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Ornamental plant susceptibility to damage by deer in Florida 1
Martin B. Main, Joe Schaefer and Ginger M. Allen2General Comments
Deer have many qualities we admire and value. Deer also may become a nuisance when their feeding behaviors damage ornamental plants and gardens and cause aggravation, inconvenience, and financial costs to property owners. As human dwellings continue to increase in rural areas where deer occur, the incidence of deer-human conflicts also will increase. This is particularly true where human developments replace native habitats and reduce the availability of natural foods preferred by deer. In these instances, deer may quickly become accustomed to feeding upon gardens, ornamental plantings, groves, and nurseries. Damage from deer may be reduced by fencing and the use of chemical repellents (see Main, Schaefer, and Allen, 1999), but a simpler, less expensive, and generally more effective alternative is to landscape with plants that deer do not like to eat.Deer will feed upon a variety of vegetation including weeds and flowers, grasses, trees, shrubs, vines, and fruits and vegetables. Deer do not eat all plants, however, and diet is influenced by plant qualities such as taste and digestibility, and individual preferences among animals. Where deer densities are high, even plants that are normally avoided may be eaten. This IFAS extension fact sheet identifies some of the ornamental plants commonly planted in Florida and their susceptibility to damage from deer. This information may be used to guide planting decisions in areas where damage from deer is likely to be a problem. Development of this document was facilitated by a survey regarding susceptibility of commonly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials to browsing damage by deer of 71 Florida county extension agents with horticultural expertise. Thirteen counties responded to the survey, five of which provided plant species lists and eight of which reported that damage from deer was not a problem in their area.
The information provided is organized by plant growth form and is designed to assist in making decisions when landscaping in areas where damage from deer is likely to be a problem. All species listed are known to grow in Florida. In some cases, multiple species and varieties exist for a common name, such as Juniper (Juniperus spp.). In these instances, some species may be more susceptible than others and susceptibility may differ geographically. For example, the northern Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) may be severely damaged by deer in northern states.
For Additional Information
Main, M., J.M. Schaefer and G.M. Allen. 1999. Coping With Deer Damage in Florida . Extension sheet WEC-135, Dep. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
Horton, J.L., and W.D. Edge. 1994. Deer-resistant Ornamental Plants . Extension sheet 1440, Oregon State University Extension Service, Administrative Services A422, Corvalis, OR, 97331-2119.
Schaefer, J.M. and M.B. Main. Florida's White-Tailed Deer . Extension sheet SS-WEC-11, Dep. of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
Acknowledgements
Collier County, FL Master Gardener Extension Specialists.Survey participants, Horticultural Extension Specialists.
Tables
Table 1. Trees listed by susceptibility to damange from deer in Florida.
Frequent or Severe Damage
Common Name
Botanical Name
Comments
Black cherry
Prunus serotina
North & central Florida
Carolina laurel cherry Prunus carolina
Large quantities fatal to livestock Crabapple Malus spp.
Sapling and fruit removal
Flatwoods plum
Prunus umbellata
Edible fruit
Pear
Pyrus spp.
Sapling and fruit removal
Occasional or Moderate Damage
Citrus
Citrus spp.
Young trees
Red maple
Acer rubrum
Occasionally severe damage
Schefflera Schefflera actinophylla
Not resistant
White oak
Quercus alba
North Florida
Willow
Salix spp.
New growth preferred by deer
Rare or Minor Damage
American beech
Fagus grandiflora
Resistant
Australian pine Casusrina equisetifolia
Resistant
Bottlebrush Melaleuca quinquenervia
Resistant Butterfly/cabada palms
Chrysalidocarpus spp.
Resistant
Cabbage/palmettos
Sabal spp.
Resistant
Christmas palms
Veitchia spp.
Resistant
Coconut palm
Cocos nucifera
Resistant
Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Resistant
Date palms
Phoenix spp.
Resistant
Edible fig
Ficus carica
Resistant
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus cinerea
Resistant Fishtail palms
Caryota spp.
Resistant
Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida
Resistant
Ligustrum
Ligustrum spp.
Resistant
Live oak Quercus virginiana
Resistant Loquat Eriobotrya japonica
Resistant Magnolia Magnolia spp.
Resistant Orchid tree Bauhinia variegata
Resistant Paurotis palm
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
Resistant
Persimmon
Diospyros spp.
Resistant
Pineapple guava
Feijoa spp.
Resistant
Podocarpus
Podocarpus spp.
Resistant
Pomegranate Punica granatum
Resistant Ponytail, Bottle palm
Beaucarnea recurvata
Resistant
Queen palm
Arecastrum romanzoffianum
Resistant
Royal palm
Roystonea spp.
Resistant
Thatch palm
Thrinax spp.
Resistant
Yaupon
Ilex vomitoria
Resistant
Table 2. Shrubs listed by susceptibility to damage from deer in Florida.
Frequent or Severe Damage
Common Name
Botanical Name
Comments
Bouganvillea Bouganvillea spp.
Not resistant Evergreen Azaleas
Rhododendron spp.
Frequently damaged
Hibiscus Hibiscus spp.
Not resistant, favorite Hog plum
Prunus umbellata
North Florida species
Mexican firebush Hamelia patens
Not resistant Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira
Not resistant, favorite Rhododendrons
Rhododendron spp.
