If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least a few canna lilies in your yard. canna lilies (also known as cannas) are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat canna lilies?
Deer do not usually eat canna lilies. Canna lilies are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include cannas.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating canna lilies can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your cannas, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Cannas?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from canna lilies thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat canna lilies 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 canna lilies 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 canna lilies 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 canna lilies are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Canna Lilies Deer Resistant?
canna lilies 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.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of canna lilies also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because canna lilies 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 canna lilies and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Canna Lilies?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting canna lilies 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 Canna Lilies Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, canna lily plants can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Canna lilies are considered annuals in warm climates, meaning they’ll grow year-round.
In frost-prone zones they’re considered perennials, which regrow each season.
So unless a deer ate your cannas all the way down to the ground, they should grow back over time with regular watering, fertilization, and care.
Do Deer Eat Canna Lilies? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat canna lilies?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from cannas, 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:
- Do deer eat mums?
- Do deer eat roses?
- Do deer eat sunflowers?
- Do deer eat tulips?
- Do deer eat rhododendron?
- Do deer eat hibiscus?
- Will deer eat clematis?
- Do deer eat phlox?
- Do deer eat petunia flowers?
- Do deer eat water lilies?
- Do deer eat hydrangeas?
- Do deer eat little gem magnolia?
- Do deer eat azaleas?
- Do deer eat Gerbera daisies?
- Do deer eat honeysuckle?
- Do deer eat geraniums?
- Do deer eat African daisies?
