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.
179 plants · page 3 of 3
Seldom Severely Damaged7

Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 48–96 in
Wax Currant
Ribes cereum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Height
- 72–72 in
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 60–60 in

Winter Jasmine
Jasminum nudiflorum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Vine
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 120–180 in

Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–180 in

Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 840–960 in

Yellow Foxglove
Digitalis grandiflora
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
Occasionally Severely Damaged45

Annual Geranium
Pelargonium x hortorum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 12–24 in

Avens
Geum sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in

Bellflower
Campanula glomerata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–18 in

Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–11
- Height
- 36–72 in

Bloodtwig Dogwood
Cornus sanguinea
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7
- Height
- 60–180 in

Bloody Cranesbill
Geranium sanguineum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 10–20 in

Blue Holly
Ilex x meserveae
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7

Cambridge Geranium
Geranium x cantabrigiense
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8

Carolina Hemlock
Tsuga caroliniana
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–7
- Height
- 360–840 in

Carolina Rhododendron
Rhododendron carolinianum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 36–72 in

Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–120 in

Chameleon Spurge
Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9

Clarke Geranium
Geranium clarkei
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8

Clematis
Clematis sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Vine
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range

Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 12–36 in

Cornelian Cherry
Cornus mas
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 180–300 in

Deciduous Azalea
Rhododendron sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range

Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 240–360 in

English Daisy
Bellis perennis
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 3–6 in

Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 180–300 in

Fragrant Winterhazel
Corylopsis glabrescens
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 96–180 in

Fraser Fir
Abies fraseri
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 360–660 in

Garden Balsam
Impatiens balsamina
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–30 in

Globeflower
Trollius sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

Goat's Beard
Aruncus sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range

Gooseneck Loosestrife
Lysimachia clethroides
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 24–36 in

Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 72–144 in

Japanese Euonymus
Euonymus japonicus
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9
- Height
- 120–180 in

Japanese Holly
Ilex crenata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 60–120 in

Meadowsweet
Filipendula sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Mountain Bluet
Centaurea montana
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–24 in

Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 48–180 in

Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 120–180 in

Nellie Stevens Holly
Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9

Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 48–96 in

Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 96–300 in

Panicled Dogwood
Cornus racemosa
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–324 in

Pansy
Viola x wittrockiana
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–10 in

Pernyi Holly
Ilex pernyi
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 108–144 in

Pink Turtlehead
Chelone sp.
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range

Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 36–60 in

Western Arborvitae
Thuja plicata
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–7
- Height
- 600–840 in

White Fringe Tree
Chionanthus virginicus
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 144–360 in

Winged Euonymus
Euonymus alatus
Occasionally damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 180–240 in
Frequently Severely Damaged7

American Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis
Frequently damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–720 in

Endres Cranesbill
Geranium endressii
Frequently damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8

Evergreen Azalea
Rhododendron sp.
Frequently damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–9, genus range

Japanese Yew
Taxus cuspidata
Frequently damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–7
- Height
- 120–300 in
Ladino White Clover
Trifolium repens
Frequently damaged- Type
- Food plot forage
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 4–6 in

Pinxterbloom Azalea
Rhododendron periclymenoides
Frequently damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 48–120 in

Rhododendron
Rhododendron sp.
Frequently damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range