If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least one phlox bush in your yard. Phlox are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat phlox?
The answer is yes – deer will eat the blooms, buds, leaves, and stems of phlox. Deer love phlox because they’re usually well-watered, fertilized, and are tasty to them.
Considering that a single deer can eat several pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating phlox can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your phlox and why they eat them in the first place.
What Is Phlox?
Phlox is a genus of flowering plants that belong to the Polemoniaceae family.
These plants are native to North America and are known for their attractive, fragrant flowers that bloom in a variety of colors. Phlox plants are popular among gardeners and are often used in landscaping due to their beauty and ease of care.
Types of Phlox
There are several different types of phlox plants, each with its own unique characteristics and growing requirements. Some of the most popular types of phlox include:
- Garden Phlox: This is the most common type of phlox plant and is often used in landscaping due to its attractive flowers and ease of care. Garden phlox plants can grow up to three feet tall and are available in a range of colors.
- Creeping Phlox: This type of phlox is a low-growing groundcover that is often used in rock gardens and other landscaping applications. Creeping phlox plants are available in a range of colors and can spread up to two feet wide.
- Woodland Phlox: This type of phlox is native to wooded areas and is often found growing in shaded areas. Woodland phlox plants are smaller than garden phlox plants and have delicate, fragrant flowers that bloom in the spring.
Why Do Deer Eat Phlox?
Deer are herbivores and eat a variety of plants to meet their nutritional needs.
As we covered, deer will eat every part of phlox (stem, leaves, blossoms, 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 phlox check every box.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of phlox plants single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
Flowers like phlox contain water, sugar, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that your newer phlox are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume phlox based on opportunity.
Another factor that can influence whether or not deer will eat Phlox is the location of the plant.
Phlox that is located near a wooded area or in a natural habitat where deer are known to roam is more likely to be eaten than Phlox that is located in a garden or other area that is not frequented by deer.
If you’re not convinced, leave some potted phlox out or plant some in the ground and wait to see what happens!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Phlox?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting phlox from deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant it.
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.
Even if deer pass on eating your phlox, they may still trample and damage the plants while browsing nearby foliage, so you’ll want to take precautions to protect their phlox plants from deer, such as using physical barriers or repellents.
What Kinds Of Phlox Do Deer Eat?
Deer will eat all kinds of phlox, including creeping phlox, phlox paniculata, tall phlox, garden phlox, woodland phlox, blue moon phlox, hardy hardy phlox, moss phlox, phlox divaricata, phlox subulata, and wild phlox.
Whatever kind of phlox you have, you’re well advised to take precautions to keep deer from eating them!
Will My Phlox Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, phlox tips need to be pinched back when the growing tips reach 6-8
tall, so the deer might be doing you a favor depending on the phlox’s height.
If deer happen to munch down your phlox, continue regular care of your plants including watering and fertilizer as necessary until they’re back to good health.
Is Phlox Good For Deer?
There are no nutritional studies or facts available on phlox in terms of vitamins and nutrients that it contains.
However, phlox is typically used as a digestive aid and it is believed that these benefits may translate to deer eating phlox as well.
Are Phlox Deer Resistant? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat phlox?
The answer is yes, which means phlox are not deer resistant.
Deer will eat as many phlox plants as they can, and they benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in these flowers.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep them away like using fences, motion-activated devices, or reducing the enticing scent that your phlox give off to ward off deer from eating them.
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:
