If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least one rhododendron bush in your yard. Rhododendrons are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat rhododendron?
The answer is yes – deer will eat the seeds, blooms, buds, leaves, and stems of rhododendron. Deer are attracted to rhododendrons because they’re usually well-watered, fertilized, and are a great source of nutrition.
Considering that a single deer can eat several pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating rhododendron can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your rhododendron and why they eat them in the first place.
Why Do Deer Eat Rhododendron?
As we covered, deer will eat every part of a rhododendron (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 rhododendrons check every box.
They also have sweet leaves which are very palatable to deer, and rhododendrons are easy on a deer’s digestive system.
The smell of rhododendrons is also very enticing to deer, and it doesn’t have any natural predators so it’s rather plentiful.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of rhododendron 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 rhododendron contain water, sugar, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that your newer rhododendrons are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like rhododendron based on opportunity.
Rhododendrons attract deer because they are planted in the ground or in pots, so they’re easy to access.
In fact, some folks specifically put rhododendron plants around their food plots to attract deer.
If you’re not convinced, leave some potted rhododendron out or plant some, and wait to see what happens!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Rhododendron?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting rhododendron 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.
What Kinds Of Rhododendron Do Deer Eat?
Deer will eat all kinds of rhododendron, including Elviira, Blue Peter, Boule de Niege, Bow Bells, Windsong, White Angel, Nova Zembla, and Black Satin.
Whatever kind of rhododendron you have, you’re well advised to take precautions to keep deer from eating them!
Will My Rhododendron Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Deer usually eat rhododendron during winter, and if this is the case, it will usually bounce back with new foliage by late spring.
If deer happen to munch down your rhododendron, continue regular care of your plants including watering and fertilizer as necessary until they’re back to good health.
Are Rhododendron Plants Good For Deer?
Yes, rhododendrons are very healthy for deer to eat.
Deer eating rhododendron provides them with the following vitamins and minerals:
A 2007 study showed that zinc can assist in growing larger antler sizes in white-tailed deer.
Manganese assists deer in growth, respiration, and reproduction.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Rhododendron For Deer
Vitamins A, D, E, K, and calcium are fat-soluble, so they can be stored in the deer’s fat and liver to be used later as needed.
This means that calcium content from deer eating rhododendron can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.
Water-Soluble Vitamins In Rhododendron For Deer
Vitamin C, B Vitamins, niacin, folic acid, zinc, and potassium are all water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually.
So a deer that eats rhododendron for the zinc content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
Do Deer Eat Rhododendron? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat rhododendron?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat as many rhododendron 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 rhododendrons 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:
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