If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least a few calla lilies in your yard. calla lilies (also known as callas) are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat calla lilies?
Deer do not usually eat calla lilies. Calla lilies are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include callas.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating calla lilies can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your callas, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Callas?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from calla lilies thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat calla lilies 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 calla lilies 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 calla lilies 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 calla lilies are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Calla Lilies Deer Resistant?
Calla lilies are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
They were rated as “seldom severely damaged” in a study on deer resistant plants by Rutgers University.
The bitter taste of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of calla lilies also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because calla lilies 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 calla lilies and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Calla Lilies?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting Calla 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 My Calla Lilies Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, calla lily plants can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
If a deer damages your calla lilies, you’ll need to place them in a cool, dark place for up to two months, then bring it back out into the light and continue watering it.
New foliage will grow and you should see your calla lily bloom soon after.
Do Deer Eat Calla Lilies? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat calla lilies?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from callas, 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:
- Can deer eat orange peels?
- Do deer eat rutabaga?
- Do deer eat buckwheat?
- Do deer eat black walnuts?
- Do deer eat hickory nuts?
- Do deer eat Bermuda grass?
- Do deer eat corn on the cob?
- Do deer eat pumpkins?
- Do deer eat mums?
- Do deer eat roses?
- Do deer eat tomatoes?
- Do deer eat sunflowers?
- Do deer eat tulips?
- Do deer eat rhododendron?
- Do deer eat hibiscus?
- Will deer eat clematis?
- Do deer eat phlox?
- Do deer eat white pine?
- Do deer eat chufa?
- Do deer eat cranberries?
- Do deer eat English ivy?
