Deer Resistant Flowering Shrubs

Deer-resistant flowering shrubs bring color to fence lines, front yards and garden borders while helping limit damage from hungry deer. No shrub is completely deer-proof, especially during drought or a hard winter, but some flowering shrubs tend to get passed over more often than others. Lilacs, spirea, shrubby cinquefoil and bluebeard are worth considering for a deer-resistant landscape, depending on your growing zone and local conditions. Lilacs offer fragrant spring blooms and generally flower best with plenty of sunshine and good air circulation. Spirea brings clusters of pink or white flowers, with bloom time ranging from spring to summer depending on the variety. Shrubby cinquefoil, also called potentilla, can keep yellow, white, pink or orange flowers coming through much of summer. Bluebeard adds blue flowers in late summer, giving bees another place to forage as earlier blooms fade. Combining shrubs with different bloom times helps keep the yard colorful across the growing season without counting on a single plant to do all the work. Choosing deer-resistant flowering shrubs starts with matching the plant to your property, not just picking a flower color. Check the mature height and width, USDA hardiness zone, sunlight needs and soil drainage before planting. Many flowering shrubs bloom best with at least six hours of direct sun, though requirements vary by species and variety. Leave enough room between plants for their mature branches, water deeply as roots get established and spread mulch over the root zone without piling it against the stems. Young shrubs and tender new shoots may still attract browsing, so temporary fencing or protective cages can help while plants settle in. Deer repellents labeled for landscape plants may offer another layer of protection, but follow the label and reapply as directed. Local browsing habits matter, too: a shrub deer ignore on one property may get nibbled a few miles down the road. Your county extension office can help narrow down choices for your area. For steady flowering, time pruning to the shrub’s bloom cycle; lilacs, for example, are best pruned shortly after their spring flowers fade so next year’s buds have time to form.