercreeper
Hydrangea quercifolia	Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia	Oakleaf Hydrangea
Ilex cornuta	Chinese Holly
Ilex x merserveae	Messerve Holly
Ilex verticillata	Common Winterberry
Kalmia latifolia	Mountain Laural
Rhododendron austrinum	Florida Azalea
Rhodedeneron nudiflorum (periclymenoides)	Pinksterbloom Azalea
Rhododendron vaseyl	Pink Shell Azalea
Rhododendron hybrids	Evergreen Azaleas & Rhododendron
Rosa hybrids	Hybrid Roses
Rubus spp.	Blackberry & Raspberry
Sorbus aucupatia	European Mountain Ash
Syringa patula	Manchurian Lilac
Taxus spp.	Yew
Vaccinium corymbosum	Highbush Blueberry
Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs
Aegopodium podagaria	Bishop's Weed
Aquilegia spp.	Columbine
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum	Japanese Painted Fern
Cherianthus spp.	Wallflower
Hedera helix	English Ivy
Helianthus spp.	Sunflower
Hosta spp.	Hosta
Hemerocallis spp. & hybrids	Daylily
Iberis sempervirens	Candytuft
Lilium spp.	Lily
Matthoila incarna	Stock
.Pelargonium spp	Geranium
Polygonatum biflorum	Solomon's Seal
Ranunculus asiaticus	Buttercup
Trillium spp.	Trillium
Tulipa spp.	Tulips
Vinca minor	Periwinkle
Viola spp.	Pansies & Violas

References
Fargione, M.J., P.D. Curtis, and M.E. Richmond. 1991. "Resistance of Woody Ornamental Plants to Deer Damage." Publication 147HGFS800.00 Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.
Bartlett, Michael. 1995. "Deer Resistant Plants." Bethesda, MD: Landscape Designs.
Gibbs, D. 1995. "Deer Resistant Plants for the Home Landscape." Chevy Chase, MD: Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission.