These deer-resistant groundcover plants aren’t appealing to roving herds.
Here are several good choices for both sunny and shady gardens.
This plant develops creeping stems that root where they touch the soil to form a dense mat.
Credit:Carson Downing
have a bitter taste that deer dont like.
Leaves range in shape from small and needle-like to flat and paddle-shaped.
Leaves may be green, burgundy, or variegated with splashes of pink or cream.
Credit: Stephen Cridland
Stems of blue flowers appear in late spring to early summer.
is an excellent deer-resistant perennial that can begrown as a groundcoverin sunny areas andbetween stepping stonesin pathways or patios.
It releases its warm fragrance each time its stepped upon, which won’t appeal at all to deer.
Credit:Bob Stefko
It is especially well adapted for areas with hot dry summers.
The mildly fragrant leaves are sufficiently scented to keep deer at bay.
Growing Conditions:Full or part shade; moist.
Credit:Evgeniya Vlasova
While the flowers aren’t very showy, they do have a subtle beauty.
The plant spreads by rhizomes to create a lush groundcover inwoodland gardens.
Both native and non-native types are deer-resistant.
Credit:Blaine Moats
add color and texture to the floor of the woodland garden.
Plants form wide-spreading clumps, making them a good choice as a groundcover beneath shrubs or small trees.
Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) is anevergreen groundcoverthat creates a year-round carpet of green leaves.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The scent of its white spring flowers is sometimes described as mothball-like, which deters deer.
The leaves often display a bronze cast in fall.
The plant has escaped cultivation across much of the Northeastern region, where it’s considered invasive.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Plumbago
Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is also known asleadwort.
adds a grasslike texture to plantings in sun or shade.
In summer, spikes of small attractive blue or white flowers rise above the foliage.
Credit: Julie Mikos
In addition to being deer-resistant, it tolerates drought and seaside conditions.
Its small oval evergreen leaves flank low-growing, wide-spreading branches.
White or pink flowers form in spring, followed by bright red berries.
Credit:Carson Downing
Its tiny button-like blooms are bright yellow.
Spreading by rhizomes, it quickly forms a dense mat.
It can spread indefinitely, so you may want to contain it to prevent its creeping into unwanted areas.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
In spring, the plant is covered with clusters of fragrant pastel blooms.
In addition to deer, creeping phlox is resistant to rabbit foraging.
are easy to grow and boast a variety of flower colors and leaf shapes.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Some develop attractive fall foliage color.
Deer find the scent and texture of the foliage unappealing.
Its semi-evergreen, narrow, grass-like leaves arch gracefully, providing a fine textured appearance.
Credit:Denny Schrock
An excellent choice for underplanting trees and shrubs, it’s generally shunned by both deer and rabbits.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Credit:Denny Schrock
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Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: David Speer
Credit:Denny Schrock
