Deer-Resistant Perennials for Shade

Perennials for shade that deer mostly leave alone. Compare bloom time, mature height, and water needs. Split into narrower lists below.

More specific collections

Common Horsetail

Blue Cardinal Flower

Giant Snowdrop

Appalachian Blue Monkshood

A perennial dies back and comes again, so the border keeps its shape between seasons. These perennials also take shade. Dry shade is the hardest place in the garden to plant, and some of these manage it. Most settle in and then look after themselves.

perennials: 361
hardiness zones: 3 to 12

Annual Vinca

Begonia

Camellia

Sweet Scented Bed Straw

Deer leave these perennials alone, and they still flower. There are perennials flowering in spring, summer and late autumn, and the last flowers are still there when the leaves start to turn. Most of the colour is white and purple.

spring: 173
summer: 131
late autumn: 39

The variety runs deeper than the type suggests: there is enough variety to mix and match without repeating yourself. Epimedium, Dryopteris and Carex have the most entries, and woodland edges and borders are the commonest uses.

woodland edges: 215
borders: 185