
Do Deer Eat Hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas are probably the most favorite flower species worldwide. I get an uncountable amount of texts and calls from the hydrangea lovers as proof of that. Some of them asked me how to protect hydrangea from deer. So, the question clicked a memory lane of my early days of gardening when I had to stop the deer eat hydrangea bushes.
In my recent guides, I shared facts like what to plant in front of hydrangeas and what is the best side to plant hydrangeas for safe growth. Today, I will share my thoughts on the unbreakable relationship between deer and hydrangea! Will deer eat hydrangea plants? Answer in the next section!
Is Hydrangea Deer-Resistant? Answered!
No, hydrangea is not deer-resistant. Deers are not completely hydrangea haters. They would avoid hydrangea in normal seasons. However, the scarcity of food in fall and winter may drive them to eat plants they would typically avoid. Deer are herbivores with a varied diet that changes with the seasons. Deers can change their eating habits depending on food availability and other nutritional needs.
Do Deer Like Hydrangea?
I would say deer do not like hydrangeas. Deer tend to be more selective when vegetation is plentiful during the spring and summer. They have better food options available during the period. I have read that DeerFriendly measured the population of deer as 35.2 million in the USA since 2021. So, they have to rely on the hydrangea in extreme weather conditions in the winter.
If that is so, why do not deer find other flowers? Obviously, deer eat almost anything in the garden that is colorful and sweet. But hydrangeas have a larger growth rate, and visually deers think there are a lot of flowers. So, hydrangea becomes the easy target!
Okay, back to hydrangea! You can ask me some relatable questions, such as: If deer does not prefer hydrangea as its main food—
- Do deer eat hydrangea blooms?
- Is oakleaf hydrangea deer-resistant?
- Is limelight hydrangea deer-resistant?
Do Deer Eat Hydrangea Blooms?
Deer are known to eat a wide variety of plants, including the blooms of hydrangeas. The bright, lush flowers can be quite appealing to them, especially when other food sources are scarce. They are hungry enough or if other options are limited. Often, the blooms are the first part of the plant to be eaten, followed by leaves and stems.
Is Oakleaf Hydrangea Deer-Resistant?
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is generally more deer-resistant compared to other types of hydrangeas. Its leathery leaves and woody stems make it less palatable to deer. But remember that “deer-resistant” and “deer-proof” do not mean the same thing.
Gardeners have reported fewer problems with deer when growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas, making them a better choice for areas with high deer activity, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. When I visited field and food plot edges in some areas, I saw deer roaming for human habitation to collect food like flower blooms, crops, and so on.
Is Limelight Hydrangea Deer-Resistant?
Limelight Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’) is not particularly deer-resistant. Like many other hydrangeas, it can be attractive to deer, especially its tender new growth and blooms. While it may not be a top choice for deer, it is not immune to browsing. Gardeners in areas with high deer populations may need to take two protective measures to protect Limelight Hydrangeas from deer damage.
- Using repellents
- Installing barriers
How to Protect Hydrangea from Deer? My Top 5 Tips!
I want to state that, as an animal lover, I don’t want me or anyone to cause any harm to deer. They are great creatures. If you need to keep them away to save your hydrangea, follow these tips and do it peacefully. Just make it complicated for deers, that’s it.
- Use Deer Repellents: Use commercial or homemade deer repellents regularly. These products usually contain scents or tastes that deer find unpleasant. My friend Christine Covino shared some of the best deer repelling methods as stinky, spicy, and fiery solutions.
- Install Physical Barriers: Install fencing or individual plant cages. The cages wrap the plants around and make it harder for the deer to reach them. Netting can also be effective for protecting blooms specifically. Although the net seems perfect for birds rather than deer.
- Companion Planting: Surround hydrangeas with plants that deer find unappealing, such as those with strong scents or thorny textures. The best companions are hostas, ferns, daylilies, astilbes, brunnera, etc.
- Motion-Activated Devices: Are you a techie? Use motion-activated sprinklers or lights to scare deer away from your garden. If you are not a busy person, you can even buy some motion-activated cameras to keep an eye on the deer.
- Plant Hydrangeas Near Home: Wild animals fear the domestic playground. When the deers will see the hydrangeas beside home, they will most likely lose interest and find something seemingly safer to them.
But wait, doesn’t hydrangea come back year after year? Then it is completely fine to share some with deer! My animal lover friend Matthew asked me the questions! I want to tell Matthew that the problem lies because deers love the blooming of hydrangea. So, no matter how strong your rooting system, environmental adaptation, and regeneration are, the hydrangea will face difficulty growing to its full potential after a deer attack.
Concluding Words
The story did not just end there! Many of you requested me to inform you about deer-proof hydrangeas. However, it’s a myth, so I apologize for providing an easy solution. I hoped that there would be some sort of genetic evolution or scientific experiment to get a deer-proof hydrangea. Later, I accepted the flow of nature. Maybe you should do it too.
FAQs
Which hydrangeas are comparatively more deer-resistant?
Bracted Hydrangea (scientifically known as Hydrangea involucrata) have some features to become less interesting to deers. This type of hydrangea has fuzzy leaves packed with very small flowers. For those reasons, deer lose attraction within a short period.
What kind of hydrangeas deer cannot reach?
There are Climbing Hydrangea species as a better alternative. The mature plants have thick woody stems, meaning the blossoms will reach out of the reach of deer-like creeper leaves. The problem is that people do not usually like climbing hydrangeas for their wild, flat looks.
What flowers will be deer-resistant compared to Hydrangea?
If we list down, you will get arrow, ornamental onion, anise hyssop, bee balm, fern-leafed bleeding heart, catmint, coneflower, and lavender to plant in front of your home. Deer do not completely ignore them, but somehow, they seem less appealing to deers.