Deer live on herbs. If you provide them with enough fresh herbs, they can live relentlessly. Deer stay in a group, and they go to eat together. Deer eat different herbs and sometimes if they are exposed to food shortages, they can change their diet. Let’s see if deer can eat wisteria.
Do deer eat wisteria?
Deer cannot eat wisteria. Deer have strong-smelling power which helps them to find food. Sometimes this smelling power deters them from food sources. Wisteria has a sweet aroma, which is pleasant to the human nose, but deer cannot stand this smell. Deer always avoid aromatic goods.
Table of Contents
Walk through this section and find out if deer can eat the following wisteria plant –
American wisteria:
All kinds of wisteria have an aroma with them. American wisteria is not different from others. Though American wisteria has less smell than Asian species of wisteria.
As the sensitivity of the deer nose is 500 to 1000 times more sensitive than the regular human nose, you can think of the sensation the deer will get from the American Wisteria.
Whether American wisteria has less smell to it, it is still a highly avoidable thing for deer.
Evergreen wisteria:
Evergreen wisteria has both a beautiful scent and perennial vine. Evergreen wisteria is one of the closest competitors of Chinese wisteria. Also, Chinese wisteria is an invasive plant, however evergreen wisteria is not an invasive plant.
Though this evergreen wisteria can be found in the southern part of China and Taiwan. These fragrant plants are not good for deer to eat. Deer don’t love scented foods.
Chinese wisteria:
Chinese wisteria is a fast-growing wisteria plant than any other American variety. If you want a fast-growing, well-scented flowery plant, you should go for Chinese wisteria.
Like all other wisterias, Chinese wisteria has a beautiful scent that is more powerful than American wisteria. Remember Chinese wisteria may grow faster in the Chinese region, but the growth can be hampered in American weather.
Deer don’t love any scented things. Whether it is from any natural sources or any other sources, deer don’t get along with it.
Japanese wisteria:
Like Chinese wisteria, Japanese wisteria is also fast-growing than regular American wisteria. These wisteria plants are more beautiful than any other wisteria species. This plant can get up to 20 to 30 ft long. So, this is quite long as well.
It is not a suitable food plant for herbivorous animals such as deer. Deer tend to keep themselves out of all the scented food. If the food doesn’t have any harmful ingredients to them, but still, is quite scented then the deer will avoid the food.
That’s why deer avoid eating Japanese wisteria.
Do deer like wisteria?
Deer don’t like wisteria. Because it has a subtle to strong scent with it. Deer avoid all sorts of aromatic plants or foods. Along with the scent of the plant, wisteria plants are poisonous to deer health. It will cause pain in the mouth, and pain in their stomach.
So, if any deer eat the plant instead of the flowers, it still has to face some consequences. But wisteria is a perennial plant. So, this tree will bloom all the time with flowers. That’s why there is no room for deer to eat the plant.
Even deer cannot come close to the plant as well because of the strong scent the flower produces. Not only deer, but any animal with a sensitive nose also dislikes staying close to wisteria. The subtle scent is good for humans but not for deer. Deer don’t like wisteria.
Do deer eat these parts of the wisteria?
Before we go to discuss if deer could eat these parts of the wisteria, we should know one thing very clearly: the whole wisteria plants, vines, or blooms are poisonous. So, it will not be a pleasant food trip, if a deer eats these parts of the wisteria.
Wisteria plants:
Wisteria plants are one of the most beautiful things you will ever get. People plant these trees to increase the beauty of the garden. These plants can live for a longer time, and they are fast growers as well.
Wisteria plants have heavy toxins inside called lectin and Wisteria, which can be harmful to you and your pets. And, if a deer eats it, it will create some adverse impact on its body as well. So, deer will highly likely not eat these plants.
Wisteria vines:
Wisteria vines make these plants unique looking. The way the vines contain flowers is so unique that people plant them in the middle of the house or on the corner. These vines work as an ornament to your garden.
So, the vines have the flowers, and the flowers have the scent. And deer dislike to smell the aroma of the flowers. That’s why deer will not eat it. Also, if they eat wisteria, they will have a hard time inside their stomach.
Wisteria blooms:
Wisteria blooms are the most fragrant and beautiful part of the wisteria tree. Deer don’t like the aroma of this tree. So, they will avoid wisteria blooming and never eat it.
Is wisteria deer resistant?
Yes, wisteria is a deer-resistant plant. Wisteria flowers bloom throughout the years. And the flowers have a sweet smell which is not pleasant for the deer. As we know, deer have a strong-smelling sense, they don’t come near to this tree.
If you plant wisteria plants in your garden, then deer might not come to your yard anymore. The Asian species of wisteria plant can spread more fragrance than the American one. So, if you want to deter deer, then plant Chinese or Japanese Wisteria plants.
And, if you want to save your wisteria plant when they are small, apply fences around the plant. It will stop deer from eating the wisteria plant.
When do deer eat wisteria?
When there is scarce food, deer eat everything. And at that time, to survive they change their food habits. The scarcity of food makes them aggressive. At that time, they eat more as well. But a wisteria plant contains toxins in it. Deer may not come to eat it.
And even once they eat the plant their stomach will get worse. Also, as these plants have a fragrance with them, deer will not come to eat them. Like mints, daffodils, marigolds, and other plants that have aromas are not amiable to deer.
You can say that out of a hundred times, deer will eat wisteria five to ten times. But it is not a regular phenomenon. They will only eat wisteria if there is nothing they can eat to survive.
How do I keep deer from eating my wisteria?
The following tips will help you to deter deer from eating your wisteria –
Peppermint:
Like wisteria blooms, peppermint has a strong aroma that is not pleasant to deer. Deer stay away because of the peppermint smell. When the wisteria plant is small and doesn’t have the fragrance to deter deer.
Plant some peppermint plants around the wisteria plants. It will not harm the wisteria plant rather it will protect the plant. And you can use peppermint to garnish your food.
Blood Meal:
You can get a blood meal from any superstore. Blood meal basically warns deer not to enter inside of a garden. Generally, the smell of blood is a sign of a predator.
So, spreading blood meals around the garden will keep deer away. And the blood meal will dissolve with the soil after a few days, you have to spread them again. After using a blood meal for a particular time, any deer will never come to see the place again.
Because they will know that a predator resides there.
Fence:
It is the best course of action to save your garden, not only from deer but also from rodents and chipmunks. Even fencing can increase the beauty of the place. Fencing can help your garden to stay safe in the long run.
Also, you can just fence around the wisteria plants and after they get bigger, you can take away the fence from them.
Wisteria Flowers:
Wisteria flowers have a good aroma. But it is not good for deer noses. After the wisteria plant grows and blooms, you don’t need to be bothered about deer anymore. Wisteria flower will work as an invisible shield against deer.
Deer Repellent:
You can get deer repellent in the superstores. Though some of the deer repellents are not nature friendly. Use nature-friendly deer repellents.
Final Thoughts
Deer are good animals. Generally, they aren’t aggressive. When they can’t get enough food to survive, they become a little aggressive. At that time, they come out of the wild and invade the garden to get food. Wisteria plants aren’t so amicable for deer. At food scarcity, deer eat wisteria plants.