If you’re an avid gardener, you may have zinnias in your outdoor plant collection. Zinnias are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat zinnias?
Deer do not usually eat zinnias. Zinnias are deer-resistant because of their strong scent, bitter taste, and texture. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include zinnia plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating zinnias can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your zinnias, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Zinnias?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from zinnias thanks to their strong scent, texture, and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat zinnias 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 zinnias 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 zinnias 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 zinnias are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Zinnias Deer Resistant?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting zinnias 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 Zinnias Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, zinnias can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Zinnias are considered annuals, so they’ll grow for only one year.
Fortunately, zinnias can withstand some cutting and browsing from deer, and they usually grow back with longer stems each time they are cut down.
If a deer damages your zinnias, just prune back any damaged parts and care as usual.
If your zinnias are eaten by deer late in the season, it’s probably best to consider it a loss and replant them the following year.
Do Deer Eat Zinnias? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat zinnias?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from zinnias, 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.
