If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least a few African daisies in your yard. African daisies (also known as osteospermum) are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat African daisies?
Deer do not usually eat African daisies. African daisies are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include African daisies.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating African daisies can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your African daisies, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat African Daisies?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from African daisies and osteospermum thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat African daisies 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 African daisies 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 African daisies 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 African daisies are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are African Daisies (Osteospermum) Deer Resistant?
African daisies are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
The bitter taste of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of African daisies also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because African daisies 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 African daisies and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My African Daisies?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting African daisies 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 African Daisies Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, African daisies can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
African daisies are considered perennials in warm climates, meaning they’ll come back each season.
So unless a deer ate your osteospermum all the way down to the ground, it should grow back.
If you’re in a zone that experiences frost, African daisies are considered annuals and will need to be replanted each year anyway, so if a deer damages it you’re best off removing the plant for the rest of the season.
Do Deer Eat African Daisies? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat African daisies?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from African daisies, 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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- Do deer eat phlox?
- Do deer eat petunia flowers?
- Do deer eat water lilies?
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- Do deer eat little gem magnolia?
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- Do deer eat Gerbera daisies?
- Do deer eat honeysuckle?
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