Frequently damaged
Roses Rosa spp.
Regular spraying will reduce damage
Rare or Minor Damage
Banana shrub
Magnolia fuscata
Resistant
Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae
Resistant Blackberry
Rubus spp.
Only thorny species resistant
Bottlebrush Callistemon spp.
Resistant
Camellia Camellia spp.
Resistant Carissa Carissa spp.
Resistant Chinese holly Ilex cornuta
Somewhat resistant
Croton Croton linearis
Resistant Gardenia
Gardenia spp.
Resistant
Heavenly bamboo
Nandina spp.
Resistant
Ixora Ixora spp.
Resistant Japanese boxwood
Buxus microphylla
Resistant
Juniper
Juniperus spp.
Resistant
Lantana
Lantana camara
Natives resistant, hybrids not
Mahonia
Mahonia spp.
Resistant
Myrtle-leaf holly
Ilex myrtifolia
Resistant
Needle palm
Rhopidophyllum hystrix
Resistant
Oleander
Nerium oleander
Resistant, poisonous
Philodendron Philodendron spp.
Resistant, bugs won't eat either Plumbago Plumbago auriculata
Resistant Rutty Ruttya Ruspolia
Resistant Silver thorn
Elaeagnus spp.
Resistant
Southern Indian Azaleas
Rhododendron spp.
Resistant
Sweet/tea olive
Osmanthus fragrans
Resistant
Viburnum
Viburnum spp.
Resistant
Wax myrtle
Myrica cerifera
Resistant
Table 3. Vines & Ground Cover listed by susceptibility to damage from deer in Florida.
Frequent or Severe Damage
Common Name
Botanical Name
Comments
Clematis
Clematis spp.
Poisonous to humans Occasional or Moderate Damage
Trumpet vine
Campis radicans
Central to north Florida
Rare or Minor Damage
Allamanda Allamanda cathartica
R Resistant Asparagus fern Asparagus densiflorus
Resistant Aztec grass Ophiopogon japonicus
Resistant
Boston fern
Nephrolepis spp.
Resistant
English ivy
Hedera helix
Resistant, poisonous to humans
Holly fern
Lomariopsis kunzeana
Resistant
Pampas grass
Cortaderia spp.
Resistant
Shield fern
Dryopteris spp.
Resistant
Society garlic
Tulbaghia violacea
Resistant
Star jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Will eat when under pressure
Wandering Jew Tradescantia zebrina
R Resistant Yellow jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
Resistant, poisonous to humans
Table 4. Annuals/Perennials & Bulbs listed by susceptibility to damage from deer in Florida.
Frequent or Severe Damage
Common Name
Botanical Name
Comments
Celosia Celosis argenta
Not resistant Corn Zea mays
Not resistant Dahlias Dahlia spp.
Not resistant Day lilly Liliaceae spp.
Not resistant Impatiens Impatiens spp.
Not resistant, favorite Peas Pisum sativum
Not resistant Phlox Phlox spp.
Not resistant Partulaca Portulaca spp.
Not resistant, favorite Shrimp plant Beloperone guttata
Not resistant Star flower Trientalis borealis
Not resistant Tomatoes Lypersicon esculentum
Not resistant Occasional or Moderate Damage
Aster Aster spp.
Will eat when under pressure Begonia Begonia spp.
Will eat when under pressure Iris Iris spp.
Somewhat resistant Zinnia Zinnia spp.
Will eat when under pressure Rare or Minor Damage
Ageratum
Ageratum spp.
Resistant
Aloe
Aloe spp.
Resistant
Angel flower Angelonia angelonia
Resistant Angles trumpet Datura spp.
Resistant
Anise
Pimpinella anisum
Resistant
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
Resistant
Bush daisy Gamolepis chrysanthemoides
Resistant Century plant
Agave americana
Resistant, poisonous to humans
Cone flower Echinacea spp.
Resistant Coreopsis/Tickseed
Coreopsis spp.
Resistant
Crown of thorns Euphorbia milii
Resistant Devil's trumpet Datura spp.
Resistant Dusty Miller
Senecio cineraria
Resistant
Ginger lilly Liliaceae spp.
Resistant
Heliconia Heliconia spp.
Resistant
Lilly family Dracaena spp.
Resistant Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus spp.
Resistant
Lupine
Lupine spp.
Resistant, poisonous to humans
Marigolds
Dimorphotheca spp.
Resistant
Peace lilly Spathiphyllum spp.
Resistant
Periwinkle
Vinca rosea
Resistant
Petunia Ruellia spp.
Resistant Rotunda Kaempferia spp.
Resistant Sage
Salvia spp.
Resistant
Shasta daisy
Chrysanthemum superbum
Flowers may be eaten
Ti tree Cordyline terminalis
Resistant Trillium, wake robin
Trillium maculatum
Resistant, north Florida
Turks cap
Malavaviscus arboreus
Resistant
Verbena
Verbena spp.
Resistant
Yucca
Yucca spp.
Resistant
Footnotes
1. This document is WEC138, one of a series of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Reviewed April 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Martin B. Main, Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife specialist; and Ginger M. Allen, Wildlife Biological Scientist; both of University of Florida, Southwest Florida REC, Immokalee, FL 34142; and Joe Schaefer, Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist; Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Insitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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