10 Deer Resistant Shrubs for A Stable Garden

By Calin Oancea Reviewed By Lucy Ward

5/7/20246 min read

Seeing a deer in the wild is a beautiful experience, but finding one in your garden isn‘t that nice, right?

Luckily, there are deer-resistant shrubs that our experts tried and tested that keep the deer out of your garden and also add green vegetation to your outdoor space.

Here are 10 of the best shrubs that keep deer out of your garden.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
a red deer resistant bush
a red deer resistant bush
a green deer resistans hedge called Boxwood
a green deer resistans hedge called Boxwood

Boxwood

Boxwood, a classic choice as a raised bed shrub or for landscaping, Boxwood has dense foliage and can withstand deer nibbles. Based on our results, the evergreen shrub is one of the best against deer. This deer-resistant privacy hedge can be planted year-round, in early fall or spring. It is ideal to allow its roots to acclimate before extreme weather hits.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
big Butterfly bushes with white flowers in a garden
big Butterfly bushes with white flowers in a garden

Butterfly Bush

This bush with pink and purple flowers can also appear in colors like white. Awash with color and bustling with winged visitors, the Butterfly Bush is a good choice. Though it’s the enemy of deer, butterflies, and hummingbirds can’t resist its fragrant, nectar-rich blooms. Best planted in early spring or fall, it’s also a low-maintenance shrub.

green design
green design
green design
green design
green design
green design
a bushy deer resistand shrub with purple flowers
a bushy deer resistand shrub with purple flowers

Syringa Vulgaris

Syringa vulgaris, also known as Lilac, is a flowering, deer-resistant shrub. When we tested whether lilacs could keep deer out of the garden, they worked because of their pungent aroma. Lilac bushes tolerate most soils, prefer a sunny, well-drained spot, and are ideal for planting in early spring.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
a red Barberry bush with thorns and small leaves
a red Barberry bush with thorns and small leaves

Barberry

Barberry is a deer-resistant shade shrub that is best to plant in spring or fall, it is also suited for winter gardens, while keeping unwanted guests away, with its thorny branches. When it comes to stopping deer from eating plants, we tested it multiple times by having more Barberries in our garden and it kept deer away because of their intense thorns.

dark green design
dark green design
green design
green design
green design
green design
green deer resistant Inkberry Holly leaves
green deer resistant Inkberry Holly leaves

Inkberry Holly

This small and low maintenance shrub with glossy leaves, Inkberry Holly is a year-round relatively little evergreen beauty that deer tend to avoid. This shrub is a friend to wildlife, offering shelter and berries for birds, yet its leathery leaves are a turn-off for deer. It also has small white flowers.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
a small shrub with purple flowers
a small shrub with purple flowers

Russian Sage

Russian Sage is a silver-leaved perennial, ideal for late summer, its purple bush flowers are a stark contrast against the silvery foliage and are grown in colder regions as deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant annuals. Sages' grey-green foliage are smelling intensely and can keep deer away, but we saw that bees and butterflies are regular visitors.

"As I spent evenings relaxing in my outdoor space, I noticed a significant reduction in pesky mosquitoes, thanks to the presence of Russian Sage" states Lucy Ward reviewer of this article.

dark green design
dark green design
green design
green design
green design
green design
the deer resistant Spirea shrub with pink flowers
the deer resistant Spirea shrub with pink flowers

Spirea

There are also dwarf flowering shrub varieties of the Spirea, a great deer resistant annual of the summer garden, Spirea has tiny purple blossoms that dance in the breeze. Its diverse color palette and deer resistance make it a great addition to any garden, while it is a low-maintenance bush. It is best to plant this flowering bush in the fall or spring.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
one pink Spirea bloom
one pink Spirea bloom
a large Heavenly Bamboo Nandina bush
a large Heavenly Bamboo Nandina bush

Heavenly Bamboo

Despite its name, Heavenly Bamboo is not a true bamboo but a deer-resistant shrub in the Nandina family. It can be grown as a small evergreen shrub that changes colors with the seasons, and its red berries are a winter spectacle. We have this bush in our garden but it doesn't keep deer away it is just resistant to them.

green design
green design
green design
green design
a bush with white flowers named Mock Orange
a bush with white flowers named Mock Orange

Mock Orange

These shrubs with white flowers grow from 1m to 3m (3ft to 10ft). Known for its citrus-scented blooms, Mock Orange is a deer-resistant shrub that exudes a sweet aroma. Its flowers are a summer joy and when caring for deer damage it can recover relatively fast.

dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
dark green design
multiple Wax Myrtle deer resisstant shrub stems
multiple Wax Myrtle deer resisstant shrub stems

Wax Myrtle

Wax Myrtle is an amazing, evergreen shrub that can reach up to 6m (20 ft) with aromatic, olive-green leaves. While it‘s a natural deer deterrent, it’s a sanctuary for birds and butterflies. Like the Butterfly bush, Inkberry Holly, and most shrubs it is best to plant Wax Myrtle in fall or spring. Appreciate its resilience and the wildlife it invites to your garden.

dark green design
dark green design
green design
green design
green design
green design
Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
Green Box
Green Box

Article By:

Calin has been in the garden industry for 5 years and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He is the founder of this website and is responsible for most of the content.

Reviewed By:

Lucy is a horticulturist with a passion for sustainable agriculture and permaculture. She spent many years exploring the country's diverse flora and fauna and developed a deep appreciation for natural ecosystems.