Best Deer Resistant Plants for Your Shade Garden
👀 Watch out for the buck eyeing your plants?!
If you've ever battled hungry deer in your garden, you know the frustration of seeing your carefully tended plants devoured overnight. But don't despair! There are many beautiful, deer-resistant plants, perfect for shade gardens, that will thrive despite the browsing habits of local deer populations. Whether you're working with full shade, part shade, or dappled sunlight, this list of plants will help you create a lush, vibrant garden year-round. While there is no sure-fire way to ensure that deer won't eat your plants, these selections will hopefully provide some good luck keeping the deer at bay! If you’re looking for deer-resistant plants that work in other light conditions, please see the rest of my deer-resistant plant series here.
Creating a Deer Resistant Shade Garden
Deer proof plants...hmm🤔I am not sure that is a thing because they will eat almost anything if they are hungry enough, but in general, deer do have preferences. When designing your shade garden, consider incorporating plants with a range of textures, bloom times, and heights. Mix perennials, ferns, and ornamental grasses like native sedges for a dynamic look that can handle a variety of light conditions, from deep shade to partial sun. Not only will this add beauty to your space, but it will also help deter deer from browsing.
Incorporating evergreen plants like Japanese Pieris and Eastern Red Cedar ensures that your garden remains attractive even in winter. Adding ground covers like Wild Ginger will help fill in bare spots and prevent weed growth.
In this article, I talk about characteristics to look for in plants that make them less appetizing to deer.
If you're facing garden challenges or unsure of which deer-resistant plants will thrive in your unique shade garden, my garden consulting services are here to help. I can work with you to design a beautiful, low-maintenance garden tailored to your needs and local conditions, ensuring that you enjoy a lush landscape without the frustration of deer damage. Not in the Richmond, VA area? No problem, I offer virtual consultations as well.
List of Deer Resistant Shade Plants
This list includes perennial plants that have been proven to resist deer damage while thriving in low-light conditions. From early spring blooms to late summer displays, these plants provide beauty without sacrificing hardiness. Plants are listed by their common name followed by their botanical name in parentheses.
1. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Light Conditions: Partial shade to deep shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil
Size: 6-12 inches tall
Bloom Time: Early spring
Why We Love It: This native plant thrives in the darkest corners of your garden, acting as a hardy ground cover while protecting the soil from erosion. Its heart-shaped leaves and early spring blooms add texture to the garden.
Deer Resistance: Its strong, aromatic roots deter deer from browsing. It’s perfect for natural areas where deer populations are high.
2. Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)
Light Conditions: Partial shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained, moist soil
Size: 3-10 feet tall (depending on variety)
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring
Why We Love It: Japanese Pieris is an evergreen plant that produces stunning clusters of bell-shaped flowers in early spring. Its glossy, leathery leaves add evergreen interest throughout the year.
Deer Resistance: Deer tend to avoid the bitter-tasting foliage, making this an excellent shrub for areas with high deer browsing pressure.
📷: NC State
3. Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil
Size: 12-18 inches tall
Bloom Time: Early to late spring
Why We Love It: Known for its heart-shaped, silvery foliage and delicate blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots, Siberian Bugloss brightens up shady areas in late spring.
Deer Resistance: The fuzzy texture of the leaves discourages deer browsing, while the plant’s tolerance for various light conditions makes it a versatile choice.
4. Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil
Size: 12-24 inches tall
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring
Why We Love It: Hellebore is probably my favorite deer-resistant shade plant! Lenten Rose brings color to the garden in late winter and early spring, with nodding flowers that range from white to pink to deep purple. Its evergreen foliage offers year-round interest.
Deer Resistance: Deer tend to avoid this plant because of its tough, leathery leaves and mildly toxic compounds. It's a standout in deer-resistant shade gardens.
5. Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum)
Light Conditions: Partial to full shade
Soil Requirements: Moist to wet soils
Size: 3-5 feet tall
Bloom Time: Non-flowering (focuses on its showy fronds)
Why We Love It: This native fern adds a dramatic, tropical look to shady gardens. Its tall, arching fronds give the garden a lush, natural feel, particularly in moist, shaded areas.
Deer Resistance: Deer tend to avoid ferns due to their tough texture, making them ideal for natural areas and shade gardens with high deer pressure.
6. Ornamental Onion (Allium spp.)
Light Conditions: Partial shade to full sun
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil
Size: 12-24 inches tall
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Why We Love It: Ornamental onions offer striking blooms in shades of purple, blue, and white. Their spherical flower heads add architectural interest to any garden. You can find ‘Serendipity’ and ‘Mellinium’ fairly easily, but for a great selection consider purchasing allium in bulb form.
