Deer-resistant plants for shade
Shade and deer together are the hardest problem in gardening. Most of the reliably deer-proof plants (lavender, catmint, Russian sage) are sun-lovers, and the classic shade plants are the ones deer happen to like best. Everything here tolerates four hours of sun or fewer and is rated Rarely or Seldom damaged.
203 plants · page 2 of 4
Rarely Damaged19
Pachysandra
Pachysandra terminalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 6–12 in
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
Rocket Ligularia
Ligularia 'The Rocket'
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Rodgers Flower
Rodgersia sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8, genus range
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–10
- Height
- 60–72 in
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 2–10
- Height
- 12–24 in
Siberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 12–18 in
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
Spotted Deadnettle
Lamium sp.
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Sweet Box
Sarcococca hookeriana
Rarely damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
- Height
- 48–60 in
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Rarely damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 6–12 in
Variegated Oat Grass
Arrhenatherum elatius
Rarely damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Rarely damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–6
- Height
- 6–12 in
Winter Aconite
Eranthis hyemalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 3–6 in
Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Rarely damaged- Type
- Fern
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 18–36 in
Wood Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Rarely damaged- Type
- Annual
- Hardiness
- Grown as an annual, any zone
- Height
- 6–12 in
Seldom Severely Damaged41
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
Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8
- Height
- 18–35 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
Bigroot Geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
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
Bottlebrush Grass
Hystrix patula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
- Height
- 30–36 in
Buckthorn
Rhamnus sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7, genus range
Bugbane
Cimicifuga sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, 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
Coast Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8
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
Coral Bells
Heuchera americana
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 12–36 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
Creeping St. John's Wort
Hypericum calycinum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–10
- Height
- 12–18 in
Creeping Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Groundcover
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 4–8 in
Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Height
- 360–360 in
Currant
Ribes sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Cyclamen
Cyclamen sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9, genus range
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 180–300 in
Drooping Sedge
Carex pendula
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–9
Dwarf Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 480–840 in
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus
Seldom damaged- Type
- Ornamental grass
- Hardiness
- Zones 6–10
- Height
- 6–12 in
Elephant Ear
Colocasia esculenta
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 8–11
- Height
- 36–72 in