Spruce, boxwood, spirea, potentilla, ninebark and lilac are among the shrubs and trees deer browse least in Maine. Skip yews and arborvitae — they’re deer favorites.
- Spruce — Stiff, prickly needles deer avoid.
- Boxwood — Bitter, toxic leaves.
- Spirea — Rarely browsed, easy flowering shrub.
- Potentilla — Tough, long-blooming and deer resistant.
- Ninebark — Native, rarely eaten, colorful leaves.
- Lilac — Deer usually leave mature lilacs alone.
- Juniper — Prickly, aromatic foliage.
- Japanese Pieris — Toxic leaves deer skip.
- Smokebush — Aromatic leaves, bold color.
- Bluebeard — Aromatic, late blooming shrub.
We carry these at both stores — they just aren’t in our online catalog yet. Please call South Portland or Westbrook for what’s in today.
Tips
- Protect young trees with tree guards until the bark toughens.
- In winter, wrap evergreens deer like in burlap or netting.
- Plant in groups — deer browse lone shrubs at the edge of the woods first.
Frequently asked questions
Do deer eat arborvitae?
Yes — arborvitae and yews are among the plants deer eat most in winter.
Are evergreens deer resistant?
Spruce, juniper and boxwood are rarely browsed; arborvitae, yew and hemlock are often eaten.
When do deer do the most damage?
Late winter and early spring, when other food is scarce.
Do you carry these shrubs and trees?
Our shrub and tree selection changes with the season — call South Portland or Westbrook to ask what’s in.