Bougainvillea is one of our house’s most famous and common plants, especially beside house walls and entrance. If you own a deer, you should know about the different plants that deer eat. On the other hand, if you want to keep a plant safe from deer, you also have to know about the food habit of deer.
So, you might be confused about whether deer eat bougainvillea or not. However, you must know about what deer eat and what not to keep your plants safe. Moreover, learning about the protection process of bougainvillea is pretty essential. So, let’s see details about it.
Deer eat bougainvillea
Deer don’t eat bougainvillea. Generally, deer can eat any plant when they are starving. But deer are not fond of bougainvillea. The taste and smell of this plant don’t attract deer in normal conditions. That’s why people often consider bougainvillea a deer-resistant plant.
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However, you might see bougainvillea in many houses. Because this plant is pretty common. Sometimes, people might grow this beautiful plant in gardens. The appearance of this plant is so elegant that people often grow this plant around their houses.
So, when there are deer around the place, you might think about the protection of the plant. On the other hand, if you own deer, you might want to know whether they eat bougainvillea or not.
Generally, bougainvillea is known as a deer-resistant plant. So, deer don’t like this plant. They often avoid this plant if not necessary. But you might be familiar with the behavior of deer. They will eat anything when they are starving.
But usually, bougainvillea is not suitable for deer. The taste of this plant is not likable to deer. Moreover, deer also don’t like the smell of this plant. That’s why deer avoid this plant.
The flowers of bougainvillea are also attractive and colorful. So, you might think that deer might eat the flowers. But they also don’t like the taste and smell of the flowers. The whole plant is considered deer-resistant.
However, if you see deer eating bougainvillea, that is normal. Because deer will eat deer-resistant plants also if they are excessively hungry. To feed deer plants, you should not provide them with bougainvillea.
Normally, deer will not like this plant. Moreover, you can’t be sure that deer will never eat bougainvillea. So, you also have to protect the plant from deer.
Do deer like bougainvillea?
No, deer don’t like bougainvillea. You might see deer eat anything when they are hungry. But they don’t like all plants similarly. Some plants are less attractive to deer. Bougainvillea is one of the deer-resistant plants that deer don’t like.
Sometimes, you might be afraid that deer will eat your bougainvillea plant and destroy it. But deer will not do it since they don’t like this plant mush. They might munch some leaves sometimes. But this plant is not their favorite.
Deer-resistant plants also have varieties. Some deer-resistant plants are so unbearable to deer that they will never eat that plant. But some are moderately deer-resistant. For example, bougainvillea is one of the moderately deer-resistant plants.
That’s why you should protect the plant though it is deer-resistant. Protecting the plant will keep it safe from deer. So, deer don’t like the taste and smell of bougainvillea. They will not get the chance to accidentally eat this plant if you somehow protect it.
Do deer eat bougainvillea plants and flowers?
Bougainvillea is considered a deer-resistant plant. So, deer will not eat bougainvillea plants and flowers. You might think the beautiful color of bougainvillea flowers will attract deer. But deer don’t like the taste of the flowers.
Generally, deer don’t like the smell of bougainvillea plants and flowers. So, they will avoid these plants. But sometimes, they might munch some of the leaves and flowers if they are starving.
But this doesn’t represent the attraction or disliking of deer for this plant. Deer dislike the whole plant and flowers. But if you are afraid about your bougainvillea, you can protect the plant by different means.
So, the deer will get obstacles additionally and will not eat the plants and flowers. Deer-resistant plants have some properties that will make deer dislike the plants. Bougainvillea also has those properties. That’s why deer will avoid these plants and flowers.
Three reasons why deer don’t eat bougainvillea
Now that you know deer don’t eat bougainvillea, you might want to kno the reasons. So, let’s see why deer don’t eat bougainvillea.
Deer-resistant plant:
You might know that bougainvillea is a deer-resistant plant. Generally, deer-resistant plants prevent deer from eating those plants. So, many people grow these plants so that deer can’t eat them.
Bougainvillea also has the property of a deer-resistant plant. That’s why deer will not eat bougainvillea plants and flowers. They will avoid this plant and eat some other plants.
Smell:
The first thing an animal notices is the smell of the food. If the scent is unattractive, the animal will not eat the food. The same thing goes for deer. Deer don’t eat bougainvillea because they dislike the smell of it.
When a deer comes close to this plant, it will not be attracted to the plant. Because this plant’s smell is not attractive to deer. That’s why deer don’t like to eat bougainvillea plants.
Though deer can eat bougainvillea when they don’t find other plants around. Moreover, they can eat this plant when they are starving.
Taste:
Deer also don’t like the taste of bougainvillea plants. If deer don’t understand bougainvillea, a deer-resistant plant, and eat it, they will not like the taste. Because the taste of bougainvillea plant and flowers are not attractive to deer.
You might see deer eating bougainvillea plants or flowers sometimes. That means deer can’t find other plants around, or they are very hungry. Otherwise, deer don’t like the taste of bougainvillea. That’s why they don’t eat bougainvillea plants and flowers.
Is bougainvillea deer resistant?
Yes, bougainvillea is a deer-resistant plant. Generally, a deer-resistant plant has properties that keep deer away from eating the plant. Many people grow deer-resistant plants in their gardens so that deer can’t eat them.
Bougainvillea is one of the deer-resistant plants. But the resisting capability is moderate. That means deer might eat the plant when hungry or can’t find other plants. But generally, they don’t like the plant.
So, if you want to keep bougainvillea safe, you have to take steps to protect the plant. But in general, deer don’t like the smell and taste of the plant. So, they will avoid this plant in normal conditions.
How can I stop deer from eating bougainvillea leaves?
If you see deer eating bougainvillea leaves, that’s pretty normal. Because deer can eat bougainvillea when they don’t find other plants. So, you might see deer eating your bougainvillea leaves. Let’s see how you can stop deer from eating bougainvillea leaves.
Fence:
The primary protection can be the use of a fence. You can put a fence around the bougainvillea so that deer can’t eat the leaves. But you must keep in mind that the height of the fence should be high enough.
If you keep the fence height short, deer can quickly eat the leaves. So, you have to keep the fence height high enough.
Hanging plant:
You can grow the bougainvillea in a hanging pot. The height of the pot should be high enough so that deer can’t reach the height. The leaves and flowers will hang from the pot. When the leaves and flowers come near the ground, you must cut them short. You can also bind them with the main hanging pot so that the pot can hold the leaves and flowers.
Place within boundary:
If you want to grow bougainvillea in your area or garden, you must plant it within your house’s boundary. This will not allow deer to enter the boundary and eat the plant. Moreover, you can put a boundary around your house to keep other plants safe.
Moreover, you can put a fence around all the plants together so they can be safe from deer and other grazing animals.
Final Thoughts
Deer don’t eat bougainvillea. Even they don’t eat the leaves and flowers of this plant. Because the smell and taste of this plant are not attractive to deer. Deer often avoid this plant. But you might see them eating bougainvillea when they are hungry or can’t find other plants.