Deer will at least try something once when their typical food sources are scarce; the key word here is “try.” That means that a hungry deer is more likely than a well-fed deer to eat a piece of your prized delicacy.
Apart from this, however, several succulent species appear to be resistant to deer. These include plants like cactus and succulents with natural defenses like their spikes.
There are a few varieties of succulent plants that are worth taking into consideration if you want to grow succulents outside but are concerned that deer would devour them. These include hens and chicks, yucca, agave, sotol, and prickly pear cacti.
Be aware that deer-resistant and deer-proof are not the same thing. The succulents mentioned above are still edible by deer. It seems unlikely that these creatures will eat these plants, though.
Are cactus plants immune to deer?
If the fences are tall enough, barbed-wire ones might be useful for containing deer. However, why not place the barbed wire directly on the plant? Prickly pear cactus accomplishes just this. The Opuntia compressa prickly pear cactus can reach heights of between six and fourteen inches. Along with those ominous spines, it also bears two to three-inch-diameter brilliant yellow flowers. A red hens and chicks plant and a prickly pear cactus in bloom make for an eye-catching rock garden duo. The eastern United States’ sole widespread cactus is this one. In USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9, it thrives.
Are succulents eaten by deer?
While taking care of your plants is difficult, cultivating plants is a fantastic method to keep healthy. If you enjoy growing succulents and reside in a rural location where deer are common, you may wonder if deer consume succulents.
Deer love to eat vegetation because they are herbivores. They can eat any plant that they come across because they have a voracious appetite. Succulents, on the other hand, don’t appeal to them and they would avoid them.
A deer may eat anything to satisfy their appetite, including a succulent. A deer in need of food would consume anything without giving it any thought. You may need to take care of your succulent plants if you grow them and live close to a wildlife park, a forest, or another such wild environment.
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we receive a small reward from qualifying purchases made via those links, at no additional cost to you.
What kinds of succulents avoid deer?
Sempervivum, Sedum, and other succulents have an impressive list of advantages. They can withstand dryness, require little maintenance, have vibrant leaves all year long, and many are winter hardy. In addition to all of this, sedum and hens-and-chicks are frequently included in lists of plants that are resistant to deer.
Unfortunately, the deer herds haven’t been evenly divided with the lists of plants that are resistant to grazing by deer. You’ll notice that every list says resistant rather than deer-proof. This is due to the fact that deer-proof plants are a myth. There are other varieties that deer don’t enjoy as much, but that doesn’t mean they won’t occasionally take a mouthful.
Browsers are deer. They nibble here and there and eat an entire garden somewhere else. Deer will eat just about anything, as anyone who lives in a region where deer are common is aware, and they can wreak serious havoc in gardens.
Hens and chicks are deer-resistant plants, as are other succulents. Deer typically do not accept them. They would like to eat something different because they are not their favorite food. However, they will only consume just enough to be annoying and keep you on the lookout.
They typically only consume your sempervivum plants in the winter, when food is more limited. But this is not a hard-and-fast rule. I had a tomato plot a few feet away from a succulent wreath that was hanging. I discovered several breaches in the succulent wreath when I went outside one morning in the early summer.
Your hen and chick plants frequently need an extra layer of protection to keep deer and rabbits away. While surrounding the plants with fences or nets will keep them secure, it may not always be the most appealing option. We typically suggest a deer repellant like Liquid Fence when individuals report deer problems in their yards. This is a fantastic way to prevent deer and rabbits from nibbling on your succulent plants.
Don’t lose hope if the deer do eat your chickens and chicks. A plant that has had a bite taken out of it will grow other plants to take the place of the damaged one. The stumps that once represented your lovely rosettes will start to grow again after being consumed all the way to the ground. A fitting name for hens and chicks is sempervivum, which means to live forever. Even when you think the deer have killed them, they typically cling to life and come back.
Succulents are resistant to both deer and rabbits.
