Deer-Resistant Trees for Shade

Trees that cast shade and mostly escape deer browsing. Compare mature height, growth rate, and hardiness zone.

Shade means no direct sun for most of the day, only the light that filters through leaves or bounces off a wall. Dry shade is the hardest place in the garden to plant, and some of these manage it. Most settle in and then look after themselves.

trees
41
hardiness zones
3 to 11
mature height
10 to 80 ft (3 to 24 m)

Deer-resistant trees do not have to be colourless. These trees flower in spring, and it is generous when it comes.

spring
30

The breadth is the point: the range leaves room for almost endless combinations in a border. They run from small garden trees to large shade trees, so the scale of the planting is there to choose. Illicium has the most entries, and woodland edges and specimen planting are the commonest uses.

woodland edges
26
specimen planting
20

Showing 24 of 41 plants