If you’re an avid gardener, you may have a little gem magnolia in your yard. Little gem magnolia are beautiful trees that add a touch of elegance to any garden or yard. But do deer eat little gem magnolia?
The answer is yes – deer will eat the blooms and buds of little gem magnolia, but will not usually eat the leaves. Deer are attracted to little gem magnolia buds and flowers because they’re usually well-watered, fertilized, and are tasty to them.
Most magnolia trees are considered deer-resistant due to their waxy, leathery texture, but that doesn’t stop deer from feasting on their buds and blooms! Deer may even eat the leaves if they’re hungry enough.
Considering that a single deer can eat several pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating little gem magnolia trees can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your little gem magnolia and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Little Gem Magnolia?
As we covered, deer will eat every part of a little gem magnolia flower (stem, seeds, blooms, bud, and all) when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Deer like lush plants that are well-watered and fertilized, and little gem magnolias check every box.
Also they are most likely to mow down your little gem magnolia bushes during spring, because they’re really hungry after a long winter.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of little gem magnolia trees in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
Flowers like little gem magnolia contain water, sugar, protein, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that your newer little gem magnolia bushes are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like little gem magnolia based on opportunity.
Little gem magnolia trees attract deer because they are planted in the ground or in pots, so they’re easy to access.
If you’re not convinced, plant some little gem magnolias and wait to see what happens!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Little Gem Magnolia?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting little gem magnolias 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 Little Gem Magnolia Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, little gem magnolia are rather resilient and can survive a deer attack most of the time.
Unless the deer have severely chomped down your little gem magnolia to the stems, expect stems to branch out and give a few new blooms within 2 or 3 days after being eaten by deer.
If deer happen to munch down your little gem magnolia, continue regular care of your plants including watering and fertilizer as necessary until they’re back to good health.
Are Little Gem Magnolia Good For Deer To Eat?
There are no nutritional studies or facts available on little gem magnolia in terms of vitamins and nutrients that they contain.
However, little gem magnolia are typically used for their digestion-aiding effects, and it is believed that these benefits may translate to deer eating little gem magnolia as well.
Do Deer Eat Little Gem Magnolia? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat little gem magnolia?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat all the little gem magnolia buds and blooms that they can, especially when they’re hungriest during winter or early spring and when the buds and flowers are the most tender.
Fortunately there are many methods you can use and combine to keep deer away from your precious little gem magnolia.
Try a few and see what works best for you.
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 white pine?
- Do deer eat English ivy?
- Do deer eat Gerbera daisies?
- Do deer eat azaleas?
- Do deer eat honeysuckle?
- Do deer eat petunia flowers?
- Do deer eat water lilies?
