Deer Orchard™ Starter Pack | Zone 7

This stately deciduous Asian oak with long, jagged-edged glossy leaves produces decent crops of acorns at an earlier age than many of our native species, and often they will drop earlier in the fall as well. Acorn production only become heavier and more reliable with age. It is so prolific that there is some concern of this non-native species naturalizing, so best not planted in close proximity to ecologically sensitive sites. It requires well-drained growing conditions that tend to be acidic to neutral, and not recommended for alkaline soil or poorly-drained sites.

A wide-ranging tree that is adaptable to a diverse array of habitats, from the baking hot, dry limestone “Hill Country” of central Texas to moist floodplain margins in central Florida, while also enduring the cold winters in the northern extent of its range from Iowa to southern New England. Over time it will produce shoots from the roots, forming a colony of trunks that provide valuable cover for wildlife. The orange fruit which can range up to the size of a small plum, begin ripening in fall and are often retained on the tree after leaf drop well into December in southern latitudes. Note that this species has separate male and female plants, so to ensure fruit production multiple plants of our unsexed saplings should be sited near each other to increase the chances that both sexes will be present.

Informally referred to as “deer candy” by those who grow this plant as an ornamental, deer seem to love to browse on the foliage of this shrub. Over time it will produce additional stems from the roots and can create a small thicket that provides shelter for wildlife. In fall, dangling warty strawberry-like fruits turn reddish purple and burst open, displaying bright orange seeds consumed by turkeys and other birds. Northern forms tend to be naturally deciduous, but this southeastern US coastal plain form offers the advantage of being fully evergreen into at least zone 8a, offering tasty forage for deer throughout the winter, though it may be deciduous in colder areas. Best as an understory shrub in dappled shade, it prospers in dry to moist woodland conditions and can tolerate short durations of flooding.

This attractive, highly adaptable deciduous shrub provides foliage that deer will browse during the summer along with masses of purple berries along the stems which begin ripening in August and are retained on the plant after its leaves well into fall and even early winter in warmer zones, providing a late season food source for both deer and turkey. Native to much of the southeastern US, it is tolerant of full sun to medium shade, it fruits heaviest in brighter conditions. Quite drought tolerant once established and perfectly happy in any soil type from alkaline to acidic as long as the site is reasonably well-drained.

Anna Apple adapts well to hot conditions, are cold hardy down to -10 degrees and only need 200-300 chill hours to produce delicious fruit. Fruit ripens late June-early July and pollinates with any other Apple Tree but the Ein Shemer is a perfect pollinator for Anna Apples. Both Anna and Ein Shemer apples are an excellent, hardy choice for deer and wildlife.

"Ornamental deciduous shrub with multiple, erect, arching stems that form a loose, round shape. This ornamental native has creamy white, flat-topped flower clusters in spring, giving way to large clusters of dark blue berries in late summer, early fall.

Tolerant of a variety of conditions, Arrowwood Viburnum prefers moist, well drained sites and grows best in full sun to partial shade.

Ripened fruit hangs in clusters and is a favorite of wildlife. The dense foliage provide cover to birds and small woodland mammals, with the leaves, bark, and woody branches being preferred by beaver, deer and rabbit."