As you’re getting in the Christmas spirit and decorating your home, you may have poinsettias on your porch or may even be growing them in your garden. Poinsettias are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance and holiday cheer. But do deer eat poinsettias?
Deer do not usually eat poinsettias. Poinsettias are deer-resistant because of their strong scent and bitter taste. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include poinsettia plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating poinsettias can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your poinsettias, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Poinsettias?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from poinsettias thanks to their strong scent and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat poinsettias 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 poinsettias 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 poinsettias 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 poinsettias are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Poinsettias Toxic To Deer?
Despite long-standing rumors, poinsettias actually aren’t poisonous, so deer can eat them safely.
Deer can even eat plants and flowers that are toxic to them thanks to their unique digestive system, and they usually balance this out with a diet that consists of plenty of non-toxic material as well.
Are Poinsettias Deer Resistant?
Poinsettias 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 poinsettias also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because poinsettias 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 poinsettias and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Poinsettias?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting poinsettias 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 Poinsettias Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, poinsettias can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Poinsettias are considered perennials in warm climates, meaning they’ll come back each season.
If a deer damages your poinsettias, simply cut the stems back to around 6” and ensure you keep some remaining leaves.
New shoots will grow and your flowers should return with regular care.
So unless a deer ate your poinsettia plants all the way down to the ground and damaged the roots, they should grow back.
Do Deer Eat Poinsettias? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat poinsettias?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from poinsettias, 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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