Deer Resistance: The onion-like smell of Allium makes it unappealing to deer, making it a must-have in a deer-proof garden.
7. Virginia Blue Bells (Mertensia virginica)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil
Size: 12-18 inches tall
Bloom Time: Early to late spring
Why We Love It: Virginia Blue Bells are celebrated for their striking, showy flowers which are clusters of blue and purple bell-shaped blooms that create a stunning display in early spring. These blooms stand out against the backdrop of emerging foliage, adding a splash of color to shaded areas. The plant’s foliage is lush and green early in the season, but as the weather warms, it begins to die back, making it a spring ephemeral. This characteristic allows it to go dormant in the summer, conserving energy for the next season’s bloom.
Deer Resistance: Deer are generally not attracted to Virginia Blue Bells due to their taste and the plant's ephemeral nature. This makes them a great choice for deer-resistant shade gardens, providing a burst of beauty in the spring before the foliage disappears for the season.
8. Leatherleaf Mahonia (Berberis bealei previously known as Mahonia bealei)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained, moist soil
Size: 4-6 feet tall
Bloom Time: Late fall to early winter
Why We Love It: This resistant shrub offers a dramatic presence in shady gardens with its holly-like, spiny leaves and vibrant yellow flower clusters. These flowers appear in late fall and early winter, providing a burst of color when many other plants are dormant. This deer-resistant plant also produces dark blue berries that attract birds, adding another layer of interest. Its evergreen foliage ensures year-round appeal.
Deer Resistance: The tough, spiky leaves and strong scent make Leatherleaf Mahonia a poor choice for deer. This resilience makes it a valuable addition to any deer-resistant shade garden, providing structure and seasonal interest throughout the year.
📷: NC State
9. Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil
Size: 3-5 feet tall
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Why We Love It: Virginia Sweetspire is a versatile shade perennial known for its graceful, arching branches and fragrant, creamy-white flower spikes that bloom in late spring to early summer. Its foliage transitions from bright green in the spring to rich red and orange in the fall, providing seasonal interest. This shrub also produces attractive, dark red berries that are loved by birds. They flower best with at least 4 hours of sun. They don’t mind wet feet. I have two of these plants in my garden.
Deer Resistance: The aromatic flowers and tough leaves make Virginia Sweetspire less appealing to deer, ensuring it remains intact in deer-prone areas. Its adaptability to varying shade conditions makes it a valuable addition to any shade garden, offering beauty and resistance to deer damage.
📷: NC State
10. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil
Size: 6-12 inches tall
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Why We Love It: Foamflower is a charming shade perennial that adds a delicate touch to shaded areas with its frothy, white to pink flowers arranged in airy spikes. The heart-shaped leaves are attractive throughout the growing season, and the plant forms a lovely ground cover that helps suppress weeds. It kind of reminds me of a native alternative to Heuchera.
Deer Resistance: Deer tend to avoid Foamflower due to its strong, bitter taste. Its ability to thrive in moist, shaded conditions makes it an excellent choice for creating a lush, low-maintenance ground cover in deer-resistant gardens.
BONUS: Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Light Conditions: Part shade to full shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil
Size: 12-18 inches tall
Bloom Time: Early to late spring
Why We Love It: Red Columbine is a standout in landscape plantings with its unique, nodding red and yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds. This shade perennial’s delicate, fern-like foliage and striking blooms add vibrant color and charm to shaded garden areas.
Deer Resistance: Its delicate appearance belies its toughness—deer are generally deterred by its bitter-tasting foliage. Red Columbine is a good choice for adding early spring color to your garden while keeping deer browsing to a minimum.
By choosing deer-resistant plants for your shade garden, you can protect your investment while creating a beautiful and tranquil space. These resilient plant species will stand up to deer browsing, providing lush foliage and colorful blooms from early spring to late summer. Whether you're dealing with dry shade, moist soils, or even deep shade, there are resistant plants that will thrive in your garden. Visit your local garden center to explore even more options and enjoy the beauty of a garden that stands strong against deer damage.
Whether you're just starting your garden or looking for ways to improve it, I offer personalized consulting services to help you create a stunning, deer-resistant landscape that thrives in your specific environment and light conditions. Let's work together to turn your garden challenges into a beautiful, flourishing oasis.
Keep Blooming,
Nicole Dillon
Owner of Breemar Flower Farm and Founder of Your Garden Pathway | Ashland, VA | Zone 7
