Deer-Resistant Shade Plants

Shaded spots can be hard to fill, and even more so to keep grazing deer away from. Deer-resistant plants are the secret to a low-stress garden. Bitter and unappetizing to deer, they provide colorful foliage and texture in your low-light area. 

Our curated collection at Garden Crossings includes deer-resistant shade perennials, annuals, and shrubs built for strong performance in challenging spots. Explore our plants!

A deer with light brown fur grazes on green plants in a garden, surrounded by trees and lush vegetation.
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® Mini Me™ Watermelon Coleus displays serrated red, pink, and yellow leaves. Yellow and pink petunias bloom among the annual foliage, adding vibrant contrast and eye-catching visual interest - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA large Colorblaze® Mini Me™ Watermelon Coleus with serrated red and green leaves grows among blooming yellow petunias in a neat garden, with green grass and greenhouse structures visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Mini Me™ Watermelon Coleus

$10.99
$10.99

A lush Colorblaze® Royale Apple Brandy® Coleus with vibrant red and yellow-edged leaves grows in soil before a white fence, surrounded by burgundy and green foliage from other plants in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCThe vibrant foliage of Colorblaze® Royale Apple Brandy® Coleus displays deep burgundy centers and jagged bright green edges in a lush, overlapping cluster - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Colorblaze® Royale Apple Brandy® 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
A close-up of vibrant Colorblaze® Velveteen® Coleus leaves with serrated edges, displaying deep burgundy and bright pink patterns, surrounded by colorful foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of Colorblaze® Velveteen® Coleus shows its jagged-edged leaves with deep purple and magenta markings, edged in green - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Colorblaze® Velveteen® 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)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of Dolce® 'Cherry Truffles' Coral Bells (Heuchera) with ruffled deep burgundy leaves and tall stems featuring dark pink buds, surrounded by green-yellow variegated foliage and ornamental grass - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Dolce® 'Cherry Truffles' Coral Bells (Heuchera) shows ruffled, vibrant red and burgundy leaves. This perennial’s dense foliage creates striking color, pattern, and texture in the garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Dolce® 'Cherry Truffles' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$18.99
$18.99

A group of Dolce® 'Silver Gumdrop' Coral Bells (Heuchera) shows off ruffled, rounded leaves in silvery lavender and deep purple tones, growing in a garden bed with visible soil and mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Dolce® 'Silver Gumdrop' Coral Bells (Heuchera), with silvery-purple leaves and bright pink flowers, thrives in a garden bed with dark soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Dolce® 'Silver Gumdrop' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of clusters of small, bright pink flowers on tall stems rise above the silvery-green, veined leaves of Dolce® 'Spearmint' Coral Bells (Heuchera), a shade perennial, in a garden bed with brown soil in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of tall, thin stems with small, bright pink flowers rise above ruffled green leaves of Dolce® 'Spearmint' Coral Bells (Heuchera), a striking shade perennial, with mulch and other plants in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Dolce® 'Spearmint' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of Dolce® 'Toffee Tart' Coral Bells (Heuchera) features dense clusters of autumn-hued leaves—gold, orange, and brown—with rounded edges and prominent veins - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A close-up of yellow-green, scalloped leaves with visible veins from Dolce® 'Toffee Tart' Coral Bells (Heuchera), a popular shade perennial. Out-of-focus red flowers and similar foliage appear in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Dolce® 'Toffee Tart' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$18.99
$18.99

A dense cluster of Dolce® 'Wildberry' Coral Bells (Heuchera), a compact native perennial, features vibrant reddish-purple ruffled leaves growing in mulch, set against a backdrop of green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of Dolce® 'Wildberry' Coral Bells (Heuchera) shows its dense, deep purple ruffled leaves in a garden pot, with small green trailing plants spilling over the edge beneath its striking foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Dolce® 'Wildberry' Coral Bells (Heuchera)

$18.99
$18.99

A flowering Astilbe 'Dragon's Lair' with dark burgundy-purple foliage and tall pink to white flower spikes, growing in a garden among green grasses and foliage. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A garden bed filled with ornamental foliage, featuring prominent pinkish-purple Astilbe 'Dragon's Lair' flowers, deep burgundy leaves coral bells, bright green fiddle-leaf figs, and pale pink sedum in the foreground. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Dragon's Lair' Chinese (Astilbe)

$19.99
$19.99

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

Illustration of a house with a porch and seating, featuring an EZ Scapes™ Deer Proof the Shade #1 Garden Kit in the front yard; green, purple, and blue flowering plants are shown in detail with a close-up view below - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Garden design diagrams for “Island” and “Mailbox” layouts, each using the EZ Scapes™ Deer Proof the Shade #1 Garden Kit. Brunnera, Heuchera, and Polemonium are grouped in purple, green, and light blue circles on 5x10 grids - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

EZ Scapes™ - Deer Proof the Shade #1 - Garden Kit

$122.34
$135.93 $122.34
A hand-drawn illustration of a house with a front porch, steps, and lush garden beds featuring the EZ Scapes™ Deer Proof the Shade #2 Garden Kit, filled with green and purple-leafed plants and blue flowers in front of and below the house - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.EZ Scapes™ Deer Proof the Shade #2 Garden Kit offers two grid layouts: Shallow Border (compact) and Island (expanded), each showcasing groups of green Jack of Diamonds, purple Dressed Up, and blue Pink-a-Blue plant varieties - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

EZ Scapes™ - Deer Proof the Shade #2 - Garden Kit

$142.13
$157.92 $142.13
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)

$14.39
$17.99 $14.39

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)

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29
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)

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29
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)

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29

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)

$15.29
$17.99 $15.29
ColorBlaze® deer-resistant shade annuals

Help Your Garden Thrive with Deer-Resistant Shade Plants

Deer aren’t so cute when they’re browsing on your annuals and perennial plants! To keep these hungry critters away, focus on plants with substantial texture, strong scents, or leathery leaves. 

Our deer-resistant plants for shade are the perfect place to start. They thrive where light is limited, where even deer are frequent visitors. Whether you’re working under trees, along shaded fences, or in cool corners of your yard, these plants help protect your investment.

deer-resistant boxwood shade plant

Protect Your Garden from Browsing Deer

While no plants are truly ‘deer-resistant,’ these perennials, annuals, and garden shrubs serve as your first line of defense against these critters. 

At Garden Crossings, we’ve selected each of these plants for your growing needs and USDA Hardiness Zone to support success in your outdoor space. We personally inspect our plants before shipping for appearance, quality, and performance. Shop online!

FAQs

No plants are 100% deer-proof. Hungry deer will eat almost anything if food is scarce! However, they often avoid plants with fuzzy textures, bitter tastes, and toxic compounds.

There are a few characteristics that deer generally dislike:

  • Leathery or tough textures that are difficult for them to chew
  • Fuzzy stems and leaves, which make the plant unappealing to eat and touch
  • Strong scents
  • Milky, toxic sap acts as a deterrent.

Some of the best deer-resistant plants for shade include hellebores, ferns, and coral bells. These plants thrive in low light while deterring wildlife with their tough and unappealing foliage.