Low-Maintenance Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Full Sun

Low-upkeep shrubs for sun that mostly escape deer browsing. See mature size, growth rate, and water needs.

Adam's Needle Yucca

Jerusalem Sage

Honeysuckle

Common Pawpaw

A shrub holds the middle ground between a border plant and a tree, and it is the layer deer reach first. These shrubs are also the low-upkeep ones. There are drought-tolerant plants here, and some of them take the heat once established. Most are chosen for the flowers.

shrubs: 317
hardiness zones: 3 to 12

Deer-resistant shrubs do not have to be colourless. There are shrubs flowering in spring, summer and late autumn, with colour running on when the rest of the garden has finished. Most of the colour is white, yellow and pink.

spring: 205
summer: 143
late autumn: 59

Cranberry Bush Viburnum

Bridal Wreath

Flowering Dogwood

Common Lantana

A single group, but not a single look: the planting can be put together in almost endless ways. Viburnum, Spiraea and Syringa have the most entries, and borders and hedges are the commonest uses.

borders: 173
hedges: 133