The sight of a white-tailed deer quietly walking into a wildlife garden can take one’s breath away. In an increasingly modernized world, such observations of animals are rare enough to be truly special. Gardens can be sanctuaries where one communes with nature and finds comfort in its balance. They can also serve as safe corridors through which wild animals may pass as they search for food, shelter, or potential mates.
North America is home to several species of deer – the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are the most common. While there were once millions of these animals found all throughout the forested zones of the continent, today’s numbers are scant at best. It’s now more important than ever to provide deer with safe passage through fragmented landscapes.
Creating deer-friendly spaces is one of the best ways to promote the recovery of their populations. Shade, forage plants, and a source of clean and fresh water should suffice to provide comfort to these wandering animals. The plants listed below are typically safe for deer to forage on. Some can withstand significant grazing, whereas others are unlikely to survive an especially hungry deer’s visit. Whatever the result, it is best to keep in mind that simply spotting an approaching deer is a gift in itself.
1) Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Also referred to as Jove’s fruit, winter plum, and possumwood, the common persimmon tree is a notable member of the ebony family (Ebenaceae). It naturally occurs as a woody, deciduous, and sometimes shrub-like tree in clearings and in old fields. When it is planted in areas with rich and frequently moistened substrates, it can grow to an impressive height of about 100 feet (30 meters).
Highly valuable due to its ecological services, this tree is a favorite haunt of many wild animals. Deer especially love its dropped persimmon fruits, which are flavorful and vitamin-rich when ripe. It can take anywhere from 3 – 10 years for newly planted specimens to bear fruit, but their mature properties and ornamental benefits are definitely worth the patience.
The common persimmon attracts not only white-tailed deer but also various species of foxes, opossums, raccoons, and a wide variety of birds. Its autumn fruits can persist into the winter, serving as vital sources of nutrients in harsh conditions. Even we humans can benefit from this adaptable tree’s healthy fruits, which can safely be consumed in their raw, cooked, or dried forms.
2) Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
The eastern red cedar is an evergreen conifer tree with a tolerance for challenging conditions. Considered a pioneer species because of its capacity to recolonize damaged environments, it can live for centuries. On average, its sturdy trunk measures anywhere from 16 – 60 feet (5 – 18 meters) tall. This bears a bushy canopy with either needle-like or scale-like foliage. Its bluish cones, which resemble berries, appear from September to December.
Hoofed browsers, such as deer and their larger relatives, may rely on the eastern red cedar for food and shelter during warm days. They may consume the foliage and twigs in the absence of other food sources, though it’s usually the juniper berries that they’re truly after. In winter, the shelter provided by the tree’s foliage, coupled with the presence of persisting fruits, aids in the survival of dozens of native birds and mammals.
In the wild, this conifer tree favors conditions in temperate fields, pastures, and woodlands. It can tolerate both sandy and clay-based substrates and can become established in limestone-rich environments. If you intend to grow this tree in your garden, you may make use of cuttings obtained from its branches’ growth tips. Seeds from ripe berries can also be used, though they may require stratification prior to being planted.
3) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
If you’re interested in adding vertical cover to a wildlife garden, switchgrass is one of your best options. This prairie species, which typically thrives in grassy pastures and along roadsides, grows tall enough to effectively hide young deer from potential predators. In optimal conditions, its stems can grow up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and can quickly self-propagate to convert agricultural fields into deer-friendly habitats.
Native grass plantings are crucial to supporting the development of quality deer herds. Deer can rely on the mature stems for shelter, especially in landscapes that are fragmented or have previously been damaged by land conversion projects.
The only issue with switchgrass is its unsuitability as a form of food for deer. Nevertheless, this problem can easily be sorted by diversifying the landscape. Within fields of this grass, you can create pockets of other forage-friendly plants. Deer, while staying hidden behind the tall fronds of grass, should be able to rely on these for all of the necessary nutrients for growth and survival.
4) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The perfect addition to cottage gardens and wildflower plantings, the purple coneflower is a remarkably robust perennial. Its vivid, summer-to-fall blooms often betray its presence in barren clearings, prairies, and open woodlands. Apart from attracting all sorts of butterflies, birds, and bees, the blooms also lure a handful of mammalian grazers. Deer are especially attracted to the bright petals, though there continues to be debate as to whether or not they actually consume them.
When hungry, deer will graze on almost any type of tender plant. While some gardeners may argue that the purple coneflower is deer-resistant, largely due to its strong aroma, its leaves and seedlings continue to make a fine meal for deer. Mature plants may be less attractive to deer, though they continue to draw them in because of their self-seeding nature. Young plants around larger stands of this species should produce the most tender leaves for grazing.
5) Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
Now naturalized in North and South America, the red clover is often grown as an ornamental plant, a fodder crop, and as a form of green manure. This short-lived herb matures to about 31 inches (79 cm) tall and produces relatively small leaflets. Its blooms, which occur as large flower heads with a honey-like fragrance, appear in spring to summer. Along with the foliage, the blooms are safe for both humans and grazers to consume.
