Looking at this chart of deer resistant trees you will be pleased to find that there are many different deer resistant trees with a varying sizes and foliage types for you to choose from. Some are deciduous and some are evergreen depending on where you live.
There are no deer resistant trees that are 100% deer proof. Many of these trees have toxic or rough or bitter foliage, or a strong odor that repels deer. The bark of most of these trees may still be damaged by bucks rubbing their antlers. Trunk tubing or another way of protecting trunks may be needed while trees are young.
Deer Resistant Trees
BOTANICAL NAME |
COMMON NAME |
COMMENTS |
ZONE OR STATE SOURCE |
| Aesculus pavia | Red Buckeye |
Bitter Taste, Toxic | NC,TX, |
| Aesculus parviflora | Bottlebrush Buckeye | MD,NJ, | |
| Albizia julibrissin |
Mimosa | NJ,TX, | |
Amelanchier arborea |
Downy Serviceberry |
MD | |
Amelanchier canadensis |
Shadbush |
MD | |
Amelanchier laevis |
Allegheny Serviceberry |
MD | |
| Asimina triloba |
Pawpaw | NJ, | |
Betula albo-sinensis |
Chinese Paper Birch |
MD | |
Betula nigra spp. |
River Birch |
MD,NC,NJ | |
| Betula papyrifera | Paper Birch | MD,NJ,OR | |
| Betula pendula |
European White Birch | All Oregon Zones | |
| Cedrus deodora |
Deodar Cedar | NC | |
| Cercidiphyllum japonicum |
Katsura Tree | NJ | |
| Chamaecyparis species |
Cypress | Toxic all parts | TX, |
| Cornus capitata |
Himalayan Dogwood | OR | |
| Cornus florida |
Flowering Dogwood | OR | |
| Cornus kousa |
Kousa Dogwood | OR | |
| Crataegus species |
Hawthorn | NC,CO,OR | |
| Cryptomeria japonica | Japanese Cedar | MD,NC | |
| Diospyros virginiana |
Persimmon | OR | |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia |
Russian Olive | OR | |
| Fagus sylvaica |
European Beech | OR, | |
| Ficus carica |
Edible Fig | OR, | |
| Fraxinus velutina |
Arizona Ash | OR, | |
| Ginkgo biloba |
Ginkgo | NC | |
| Gleditsia triacanthos |
Honey Locust | Large thorns | NC,OR, |
| Ilex opaca |
American Holly | NC,NJ,OR,TX, | |
| Ilex x aquipernyi 'Dragon Lady' | Dragon Lady Holly | MD | |
| Ilex x aquipernyi 'San Jose' |
San Jose Holly | MD | |
| Juniperus virginiana |
Eastern Redcedar | Coarse foliage | NC,CO,OR,TX |
| Lagerstroemia hybrids |
Crape myrtles | NC | |
| Lyonothamnus floribundus |
Catalina Ironwood | OR, | |
| Magnolia grandiflora |
Southern Magnolia | NC | |
| Magnolia virginica |
Sweetbay Magnolia | NC | |
| Melia azedarach |
China Berry Tree | POISONOUS | OR,TX |
| Myrica californica |
Wax Myrtle | OR | |
| Nyssa sylvatica |
Black Gum | NC | |
| Picea abies |
Norway Spruce | OR | |
| Picea glauca 'Conica' |
Dwarf Alberta Spruce | NJ | |
Picea pungens glauca |
Colorado Blue Spruce |
MD,OR, | |
| Pinus edulis |
Pinon Pine | CO | |
| Pinus mugo |
Mugo Pine | OR | |
| Pinus nigra |
Austrian Pine | OR | |
| Pinus resinosa |
Red Pine | NJ,OR, | |
| Pinus rigida |
Pitch Pine | NJ,OR, | |
Pinus species |
Pines (General) |
NC,CO,TX, | |
Pinus sylvestris |
Scotch Pine |
MD,OR, | |
| Pinus thungergiana |
Japanese Black Pine | NJ | |
| Prunus caroliniana |
Carolina Cherrylaurel | NC | |
| Prunus serrulata |
Japanese Flowering Cherry | POISONOUS | NC,OR, |
Pseudotsuga menziesii |
Douglas Fir |
MD,CO, | |
Quercus virginiana |
LIve Oak |
NC | |
| Quillaja saponaria |
Soapbark Tree | OR | |
| Rhus virens |
Evergreen Sumac | Coarse foliage | TX |
| Robinia pseudoacacia |
Black Locust | POISONOUS | OR |
| Salix matsudana toruosa |
Corkscrew Willow | OR | |
| Sassafras albidum |
Common Sassafras | OR | |
| Sophora secundiflora |
Texas Mountain Laurel | Toxic all parts | TX |
| Syzygium paniculatum | Australian Bush-Cherry,Eugenia | OR | |
Taxodium distichum |
Bald Cypress |
NC | |
Vitex agnus-castus |
Chastetree |
NC | |