I must admit that I was a little late to the cacti and succulent bandwagon. I couldn’t help but notice that every gardening journal was featuring them because I am a gardener. After that, they appeared on social media. Then all of my pals began to engage with them. I made the decision to try a few, including the desert rose and the panda plant, both of which I’ve always loved as houseplants. Here are six factors to think about if you’ve never grown succulents, based on my experience:
1. Growing succulents is simple. It goes without saying that succulents are low maintenance and require little water. That’s certainly one of the primary factors contributing to their initial level of popularity. Many places allow you to keep them outside where sufficient natural rainfall will keep them content.
They can be brought inside, as well. In contrast to many annuals, it can be quite simple to keep a succulent alive over the winter provided you have a bright, sunny window. Success in this situation depends on providing it with a lot of bright light and being careful not to overwater it.
3. Succulents can withstand heat. Even the hardiest annuals would take a little break during the hottest portion of the summer when I used to live and garden in the Midwest. Additionally, I’ve discovered that several perennial favorites (like geraniums and dahlias) won’t survive the summer in Miami. Succulents, though? In the heat, succulent care is not a problem.
4. Normally, deer and rabbits don’t eat them. Usually. At least that is what people who have trouble with deer and rabbits in their yards tell me. Despite the fact that no plant is entirely safe from deer or rabbits, it seems that they prefer other plants to succulents.
5. The texture is incredible. Actually, it’s the textures of succulents that have won me over. There are many different textures available, ranging from the fuzzy panda plant to the steely-appearing echeverias to flapjacks, all of which look fantastic on their own, in combination, or with other non-succulent plants totally.
Learn more with our free guide to cultivating and using succulents as decor (indoors and out). Now download it!
Which animals enjoy succulent food?
Examine the soil and the area around the pot to see whether birds are consuming your succulents. Do you notice any feces? Birds will produce little, rounded droppings. Additionally, you might notice tiny white faeces; those are urates, pee that has solidified. Small holes rather than large bitten portions are more likely to be found since birds like to eat succulent foliage.
It might have been a larger animal if there are more portions removed or if you observe chew marks. The larger rodents like voles, possums, mice, squirrels, and others can consume succulents. Even cats and dogs will occasionally eat succulents, but they frequently quit after only one bite. Make sure your succulents are not hazardous to dogs or cats if you have pets, and keep them out of their reach if you do. Succulents can also be harmed and eaten by smaller insects like snails and slugs.
But don’t assume that your succulents will only be damaged by birds and other animals. Small vermin can consume your succulents or at the very least sap their juices. These include, for instance, aphids. Aphids are tiny insects that are frequently colored green, black, or yellow. Spider mites are tiny and come in a variety of hues. Additionally, they absorb plant liquids. Succulents might suffer unfavorable effects from scale bugs as well. Succulents can also be harmed by slugs and snails.
Always be sure to inspect your succulents’ roots for damage, pests, and discolouration. You can use natural remedies to get rid of pests if your succulents are afflicted. Neem oil, horticultural mineral oils, and insecticidal soaps are a few examples.
Do deer consume hibiscus flowers?
Are Hibiscus Flowers Eaten by Deer? Yes! Your hibiscus plant’s stunning showy flowers are under danger from deer. Most deer prefer the plant’s leaves and twigs, but if they are really ravenous, they will also eat the flowers.
Eat hydrangeas do deer?
Are hydrangeas immune to deer? The quick response is no. Deer enjoy nibbling on the delicate tips, flowers, and leaves of hydrangeas. However, there are methods that hydrangea enthusiasts like me can employ to lessen deer damage. Plant the toughest hydrangea varieties first. Next, put up a fence to prevent deer from getting near your plants. To deter grazing, spritz deer repellant. To discover more about cultivating hydrangeas in a deer-populated area, continue reading.
Eat geraniums do deer?
Annual geraniums, or more correctly pelargoniums, are lovely, long-blooming plants that come in a wide variety. These plants are luckily not attractive to deer or most other garden pests, and they are rather simple to grow. Your hostas, strawberries, and tulips would be highly preferred by deer as food sources. Of course, a deer can eat any plant if it is hungry enough, including pelargoniums. The temptation will rely on the lack of food, which worsens from October to February during the colder seasons.
