The Deer-Resistant Evergreen Shrub That Makes The Perfect Privacy Hedge

Nearly a third of the Earth is covered in trees, many of them conifers. Throughout the forested regions of our planet, ruminants such as deer, elk, and moose have adapted to eating and browsing a wide variety of greenery. The struggle of gardeners to find deer-resistant plants is as evergreen as some of the species they choose to grow. However, if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 9 and you're looking for the perfect privacy hedge shrub, you're in luck. Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), like other conifers, boasts dense foliage and is one of the best deer-resistant plants out there.

Deer are arguably one of the worst garden pests, and you'll want to banish them from your yard immediately if they bound over. If you've experienced them eating your plants before, you may not trust claims that a species is deer-resistant. Many people confuse deer-proof with deer-resistant plants. Buddhist pine — also commonly called Southern yew, yew pine, or yew plum pine — is the latter. Part of the reason the tree makes a good privacy hedge is because its needles are long, flat, and leathery and its branches are tightly packed. This also makes it an unappetizing option on the menu that is your garden. Still, deer will eat almost anything when desperate for food in winter or when local populations are high. Provide protection for the first couple of years; Buddhist pines become more resistant to browsing once established.

Although Pinus is the largest genus of conifers, Podocarpus comes in a close second with over 100 recognized species, many of which are used in landscaping. The Buddhist pine is no exception. It's a versatile evergreen that can reach heights of 40 feet. It is often grown as a lawn tree, but makes an excellent wind or privacy screen plant when spaced 4 or more feet apart and pruned 4 to 5 feet tall. In fact, you'll often see this conifer used for hedging in English gardens, where it adds color to a white winter landscape. This feisty pine is also drought- and salt-tolerant — a couple more reasons to consider it as a privacy plant for your yard.

Buddhist pines make excellent container trees. In Zones below 7, you can even move these outdoor plants indoors for the winter. If you're looking for something a little shorter than the standard Buddhist pine, try the dwarf cultivar 'Pringles' (Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Pringles'). This diminutive conifer grows to about 3 feet tall, and can be pruned even shorter. It's just as resistant to deer, making it the perfect evergreen shrub for small-space privacy. Grow it in a foundation bed or container garden. As a shrub, it also works well in the middle of a layered patio border. While Buddhist pine and its cultivars aren't considered dangerous, the low toxicity of this plant if ingested means it's best kept out of reach of pets and small children.