If you’re an avid gardener, you may have balloon flowers in your outdoor plant collection. Balloon flowers are beautiful flowering shrubs that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat balloon flowers?
Deer do not usually eat balloon flowers. Balloon flowers are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include balloon flower plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating balloon flowers can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your balloon flowers, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Balloon Flowers?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from balloon flowers thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat balloon flowers 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 balloon flowers 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 balloon flowers 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 balloon flowers are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Balloon Flowers Deer Resistant?
Balloon flowers are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
They were rated as “occasionally severely damaged” in a study on deer resistant plants by Rutgers University.
The bitter taste of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of balloon flowers also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because balloon flowers 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 balloon flowers and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Balloon Flowers?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting balloon flowers 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 Balloon Flowers Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, balloon flowers can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Balloon flowers are considered perennials in most climates, meaning they’ll come back each season.
Once they’re initially established, they will remain rather hardy and hold up to occasional browsing by deer.
If a deer browses these flowers, just care for them as usual including water and fertilization until they’re back to good health.
Do Deer Eat Balloon Flowers? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat balloon flowers?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from balloon flowers, 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:
