If you’re an avid gardener, you may have Korean spice viburnum in your outdoor plant collection. Korean spice viburnum are beautiful flowering shrubs that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat Korean spice viburnum?
Deer do not usually eat Korean spice viburnum. Korean spice viburnum are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include hollyhock plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating Korean spice viburnum can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your Korean spice viburnum, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Korean Spice Viburnum?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from Korean spice viburnum thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat Korean spice viburnum 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 Korean spice viburnum 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 Korean spice viburnum 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 Korean spice viburnum are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Korean Spice Viburnum Deer Resistant?
Korean spice viburnum 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 Korean spice viburnum also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because Korean spice viburnum 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 Korean spice viburnum and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Korean Spice Viburnum?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting Korean spice viburnum 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 Korean Spice Viburnum Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, Korean spice viburnum can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Korean spice viburnum can stand up to heavy pruning, and deer eating them is very similar.
Usually the wounds on the bush will heal themselves and your Korean spice viburnum will grow back healthy as ever.
Do Deer Eat Korean Spice Viburnum? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat Korean spice viburnum?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from Korean spice viburnum, 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: