If you’re an avid gardener, you may have goldenrod in your outdoor plant collection. Goldenrods are beautiful wildflowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat goldenrod?
Deer do not usually eat goldenrod. Goldenrod are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include goldenrod plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating goldenrod can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your goldenrod, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Goldenrod?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from goldenrod thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat goldenrod 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 goldenrod 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 goldenrod 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 goldenrod are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Goldenrod Deer Resistant?
Goldenrod 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 goldenrod also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because goldenrod 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 goldenrod and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Goldenrod?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting goldenrod 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 Goldenrod Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, goldenrod can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Goldenrod are considered perennials in most climates, meaning they’ll come back each season.
Once they’re initially established, they will remain rather hardy and hold up to occasional browsing by deer.
Do Deer Eat Goldenrod? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat goldenrod?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from goldenrod, 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:
- Do deer eat phlox?
- Do deer eat petunia flowers?
- Do deer eat water lilies?
- Do deer eat hydrangeas?
- Do deer eat little gem magnolia?
- Do deer eat azaleas?
- Do deer eat Gerbera daisies?
- Do deer eat honeysuckle?
- Do deer eat geraniums?
- Do deer eat African daisies?
- Do deer eat canna lilies?
- Do deer eat iris?
- Do deer eat four o’clock flowers?
