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Cooperative Extension

Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance

The following is a list of landscape plants rated according to their resistance to deer damage. The list was compiled with input from nursery and landscape professionals, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension personnel, and Rutgers Master Gardeners in northern New Jersey. Download printable list (PDF).

Realizing that no plant is deer proof, plants in the Rarely Damaged, and Seldom Severely Damaged categories would be best for landscapes prone to deer damage. Plants Occasionally Severely Damaged and Frequently Severely Damaged are often preferred by deer and should only be planted with additional protection such as the use of fencing, repellents, etc. Success of any of these plants in the landscape will depend on local deer populations and weather conditions.

A = Rarely Damaged
B = Seldom Severely Damaged
C = Occasionally Severely Damaged
D = Frequently Severely Damaged

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  • Spicebush - Lindera benzoin

    Type: Shrubs
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Spiderwort - Tradescantia sp.

    Type: Perennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • St. John's Wort
  • St. John's Wort
  • Stocks - Matthiola sp.

    Type: Annuals
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Stokes' Aster - Stokesia laevis

    Type: Perennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Striped Maple - Acer pensylvanicum

    Type: Trees
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum

    Type: Trees
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Swamp Milkweed
  • Sweet Mock Orange
  • Sweet Pepperbush
  • Sweet William - Dianthus barbatus

    Type: Biennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Toad Lily
  • Trillium - Trillium sp.

    Type: Perennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Trout Lily - Erythronium

    Type: Perennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Tulip Tree - Liriodendron tulipifera

    Type: Trees
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Verbena - Verbena x hybrida

    Type: Annuals
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Violets - Viola sp.

    Type: Perennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Virginia Bluebells - Mertensia virginica

    Type: Perennials
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B
  • Virginia Sweetspire - Itea virginica

    Type: Shrubs
    Rating: Seldom Severely Damaged - B