A bush that deer don't eat? Several come to mind. Plastic ones (though I'm not 100% certain), bushes that have a mean dog tied to them (make sure the dog never sleeps), and bushes that are currently on fire. All others are fair game.

I have found that the deer don't bother my Chionanthus virginiacus (Virginia Fringe Tree), a small tree. Also, I grow Poncirus trifoliata that they don't bother. This one has dual uses, because as they grow, I cut some of the branches and hang them in other shrubs/trees to protect them.

I have planted 150-200 species of trees and shrubs, and the ones the deer don't eat they rub. I can tell you that anything Prunus is a waste of time, ditto the Hickory and Oaks. Aesculus species seem to be like candy for deer, they even come up to the steps of the house to eat the buds, the leaves, the twigs. I've had decent luck with species Crabapples because they grow faster than the deer eat. In particular, Malus sargenti performs well. Same with Filberts, the deer browse them some, but they grow faster than they are eaten after they get established. They also browse the ends of the Button Bushes (Cephalanthus sp.), but seem to leave the rest alone. I also had good luck with Winterberry (Ilex sp.), and they don't seem to bother them too much. I imagine that also depends on the population pressure from the deer. My sister's place in Wayne County has nothing they don't eat. Even her White Pines were chewed to nubbins.

Dzit, when you say rub you mean rub their bodies on the plant? This may sound dense but what issues does that cause?

Skippy, it's my second year (first with deer) here in PA, but it seems like it depends on the deer in your area what they will eat or leave alone. My MIL in MD has deer who eat almost anything, but our neighbors here in PA tell me that the deer leave their roses alone (which surprised me), also we have hydrangeas and some other bushes that are not deer nibbled (still figuring out what they are, first year here), so I don't know if our deer are less aggressive or have enough food elsewhere that they leave other items alone.

I've been using some online guides to try to buy 'deer resistant' items (Bluestone has a great list of DR items including many flowering shrubs like Deutzia), but I guess only time will tell what our deer eats vs leaves alone. Good luck!

I live in the Pocono Mtns. of northeast PA, and there is not much the deer won't eat. They've eaten my hollies, rhodos, lilacs, and forsythia. They have never touched the boxwoods I have. Boxwoods are kind of boring, though. Some of my neighbors have barberry (they have thorns) and the deer have left them alone. As others have said, things the deer will eat are relative to the deer that live in your area.

Portia, rubs are where the bucks rub the velvet off the horns. The effect is that the bark gets rubbed off one side (at best), or the whole shrub is reduced to a couple of ragged stumps. To mimick the effect, go out with the edge of a shovel and thrash your shrubbery.

Last evening just before dark my driveway alert rang.I went to look ,3 deer white tail,came in driveway cut across my front yard.They stopped to chew on a shrub.I forgot the name.It was here when we moved here.

Luckily, I have lots of new plants at the top of my property. I have planted many trees on the downslope area of my yard, though. I have had deer rub before. One tree was planted the spring before the damage. It was a Nuttal's oak. The tree had to be removed, it was about 3/4 inch thick. Once the deer rubbed the trunk raw, it was dead. This past winter, or whenever it was done, another tree has been damaged, but the tree is a bit thicker, maybe an inch to 1 1/2 inches thick. I think it will pull through. I would be shocked if it didn't recover. It is a Swamp White oak (Quercus Bicolor) It just seems quite robust, but I guess it could die, I am pretty sure it won't die, though. Once the tree gets taller (soon) I guess I don't have to worry about deer. I must say I have yet to plant anything other than trees. Once I start to plant the understory plants, I keep seeing a commercial for a spray that deer and bunnies hate.

I've got deer aplenty, but Philadelphus (Mock Orange) has never been touched; same for barberry and my "Pink Beauty" Potentilla Fruticosa. Unlike others' experience, deer have never touched my lilacs even when starving in the harsh winter we've just endured. Have also had good luck with the "Dart's Gold" Ninebarks - sometimes a nip, but they're such fast growers, they can outpace an occasional chew. Ferns are reliably safe.

But, one can never say never about what deer will go for depending on the availability of their natural food and how ingrained your yard is on their food seeking route.

As for the sprays - I've found the deer eventually just get used to them. So, my gardens are changing over to conifers with short spikey needles and highly scented plants - Russian Sages, Nepetas, Salvias...

Sorry - your post showed up on "Most recent posts" and my not being in Pennsylvania likely doesn't help much.

This post was edited by duluthinbloomz4 on Fri, May 16, 14 at 0:50

Duluthinblooms, Don't worry about being in the Pa forum. In winter I posted in the Georgia forum and other forums just to find some action. There are always some kind peeps, who will answer you. I have lots of oaks with buck rub. Thank goodness they are at least 2 inches thick where the bucks have rubbed now. We have those damned tent cattapillars now. I could'nt find pure Baccillus Thuri*****. Whatever the baccillus name is, to kill tent cattapillars. I used SEVEN powder. It kills lots of bugs, some aren't harmful bugs, though. And I feel bad about that. I know the tent cattipillars can defoliate a tree very quickly, so I made a judgement call, and used the SEVEN around my trees. I will likely have to go to AGWAY for the pure BT. I don't like using bug killers that kill GOOD bugs. I guess, it's a delicate balance, to not hurt beneficial bugs, but keep harmful ones at bay.

Deer will not eat cherry laurels---too much arsenic in their leaves.

They won't touch butterfly bushes. Never touched any of my spirea or clethra or abelia.