If the site is too sunny in summer for the Hakone grass (as they do prefer semi-shade), and especially if it's too dry without irrigation, then other species might be more suitable, though deer resistance does limit the candidate list considerably. Options might include other ornamental or native grasses (few stay very short among the sun-loving species, but there might be some that are suitable, whether native or non-native, such as Purple Lovegrass or Prairie Dropseed) and succulents like Eastern Prickly-pear cactus, a native perennial that can grow in sun as well as semi-shade. Other ideas from our Groundcovers page (from the sunny, drought-tolerant lists) that deer usually avoid include Sweetfern, the 'Gro-Low' variety of Fragrant Sumac, Cotoneaster (several varieties in that group stay short), 'Nikko' Deutzia (or a couple other varieties that stay similarly short), low-growing Junipers, or creeping Thyme.

Miri