Though a hungry deer will eat almost any tree, especially in times of drought or in the spring, certain plant characteristics dissuade deer from browsing. Deer avoid prickly leaves, and thorny stems and branches. Trees with feathery, gray, tough or pubescent leaves are another deer turn-off. They also avoid trees that emit a pungent aroma, have a strong taste or contain thick sap or toxin. Fast-growing evergreens that possess one or more of these qualities may prevent deer damage in your landscape.
To 25 Feet
Several species in the Acacia genus grows more than 36 inches per season and deter deer. These include the Bailey acacia (A. baileyana), an Australian native that grows to 30 feet tall and has feathery blue-green leaves. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 10, this spreading evergreen tolerates drought and alkaline soil. The frost acacia (A. pruinosa) is hardy in zones 9 and 10 and grows to 25 feet tall. It prefers moist, alkaline soil. Both acacias produce aromatic yellow flowers.
To 35 Feet
The round-leaved snow gum (Eucalyptus perriniana) grows about 3 feet each year to 35 feet tall. Hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10, this evergreen has pungent silver-gray foliage. It tolerates a variety of site conditions, including drought and alkaline soil. The Carolina laurel cherry (Prunus caroliniana) also grows to 35 feet tall at a rate of 3 feet per year. This North American native has toxic foliage and stems, and is hardy in zones 7 to 10. It prefers moist, acidic soil.
To 50 Feet
The bishop pine (Pinus muricata), a California native, grows to 50 feet tall at a rate of 3 feet per season. This conifer is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and tolerates diverse site conditions, from dry to moist soil and full sun to partial shade. It has sharp, needlelike foliage and prefers acidic pH. The ghost gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) has aromatic foliage and grows to 50 feet tall. This Australian native has gray-green foliage and is hardy in zones 9 and 10. It thrives in wet or dry soil and prefers a slightly alkaline pH.
More Than 50 Feet
Deer tend to avoid trees in the Abies genus. The grand fir (A. grandis) grows up to 3 feet per year to heights of 80 to 200 feet. Its needle-like foliage and bark have an aromatic scent. This evergreen is native to the U.S. and is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. It prefers sites with acidic, moist and well-drained soil. The evergreen or shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei), a California native, grows more than 36 inches per year. This broad-leaved evergreen has lustrous foliage and is hardy in zones 8 to 10. It grows well in acidic to alkaline pH levels and dry to moist soil.
- North Carolina State University: Deer Resistant Plants
- University of California Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Plants Usually Avoided by Deer
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Acacia
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Round-Leaved Snow Gum
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Carolina Laurel Cherry
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Bishop Pine
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Ghost Gum
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Grand Fir
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Evergreen Ash
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images