When you’re trying to create a private, peaceful sanctuary in your backyard, nothing beats the beauty and functionality of privacy trees. These natural barriers not only block out unwanted views but also provide shade, reduce noise pollution, and create a windbreak. However, if you live in an area where deer are common, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of planting a tree, only to find it nibbled to the ground. Deer are notorious for feeding on trees and shrubs, and choosing the right trees for privacy that are also deer-resistant can be tricky.
To help you create a natural privacy screen that stands the test of time and the persistence of deer, here are 15 fantastic deer-resistant privacy trees that will thrive in your garden.
Understanding Deer-Resistant Trees
Before diving into the list, it’s important to understand what makes a tree “deer-resistant.” Deer-resistant trees are not completely immune to deer; rather, they are less likely to be eaten by them. Deer have specific preferences, and they typically avoid trees that are fragrant, toxic, or have thick, tough leaves and bark. Evergreen trees, in particular, are often great choices for deer resistance because they provide year-round coverage while not being the most appetizing for deer.
It’s also essential to note that in times of food scarcity, deer may nibble on almost anything, but the trees on this list are less likely to become their first choice.
1. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
The Eastern Red Cedar is an excellent option for a privacy tree that deer will likely avoid. Known for its dense, evergreen foliage, this tree can grow to heights of 40 to 50 feet, creating a solid screen. The leaves of the Eastern Red Cedar are spiny and aromatic, both traits that tend to repel deer.
This tree is also quite versatile and can thrive in various soil types, making it an easy addition to your landscape. The Eastern Red Cedar also produces small, blue berries that attract birds, adding an extra layer of wildlife interest to your garden.
Key Features:
- Height: 40-50 feet
- Width: 10-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Adaptable to many types
2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)
The Green Giant Arborvitae is one of the most popular privacy trees for a reason: it’s fast-growing, easy to maintain, and largely deer-resistant. This hybrid arborvitae can grow up to 3 feet per year, quickly forming a dense hedge or barrier.
Its fragrant, soft foliage is generally unappealing to deer, and its towering size — reaching up to 60 feet in height — makes it a perfect option for creating large privacy screens. Green Giant Arborvitaes are hardy in various climates, and their uniform, pyramidal shape is highly prized by homeowners looking to add both privacy and beauty to their landscapes.
Key Features:
- Height: 50-60 feet
- Width: 12-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil
3. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Another excellent choice for deer-resistant privacy trees is the Norway Spruce. This fast-growing evergreen is known for its symmetrical, pyramidal shape and dense, dark green needles. It can grow up to 80 feet tall and 40 feet wide, providing ample coverage for privacy.
Deer tend to avoid Norway Spruce due to its sharp, prickly needles and strong aroma. Additionally, its rapid growth rate — sometimes as much as 3 feet per year — makes it ideal for quickly establishing a natural barrier.
Key Features:
- Height: 50-80 feet
- Width: 25-40 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
4. Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
If you’re looking for a privacy tree that adds a splash of color to your garden, the Colorado Blue Spruce might be the perfect fit. Known for its striking blue-green needles, this tree is both beautiful and functional as a privacy screen. Growing up to 75 feet tall and 20 feet wide, it can create a dense barrier that blocks out unwanted sights and sounds.
The stiff, sharp needles of the Colorado Blue Spruce are highly unappetizing to deer, and its slow growth rate means it requires less pruning to maintain its shape. This spruce is also drought-tolerant and can handle harsh winter conditions, making it an excellent choice for cold climates.
Key Features:
- Height: 30-75 feet
- Width: 10-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained soil, tolerates poor soils
5. American Holly (Ilex opaca)
The American Holly is a native evergreen tree with distinctive spiny leaves that deer generally avoid. Its dense growth habit makes it an excellent choice for a privacy screen, and its glossy green foliage stays vibrant year-round. The American Holly also produces red berries that provide food for birds, adding to its appeal as a wildlife-friendly tree.
Growing up to 50 feet tall, the American Holly can be pruned to form a dense hedge or left to grow naturally into a more open shape. Its thick, leathery leaves and spiky edges make it a less appealing snack for deer.
Key Features:
- Height: 20-50 feet
- Width: 10-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic soils
6. Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Bay Laurel is not only deer-resistant but also a practical tree to have in your garden. Its leaves are used in cooking, making it a dual-purpose plant. This evergreen shrub or small tree has aromatic leaves that deer find unappealing, making it an excellent choice for areas with heavy deer activity.
Bay Laurel can be trained to grow as a hedge or privacy screen, and it thrives in Mediterranean climates. It grows to a height of about 12 to 40 feet, depending on conditions and pruning, offering flexibility in how you use it in your landscape.
Key Features:
- Height: 12-40 feet
- Width: 12-30 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained soil
7. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)
The Leyland Cypress is a fast-growing evergreen that can reach up to 60 feet tall and 15 feet wide, making it an excellent choice for those looking to establish privacy quickly. Its soft, feathery foliage forms a dense screen, and it grows well in a variety of soil types.
While not completely deer-proof, the Leyland Cypress is largely unappealing to deer due to its strong aroma and fast growth rate. This tree is also highly tolerant of pruning, allowing you to shape it to fit your privacy needs.
