Deer-resistant plants for part shade
Part shade is the awkward middle, and it is where most real gardens actually sit: a few hours of morning sun, shade from mid-afternoon, or dappled light under high tree canopy. Sun-loving aromatics get leggy here and true woodland plants scorch, so the plants that work are the ones tolerant of both. Hellebore, epimedium, brunnera and most ferns hold up, and several full-sun performers will take it with reduced flowering. If the spot gets less than about three hours, treat it as shade instead.
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Rarely Damaged35

Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in

American Holly
Ilex opaca
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 480–720 in

Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 60–120 in

Autumn Crocus
Colchicum sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range

Barberry
Berberis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range

Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 60–240 in

Buttercup
Ranunculus sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Clump Bamboo
Fargesia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range

Daffodil
Narcissus spp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
- Height
- 8–18 in

Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–36 in

Daphne
Daphne sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range

Devil's Walking Stick
Aralia spinosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 120–420 in

Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone

Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
Rarely damaged- Type
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–60 in

Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–72 in

Hard Rush
Juncus effusus
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9

Heliotrope
Heliotropium arborescens
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–30 in

Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–72 in

Japanese Blood Grass
Imperata cylindrica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 24–48 in

Japanese Pieris
Pieris japonica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 96–120 in

Japanese Sweet Flag
Acorus sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range

John T. Morris Holly
Ilex x 'John T. Morris'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9

Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 24–36 in

Lydia Morris Holly
Ilex x 'Lydia Morris'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9

Meadow Rue
Thalictrum sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Mint
Mentha sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range

Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Rarely damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 180–360 in

Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7

Siberian Cypress
Microbiota decussata
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 12–18 in

Siberian Squill
Scilla siberica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8

Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 4–10 in

Variegated Oat Grass
Arrhenatherum elatius
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9

Winter Aconite
Eranthis hyemalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 3–6 in

Wood Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in
Seldom Severely Damaged25

Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 180–300 in

Alpine Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis alpestris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8

American Bittersweet
Celastrus scandens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Vine
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 240–300 in
American Plum
Prunus americana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 420–420 in
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 144–144 in
Bastardsage
Eriogonum wrightii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 36–36 in
Beardlip Penstemon
Penstemon barbatus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Height
- 36–36 in

Beautyberry
Callicarpa sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10, genus range

Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 24–48 in

Blackhaw Viburnum
Viburnum prunifolium
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 144–180 in

Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6

Buckthorn
Rhamnus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

California Sweetshrub
Calycanthus occidentalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9

Calla Lily
Zantedeschia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 8–11, genus range

Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 48–60 in

Carolina Silverbell
Halesia carolina
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–480 in

Cherry Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–8
- Height
- 120–240 in
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–6
- Height
- 360–360 in
Colorado Four O'clock
Mirabilis multiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Height
- 36–36 in

Columbine
Aquilegia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 1200–1200 in

Common Sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 72–144 in

Common Witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 180–360 in

Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x chenaultii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–7

Cranberry Bush
Viburnum opulus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–8
- Height
- 144–192 in