Deer Proof Shrubs: Hedges for Whitetail Free Gardens

Odocoileus virginianus, commonly known as white-tailed deer or as whitetails, is a New World mammal which is a familiar sight across North America, Central America, and northern South America. Whitetails are also recognizable throughout the world because of successful introductions and because of the popularity of Walt Disney's film about a white-tailed fawn, "Bambi."

Whitetails are paragons of grace and beauty as they glide, scamper, or run through their environment. Their lithe athleticism enables whitetails to attain swift running speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers/hour), even while negotiating tangled forest terrain. Deer are able to maintain swimming speeds of 13 miles per hour (20 kilometers/hour). With ease, whitetails agilely bound over vertical barriers up to a height of 8-1/2 feet (2.6 meters). Whitetails likewise easily execute a horizontal leap of about 30 feet (9 meters).

Of further fascination is the loving interaction that is displayed between does and their fawns. Their gentle concern for their offspring is almost palpable. In fact, their search for food sources, including invasions of gardens and croplands, is motivated by retrieving food for their fawns, which have been placed in hiding places during their mother's forays. After the first litter, a doe usually gives births to twins, and the fawns wait, alone, in separate hiding places for the return of their mother.

Unfortunately, whitetail attributes are quickly forgotten by gardeners and farmers who discover that their valuable plants and crops have been visited by whitetails. The negative human-whitetail interaction is occasioned by habitat destruction and consequential decrease in whitetail food sources. In their search for nearby or substitute resources, whitetails are attracted to the munificent bounty of well-tended gardens and cropland.

Many strategies exist for curtailing or eliminating whitetail visits, especially to treasured personal gardens. The method that is most successful for me and that resolves the problem gently and naturally is building a natural barrier that prevents whitetails from trespassing onto my garden. This natural barrier comprises ornamentals, shrubs, and wildflowers that are unpalatable to whitetails. Of course, a famished deer -- just as with a starving person -- considers items that normally are rejected. Nevertheless, natural barriers have proven successful not only for me but also for many other gardeners worldwide.

Deer-proof shrubs provide a higher barrier than ornamentals or wildflowers but all three are successful together or individually. Surrounding the garden with deer-proof shrubs creates a natural fence that is also an insurmountable barrier. Whitetails shy away from anything that is repugnant or fearsome to them. Despite their agility, whitetails have no interest in hurdling over undesirable plants. In their experience, fences are objects that are surmountable, up to about 9 feet (2.7 meters), whereas undesirable foliage is to be avoided. Thus, a hedge of deer-proof shrubs effectively deflects whitetails.

The following shrubs have been selected for their reliability as well as attractiveness. Shrubs for a variety of hardiness zones are featured.

A side benefit of deer-proof shrubs is that they contribute additional visual appeal, and oftentimes aromatic enjoyment, to the garden that they are protecting.

Euonymus alatus, commonly known as burning bush or corkbush or winged euonymus or winged spindle tree, reaches a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters), with a generous spread of 10 feet (3 meters).

Dark green, oval leaves turn brilliant red in autumn.

Flowers open as pale green in summer.

Pale red fruit has bright orange seeds.

A cultivar of burning bush, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus,' garnered the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1993.

Caution should be exercised against ingestion as all parts of Euonymus may provoke mild stomach upsets.

Berberis thunbergii, commonly known as Japanese barberry, reaches a height of 3 feet (0.9 meters), with a generous spread of 8 feet (2.4 meters).

Egg-shaped, smooth leaves are green above with blue-green undersides.

Flowers open as pale yellow, often with red tinges, in mid-spring.

Fruits shine with red glossiness.

In 1993 three Japanese barberry cultivars received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM):

• 'Boum,'
• 'Fireball,' and
• 'Maria.'

Caution should be exercised, as:

• contact with Berberis spines may cause skin irritations;
• ingestion of any part of Berberis plant may provoke mild stomach upsets.

Weigela middendorffiana, commonly known as Middendorff weigela, has an equiproportional shape, with a height and a spread of 5 feet (1.5 meters).

Leaves are vivid green.

Flowers open in pale yellow bell shapes with orange or red markings in summer.

Although Weigela middendorffiana repels deer, it attracts hummingbirds in abundance.

Pieris floribunda, commonly known as mountain fetterbush, reaches a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters), with a nearly proportional spread of 7 feet (2 meters).

Its lustrous, deep green leaves are pointed with serrated edges.

Flowers open as showy panicles in spring.

Caution should be exercised, as severe discomfort may ensue from ingestion of Pieris leaves.

