Living around deer requires high concern and consciousness. Especially if you’re fond of wildflowers and have many variants grown around your house. Because deer love to munch. They eat whatever feels unique, and alluring and attracts them.
As deer live on plant-based food, vegetables, and flowers are on the top of their list. They are food browsers and if it’s a flower they never miss to taste. This might sound cute but not to you surely as your flower plants are at a risk.
Deer not only eat flower plants but also do serious damage to the plants and beds. It can destroy the yard so badly that you might need to put extra effort to make it alright again.
So to take precautions and keep the flower beds safe from deer, you may ask whether deer eat wildflowers. We’ll answer it here with much more relatable information.
Deer eat wildflowers
Deer eat wildflowers. Especially the ones that are native to the region. And there are some wildflowers that deer do not eat. In fact, wildflowers are often used to deter deer from gardens. A wildflower that produces exotic spices is the one that is very disliked by deer.
Table of Contents
Wildflowers are naturally growing flowers found in the countryside, rather than cultivated in gardens. However, due to their vibrant colors, size and fragrances, they are now cultivated in gardens. These flowers enhance the beauty of gardens.
Deers being grazing animals have the potential to consume the wildflowers. But most of the deers show less interest in wildflowers than other grasses. If the wildflower is natural to the area, it can be presumed that the deers will consume it.
There are different forms of wildflower such as wildflower meadow, perennial wildflower, texas wildflower etc. Some of the wildflowers are listed as deer-resistant. Fragrance, bitter taste, vibrant color, and size act as a push factor for deers to consume them.
Deer’s preferences for different wildflowers are described below-
Wildflower meadow:
A wildflower meadow is a persistent grass region in which wildflowers are native to the area. They are very colorful and bloom every year and have the potential to eat wildflower meadows as they are native.
Deers are grazing animals and survive on grass; so, they may find wildflower meadows appealing to eat.
Perennial wildflowers:
Perennial wildflowers are basically ornamental. They are beautiful in color, shape and fragrance. Perennial wildflowers are listed as deer resistant wildflowers.
Deers have a tendency to resist their existence due to the fragrance, bitter taste, vibrant color and size. By planting perennial wildflowers in your garden, you may keep it safe from deers and preserve its beauty.
Texas wildflowers:
Texas wildflowers are very popular in the region due to their vast range of colors and variety of combinations. These flowers can be grown from March to April depending on the weather. Deer usually are selective about eating wildflowers.
Texas wildflowers are colorful, thus attracting deers. But their fragrance and taste deter deer in general.
Do deer like wildflowers?
Deer like wildflowers as plant-based items are their primary food. They usually eat summer, spring, and early-winter flowers grown around their habitat. But they don’t eat all of them. They have a preference and like to avoid a few types of wildflowers to be safe.
Deer are herbivores. Its primary meal is grass, flowers, leaves, or other plant-based foods. Since deer mostly live in the woods or country-sides, they get to see many types of wildflowers as well as grass and plants.
Since deer love to explore the food options available around them, wildflowers are too often on their menu. They like to eat them mostly when there is a shortage of food, for example in the early winter.
They are not crazy about wildflowers but surely consume many varieties of flowers when hungry.
Do whitetail deer eat wildflowers?
You already know how much deer love exploring food options available near it. They eat almost everything. But since there are many types of deer their food may vary.
If you are living somewhere close to a herd of whitetail deer, you may want to know if this specific class of deer eats wildflowers.
Whitetail deer are too herbivores. They mostly eat several types of grass and leaves. Their food habit also includes many flowers and flowering plants but when the deer are very hungry.
White-tail deer eat wildflowers too such as magnolias, tulips, etc. perennial flowers if they don’t have their preferred ones.
Do deer eat these wildflower parts?
If you too are fond of wildflowers just like deer and planning to grow in an area full of this animal, it’s important to know what exactly deer eat in a wildflower. So that you can decide on parts that can be planted safely and what you will need to protect from the wildflower garden.
Wildflower seeds:
Deers eat seeds mostly in the winter when they face food shortages, especially the wildflower ones. The nutrients such as oil and fat in wildflower seeds help deer to stay warm.
Deer can eat wildflower seeds planted in the ground as well as the fallen ones. But they pick only the ones they like such as poppy, blanket flower, zinnia, etc.
Wildflower plants:
Deer like to eat leafy, green plants. They eat evergreen or perennial plants. So if the wildflowers aren’t toxic to deer and match the conditions, deer eat those.
How do you keep deer out of wildflowers?
If you own a garden full of wildflowers, we guess you’ll have to deal with messy, destroyed plants and flower beds almost every day. Deer love to munch on wildflowers and so fulfills their craving by breaking into your flower garden nearby.
Since you can’t always keep your eyes on the yard, effective steps must be taken to prevent deer from destroying and eating wildflowers.
Here are a few simple yet effective ways to keep deer out of wildflowers.
Plant deer-resistant flowers:
Grow flowers that deer dislike. Flowers such as Perennial Lupine, Red Poppy, Golden Lupine, and Lemon Mint these wildflowers are deer-resistant. Deer don’t admire the smell or taste of these so you can plant such flowers to deter deer.
Plant foreign flowers:
Often wildflowers that aren’t native to that area don’t make any appeal to deer, so keeping flowers that the deer in that area haven’t adapted can keep them away too.
Install motion sensor:
Using a fence around the wildflower bed often fails to prevent deer as they’re not that stronger. Instead, use a motion sensor device. Solar-powered motion sensors work effectively to keep deer out of wildflower gardens.
These devices deter deer by flashing lights and sounds or sprinkling water on deer whenever they come near the flowers.
Use deer repellent sprays:
Spray repellents that keep deer away. You can use commercial ones or go for powerful DIY methods such as soap-water, garlic oil, mint oil, etc. to keep deer out of wildflowers.
What wildflowers do deer not eat?
Deer are grazing species and live on grass, flowers, herbs etc. They have the capacity to eat wildflowers. However, compared to other grasses, deer often express less interest in wildflowers.
Instead of being grown in gardens, wildflowers are flowers that grow spontaneously in the countryside. However, because of their eye-catching hues, size, and aromas, they are increasingly grown in gardens.
However, deers are fond of some wildflowers but it is very unlikely for them to eat all types of wildflowers. They usually choose some specific wildflowers over others and so, some people cultivate some wildflowers which are types of natural repellents and can keep deer away.
Followings are some wildflowers that deer do not eat –
White arrow seeds:
This wildflower is very lovely and full of fragrance. They are listed as deer resistant, meaning deers are not willing to eat them generally. Vibrant color, fragrance and bitter taste push deer away from them.
Bleeding heart:
This heart-shaped appealing flower may look attractive to deers, but actually, neither deer nor rabbits have an appetite for bleeding hearts. They are deer resistant.
Coreopsis:
Deers seldom go near to coreopsis. They are vibrant in color and deers rarely browse them.
Daffodil:
The milky sap of the daffodil does not appeal to deer. Its pinky salmon color and double layer structure make deer unwilling to have them.
Poppy:
Poppy plants are glamorous and toxic alongside. Their toxicity keeps deers away from eating them.
Vinca:
This exotic hothouse flower disregards deers with its glossy green foliage.
Final Thoughts
Deer eat some of the wildflowers. Mostly native to the regions, wildflowers are found liked by deer. Many deer eat varieties of wildflowers, including foreign ones. But harsh spices can deter deer. So many grow and cultivate such wildflowers in their bushes to keep deer away from their premises.