If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least a few anemones in your yard. Anemones are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat anemone?
Deer do not usually eat anemone. Anemones are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include anemones.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating anemone flowers can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your anemones, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Anemone?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from anemones thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat anemones and anemone buds 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 anemones 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 anemones 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 anemones are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Anemones Deer Resistant?
Anemones are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
They were rated as “seldom severely damaged” in a study on deer resistant plants by Rutgers University.
The bitter taste of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away, but deer will try to eat the buds from anemones before they bloom.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of anemones also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because anemones 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 anemones and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Anemone Plants?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting anemone 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 Anemones Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, anemones can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Anemones are considered perennials in warm climates (zones 5-9), meaning they’ll come back each season.
So unless a deer ate your anemone all the way down to the ground, they should grow back.
Do Deer Eat Anemones? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat anemones?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from anemones, 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.
Deer are most likely to eat the buds and leaves from anemone, but will stay away from the blooms thanks to their strong scent.
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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