Yes, burning bush deer resistant ratings put this shrub high on the list of plants deer avoid eating. White-tailed deer rarely browse on burning bush leaves or stems in most areas. This makes the plant a good choice if you want color that deer will leave alone in your yard.
Many gardeners ask do deer eat burning bush when planning their yards in high deer areas. The answer is almost never under normal conditions with other food around. Deer pass by burning bush and eat other plants nearby instead of touching this shrub at all.
The plant contains compounds in its leaves that deer find bad tasting and hard to digest. These same chemicals make burning bush toxic to humans and pets if eaten in large amounts. Deer have learned to avoid these bitter leaves and look for better food sources instead.
This deer resistance helps explain why burning bush spreads so well in wild areas where deer live. Research from USDA FEIS and Wisconsin DNR shows that deer avoid burning bush while eating native plants around it. This gives burning bush a big leg up over natives that deer browse down each year.
In my experience, burning bush deer damage only happens when deer get desperate during harsh winters. A starving deer may nibble on anything to survive when snow covers the ground. Even then, the damage usually stays light compared to other shrubs in the same area.
You can count on a deer proof burning bush keeping its shape in high traffic deer zones. While your hostas get eaten to the ground, the burning bush stands tall with all its leaves intact. This makes it a reliable foundation plant that looks good all season without protection.
The downside of deer resistance shows up in natural areas near your home over time. Burning bush escapes into woodlands where deer eat the native plants but leave this invader alone. The burning bush then takes over since nothing slows its spread around.
If you want the fall color without helping an invasive spread, think about your location first. Burning bush works fine in urban yards away from wild areas where spread matters less. Near woods or prairies, the deer resistance becomes a problem rather than a benefit.
Native shrubs like arrowwood viburnum and bayberry offer good deer resistance too. These give you great fall color while feeding local wildlife instead of crowding them out. They resist deer browse almost as well as burning bush does in most yards around the country.
Read the full article: Burning Bush Plant Care and Growing Guide