Red clover shoots are borne on taproot systems that tend to permeate into deeper layers of soil. For this reason, this species is able to tolerate droughts and is quite efficient as a nitrogen fixer. It can aid in improving the quality of soil in deer-friendly gardens. Moreover, its role in the nitrogen cycle ensures that it can access the nutrients required for rapid growth. Thus, it reliably spreads to support the needs of wildlife.
Growing red clover in your garden is a wise means of attracting all sorts of wildlife. Apart from deer, its flowering stands should unfailingly appeal to rabbits, wild turkeys, and many beneficial insects. Ecologically important, it can truly support the self-sufficiency of a wildlife garden, rendering it vital to the survival of many species.
6) American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
The American beech is well-recognized as a valuable tree for white-tailed deer. An acorn producer, this deciduous hardwood species produces massive canopies that rise to more than 100 feet (30 meters) tall in optimal environments. Its sheer size and productivity rate significantly influence local diversity. Its nuts serve as a rich source of nutrients for deer, black bears, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, foxes, and more!
Unsurprisingly, it takes dozens of years for a young American beech to eventually develop into a seed-producing tree. The leaves and twigs of the tree, though edible to an extent, are not typically preferred by deer when nuts are available. It takes a lot of patience, sometimes even an entire lifetime, to ensure that your beech tree matures! However, its presence can ensure that your garden appeals to deer for generations.
Proper management of beech trees is crucial to ensuring that they don’t outcompete other valuable plants. This shade-tolerant species is able to regenerate via the stumps and suckers of mother trees. Keep in mind that an aggregation of multiple trees, compared to a single-species stand, is more likely to support deer populations.
7) Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)
Deer absolutely love edible berries, and those of the common blackberry bush are no exception. In fact, the dark and sweet fruits of this shrub are some of the most important sources of nutrients for mammalian grazers. They are readily sought by chipmunks, raccoons, black bears, voles, and more. An impressive array of birds also subsist on blackberry shrubs and their close relatives, signifying their importance to wildlife in North America.
Shade-intolerant, the common blackberry is most productive in areas with ample sun exposure and nutrient-rich substrates. They may occasionally occur in the understories of forests, where they influence the dominance of herbivorous mammals. Many of these animals have a reproduction cycle that is closely linked to the availability of berries. Apart from serving as food, larger shrubs also provide cover and nesting materials.
8) American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
The American elderberry is a deciduous, berry-producing shrub. It spreads via a system of suckering roots in both wet and dry substrates. Able to grow to a maximum height of 20 feet (6 meters), it produces pairs of deep green leaves with subtly serrated margins. Its lovely inflorescences of white blooms appear in summer. Once these are pollinated, they develop into dark, rounded berries.
Practically all parts of the American elderberry tree are important to deer. If you intend to grow this plant for commercial purposes, be warned that many forms of wildlife will readily feed on its berries. For this reason, it makes for a great addition to a deer-friendly garden! Outside of the fruiting period, hungry deer can be expected to browse on its twigs, leaves, and flowers.
Note that, in markedly high doses, the leaves, unripe fruits, and stems of the elderberry shrub may be toxic. For this reason, some gardeners perceive this species as deer-resistant. It would be remarkably difficult to dissuade a hungry deer from browsing this plant, however, especially if its berries are ripe. It’s this species’ close relative, the toxic red elderberry (S. racemosa), that is more likely to be avoided by deer.
9) American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Often grown as an ornamental plant due to its attractive clusters of purple berries, the American beautyberry is a charming deciduous shrub. It typically occurs in the understories of piney or oak woodland habitats. As it favors moist conditions, it may also be found along the edges of swamps, along coastal plains, and in regularly moistened thickets.
This bushy shrub has elegantly arching branches with bright green, oppositely arranged pairs of leaves. In spring to summer, it produces delicate inflorescences at the nodes from which the leaf pairs arise. Once these are pollinated by bees and butterflies, they develop into showy fruits. As these may persist into winter, many small mammals and birds rely on them for nutrients. Deer will hasten to consume the berries in the fall.
Though the American beautyberry is often grown as a specimen plant, it is usually most productive when it is cultivated in groups. Mass planting ensures higher pollination rates, which invariably result in a more substantial yield of berries. Deer would be hard-pressed to resist rows of this shrub.
10) Deciduous holly (Ilex decidua)
The deciduous holly is a fairly common shrub throughout its native range. Though its clumps grow to about 10 – 15 feet (3 – 4.6 meters) tall on average, it can develop into a small tree in moist and rich environments. Dense aggregations are most likely to be found in wet woods and close to the margins of lakes and swamps. Partial shade encourages its rapid expansion, allowing for coverage of more than 15 feet wide!
Often grown as an ornamental plant, the deciduous holly can bring winter interest to a deer-friendly garden. Its twigs are regularly browsed by deer, whereas its berries are a prime source of nutrients for songbirds and small mammals.
Due to its preference for regularly moistened substrates, the deciduous holly should be a fine addition to the borders of a wildlife pond. Deer can visit the pond for a drink after snacking on the holly’s branches. Apart from satiating the appetite of wild animals, this species’ root system can also help stabilize wet soil. It is a truly multi-functional shrub that highlights the ecological importance of native plants!