Key Features:
- Height: 40-60 feet
- Width: 10-15 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Adaptable to various soil types, prefers well-drained
8. Japanese False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)
The Japanese False Cypress, also known as Sawara Cypress, is another beautiful evergreen tree that provides excellent privacy and is generally avoided by deer. This slow-growing tree can reach up to 70 feet in height, and its dense, feathery foliage forms a striking visual barrier.
Deer tend to avoid this tree due to its strong scent and needle-like leaves. It is also highly adaptable to different soil conditions, making it a great option for a variety of landscapes.
Key Features:
- Height: 50-70 feet
- Width: 10-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil
9. Thuja Occidentalis (Northern White Cedar)
Northern White Cedar, also known as Thuja Occidentalis, is an evergreen tree that works well for creating privacy hedges. It can grow up to 40 feet tall and 12 feet wide, forming a dense screen that provides year-round privacy.
While some deer may nibble on the Northern White Cedar, it is generally not their first choice. This tree’s aromatic, scaly foliage tends to deter deer, and its adaptability to various soil types makes it a practical choice for many gardens.
Key Features:
- Height: 25-40 feet
- Width: 8-12 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
10. Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica)
Cryptomeria, or Japanese Cedar, is a stunning evergreen tree that can provide both beauty and privacy to your garden. This tree has soft, feathery foliage that forms a dense, pyramidal shape, and it can grow up to 60 feet tall, making it perfect for large privacy screens.
Deer typically avoid Cryptomeria due to its aromatic wood and foliage, making it an excellent option for areas with high deer activity. Cryptomeria is also highly tolerant of pruning, allowing you to maintain a more compact shape if desired.
Key Features:
- Height: 50-60 feet
- Width: 10-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil
11. Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
For a smaller privacy tree that also resists deer, the Red Buckeye is a great choice. This native deciduous tree grows up to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide, making it ideal for smaller yards or as part of a mixed privacy screen. The Red Buckeye is known for its striking red flowers, which bloom in spring and attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Deer tend to avoid Red Buckeye due to its toxic seeds and leaves. This tree also tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, making it a versatile option for many different landscapes.
Key Features:
- Height: 10-25 feet
- Width: 10-15 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soils
12. Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus)
The Chinese Fringe Tree is a beautiful deciduous tree that provides privacy while adding ornamental value to your garden. Known for its fragrant white flowers that bloom in late spring, this tree can reach up to 20 feet in height and 20 feet in width.
Deer generally avoid the Chinese Fringe Tree because of its slightly bitter-tasting leaves and bark. This tree is a great option for smaller landscapes or for planting near patios where its lovely flowers can be appreciated up close.
Key Features:
- Height: 12-20 feet
- Width: 12-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, acidic soils
13. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
The Serviceberry is a native deciduous tree that offers year-round interest with its stunning spring flowers, summer berries, and brilliant fall foliage. This small tree or large shrub can grow up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide, making it a good option for smaller spaces.
While deer may occasionally browse the Serviceberry, they typically avoid it in favor of other plants. Its berries attract birds, adding wildlife interest to your garden, while its dense branching pattern makes it a great option for privacy.
Key Features:
- Height: 15-25 feet
- Width: 10-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soils
14. Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’)
The Spartan Juniper is a hardy, fast-growing evergreen that is well-suited for creating privacy screens. It grows to a height of about 15 feet and maintains a slender, columnar shape, making it perfect for narrow spaces.
Deer generally avoid junipers because of their spiny, aromatic foliage. The Spartan Juniper is also highly drought-tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes.
Key Features:
- Height: 15-20 feet
- Width: 4-6 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained soil, drought-tolerant
15. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
The Western Red Cedar is a majestic, long-lived tree that can grow up to 70 feet tall and 20 feet wide, making it an excellent option for large privacy screens. Its dense, fragrant foliage is generally unappetizing to deer, and its tall, upright form creates an impressive natural barrier.
Western Red Cedar is also highly tolerant of pruning, allowing you to maintain the size and shape that best fits your landscape. This tree is well-suited to cooler, wetter climates, where it thrives in moist, well-drained soils.
Key Features:
- Height: 50-70 feet
- Width: 15-20 feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soils
Tips for Planting Deer-Resistant Privacy Trees
When planting deer-resistant privacy trees, there are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure their success:
- Plant in Groups: Deer are less likely to target large groups of trees, so consider planting your trees in clusters to increase their resistance.
- Install a Fence Temporarily: While your trees are young, consider installing a temporary deer fence to protect them until they are established.
- Use Deer Repellents: Applying deer repellents to your trees, especially during the first few years of growth, can help deter deer from nibbling on new foliage.
- Mulching: Mulching around the base of your trees can help retain moisture and prevent weeds from competing with your trees for nutrients.
- Watering: Ensure your trees are properly watered, especially during their first few years, to help them establish strong root systems.
Conclusion
Choosing the right deer-resistant privacy trees can make a big difference in creating a peaceful, private space in your yard without the frustration of constantly battling deer damage. From fast-growing evergreens like the Green Giant Arborvitae to more ornamental options like the American Holly and Red Buckeye, there are plenty of trees that can serve as effective privacy barriers while also being largely unappetizing to deer.
Whether you’re looking for year-round coverage with evergreens or seasonal interest with deciduous trees, this list provides a variety of options to suit different climates and landscapes. By selecting the right combination of trees, you can create a natural, deer-resistant screen that enhances the beauty of your property for years to come.