The Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) is a popular deciduous shrub, widely cultivated for the scarlet color its leaves display each autumn. This fall foliage has made it a common sight in landscapes across North America. Gardeners frequently express concern about whether this shrub is susceptible to browsing from white-tailed deer. The burning bush is generally considered highly resistant, but it is not entirely immune to damage.
Understanding the Burning Bush’s Resistance Level
The burning bush is classified as highly resistant to deer damage. This resistance is due to a combination of physical and chemical deterrents present in the plant’s structure. The mature leaves and woody stems have a tough, fibrous texture that makes them unappealing and difficult for deer to digest. The shrub also contains secondary chemical compounds, such as alkaloids, concentrated in the foliage and bark. These compounds make the plant unpalatable and mildly toxic. When a deer samples the plant, the unpleasant taste causes the animal to seek safer forage elsewhere.
Situational Factors That Increase Browse Risk
The primary reason deer damage occurs is extreme environmental pressure, not a failure of the plant’s defenses. Deer are most likely to browse on burning bushes during late winter months when preferred food sources, such as tender native shrubs and herbaceous plants, become scarce or are completely covered by snow. At this point, the animals are driven by hunger, overriding their natural aversion to the shrub’s taste.
Local population density is another contributing factor. High numbers of deer create intense competition for food, causing them to consume a wider variety of plants, including those normally ignored. This can lead to significant browsing on the woody stems of the burning bush. Newly planted or young shrubs are also at greater risk because their wood is softer and their root systems are not yet strong enough to recover from heavy damage.
Implementing Effective Protection Methods
For gardeners experiencing damage, intervention is necessary to protect the shrubs, especially during the vulnerable winter months. Physical barriers are the most reliable method, with temporary fencing or netting placed around individual shrubs offering immediate exclusion. For young plants, protective tree guards or cylindrical wire cages should be installed to prevent deer from accessing the tender bark and new growth.
Chemical deterrents offer another layer of defense, and these products work by either taste or scent. Taste-based repellents are applied directly to the foliage to make the plant unpleasant, while scent-based products mimic the odor of predators or decaying matter to frighten deer away. To maintain effectiveness, it is important to rotate between different repellent types to prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single smell or taste. Repellents must also be reapplied regularly, typically every month, and especially after heavy rain or snow, since the liquid formula washes away over time.