These pretty perennials and shrubs will grow in shady spots and deer tend to leave them alone.
Gardening where deer are plentifulcan be challenging, especially in shady conditions.
Here are a few plants these creatures tend to shy away fromalthough no plant can be considered completely deer-resistant.
Credit: David McDonald
Occasionally called andromeda, lily-of-the-valley bush does best in part shade.
Use itin a foundation plantingorshrub border.
This easy-care plant makes a great companion for spring-flowering bulbs such as narcissus andscilla.
Credit: Marilyn Ott
Deer avoid Jack-in-the-pulpit because the plants contain a toxic substance, calcium oxalate.
An easy-carenative wildflower, columbine comes in various colors, shapes, and sizes that thrive in part shade.
Individual columbine plants can be short-lived, but they self-sow freely and eventually form large drifts of color.
Credit: Mike Jensen
It grows 12 to 18 inches tall withgrayish-green fronds overlaid with silverand maroon highlights.
Over time, Japanese painted fern will naturalize in an area, forming dense clumps.
Be sure tomulch the plantsto maintain soil moisture.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Use ligularia along a shady stream bank, in arain garden, or at theedge of a pond.
Deer generally ignore brunnera, perhaps because the leaves have a scratchy texture.
The plants eventually form solid clumps that spread by creeping rhizomes and self-seeding.
Credit: Andrew Drake
It develops trusses of yellowflowers in the spring, followed by blue-black berries in the late summer.
Give Oregon grape holly enough room to slowly spread by runners to form thick colonies of color.
Both male and female plants are required for berry production.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Theberries also attract songbirds.
Use daphne in aperennial borderor as a foundation plant along the north side of your house.
The foliage turns bright yellow in fall.
Credit: Janet Mesic Mackie
Size:8-10 feet tall and 15 feet wide
Bottlebrush buckeye is toxic to humans and pets.
Pachysandra
Deer tend to avoid plants with thick, shiny leaves.
Thats whypachysandra(Pachyandraspp.)
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
makes such agreat shady groundcoverwhere these creatures roam.
As a bonus, pachysandra also produces tiny white flowers in the early spring.
), a groundcover occasionally called barrenwort or bishops hat.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
It slowly carpets a landscape with its colorful heart-shaped foliage and flowers.
Different varieties of epimedium offer patterned leaves and flowers in lavender, yellow, or white.
This hardy native makes an excellent groundcover when grown in awoodland setting.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Thisextra-easy perennialproduces quantities of daisy-like flowers in April and May.
Windflower spreads slowly, eventually forming broad mats of pretty foliage and flowers.
Deer turn away from these things and will avoid your plants when they smell or taste them.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Yes, using an infra-red motion sensor or timer can activate a sprinkler and deter deer.
Motion-activated sounds and flashing lights also work well to protect plants.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Credit: Janet Mesic-Mackie
National Library of Medicine
Daphne x burkwoodii.
North Carolina State University Extension Gardner Toolbox.
North Carolina State Extension.
Credit: Rob Cardillo
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Credit: Andy Lyons
