If you’re an avid gardener, you may have Oriental lilies in your outdoor plant collection. Oriental lilies (also known as stargazers) are beautiful flowering vines that add a touch of elegance to any garden or trellis. But do deer eat Oriental lilies?
The answer is yes – deer will eat Oriental lilies if they can. Deer are attracted to Oriental lilies because of their sweet aroma and the fact that they’re usually well-watered and fertilized.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating Oriental lilies can really do some serious damage to these plants!
Why Do Deer Eat Oriental Lilies?
As we covered, deer will eat every part of Oriental lilies (shoots, leaves, flowers and all) when they’ve got the chance after emerging from a long winter when they’re the hungriest.
But why do they do this?
Deer like lush plants that are well-watered and fertilized, and Oriental lilies check every box.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of Oriental lily plants in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
Plants like Oriental lilies contain water, sugar, protein, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that newer Oriental lily plants are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like Oriental lilies based on opportunity.
They’re planted in the ground and grow easily in many areas, so they’re easy for deer to access.
If you’re not convinced, leave some Oriental lilies out or plant some, and wait to see what happens!
Are Oriental Lilies Deer Resistant?
Oriental lilies are not regarded as deer resistant at all, thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer love.
You should always take additional steps to deter deer from your Oriental lily flowers and other plants.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Oriental Lilies?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting Oriental 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 Oriental Lilies Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Oriental lilies are considered perennials, meaning they grow back year after year.
They can withstand some browsing from deer around late fall and early spring, but mainly if the deer eat the dead stalks.
It’s doubtful that you’ll be this lucky, but if they eat them down to the root you may not be able to bring them back to life.
Do Deer Eat Oriental Lilies? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat Oriental lilies?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat Oriental lilies whenever they can, especially during spring when they’re hungry after a long winter and the buds, stems, and leaves are the most tender.
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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- Are loropetalum deer resistant?
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