Deer Resistant Shade Flowers

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

• Bleeding heart is an old-time favorite that still pleases gardeners today with its unusual heart-shaped flowers in shades of pink and red. The fern-like foliage grows in a mound shape. Bleeding heart blooms in late spring or early summer, then goes dormant and dies back. It does best in moist, partial shade areas and is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 9. Some cultivars to try are alba, which features white flowers, and goldheart, which has pink flowers and yellowish foliage.

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria)

• The rich fragrance of lily of the valley is one of the first signs of spring. White, bell-shaped flowers bloom profusely on each stem. Because it spreads quickly and thrives in low light, lily of the valley makes an excellent ground cover in shaded gardens or woodland locations. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8.

Bergenia

• Bergenia is an herbaceous perennial that thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10. It works well as a ground cover in areas of partial shade and thrives in wet soil. Bergenia features large glossy evergreen leaves and pink, purple or red flowers that bloom on a tall stalk in early spring. Some cultivars to try include bressingham white, evening glow and morning red.

Astilbe

• Astilbe, sometimes called false spirea, is a striking, herbaceous perennial that thrives in partial to full shade. It grows in a clump form and produces tall plumes of flowers from June to September, depending on the cultivar. A variety of shades are available including white, purple, pink and red. In addition, when the blooms die off, the foliage is still attractive on its own. It is found in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9, depending on the variety.

  Some popular cultivars include Deutschland, an early blooming white variety, Sprite, a midseason pink variety, and Pumila, a late blooming purple variety.

Hellebores

• Hellebores produce beautiful blooms in early spring and are suited to full or partial shade. A moist spot under the shade of a tree is a perfect location. Not only do deer leave hellebores alone, but moles and voles don't like them either. They pair well with ferns in the shade garden. Hellebores are toxic if ingested in large quantities. They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.

  You might like to try Alabaster, a large white variety, or Pluto, a dark purple variety.