If you’re an avid gardener, you may have black eyed susan in your garden or yard. Black Eyed Susan (also known as rudbeckia, yellow ox eyes, and gloriosa daisies) are beautiful flowering shrubs that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat black eyed susan?
Deer do not usually eat black eyed susan. Black eyed susans are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include black eyed susan plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating black eyed susan can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your black eyed susan, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Black Eyed Susan?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from black eyed susan thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat black eyed susan 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 black eyed susan 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 black eyed susan 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 black eyed susan are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Black Eyed Susan Deer Resistant?
Black Eyed Susan are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
The bitter taste of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of black eyed susan also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because black eyed susan are deer resistant doesn’t mean they are completely safe from being eaten by deer.
You should always take additional steps to deter deer from your black eyed susan and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Black Eyed Susan?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting black-eyed susans 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 Black Eyed Susan Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, black eyed susan can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Black Eyed Susan are considered perennials, meaning they’ll come back each season.
So unless a deer ate your black eyed susan plants all the way down to the ground and damaged the roots, they should grow back.
Do Deer Eat Black Eyed Susan? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat black eyed susan?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from black eyed susan, 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.
Check our our other helpful wildlife guides while you’re here: