We recommend the following shrubs, ornamentals, and tree for your home in the Oostburg area:

Arrowwood viburnum (shrub)

Elderberry (shrub)

Burning Bush (shrub)

Witchhazel (shrub)

Redbud (ornamental)

Serviceberry (ornamental)

Autumn blaze maple (tree)

For inspiration, visit our Photo Gallery.

Not all on that list are deer resistant.

Invasive species info. for burning bush in Wisconsin https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/Euonymus.html

I'm also wondering why the distinction between 'ornamental' and 'shrub'. Aren't the shrubs ornamental?

We use the terms to define more for spacial awareness. Shrubs are on the smaller side, ornamentals are usually larger shrubs/smaller trees, and trees are generally large shade trees. Here's a link to a nice article from the spruce that explains the differences:

https://www.thespruce.com/the-difference-between-trees-and-shrubs-3269804

Regarding the cultivar of euonymus, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' is a good choice that is exempt from the invasive list.

"Regarding the cultivar of euonymus, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' is a good choice that is exempt from the invasive list."

LOL!! I'm not sure where you got that tidbit but it is not accurate. It is no less invasive than just about any other species of burning bush/winged euonymus. Only the cultivar 'Rudy Haag' is considered to be seedless or nearly so. And even that is up for considerable dispute as it flowers just as profusely as all other cultivars.

And the horticultural definition of an "ornamental" does not distinguish at all between types of plants or relative sizes. It could be a tree, a shrub, a perennial or even an ornamental grass or groundcover. It is just a plant - usually a non-native - that is grown for its decorative features (flowers, scent, foliage, texture, bark, berries, etc.) rather than for food or utility.

Assigning one's own definitions to these widely accepted horticultural terms just confuses things for those new to gardens or garden design. And I would never assign much value to The Spruce for accurate horticultural data. It is just a cut and paste website.

My question was purely rhetorical. The article talks about trees and shrubs. Either can be ornamental as can any perennial, annual, grass or even moss. 'Ornamental' is a description of the function of a plant in a garden, not of its form.

I was going to suggest Ilex x meserveae, Blue Holly, but it did not show as being really deer resistant. Holly may be a last choice for deer, so it could depend on how many you have.

^^ LOL!!

Arbor vitae is a possibility. These are easy for transplanting young trees and are not invasive. These can be long lived, maybe 100 yrs or more. Its an evergreen and easily survives winter in SE Wisc. Those do not spread, but grow straight up. They do add height each year. I have one in front of my house. It was there when my house was built 40 yrs ago. Today, its maximum limb diametrical reach is about 4 ft and trunk height of 50 ft. I estimate it might be 70 yrs old.

When young and planted close together (about 4 ft apart), these can treated and trimmed like hedge. However, it is a tree and some day, its trunk will become too large to trim like a hedge. Left untouched, a 15 yr old tree may be 14 ft tall.

At my first house, I used these to create a screen from the street and privacy play area for my young children.

Juniper virginianus is sniffed at by a certain Midwesterner here as being too common, but it’s deer proof, fast growing, evergreen, tall and native. It’s also in my east coast opinion airy and elegant. It needs sun (as do most of the above suggestions) so plant it on the edge. And do NOT opt for burning bush!

*I love our Star Power cultivar Junipers. It's a fast growing juniper.. I think Junipers are common for a reason :) They survive the cold, and the deer leave them alone when snacking. They also add structure and texture, are good windbreakers, and are good for the birds in the winter.

Witch hazel tree/shrubs area also nice, they need protected until they can survive a little browsing from deer.

Our dogwood shrubs have been hardy and fast growing. I read they are deer resistant, though I cant speak from experience on how resistant they truly are.

*note: I did hear at a meeting with the disease guy at UW Madison warned that junipers (evergreens) and rosaceae type shrubs can instigate each other with rust problems (I think it was). (I wanted the Junipers more, so I made sure to plant other things around it). I will look it up in my notes and edit to clarify.