Native Plants

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Thursday - April 17, 2008

From: New York, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Deer-resistant screening tree/shrub
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Can you recommend a deer resistant screening tree/shrub? We would like to use privet but are not sure which variety or if the deer will really stay off it, we've had conflicting views! We live on the east end of Long Island, New York.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants would definitely NOT recommend any kind of privet (Ligustrum sp.). They are non-native and very invasive, competing with and displacing native plant species.

Here are some alternatives that are native and deer resistant, It should be noted that deer-resistant doesn't mean deer-proof. If environmental conditions have decreased their normal food supply, deer may eat plants that they normally find distasteful.

Evergreens

Andromeda polifolia (bog rosemary)

Ilex opaca (American holly)

Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) (Note: This shrub/trees is moderately deer-resistant, but probably less so than the others on the list.)

Mahonia aquifolium (hollyleaved barberry)

Deciduous

Calycanthus floridus (eastern sweetshrub)

Cornus sericea (redosier dogwood)

Hamamelis virginiana (American witchhazel)

Ilex glabra (inkberry)

Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)

Sambucus racemosa (red elderberry)