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 4 of 4
Seldom Severely Damaged23
Spiderwort
Tradescantia sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Sticky Purple Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 36–36 in
Stretchberry
Forestiera pubescens
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9
- Height
- 39–180 in
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Tree
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–7
- Height
- 180–420 in
Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 72–72 in
Sweet Elder
Sambucus canadensis
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 60–144 in
Sweet Mock Orange
Philadelphus coronarius
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
- Height
- 120–144 in
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Shrub
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–9, genus range
Toad Lily
Tricyrtis hirta
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8
Trillium
Trillium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8, genus range
Trout Lily
Erythronium sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
Violets
Viola sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9, genus range
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 18–24 in
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
White Snakeroot
Ageratina altissima
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–9
- Height
- 24–60 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
Wood Sorrel
Oxalis sp.
Seldom damaged- Type
- Bulb
- Hardiness
- Zones 3–8, genus range
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
Yellow Wax-Bells
Kirengeshoma palmata
Seldom damaged- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5–8