Deer Resistant Plants for Shade Gardens

Deer resistant shade plants are the secret to a low-stress garden. They thrive where light is limited and deer are frequent visitors. Whether you're working under trees, along shaded fences, or in cool corners of your yard, these plants protect your investment. They keep your garden looking beautiful all season long.

At Garden Crossings, our curated selection includes annuals, perennials, and shrubs built for strong performance in challenging spots. Many also attract pollinators and thrive in moist, cool soil so they do double duty in the landscape. Ready to design a stunning layered look? Explore our deer resistant shade plants and build a garden that stays beautiful and unbrowsed.

A deer with light brown fur grazes on green plants in a garden, surrounded by trees and lush vegetation.
A dense cluster of vibrant red and magenta-pink leaves of Blazin' Rose' Blood Leaf (Iresine) stands out in a lush garden, complemented by green foliage and soft pink flowers in the foreground - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A lush cluster of Blazin' Rose' Blood Leaf (Iresine) showcases dark green leaves with vivid pink veins, complemented by small pink flowers and other greenery in a garden, creating a striking foliage display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Blazin' Rose' Blood Leaf (Iresine)

$10.99
$10.99
Close-up of four delicate, light purple 'Bowles Me Away' Wallflower (Erysimum) blooms with yellow centers and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A cluster of tall, lilac colorted blooms with slender stems and green leaves grows by a gravel path, showcasing the beauty of 'Bowles Me Away' Wallflower (Erysimum) - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Bowles Me Away' Wallflower (Erysimum)

$17.99
$17.99

A close-up of 'Etain' Perennial Violet (Viola) shows its fragrant yellow blooms edged in light purple, set among green leaves with a dark purple pansy in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of 'Etain' Perennial Violet (Viola) features pale yellow flowers with purple edges and soft green leaves, bringing lasting charm and beauty to any garden setting - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Etain' Perennial Violet (Viola)

$17.99
$17.99

Close up of dense clusters of green and yellow variegated foliage, 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) adds vivid texture and striking color as an eye-catching perennial for shady garden spots - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Close-up of a group of light purple flowers with yellow centers rise above the variegated foliage of 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium)

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of delicate pink and yellow spidery flowers with long, thin petals bloom above green, heart-shaped leaves—Hugs And Kisses' Barrenwort (Epimedium) is a deer-resistant perennial ideal for lush shade gardens - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Delicate pink flowers with long, thin petals and yellow centers bloom on arching stems among green leaves of 'Hugs And Kisses' Barrenwort (Epimedium). Flower pot and yellow flowers are blurred in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Hugs and Kisses' Barrenwort (Epimedium)

$21.99
$21.99

A close-up of the vibrant 'Rebecca Cawthorne' Perennial Violet (Viola) showcases its purple and white blooms with green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top-down view of 'Rebecca Cawthorne' Perennial Violet (Viola) with ruffled petals in shades of deep violet, lavender, and creamy yellow-white, accented by green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Rebecca Cawthorne' Perennial Violet (Viola)

$17.99
$17.99
'Rise and Shine' Chinese Astilbe features tall clusters of vibrant hot pink blooms above lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.'Rise and Shine' Chinese Astilbe features tall, feathery hot pink blooms above lush green foliage that fills the frame. Blurred greenery and a wood fence in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Rise and Shine' Chinese Astilbe

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of ‘Spot On’ Lungwort (Pulmonaria) features green leaves with white spots and clusters of small pink and purple flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of 'Spot On' Lungwort (Pulmonaria) shows green leaves with white spots and purple-blue and pink blooms, thriving in mulched soil with a yellow-green shade plant in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Spot On' Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

$19.99
$19.99

Close-up of a 'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia) flower with three purple petals, yellow stamens, and long green leaves. Other similar perennial flowers and buds appear among the surrounding foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia) features slender green leaves and small purple flowers, thriving in mulched garden beds among grass and lush greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Webmaster' Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

$19.99
$19.99
A dense patch of yellow-flowering Woodland Elf' Barrenwort (Epimedium), with delicate blooms and elongated, reddish-green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.'Woodland Elf' Barrenwort (Epimedium) is a bushy groundcover with yellow flowers and long green leaves tinged reddish-brown beside a trellis fences and rocks in a garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Woodland Elf' Barrenwort (Epimedium)

$21.99
$21.99
Colorblaze® Chocolate Drop Coleus features trailing foliage with green-edged, deep burgundy centers, serrated margins, and a striking mix of light and dark patterns - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Colorblaze® Chocolate Drop Coleus shows trailing leaves with jagged edges, deep burgundy centers, and green-yellow borders. The dense foliage is vibrantly colored and very eye-catching - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

ColorBlaze® Chocolate Drop Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

A dense bush of Colorblaze® Mini Me™ Chartreuse Coleus, featuring spiky, narrow yellow-green leaves and bright green foliage, grows in a garden bed bordered by deer-resistant plants with green and purple leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of bright green, elongated, jagged-edged foliage with a glossy finish forming a dense, vibrant display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

ColorBlaze® Mini Me™ Chartreuse Coleus

$10.99
$10.99
Colorblaze® Royale Pineapple Brandy™ Coleus, a bushy foliage plant with bright yellow-green leaves, grows beside vivid magenta flowers atop mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA dense cluster of vibrant yellow-green, serrated leaves—Colorblaze® Royale Pineapple Brandy™ Coleus—is surrounded by dark green foliage and touches of pink flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Royale Pineapple Brandy™ Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

A cluster of bright pink impatiens is surrounded by the vibrant green leaves with deep maroon centers and jagged yellow-green edges of Colorblaze® Strawberry Drop Coleus - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA vibrant Colorblaze® Strawberry Drop Coleus with green, burgundy, and pink foliage grows densely in a round modern gray and taupe ceramic pot against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

ColorBlaze® Strawberry Drop Coleus

$10.99
$10.99
Bright green, ruffled Dolce® 'Apple Twist' Coral Bells (Heuchera) standout among maroon and tan foliage, creating a vibrant and contrasting display in this close-up of a shade perennial garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of light green, ruffled Dolce® 'Apple Twist' Coral Bells (Heuchera) grow in a garden bed beside a decorative planter lush with dark green foliage and purple flowers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Dolce® 'Apple Twist' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$27.99
$27.99
A Dressed Up® 'Evening Gown' Coral Bells (Heuchera) perennial sits on the patio, its dense, glossy ruffled leaves showing dark purple-black coloring with burgundy-edged highlights - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.A large Dressed Up® 'Evening Gown' Coral Bells (Heuchera) with dark, ruffled leaves grows in a gray, ribbed planter outdoors, set against green grass and a stone walkway for an elegant perennial display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Dressed Up® 'Evening Gown' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$18.99
$18.99

Three pale, star-shaped flowers with light purple veins bloom among green leaves. Endless™ Flirtation Bush Violet offers delicate, five-pointed petals - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of a white browallia with faint purple veins, green leaves, and blurred red flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Endless™ Flirtation Bush Violet (Browallia)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of vibrant Endless™ Illumination Bush Violet flowers with green leaves, accompanied by a few narrow red-orange blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA cluster of vibrant purple star-shaped flowers, Endless™ Illumination Bush Violet (Browallia) is a stunning blue-toned annual - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Endless™ Illumination Bush Violet (Browallia)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Cordial Canary' Bugleweed (Ajuga) shows vibrant foliage and flower spikes—an eye-catching, evergreen ground cover perfect for shade garden - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.A close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Cordial Canary' Bugleweed (Ajuga) shows dense, glossy green and gold leaves with elongated oval shapes - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Feathered Friends® 'Cordial Canary' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
Close-up of glossy, long, narrow reddish-brown leaves of Feathered Friends® 'Fancy Finch' Bugleweed (Ajuga), forming a dense, evergreen ground cover - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A vibrant cluster of Feathered Friends® 'Fancy Finch' Bugleweed (Ajuga) blooms in a rock-bordered garden bed, surrounded by green grass and plants. The evergreen ground cover has some yellowing leaves at its base - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Feathered Friends® 'Fancy Finch' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Feathered Friends® 'Fierce Falcon' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features glossy, dark purple crinkled leaves as an attractive evergreen ground cover, with hints of green and yellow foliage - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.Close-up of the dark purple, crinkled leaves of Feathered Friends® 'Fierce Falcon' Bugleweed (Ajuga), highlighting their glossy texture and prominent veins - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Fierce Falcon' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
Feathered Friends® 'Flashy Flamingo' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features clusters of pale purple flowers and golden yellow foliage, with dense, delicate spikes—ideal as a shade ground cover. Blurred blue-purple blooms appear in the background - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Flashy Flamingo' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
Feathered Friends® 'Noble Nightingale' Bugleweed features dense clusters of narrow, glossy dark green and purplish leaves - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.A close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Noble Nightingale' Bugleweed (Ajuga) in a tray, its dense glossy dark green and purple-tinged evergreen leaves highlighted by sunlight, showcasing unique foliage textures - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Feathered Friends® 'Noble Nightingale' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Parrot Paradise' Bugleweed (Ajuga) ground cover, displaying textured, veined green and reddish-brown leaves with natural color variations - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.Feathered Friends® 'Parrot Paradise' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features dense clusters of yellow-green leaves with reddish-brown veins and tips, forming a rounded, evergreen foliage plant - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Parrot Paradise' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99