Pelargoniums are categorized as occasionally injured by Rutgers University on their rating scale, which ranges from seldom damaged to frequently severely damaged. The bitter flavor, strong aroma, and fuzzy leaves of the majority of pelargonium varieties are repulsive to deer. The geranium budworm, also known as the tobacco budworm, is a more frequent pest for these plants. The geranium budworm consumes the buds and petals of geraniums, giving the blooms a ragged, chewed appearance. Additionally vulnerable to mites, aphids, sawflies, and thrips are geraniums.
The flowering plant known as true geraniums, also referred to as hardy cranesbill, is quite different. This perennial, in contrast to pelargoniums, is frost resistant and grows in spreading clumps. Deer avoid the majority of hardy cranesbill varieties because of their aroma and leaf texture. This includes Geranium macrorrhizum. Deer typically graze on Geranium endressii, therefore it should be placed cautiously if deer are a problem in your community.
Do deer enjoy lavender food?
Lavender is the perennial for you if you want plants that are attractive, fragrant, and resistant to deer. The most common name for these fragrant perennials is “herbs,” and they make a charming addition to any garden. The strong scent of lavender is precisely why deer steer clear of this plant, whether you desire them for decoration or for their practicality in the home. Lavender can be planted alongside your herb and vegetable gardens, along walkways or driveways, or as an edger for patios or gazebos. They are not only resistant to deer, but they also ward off flies and mosquitoes. Try to plant your perennial in an area with full sun and soil that drains well. Lavender is an extremely low-maintenance plant once it has established.
Do deer consume begonias?
Deer avoid planting spring and early summer summer blooming bulbs, rhizomes, tubers, and corms.
The majority of the environments where we live have whitetail deer. While there are numerous effective techniques to keep deer away, two related strategies include planting a range of plants that deer avoid and switching from a straightforward landscape plan with “buffet-style offerings” to a more intricate and substantial strategy that “buffers the harm.” Summer blooming bulbs, rhizomes, tubers, and corms that are planted in spring and early summer for summer display are the topic of this article. We’ll talk about planting deer-resistant bulbs in the fall for the following spring in a future article.
In biology, rhizomes, tubers, corms, and bulbs are referred to as geophytes. There are two methods to obtain many summer blooming geophytes: in active growth in pots or in dormant form (such as bulbs in mesh bags). In fact, when we choose one of them as a container plant, some of us might not even be aware that we are buying a geophyte!
Here are some summer geophytes that deer avoid, as well as some suggestions for buffer-style landscaping.
Allium
There are hundreds of kinds of alliums, sometimes known as flowering onions, in the world, some of which can be cultivated as perennials in the Midwest. Although allium bulbs typically need to be planted in the fall, it is becoming more and more usual to discover some varieties with narrow leaves that resemble perennials grown in containers. Alliums have a strong, pungent aroma and flavor, which makes deer avoid them.
Iris
Iris plants with rough (German) or grass-like (Japanese) leaves are avoided by deer, who also stay away from the German and Japanese varieties. There is an iris for everyone because German types can tolerate dry, sandier soils while Japanese species prefer wetter, richer soils. When planted in large groups alongside other plants, particularly those that bloom at the same time, iris appear lovely. Rhizomes, like irises, are incredibly simple to grow and multiply.
Kniphofia
These rhizomes, sometimes known as poker plants or desert candles, have slender, grass-like leaves that resemble attractive grasses. Due to their sharp edges, grass-like blades are unpopular with deer. Because Kniphofia grows in mountain ranges in its natural environment, which is Africa, it can withstand some milder weather here in Michigan (USDA Zones 5 and 6).
Eremus
Eremus (foxtail lilies or Desert Candles), though difficult for a beginner to grow, may be magnificent if you have the ideal soil conditions they require. Although these plants are very well-liked in England, they are not well-known in the United States. They can survive in USDA Zones 5-7 and are native to Eastern Europe and China. They are typically unreliable in Michigan because they require very well-drained soil and are very prone to root rot in the winter from damp soils. Given that deer are picky, try a little amount first before making a larger planting. Their grass-like leaves is what gives them their deer resistance.
