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Deer are especially attracted to younger trees (saplings) which makes planting larger trees a wiser investment. This list relates our observations and experiences with large trees only! We must advise that in times of stress, deer will forage on any plant material. Stress can be created by encroachment on deer grazing grounds (such as overdevelopment of an area), drought, severe winters. Also, deer display microcultural behaviors where in certain areas, deer will choose to eat plants which deer in other areas leave alone. We also recommend, if your property is large enough, that you 'feed' the deer to keep them away from trees and shrubs you want to preserve. This can be accomplished by placing a foraging plot near their trail (look for their hoof marks). Your foraging plot should contain some of the most delectable deer food, we recommend small Arborvitae as an inexpensive deer 'food'. Deer must eat 5 - 9 pounds of food per 100 pounds of their weight per day to survive. That is alot of plant material.

FYI: We have tried out different deer deterrent sprays. These are not a permanent fix, the sprays are usually only effective for a month or two, if that, due to rainfall, and sometimes deer, when they are hungry, will consume sprayed food regardless. People have tried 'organic' treatments such as sprays containing black pepper and raw eggs, or hanging bars of deodorant soap from tree branches with differing levels of success.

Also, keep in mind that deer will also mark territory and damage trees not on their grazing 'menu'. Plus, deer will eat 'browse' material, meaning ends of twigs or small branches of trees that they do not normally choose to consume, this happens in the Fall, generally damage is minimal or doesn't affect the plant at all. Deer behavior is capricious. You might have enjoyed a particular tree or shrub which the deer have left alone for years, only to wake up, look out a window and see that the deer have totally decimated the tree overnite.

This is not a comprehensive list, but a list of large trees which Greenwoods features for planting.

• Amelanchier :: Features fair deer resistance
• Apple :: Fruit-bearing Apple Orchard Trees Will eat the apples, on younger trees will strip the bark, on mature orchard sized apple trees, will usually leave the bark alone and only eat the apples
• Arborvitae :: If you want to invite deer to your property, plant Arborvitae! With exception to Green Giant Arborvitae, Arbs are one of the deer's most favorite plant food
• Beech :: We have seen Beech trees on lists of deer resistance and conversely on lists of trees deer will eat. In our observation we have not noted deer damage or foraging.
• Cedars :: Only Western Red Cedars are deer resistant
• Cherries :: Ornamental cherries create deer attraction
• Crabapple :: Deer will eat crabapples and strip bark of younger trees, tend to leave older mature trees alone, though will still eat the crabapples. Note that apple trees and crabapple trees, when the fruit has emerged, the odor of the fruit will draw trees to your property.
• Cryptomeria :: The Japanese Cedar a/k/a Crytpomeria features fair deer resistance
• Cypress :: The Leyland Cypress is an invitation for deer to munch on the foliage
• Dawn Redwood :: The Dawn Redwood features fair deer resistance
• Dogwood :: American Dogwood - Pink Dogwood - White Dogwood - Kousa Dogwood Deer will nibble on younger Dogwoods, but tend to leave mature Dogwoods alone. They will browse twigs in Fall perhaps if there is no other material in the area to attract their interest. They tend to ignore Kousa Dogwoods.
• Eastern Redbud :: It is known to experience deer damage, but we have not observed this in our nursery or at any of the locations where we have planted Redbuds. However, to be conservative, it is not recommended to plant in areas where deer are known to graze.
• Elm :: Chinese Elm - Hybrid American Elm Deer love new American Elm shoots and/or to strip very young trees. As long as you protect the new shoots on large trees, you should not experience issues. Deer tend to avoid the Chinese Elms.
• Gingko :: The Gingko features fair deer resistance
• Hemlock :: Deer will eat Hemlock needles, especially in the Fall, to try to add weight before Winter or in the Winter to try to maintain weight
• Holly :: American Holly and cultivars Deer do not like American Hollies in general, due to the pointy leaves. However, they will graze on Nellie Stevens Hollies plus some of the Japanese or Chinese Holly varieties.
• Honeylocust ::The Honeylocust features fair deer resistance
• Hornbeam :: The Hornbeam features fair deer resistance
• Katsuratree :: The Katsura features fair deer resistance
• Kentucky Coffeetree :: The Coffeetree features fair deer resistance
• Linden :: Deer are attracted to Linden
• London Planetree :: The London Planetree features fair deer resistance
• Magnolia :: We have not noted that deer impact these trees. However, in some literature, the Pink Saucer Magnolia has been noted as experiencing deer damage.
• Maple ... Other than marking younger trees (deer rubs), we have not observed that deer like maples. Occasionally in the late Fall, they may seek out 'browse' material.
• Oak ...Larger, well established Oaks do not attract deer, with exception to acorns and injured deer are known rub oak bark for its' aspirin-like (salicylate) content in attempt to treat their wound. You would probably rather have the deer harvest the acorns than deal with them in your lawnmower.
• Pear :: Pears attract deer
• Pine :: Deer love to munch on White Pines though they tend to leave Black Pines alone
• Spruce :: including the following varieties ... Deer tend to leave Spruces alone, due to the prickly needles
• Snowbell :: Ornamentals such as Snowbell and Stewartia may experience deer damage at a younger age, but established trees rarely experience more than occasional browsing interest
• Stewartia :: We have not noted deer damage to Stewartia in the nursery fields
• Sweetgum :: Sweetgums feature fair deer resistance
• American Sycamore :: Sycamore feature fair deer resistance
• Golden Weeping Willow :: We have not noted that deer impact mature Willows, but will mark (deer rub) younger saplings
• Zelkova :: Zelkova feature fair deer resistance