Deer Plant: Hackberry / Sugarberry (Celtis spp.)

Class: browse; preferred

Description: A small to medium-sized tree with a spreading irregular crown found on moist soil in stream and river drainages, and a common invader along fence lines. Hackberry leaves are dark green above, pale with prominent raised veins below and are rather thick and stiff. The common name and variety name refer to the dense network of veins in the leaf.

Fruit is eaten by many species of birds and some mammals, including white-tailed deer. The leaves and twigs are browsed by both deer and livestock, so have a good handle of livestock stocking rates in areas where deer management is important.

Hackberry / Sugarberry Photos:

Deer Food: Grape (Vitus spp.)

Class: browse; preferred by deer

Description: There are many species of grape throughout the white-tailed deer’s range, but all species seem to serve as good sources of deer forage. In areas with high deer populations, grape leaves will not be found within the reach of a deer, but foliage can be found higher in brush and tree canopies. Common grape species include mustang, post oak, and muscadine. (more…)

Deer Food: Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)

Class: browse; moderately preferred by deer

Description: Cedar elm is a medium to large-sized tree with drooping branches that form a narrow to rounded crown. The plant occurs on moist soils in bottomland, upland, and even limestone sites where found. The stems may have corky wings, but do not confuse cedar elm with winged elm.

Unlike winged elm, cedar elm leaves are thicker, has the smallest leaves of the elms and is one of the few with fruit, called samaras, maturing in the fall. In addition, the top part of cedar elm leaves have a sand paper-type roughness. In the fall, leaves will turn yellow-gold in color.

White-tailed deer are fond of all elms, especially cedar elm. Where moderate to high deer populations exists, this browse plant will typically show heavy use.

Cedar Elm Photos:

Deer Food: Elbowbush (Forestiera angustifolia)

Class: browse; moderately preferred by deer

Description: A perennial, small rounded shrub occurring in open fields, brushy prairies and limestone outcrops. The stems of elbowbush are often looping and appear almost vine-like in many instances.

The fruit may be eaten by some birds and mammals, but white-tailed deer use foliage for browse where this plant is found. Elbowbush’s shrubby growth form provides good cover for deer and other wildlife.

Elbowbush Photos:

Deer Food: Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Description: An introduced (from Asia) woody, twining or trailing evergreen vine occurring on moist soil of bottomlands and uplands along streams, fence rows and timber edges. Japanese honeysuckle is often introduced into “wild” areas because it is used as an ornamental around dwellings. It has showy and fragrant flowers in addition to evergreen foliage.

Fruit, flowers, leaves and stems are used by many birds, mammals and insects. Deer love honeysuckled leaves and the fresh-growth of stems. Honeysuckle is a high quality forage with protein contents ranging from 9 to 20 percent and a digestibility of 75 percent. Protein content is dependent upon season and soil fertility with the highest levels reported during the cooler months of the year — when deer need food.

Japanese honeysuckle Photos:

Deer Food: Texas oak (Quercus texana)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Description: Texas oak is type of red oak and typically a medium to small tree that rarely grows over 75-feet in height. It usually grows about 30 to 50-feet with spreading branches. Texas oak is found on alkaline limestone and neutral to slightly acid gravels and sands.

There are hybrids of Texas oak and Shumard Red Oak (Quercus shumardii). Texas oak is smaller, more often multi-trunked, and more drought tolerant than Shumard oak. The foliage of each turns bright shades of vivid red and orange in autumn. The leaves of both trees are relished by white-tailed deer and receive heavy browsing pressure where these species are found. In areas with an abundance of deer, seedlings are unable to grow because they are eaten immediately.

The bark is dark gray to black with platelike scales, although sometimes it is light gray and smooth.

Texas oak Photos:

Deer Food: Plum (Prunus spp.)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Description: A small tree with an irregular open-crown common on moist soil in forest understory and edges of openings. Plum fruit matures purplish-red in late summer and can be eaten fresh and deer will eat both leaves and fruit during the summer.

Bark is rough and scaly.

Plum Photos:

Deer Plant: Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Description: A perennial shrub to small tree with a broad open crown found in bottomlands and uplands. This browse plant is common in forest understory and upland slopes and twigs are sparsely armed with straight spines, so be careful around them. The flowers and fruits are small.

Note: Photos are from various species of hawthorn.

Hawthorn Photos: