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Home Ask the Experts What are good deer-resistant plants for shade?

PLEASE NOTE: In the autumn of 1995, we hatched the idea for a free, local gardening publication. The following spring, we published the first issue of Michigan Gardener magazine. Advertisers, readers, and distribution sites embraced our vision. Thus began an exciting journey of helping our local gardening community grow and prosper.
After 27 years, nearly 200 issues published, and millions of copies printed, we have decided it is time to end the publication of our Print Magazine and E-Newsletter.

What are good deer-resistant plants for shade?

May 2, 2023   •   Leave a Comment

by Bev Moss

Are there any deer-resistant plants that will grow under large pine trees? Four feet of the bottom limbs have been trimmed off. There is a little bit of light, but the upper limbs block most of the rain. I tried hostas, but the deer ate them. G.R., Clinton Twp

Dry shade and deer resistant are two of the most common requests in planting under trees. Forget the hosta buffet and look to early-flowering hellebores and the many varieties of epimediums. Even the exotic-looking hardy cyclamen likes dry shade. All are ignored by deer and have a nice range of flower color for spring into early summer and excellent leaf texture into the season. Look at the shorter varieties of astilbe as well as brunnera and lungwort, which have great mid-spring flowers and colorful leaves all season. Leaf texture and variegation take the place of flowers when blooming is done. There are a few ferns that will survive in dry shade. Christmas fern, maidenhair fern, and marginal wood fern will establish in those conditions and be disinteresting to deer.

Forget the hosta buffet and look to deer-resistant plants like early-flowering hellebores (above) and the many varieties of epimediums.
Forget the hosta buffet and look to deer-resistant plants like early-flowering hellebores (above) and the many varieties of epimediums.

Note well: to get established, all of these plants need regular watering in the first year. Create a 2- to 2-1/2-foot planting area around the dripline of the tree so they can benefit from rainfall and auxiliary watering. Consider a soaker hose woven through the plantings that you can hook up regularly to facilitate watering. Do not expect a plant to thrive up against the trunk of the tree where the canopy is darkest and water is negligible.

Beverly Moss is the owner of Garden Rhythms.

Related: What are some suggestions for deer-resistant plants?

Elsewhere: Smart gardening with deer: Deer-resistant bulbs to plant in fall

Filed Under: Ask the Experts Tagged With: deer-resistant, deer-resistant plants for shade, plants, shade

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