Damage caused by deer browsing on trees and shrubs can be a problem in some rural and suburban areas in Iowa. The amount of damage depends upon seasonal factors, weather conditions, availability of alternative foods, and plant palatability. Prevention of deer browsing is difficult. Home gardeners may be able to avoid some deer damage by careful plant selection. Horticulturists and wildlife specialists at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, have identified trees and shrubs that are rarely or seldom, occasionally, and frequently damaged by deer. Those plant species adapted to Iowa are listed below.

Plants Rarely or Seldom Severely Damaged

Common Name	Botanical Name
Barberry	Berberis spp.
Redosier Dogwood	Cornus sericea
Forsythia	Forsythia spp.
Honeylocust	Gleditsia triacanthos
Beautybush	Kolkwitzia amabilis
Norway Spruce	Picea abies
White Spruce	Picea glauca
Colorado Spruce	Picea pungens
Mugo Pine	Pinus mugo
Austrian Pine	Pinus nigra
Scotch Pine	Pinus sylvestris
Common Lilac	Syringa vulgaris

Plants Occasionally Severely Damaged

Common Name	Botanical Name
White Fir	Abies concolor
Red Maple	Acer rubrum
Silver Maple	Acer saccharinum
Sugar Maple	Acer saccharum
Common Horsechestnut	Aesculus hippocastanum
Serviceberry	Amelanchier spp.
Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster spp.
Common Witchhazel	Hamamelis virginiana
Rose-of-Sharon	Hibiscus syriacus
Hydrangea	Hydrangea spp.
Privet	Ligustrum spp.
Eastern White Pine	Pinus strobus
Potentilla	Potentilla fruticosa
Douglas Fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii
White Oak	Quercus alba
Northern Red Oak	Quercus rubra
Willows	Salix spp.
Anthony Waterer Spirea	Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer'
Bridalwreath Spirea	Spiraea prunifolia
Persian Lilac	Syringa x persica
Japanese Tree Lilac	Syringa reticulata
American Linden	Tilia americana
Canadian Hemlock	Tsuga canadensis
Old-Fashioned Weigela	Weigela florida

Plants Frequently Severely Damaged

Common Name	Botanical Name
Norway Maple	Acer platanoides
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis
Clematis	Clematis spp.
Corneliancherry Dogwood	Cornus mas
Winged Euonymus	Euonymus alatus
Apples, Crabapples	Malus spp.
Cherries, Plums	Prunus spp.
Rhododendrons	Rhododendron spp.
Hybrid Tea Rose	Rosa x hybrid
Yews	Taxus spp.
American Arborvitae	Thuja occidentalis

Home gardeners should realize that no plant species is completely deer resistant. Deer will browse even on the most resistant plants when faced with starvation. However, careful plant selection, along with repellents and fencing can reduce deer damage.

This article originally appeared in the May 26, 1993 issue, pp. 1993 issue, pp. 77-78.