Rotating Extension Article

For: Release week of April 14, 2003

By: Daniel E. Mullins - Extension Horticulture Agent

Santa Rosa County Extension Service

Telephone: 850-623-3868 or 939-1259, ext. 1360

Damage by Deer? Plant Something That They Don’t Like.

Deer have qualities that we admire and value, but they can become a nuisance when their feeding behaviors damage ornamental plants and gardens. Sometimes it’s more than just aggravation. Heavy damage results in inconvenience and financial costs to property owners.

This problem is magnified where human developments replace native habitats, reducing the availability of natural foods preferred by deer. They can adapt quickly and become accustomed to feeding upon gardens, ornamentals, groves and nurseries.

Deer will feed upon a variety of vegetation including weeds, flowers, grasses, trees, shrubs, vines and vegetables. They don’t eat all plants however, and their diet is influenced by plant quality and individual preferences among animals. Where deer densities are high, even plants that are normally avoided might be eaten.

The University of Florida has compiled information concerning deer damage, including a list of plants and their susceptibility to browsing damage. This information was obtained through a survey of 71 Florida County Extension Agents. The document is entitled “Ornamental Plant Susceptibility to Damage by Deer in Florida.” It can be downloaded and printed by going to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW137.

There is a 10 page listing of plants that are categorized according to the degree of damage caused by browsing deer. The “frequent or severe damage” category includes many familiar plants such as: Celosia, corn, Dahlia, daylily, Impatiens, peas, Phlox, shrimp plant, tomatoes, Clematis, azaleas, Hibiscus, Pittosporum, roses, crabapple, pear, black cherry, and cherry laurel. The second category entitled “Occasional or Moderate Damage” includes

red maple, white oak, young citrus trees, willow, trumpet vine, begonia, Iris and Zinnia.

The list of plants that were reported as receiving rare or minor damage is surprisingly long. Gardeners facing a potential problem with browsing deer should consider growing some of these species: bottlebrush, crape myrtle, edible fig, flowering dogwood, Ligustrum, live oak, Loquat, Magnolia, persimmon, pineapple guava, potocarpus, pomegranate, yaupon holly, banana shrub, blackberry, Camellia, Chinese holly, croton, Gardenia, Japanese boxwood, Oleander, Plumbago, Viburnum, waxmyrtle, Allamanda, Boston fern, English ivy, Society garlic, yellow Jessamine, Ageratum, black-eyed-susan, bush dais, cone flower, dusty miller, marigold, periwinkle, sage and verbena.

Dan Mullins is Extension Horticulture/Vegetable agent for Santa Rosa County.

Extension Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin. The use of trade names in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee, warranty, or endorsement of the product name(s) and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others.