Deer- and rabbit-resistant choices

Resistant is not deer-proof

ODNR’s list of deer-resistant natives says plainly that almost no plant is deer-proof; any plant can be browsed depending on the situation. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, which rates plants by how often deer damage them, recommends its “rarely damaged” and “seldom severely damaged” plants for yards with deer.¹²

University of Maryland Extension adds that when deer numbers are high or food is short, deer will eat plants they usually skip.³

Natives deer tend to leave alone

Each of these is on ODNR’s deer-resistant natives list, and most also carry a Rutgers “rarely damaged” or “seldom severely damaged” rating.¹²

• Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium grass, 2–4 ft
• Switchgrass Panicum virgatum grass, 3–7 ft
• Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides fern, 1–3 ft
• Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis fern, 1–2 ft
• Marginal wood fern Dryopteris marginalis fern, 1.5–3 ft
• Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris fern, 3–5 ft
• Spicebush Lindera benzoin shrub, 8–15 ft
• Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum shrub, 5–10 ft
• Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea tree, 15–25 ft
• Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea perennial, 3–4 ft
• Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata perennial, 3–5 ft
• Wild stonecrop Sedum ternatum groundcover, 3–6 in
• River birch Betula nigra tree, 30–70 ft
• Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana tree, 30–40 ft

Sources don’t always agree. ODNR’s list includes flowering dogwood, while Rutgers rates dogwoods and redbud as occasionally severely damaged. If deer visit your yard every night, start with plants both sources rate well.¹²

Natives rabbits tend to leave alone

NC State Extension’s Plant Toolbox tags these Ohio natives as rabbit-resistant.⁴

• Butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa perennial, 1–2 ft
• Wild geranium Geranium maculatum perennial, 1.2–1.5 ft
• Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa perennial, 2–4 ft
• Scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma perennial, 2–4 ft
• Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum perennial, 1–1.5 ft
• Creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera groundcover, 6 in–1 ft
• American alumroot Heuchera americana perennial, 1–3 ft
• Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides fern, 1–3 ft
• Lady fern Athyrium filix-femina fern, 2–3 ft
• Common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale perennial, 3–5 ft

Protecting what they do eat

• Deer fences: in research, 8-foot fences kept deer out. Seven-foot fences discouraged them, and 5-foot fences helped somewhat around small areas.⁵
• Cages for young trees: wire cages 4 feet tall protect most young trees and shrubs from deer; 5 feet is better. Tree tubes or wraps help against bucks rubbing antlers in fall, which repellents don’t stop.³
• Repellents: deer get used to a repellent over time, so switch between types. Start when you first see deer activity and reapply after heavy rain.³
• Rabbit guards: wrap young trunks with cylinders of ¼-inch hardware cloth, 18 to 24 inches tall and set into the ground.⁶
• Rabbit fences: an 18- to 24-inch fence of 1-inch or smaller mesh, with the bottom staked down or buried a few inches, keeps rabbits out of beds.⁶
• Less cover: clearing brush piles and weedy cover near plantings gives rabbits fewer places to hide.⁶