Buxus sempervirens, commonly known as common box or English box, reaches a height of 5 to 30 feet (1.5 to 9 meters), with a spread of 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.5 meters).

Native to the British Isles, English box shrub has been popularly introduced throughout Europe, western Asia, northwestern Africa, and the New World.

Flowers open in green-cream clusters in late spring.

Three cultivars of Buxus sempervirens have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM):

• 'Elegantissima' in 1993,
• 'Graham Blandy' in 2012, and
• 'Latifolia Maculata' in 1993.

Caution should be exercised, as contact with Buxus sap may provoke skin irritations. 

Lindera obtusiloba, commonly known as blunt-lobed spicebush or Japanese spicebush, reaches a height of 30 feet (9 meters), with a spread of 25 feet (8 meters).

Dark green aromatic leaves, which turn to pale gold in autumn, have a mitten-like shape that subtly varies from leaf to leaf.

Tiny, star-shaped flowers open as the yellow-green of chartreuse in early spring and emit a spicy scent.

Glossy fruit ranges from dark red to black.

Although Japanese spicebush deflects deer, it is enormously popular with butterflies, such as spicebush swallowtails (Papilio troileus), for nectar and with birds for its berries.

Lindera obtusiloba garnered the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1993.

Viburnum grandiflorum, commonly known as Himalayan viburnum, reaches a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters), with a spread of 7 feet (2 meters).

Dark green, oblong leaves become dark purple in autumn.

From late winter to early spring, white flowers open in terminal clusters and fade into pink.

Oval berries are colored purple-black.

Caution should be exercised, as ingestion of Viburnum fruits may provoke mild stomach upsets.

Buddleja 'Pink Delight,' commonly known as Pink Delight butterfly bush, reaches a height of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2 meters), with a spread of 7 feet (2 meters).

Leaves are grey green.

Flowers open as deep pink clusters in late summer and last until the first frost.

A sweet fragrance, redolent of honey, is emitted by these blossoms.

Although Buddleja 'Pink Delight' is repugnant to deer, it is irresistible to hummingbirds. Additionally, butterflies such as mourning cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa), red admirals (Vanessa atalanta), swallowtails (family Papilionidae), and so many more, both familiar and unfamiliar, exuberantly partake of its nectar.

Buddleja 'Pink Delight' was honored with the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 1993.

Enclosing a garden with deer-proof shrubs creates a natural barrier that effectively safeguards the gardener's prized plantings. Whitetails process the no-trespassing warning and comply by exiting the premises.

In tandem with deer-proof plantings, I also set aside uncultivated land. In this way, whitetails have alternative food sources. The natural method is the best strategy: my garden, the deer, and the environment all derive benefits, and there are no adverse effects.

I have my garden, the deer have their fields, and the fawns are fed.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

"graceful deer": Dawn Huczek, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/31064702@N05/3271066657

Fawns await, in hiding places chosen by does, their mothers' return from food forays.: Ragamuffin Brian, CC BY-ND 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/90003109@N05/8182652533/

Bozeman, Gallatin County, northeastern Montana: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euonymus_alatus_(5108089460).jpg

Białowieża, Podlasie Province (Podlaskie Voivodeship), northeastern Poland: Beentree, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berberis_thunbergii_2_beentree.jpg

Minsk, central Belarus, northeastern Europe: Hanna Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Weigela_middendorffiana-1.jpg

Pieris genus was named by Scottish botanist David Don (December 21, 1799 – December 15, 1841).: Green Optics, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/60548141@N00/5689069542/

Jardin des Plantes, Toulouse, southwestern France: Didier Descouens, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buisfleurs.jpg

Lindera obtusiloba's leaves turn bright butter-yellow in autumn.: Chhe at English Wikipedia, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LinderaObtusilobaLeaf.jpg

Cambridge University Botanic Garden: Magnus Manske, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_grandiflorum_(Caprifoliaceae)_(flower).jpg

'Pink Delight' has a parentage of B. davidii 'Fascination' × B. davidii var. nanhoensis 'Alba' × B. 'West Hill'.: Ptelea, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buddleja_'Pink_Delight'_panicle.jpg

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, northern Georgia: National Park Service Park Wildlife Camera, Public Domain, via Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area @ https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/view.htm?id=BB8F6C2B-1DD8-B71C-078C05391723ECD7

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, southern Prudence Island: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaaphotolib/5408301621/

Odocoileus virginianus doe: dw_ross (MostlyDross), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/dw_ross/5185425052/

National Bison Range Wildlife Refuge, western Montana: US Department of Agriculture (USDAgov), Public Domain, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/7042888599/

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