My Deer Garden

Plant record · Shrub

Is Holly Osmanthus deer resistant?

Osmanthus heterophyllus

Spiny holly-like leaves of false holly
Photo by KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Damage step 2 of 4 · Seldom Severely Damaged

Mostly. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.

Type
Shrub
Hardiness
Zones 7–9
Light
Part shade
Height
96–240 in
Bloom
Fall
Maintenance
Low

Damage steps follow a published university field scale. How plants are rated.

About Holly Osmanthus

Looks convincingly like holly until you notice the leaves sit opposite each other on the stem rather than alternating, which is the quickest way to tell them apart. The real reason to grow it is the fall flowers, which are tiny and easy to miss but scent the whole garden. Takes hard clipping, so it works as a hedge where you want fragrance rather than berries.

Soil and care

Soil pH
5.5 to 7
Drainage
Well drained
Water
Moderate
Spacing
47 to 71 in apart
Growth rate
Moderate
Maintenance
Low

Tolerances and uses

Evergreen

Similar to Holly Osmanthus

Other shrubs with the same deer rating.

Where Holly Osmanthus grows

Hardy across 36 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering. Select any state, including one it will not grow in, for what is resistant there.

Alabama — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.Alaska — hardy here. Zones 1 to 8.Arizona — hardy here. Zones 5 to 10.Arkansas — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.California — hardy here. Zones 7 to 10.Colorado — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.Connecticut — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Delaware — hardy here. Zones 7 to 7.District of Columbia — hardy here. Zones 7 to 8.Florida — hardy here. Zones 8 to 11.Georgia — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.Hawaii — hardy here. Zones 9 to 12.Idaho — hardy here. Zones 3 to 7.Illinois — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Indiana — not hardy here. Zones 5 to 6.Iowa — not hardy here. Zones 4 to 6.Kansas — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Kentucky — hardy here. Zones 6 to 7.Louisiana — hardy here. Zones 8 to 10.Maine — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.Maryland — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Massachusetts — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Michigan — not hardy here. Zones 4 to 6.Minnesota — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Mississippi — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.Missouri — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Montana — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.Nebraska — not hardy here. Zones 4 to 6.Nevada — hardy here. Zones 4 to 9.New Hampshire — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.New Jersey — hardy here. Zones 6 to 7.New Mexico — hardy here. Zones 4 to 9.New York — hardy here. Zones 4 to 7.North Carolina — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.North Dakota — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 4.Ohio — not hardy here. Zones 5 to 6.Oklahoma — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Oregon — hardy here. Zones 6 to 9.Pennsylvania — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Rhode Island — hardy here. Zones 6 to 7.South Carolina — hardy here. Zones 7 to 9.South Dakota — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Tennessee — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Texas — hardy here. Zones 6 to 9.Utah — hardy here. Zones 4 to 9.Vermont — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Virginia — hardy here. Zones 6 to 8.Washington — hardy here. Zones 5 to 8.West Virginia — hardy here. Zones 5 to 7.Wisconsin — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 5.Wyoming — not hardy here. Zones 3 to 6.
Hardy on zone rangeNot hardy — still linked
Choose a state from the listeasier on a phone

Common questions about Holly Osmanthus

Is Holly Osmanthus deer resistant?
Holly Osmanthus (Osmanthus heterophyllus) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged, step 2 of 4 on the damage scale this site uses. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
What hardiness zones does Holly Osmanthus grow in?
Holly Osmanthus is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
Does Holly Osmanthus grow in shade?
Yes. Holly Osmanthus tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
How big does Holly Osmanthus get?
Mature height is roughly 96–240 in. Growth rate is moderate.

Browse from here

Every list Holly Osmanthus belongs to.

All shrubs·Seldom damaged·Part shade plants·Evergreen shrubs

Hardy in these zones

Zone 7·Zone 8·Zone 9

Damage ratings follow the four-step field scale published by Rutgers University. Growing data is compiled from state extension sources and still being verified record by record. Last reviewed .