We are having great luck with Lungwort "Margery Fish". Very pretty blue flowers right now. Last year they did not bother the Plumbago (Ceratostigma plubaginoides) but this year it did not come up so go figure. Last year they ate the Columbine but not this year. Maybe it was rabbits, because the coyotes and foxes have thinned the rabbits out noticeably this year. Really, the one I can solidly recommend for shade, looks, and deer is the Lungwort. -Don

Deer resistant perennials for shade to part shade include Lamiums, Lamiastrums, Pulmonaria, Epimediums, Hellebores, Dicentra, Polemoniums, Hakonechloas, Chasmanthium latifolium, woodland peonies (P. obovata, etc.), Geranium maccrorhizum (but not necessarily other geraniums)--can be used as a groundcover--, Saruma henryi, Arums, Arisimas, Cimicifugas. BUT, keep in mind starving deer will eat anything, even if it is poisonous.

I thought they were cute and brought a little sprig home to plant in the yard. I got scared the next spring when it started popping up everywhere and then it took me four years to get rid of it.... It does put on an amazing show. I remember seeing pink saucer magnolias in full bloom surrounded by a sea of these bright yellow flowers. Then I listened to someone complaining how they turn to mush after blooming and you couldn't mow the lawn because the mower would slide all over on the slime. ps: they are a different plant than the regular buttercups that grow in meadows and lawn.

Hmm, doesn't look like my previous post got posted, so here goes. I'm also in NJ and we've been in our house for 2 1/2 years. Half our front yard and another garden bed are filled with pachysandra because they are under the tall pine trees we have here. They spread faster than we want them to. In fact, without us even realizing it, they created their own soil out of fallen leaves and spread over our driveway about 18 inches since we've been here. It was like a thick carpet we had to cut through and roll up to move it back into the garden bed again. It is beautiful to look at, but very difficult to get rid of. Their roots are very thick and everywhere. If however, you would like more of it, you are more than welcome to come and dig some up in our yard. We have lots and lots to share.