If you’re an avid gardener, you may have nasturtiums in your outdoor plant collection. Nasturtiums are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat nasturtiums?
Deer do not usually eat nasturtiums. Nasturtiums are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include nasturtium plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating nasturtiums can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your nasturtiums, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Nasturtiums?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from nasturtiums thanks to their strong scent, texture, and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat nasturtiums 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 nasturtiums 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 nasturtiums 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 nasturtiums are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Nasturtiums Deer Resistant?
Nasturtiums 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 and varied texture of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of nasturtiums also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because nasturtiums 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 nasturtiums and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Nasturtiums?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting nasturtiums 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 Nasturtiums Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, nasturtiums can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Nasturtium flowers are considered annuals, meaning they’ll grow for a single year and will need to be replanted the following year.
However, nasturtiums are very good at reseeding themselves so you should see new ones grow back each year without replanting.
Fortunately, nasturtiums can withstand some cutting and browsing from deer all the way down to about 6-12” back from the tips.
So unless a deer eats your nasturtiums down to the soil, you should be able to nurse them back to health with regular watering and fertilization.
Do Deer Eat Nasturtiums? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat nasturtiums?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from nasturtiums, 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:
