If you’re an avid gardener, you may have loropetalum in your outdoor plant collection. Loropetalum (also known as Chinese fringe flowers) are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But are loropetalum deer resistant?
Deer do not usually eat loropetalum. Loropetalum are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include loropetalum plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating loropetalum can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your loropetalum, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Do Deer Eat Loropetalum?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from loropetalum thanks to their strong scent, texture, and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat loropetalum during spring because they’re hungry after a long winter, or if it’s late in fall and other food sources have been depleted.
Your loropetalum are less susceptible to deer damage later in summer when many other food sources they prefer are available.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of loropetalum in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
And don’t think that your newer loropetalum are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Loropetalum Deer Resistant?
Loropetalum are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
The bitter taste and varied texture of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of loropetalum also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because loropetalum are deer resistant doesn’t mean they are completely safe from being eaten by deer.
You should always take additional steps to deter deer from your loropetalum and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Loropetalum?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting loropetalum from hungry deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant them.
Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, so your main goal is making your garden as least inviting to deer as possible.
Check out our guide on how to keep deer from eating plants where we cover 25 quick and easy tips for keeping hungry deer out of your garden.
Will My Loropetalum Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, loropetalum can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Loropetalum shrubs are considered evergreen, meaning they’ll stay active year-round.
Fortunately, loropetalum can withstand some heavy browsing from deer all the way down to about one third of the plant at an entire time!
So unless a deer eats your loropetalum down to the soil, you should be able to nurse them back to health with regular watering and fertilization.
Are Loropetalum Deer Resistant? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat loropetalum?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from loropetalum, but may eat them during spring when they’re hungry after a long winter or in late fall when other food sources have been depleted.
Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Check our our other helpful wildlife guides while you’re here:
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