19 Deer-Resistant Shade Plants to Try This Year

Deer visit many of our gardens with an appetite that makes quick work of dismantling ornamentals and crops. No plant is deer-proof, but the first line of defense is choosing those not particularly appealing to our cloven-hoofed neighbors. A garden full of less palatable selections shows less extensive damage.

Plants with herby, aromatic foliage, textured leaves and flowers (fuzzy, rough, spiny), and natural toxins are good options in deer-prone areas. These plant defenses evolve to deter predators. Fencing and natural repellents help, but strong performers that hold their own are the best investments.

The unique beauties have a long bloom time in rich colors with single or double flowers. To add to their easy elegance is a problem-free nature, making them low-maintenance perennials. 

Hellebores rely on the winter sun to flower and for lush, full leaves. In the warm months, partial shade protects them from too much direct exposure and heat. Hellebores thrive under a deciduous canopy that allows winter light when branches are bare and dappled sun as they leaf out in spring and summer. Morning sun and filtered afternoon light are optimal.

Lenten roses tolerate deep shade, though you may see slower growth and fewer flowers. Stemmed species like Corsican, whose blooms rise above the foliage, may flop in too much shade.

Pieris

	common name Pieris
	botanical name Pieris japonica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-10’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Pieris is a woody shrub with blooms that hang gracefully from stems with leafy rosettes. The flower buds develop in late summer and suspend like beads through winter. In late winter and early spring, the beads open to delicate bell blossoms in pure white.

Pieris boasts all-season appeal. New growth emerges bronzey-red, and mature leaves are narrow and pointed in deep, glossy green. They thrive in acidic, well-drained soils and make good companion plants to azalea and camellia.

‘Mountain Fire’ is a tall favorite with bright red new growth. The crimson leaves, combined with the cooling white blossoms, are a spectacle in spring. Dwarf varieties reach only two to three feet tall and are easy to use as accents and foundation plantings.

‘Cavatine’ is a stunning small variety with loads of buds. It reaches its mature two-foot height in a decade of growth. ‘Interstella’ has ruby rose blossoms and red new leaves and reaches three to four feet high.

Acanthus

	common name Acanthus
	botanical name Acanthus mollis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Acanthus has strong architectural foliage. Its long, broad leaves are dark, glossy green, deeply cut with soft spines and textural interest that help deter deer. The leaves unfurl and arch, representing the Roman-era depictions on the tops of Corinthian columns.

In addition to their structural foliage, acanthus produces tall spikes of pinky-white flowers with deep purple bracts. The bold spikes emerge in summer and last for weeks.

Acanthus grows with little maintenance in dry or moist soils as long as they’re well-draining. It makes a beautiful grouped planting for impact. Provide more shade in growing areas with warm summers and intense sun. Note that this species is invasive in Central California.

Heuchera

	common name Heuchera
	botanical name Heuchera spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-30”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Heuchera, or coral bells, are North American native perennials prized for their colorful, shapely leaves. Hybrids have lime, purple, bronze, black, red, and orange foliage, often in mottled tones. They add exciting visual interest and high contrast to shady borders.

In addition to bold foliage, airy bloom sprays rise above the mounded leaves in summer. Pair coral bells with other shade-loving deer-resistant plants like hellebore, ferns, astilbe, and epimedium for a striking combination of multi-season foliage and flowers.

Heuchera does best in rich, organic, well-drained soils. These brighten dappled shade areas and tolerate deeper shade, though growth may be slower.

Daphne

	common name Daphne
	botanical name Daphne odora
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Flowering daphnes are woody shrubs with attractive evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous forms. Some daphne varieties bloom in winter through spring, while others flower heavily in spring and lightly repeat bloom through fall. With an intensely sweet fragrance, their perfume announces the blooms in the cool season garden.

Daphne odora is an evergreen species with all-season interest. ‘Aureomarginata’ has long, mint green leaves with creamy yellow edges. Purple-pink blossoms emerge in late winter. ‘Aureomarginata’ is a bit more hardy than the species, withstanding temperatures to about 10°F (-12°C).

Daphne needs very well-drained soils and can dry out between waterings. It’s also somewhat salt-tolerant. The fragrant shrub does well in a container, woodland setting, and as a foundation plant. Roots are slow to establish and don’t like disturbance after planting.

Christmas Ferns

	common name Christmas Ferns
	botanical name Polystichum acrostichoides
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Ferns fill the understory with a soft lushness, and many are deer-resistant with textured fronds, fuzzy stems, and natural toxins. They’re carefree and graceful in large drifts or among other native plantings.

