Deer-Resistant Evergreen Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs that keep their leaves and tend to escape deer damage. Compare mature size, growth rate, and hardiness zone. Split into narrower lists below.

More specific collections

Creeping Mahonia

Formosan Firethorn

Lantanphyllum Viburnum

Blackberry

Evergreen matters most in February, when the deciduous half of the garden is a row of sticks. There are flowering plants here, and most carry the colour through the season. Most are low-upkeep choices, with little staking or watering once they are settled.

shrubs: 225
hardiness zones: 4 to 12

Deer leave these shrubs alone, and they still flower. You will find shrubs flowering in spring through to late autumn, and the final flowers carry the garden into the cold. Most of the colour is white, yellow and purple.

spring: 147
summer: 105
late autumn: 48

The variety runs deeper than the type suggests: the range leaves room for almost endless combinations in a border. Berberis, Ilex and Viburnum have the most entries, and borders and hedges are the commonest uses.

borders: 130
hedges: 106