Peony
Perennial peonies are offered for sale as potted plants and dormant tuberous roots. Peonies are resistant to deer because of their leathery leaves, albeit this poses a modest risk to the flowers. But given the prevalence of deer and blustery winter winds in Michigan’s wide rural areas, it is not surprising that they have survived on their own. The 33 species and variety of cultivars of this plant, many of which flourish in cold growing regions, surprise many gardeners (as low as USDA Zone 3). In June, Matthaei Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan, bloom to their fullest.
Gladiolus
Gladioli typically tolerated deer damage in the open gardens of farming communities for the same reason as peonies do. Glads are frequently referred to as “sword lilies” because deer dislike their tough, grass-like leaves. If there is any concern that deer will eat the flowers, gardeners usually clip bloom stems before emergence for longer vase life nevertheless. Other lesser-known gladiolus cultivars feature looser blooms (e.g. G. callianthus). These looser kinds, as well as the conventional varieties, can be let to bloom in beds alongside other perennials that are resistant to deer. Since the 300 species of gladioli are native to warmer regions than Michigan’s growing regions, their corms must be plucked and kept for the winter.
Agapanthus
This bulb, which is also known as Lily of the Nile, is unusual to many. Although it has huge blue flowers that resemble those of allium, it blooms later in the summer, has fewer species (only six to ten species, plus some hybrids), and is more resistant to deer thanks to its leathery leaves rather than a potent aroma.
Begonia
Although not all begonias are, those with fuzzy stems or leaves or leaves that are waxy or leathery tend to be. Begonias have enormous species and cultivar diversity, both in terms of quantity (1,800 species worldwide) and plant structure. They also contain rhizomatous or tuberous stems.
Rhizomatous stems, soft leaves, and gorgeous foliage all characterize Rex Begonias. Waxy-leaved begonias, such as bedding varieties, are grown more for their flowers than their leaves and have tuberous stems and waxy leaves. Deer can still pull tiny wax begonias right out of the ground (taste test), even if they do not want to eat them, therefore huge leaf wax begonias, like angel wing begonia, have the highest deer resistance. Begonias are cultivated as annuals in Michigan throughout the summer or overwintered indoors as houseplants, with the exception of the hardy begonia, Begonia grandis, which can only be grown in USDA Zone 6 or higher.
Caladium
These varied, tuberous-rooted plants, which are sometimes known as elephant ears, belong to the Araceae plant family and have huge leaves that frequently have vivid colors. Only in Michigan can elephant ears be cultivated as annuals; they are native to warm climates. Their ability to repel deer is probably due to a poison they make called oxalate/oxalic acid. Other Araceae family plants, including perennial skunk cabbage and perennial rhubarb (Rheum sp. ), both of which are resistant to deer, also contain this toxin. Imagine a garden bursting with rhubarb, elephant ears, and skunk cabbage.
More deer-resistant geophytes:
- Lightning Star (Liatris punctate or the Michigan native Liatris spicata) This corm is not quite as deer resistant as other bulbs, but it still has some resistance, particularly if it is interplanted with other deer resistant plants like Echinacea.
- bloody heart (Dicentra )
- A typical perennial that is offered in active and dormant forms (both in bags) (in pots). All bleeding heart species and cultivars have exceptionally excellent deer resistance.
- Canna flowers (Canna)
- They are resistant to deer because of their leathery leaves and frequent great size. In the majority of locations in Michigan, their rhizomes must be raised in the fall so that the leaves can wither and then the tops can be removed for storage.
- Crocosmia/Montbretia
- These corms grow into plants that have grass-like foliage and orange/red blooms on long stalks; ‘Luicifer’ is hardy to USDA Zone 5, although the majority of these are only acceptable down to Zone 6.
- Cranesbill (Geranium tuberosum)
- These wild geraniums, which are perennials with tuberous roots and members of the geranium family, are resistant to deer because of their fuzzy stems and leaves.
- Fumewort (Corydalis solida), a woodland plant, is frequently offered in pots for sale in the early spring.
- Aconite in winter (Eranthis hyemalis)
- a less well-known bulb that is a member of the Ranunculaceae family of plants (buttercups). It grows slowly and bears yellow flowers; it is occasionally offered as a potted plant.
- Oxalis adenophylla, a plant from the more well-known genus Oxalis, is another unusual species (shamrocks). Instead of in its dormant corm state, it is primarily sold as a plant in containers.