Lamium plants, also known as Spotted Dead Nettles, are deer-resistant ground covers that grow in a part- sun to semi-shade. Different varieties flower in white, pink or purple. Flowers are delicate and dainty. Lamium’s two-toned foliage provides interest, when the plant is not in bloom.
Perennial Plant, Height: 4-6″ Width: 15″-18″, Blooms early spring- early summer, USDA Zone: 3-9,
Lamium maculatum ‘Aureum’ is a cultivar with gold to chartreuse foliage.
Plant Name: Hosta species
Common name: Hosta Lily
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 6” – 36”
Plant Width: 20” – 24”
Bloom Time: July – August
Flower Color: Purple, Lavender, White, Blue, Pink
Exposure: Shade
Soil Requirements: Rich, Slightly Acidic, Moist Soil.
Water Needs: Moist When Newly Planted; then Somewhat Drought Tolerant.
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 1: Plant 30+ feet from Structure.
Attributes: Attractive Foliage in Shades of Green/Bluish-Green/Greenish-White; Fragrant Flowers; Attracts Birds/Butterflies
Uses: Border; Container; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Note: Cut Back After Frost
Native to: Asia
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/Master Gardener
Photo by: Qwertzy2~commonswiki, Wiki Commons
Plant Name: Pachysandra terminalis 
Common name: Japanese Pachysandra
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 6” – 8”
Plant Width: 10”+
Bloom Time: April – June
Flower Color: White
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Organically Rich, Well-Draining Soil.
Water Need: Moderate; Supplemental Irrigation.
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 8 – 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Semi-evergreen; Winter Interest; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees.
Uses: Ground Cover; Erosion Control; Cottage Garden.
Note: Spreads by Rhizomes; Avoid Overhead Watering.
Native to: Japan, North Central China
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/ Master Gardener
Photo from: N. Carolina State University, Extension Service https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pachysandra-terminalis/
Plant Name: Vaccinium ovatum
Common name: Evergreen Huckleberry
Plant Type: Shrub
Plant Height: 3’ – 5’
Plant Width: 6’
Bloom Time: Spring
Flower Color: White Flowers followed by Edible Blue-Black Berries in Late Summer.
Exposure: Full Sun to Deep Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained, Acidic, Sandy Soil; Will Tolerate Clay if Good Drainage.
Water Need: Regular Water to Drought Tolerant.
Firewise: YES
Attributes: Evergreen; Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds; Multiple Season Interest; Deer Resistant.
Uses: Stems Used in Flower Arranging; Hedgerow; Container Plant; Shrub Border; Foundation Plantings. Native Gardens, Woodland gardens, Edible native plants
Note: Little Pruning Needed.
Native to: Pacific Northwest
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 9
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/ Master Gardener
Long-lived perennials for shade and semi-shaded areas. Hostas come in a wide variety of sizes & textures. They are available as tiny plants only 8-inches tall to large plants as big a 4 feet clumps with 2 foot leaves. USDA Zones 3-9
Photo from Carlotta Lucas’ garden 5/7/21.
Plant Name: Maiathemum dilatatum
Common name: False Lily of the Valley
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Height: 2” – 4”
Plant Width: 1’8”
Bloom Time: May – July
Flower Color: White with Red Berries
Exposure: Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Wet.
Water Need: Medium to High
Firewise: Yes
Attributes: Pollinated by Insects; Evergreen; Hosted by Butterflies & Moths.
Uses: Ground Cover.
Note: Spreads by Underground Roots; Can Become Invasive.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a – 9b
Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas
Photo by: Qwert1234, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons