Deer-resistant plants for zone 5
Zone 5 means average annual minimum temperatures of minus 20 to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. A broad band across the Midwest and the interior northeast, and the zone the most deer-resistance advice is implicitly written for. Almost everything on this site works here, and where deer pressure is heavy this is also some of the densest whitetail country in the United States.
506 plants · page 4 of 9
States mostly in zone 5
Shrub60

Blackhaw Viburnum
Viburnum prunifolium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 144–180 in

Bloodtwig Dogwood
Cornus sanguinea
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7
- Height
- 60–180 in

Blue Holly
Ilex x meserveae
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7
Blue Sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 18–32 in

Blue Star Juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8

Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6

Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 60–240 in

Brambles
Rubus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range

Bridalwreath Spirea
Spiraea prunifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 48–96 in

Broom
Cytisus sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range

Buckthorn
Rhamnus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

Bush Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7
- Height
- 24–48 in

Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 72–144 in

Carolina Rhododendron
Rhododendron carolinianum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 36–72 in

Carolina Silverbell
Halesia carolina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–480 in

Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–120 in

Chinese Juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 600–720 in

Chinese Lilac
Syringa x chinensis
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7

Coast Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8

Common Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 96–192 in

Common Sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 72–144 in

Common Witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 180–360 in

Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x chenaultii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7

Cranberry Bush
Viburnum opulus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 144–192 in

Cranberry Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster apiculatus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 24–36 in

Creeping Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 6–18 in

Currant
Ribes sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Daphne
Daphne sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range

Deciduous Azalea
Rhododendron sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range

Deutzia
Deutzia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range

Devil's Walking Stick
Aralia spinosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 120–420 in

Doublefile Viburnum
Viburnum plicatum tomentosum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 96–180 in

Drooping Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6
- Height
- 24–72 in

Dwarf Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in

Forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8

Fothergilla
Fothergilla sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range

Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–72 in

Fragrant Winterhazel
Corylopsis glabrescens
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 96–180 in

Garden Rose
Rosa spp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
- Height
- 24–71 in
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–120 in

Hazelnut
Corylus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range

Heath
Erica sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7, genus range

Heather
Calluna sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6, genus range

Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 72–144 in

Hybrid Tea Rose
Rosa x hybrida
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9

Inkberry
Ilex glabra
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–11
- Height
- 60–120 in

Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–72 in

Japanese Flowering Quince
Chaenomeles japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 24–36 in

Japanese Garden Juniper
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 6–18 in

Japanese Holly
Ilex crenata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 60–120 in

Japanese Kerria
Kerria japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 36–84 in

Japanese Pieris
Pieris japonica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 96–120 in

Japanese Spirea
Spiraea japonica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 48–72 in

Japanese Tree Lilac
Syringa reticulata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 300–360 in

Japanese Yew
Taxus cuspidata
Frequently damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 120–300 in

Judd Viburnum
Viburnum x juddii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8

Koreanspice Viburnum
Viburnum carlesii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 48–72 in

Late Lilac
Syringa villosa
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 72–120 in
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–9
- Height
- 36–36 in

Leatherleaf Viburnum
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 120–180 in