If you’re an avid gardener, you may have peonies in your outdoor plant collection. Peonies are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat peonies?
Deer do not usually eat peonies. Peonies are deer-resistant because of their strong scent, bitter taste, and texture. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include peony plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating peonies can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your peonies, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Peonies?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from peonies thanks to their strong scent, texture, and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat peonies 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 peonies 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 peonies 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 peonies are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Peonies Deer Resistant?
Peonies 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 peonies also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because peonies 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 peonies and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Peonies?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting peonies 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 Peonies Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, peonies can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Peony flowers are considered perennials, so they will return each year.
Fortunately, peonies can withstand some cutting and browsing from deer all the way down to the soil in fall.
If a deer damages your peonies, just wait until the following season and they should bloom back with no problems.
Do Deer Eat Peonies? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat peonies?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from peonies, 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:
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