Christmas ferns bring a fountain of green all year long. They’re particularly striking in winter, when arching fronds enliven the landscape, especially when many other perennials are dormant.

Native to the U.S. and Canada, Christmas ferns are hardy, adaptable, and serve a variety of landscape uses. They enhance the shade garden, provide wildlife habitat, and help stabilize soil on slopes. Look to royal, Japanese painted, and autumn ferns for other deer-resistant fronds.

Bunchberry

	common name Bunchberry
	botanical name Cornus canadensis
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 4-12”
	hardiness zones 2-6

A member of the Cornus genus, bunchberry is a North American naturalized groundcover with miniature dogwood leaves and flowers. Starry white blossoms top the fresh green foliage in spring, with bunches of bright red berries in late summer through fall. Fall foliage is red and purple.

The native prefers cool climates and withers in hot summers. It performs best under the canopy of trees and shrubs with dappled light.

Bunchberry grows best in moist soils with high organic matter and needs regular moisture until roots establish. Birds forage on the berries, also edible for people.

Japanese Forest Grass

	common name Japanese Forest Grass
	botanical name Hakonechloa macra
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-1.5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Japanese forest grass, or Hakone grass, adds bright color to our deer-resistant plants for shade. With a mounding, cascading habit, the narrow-bladed grass is feathery but not a palatable texture for deer. ‘All Gold’ is a bright, golden-green selection with bold appeal.

This grass benefits from winter protection in its lowest zones 5-6, where mulching with fallen leaves helps insulate plants. This shade-tolerant grass needs organically rich and well-draining soils to grow. Poor and overly wet soils cause stress and disease issues. 

Sweetbox

	common name Sweetbox
	botanical name Sarcococca confusa
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Fragrant sweetbox has shiny, dark green foliage and a compact, tidy habit. It produces small, white blooms in March and April, and while not especially showy, the blossoms create a vanilla perfume that drifts through the late winter garden.

Sweetbox is low-maintenance and creates a broadleaf evergreen backdrop. Use it in a foundation planting, informal hedge, or near a walkway to experience the fragrance. Sweetbox thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soils. 

Consider the more cold-hardy species, Sarcococca hookeriana, for colder climates. Also available in dwarf varieties, this sweetbox is hardy to zone 6 and is drought-tolerant once established.

Lamium

	common name Lamium
	botanical name Lamium maculatum
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 6-9”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Lamium, or spotted deadnettle, lightens dark beds with a blanket of petite bright leaves in silver, variegated, green, and gold varieties. The low-growing spreaders form a soft mat. Prolific pink, purple, or white flowers appear in late spring through early summer, with sporadic blooming until frost. 

This species tolerates challenging sites like dry shade but withers in overly wet conditions, which leads to crown and stem rot. The groundcover spreads vigorously in its optimal growing conditions- pluck any spreading stems to keep them in bounds.

Bleeding Heart

	common name Bleeding Heart
	botanical name Dicentra spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 9-18”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Bleeding heart brings woodland and wildflower appeal with pendulous flowers on graceful stems. Ornamental and detailed, blooms are puffy and heart-shaped in white, pale pink, and fuchsia. They suspend from arching stems in late spring.

Dicentra is a delicate beauty among columbine, heuchera, hardy geraniums, and ferns. They enter dormancy in the heat of summer. Obscure fading foliage by nestling bleeding hearts with other leafy perennials to take their place.

Wild Ginger

	common name Wild Ginger
	botanical name Asarum spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Wild ginger brings subtle beauty and foliar interest with heart-shaped leaves, thick and dark green. Their surfaces may have silver mottling, depending on the variety. Hairy stems and fleshy roots with a spicy aroma and ginger flavor make it a perfect deer-resistant shade plant (although the roots are edible for people).

The perennial groundcover has a compact, mounding habit packed with leafy hearts. It slowly forms a dense colony over time. It tolerates various types, including clay, though it shows the best vigor in moist compositions with good drainage. 

Asarum canadense is a North American native with large leaves and a preference for cool climates. The species is hardy to zone 6.

Japanese Anemone

	common name Japanese Anemone
	botanical name Eriocapitella hupehensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Japanese anemones bring a sweet surprise in fall with buttercup blooms on tall stems. The clump-forming perennials produce floating flowers in pink, purple, white, and gold. The tissuey outer petals (sepals) frame a central cluster of tiny florets that attract pollinators.

Eriocapitella hupehensis and × hybrida are fall-flowering cultivars with single, semi-double, and double blooms. Dark green, ferny, textured foliage supports sprays of wand-like buds.

‘Honorine Jobert’ is an old garden hybrid from France and a favorite since 1858. Broad, bright white petals surround golden stamens with a chartreuse eye. Pink buds open to semi-double blossoms with slight ruffles. ‘Honorine’ flowers for up to two months and is a Perennial Plant Association Perennial of the Year and Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient.

‘September Charm’ is another RHS winner with the most delicate shade of silvery pink two-to-three-inch blossoms. Each flower holds six to nine petals with darker pink reverses. Buds are dark rose and open to reveal the blushing interior.

Brunnera

	common name Brunnera
	botanical name Brunnera macrophylla
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-1.5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Brunnera grows as a groundcover with heart-shaped leaves and blue flowers in spring. This Siberian perennial has multiseason appeal with silver, gray, and dark green foliage with heavy venation and patterning. Their rough texture makes them unappealing to deer.

Well-suited to cooler climates, these shade plants are easy to grow and resistant to deer. Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ is a Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial of the Year winner. ‘Jack Frost’ features large, silvery leaves with rich veins for interest in texture and color.

Epimedium

	common name Epimedium
	botanical name Epimedium spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6-10”
	hardiness zones 5-8

Epimediums (barrenwort and fairy wings) are low-growing, compact perennials that bring color, texture, and form for multi-season appeal. Their colorful foliage has dramatic mottling, blotching, and venation. Ornamental, orchid-like flowers with delicate spurs emerge in summer.

Despite a delicate look with intricate foliage and flowers, epimediums are durable. They’re low-maintenance and grow in conditions other perennials may find challenging, like deep and dry shade. They’re also one of the more deer-resistant shade plants to try. They make lovely accents in groups with other shade-loving perennials like ferns, astilbe, hellebore, wild ginger, columbine, and bleeding heart. 

Mahonia

	common name Mahonia
	botanical name Mahonia spp.
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 5-8

This is an ornamental shrub that has leathery evergreen leaves that are either holly-like (broad and serrated) or feathery (narrow and smooth). Either way, they’re not a favorite of our ungulate visitors. Bright yellow bloom spikes show a spray of color in fall, followed by dark berries that persist on the stem.

Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ is a dwarf cultivar that charms with delicate, dark foliage that’s soft and airy. These compact growers add a lush look and fine texture to beds and containers. M.‘Charity’ boasts ten-inch bloom spikes above broad, spiny leaves. While lending a tropical feel to the winter landscape, ‘Charity’ tolerates snow and frosty weather.

For a native option, Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. Leathery leaves show coppery new growth in spring, mature to deep green, and turn burgundy in the fall. These deer-resistant shade plants are good growers for gardeners in upper western regions of North America.

Columbine

	common name Columbine
	botanical name Aquilegia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Columbine is a North American native perennial with graceful, origami-like blooms that delight with ornamental appeal. The nodding flowers range from vibrant red and yellow to beautiful blues, purples, and pinks, depending on the species and variety. Hummingbirds and other pollinators appreciate the nectar from the tubular blooms, and birds feed on the seeds in the fall.

This native wildflower is found naturally along woodland edges, clearings, and riverbanks. It grows best in moderately moist, well-drained soils. The perennial is semi-evergreen and retains its basal leaves except in overly cold and hot temperatures, when it enters dormancy until temperatures level off.

Columbine appreciates partial shade and protection from the afternoon sun. In cool climates, it tolerates sunnier conditions.

Astilbe

	common name Astilbe
	botanical name Astilbe spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Astilbe is on the “seldom damaged by deer” list. It sparkles in the summer shade with frothy, feathery plumes. Dense, pyramidal bloom spikes in pink, red, purple, and white rise above mounding leaves. Glossy and green, the textured foliage also has tinges of red and copper. 

For lasting interest, keep the seedheads intact post-bloom. Consistent soil moisture is vital to strong performance, and plants suffer during dry spells. Highly organic soils are ideal for best growth.

Sweetshrub

	common name Sweetshrub
	botanical name Calycanthus floridus
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 6-12’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Calycanthus (sweetshrub or Carolina allspice) has fragrant mahogany blooms that appear in May on leafy stems. The shrubs are attractive even when not in flower, with lustrous and deep green foliage and bright gold fall color. Both foliage and stems have a spicy, ginny scent when crushed or bruised.

Sweetshrub makes an excellent specimen or mass planting in woodlands, rear borders, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic arrangements. You can also place them near entrances, patios, and walkways to enjoy the fragrance.

Carolina allspice has a dense, upright, rounded habit nearly as wide as tall. It spreads through suckers and seeds and forms colonies in the wild, though it is more behaved in the home garden. Buds set on old and new wood for an extended bloom display.