If you’re an avid gardener, you may have coral bells in your outdoor plant collection. Coral bells (also known as Heuchera) are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat coral bells?
Deer do not usually eat coral bells. Coral bells are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include coral bells plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating coral bells can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your coral bells, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Coral Bells?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from coral bells thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat coral bells 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 coral bells 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 coral bells 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 heuchera plants are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Coral Bells Deer Resistant?
Coral bells 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 coral bells also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because coral bells 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 coral bells and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Coral Bells?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting coral bells 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 Coral Bells Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, coral bells can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Coral bells are considered perennials, so they’ll grow back each year.
Additionally, coral bells are supposed to be pruned back to about 3” in late fall or early winter, so if a deer mows your heuchera down, they’ve done some of the work for you!
So unless a deer eats the coral bells down to the root, you should see them regrow next year.
Do Deer Eat Coral Bells? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat coral bells?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from coral bells, 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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