If you’re a gardener or a nature enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with the vibrant and cheerful Black Eyed Susan flower. These daisy-like blooms are a staple of many gardens, adding a pop of color and charm to the landscape. But if you live in an area with deer, you may be wondering: do deer eat Black Eyed Susans?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the relationship between deer and Black Eyed Susans, exploring the dietary habits of deer and the potential for these flowers to become a snack for these gentle creatures.
Understanding Deer Dietary Habits
Before we dive into the specifics of deer and Black Eyed Susans, it’s helpful to understand the broader context of deer dietary habits.
Deer are herbivores, which means they primarily feed on plants. Their diet consists of a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, leaves, twigs, and other plant matter. In the United States, the primary food sources for deer are:
- Grasses and clover
- Leaves and twigs from trees and shrubs
- Agricultural crops, such as soybeans and corn
- Garden crops, such as flowers and vegetables
Deer have a four-chambered stomach, which allows them to break down and extract nutrients from plant material more efficiently. They are also known to be opportunistic eaters, meaning they’ll take advantage of whatever food sources are available to them.
Deer And Flower Consumption
While deer tend to favor leaves, twigs, and other plant material, they will occasionally eat flowers and other plant parts. This is particularly true for deer in areas with limited food sources or during times of drought or food scarcity.
In areas with high concentrations of flowers, deer may view these blooms as a tasty snack or a way to supplement their diet. However, not all flowers are created equal when it comes to deer preference. Some flowers, like roses and lavender, are less appealing to deer due to their bitter taste or unpleasant texture.
So, where do Black Eyed Susans fit into the picture?
Black Eyed Susans: A Deer’s Perspective
Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are a type of daisy-like flower that is native to North America. These flowers are known for their bright yellow petals and dark center, which gives them their characteristic “black-eyed” appearance.
When it comes to deer and Black Eyed Susans, the answer is a bit complicated. While deer may eat Black Eyed Susans, they tend to favor other food sources. In areas with abundant grasses, leaves, and other vegetation, deer may largely ignore Black Eyed Susans.
However, in areas with limited food sources or during times of drought, deer may view Black Eyed Susans as a welcome snack. The flowers’ yellow petals and dark center may also make them more appealing to deer than other, less colorful blooms.
| Deer Attractance Level | Rating |
|---|---|
| Deer Attractance to Black Eyed Susans | Low-Moderate |
| Deer Prefers Other Food Sources | Yes |
| May Eat in Limited Circumstances | Yes |
<h2<Growing Black Eyed Susans in Deer-Prone Areas
If you live in an area with deer and are considering growing Black Eyed Susans, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Choose a deer-resistant variety: While no plant is completely deer-proof, some varieties of Black Eyed Susans may be more resistant to deer damage than others. Look for varieties with thicker, more bitter leaves or those that are specifically marketed as “deer-resistant.”
- Plant in a deer-free zone: If possible, plant your Black Eyed Susans in an area that is protected from deer. This might include a fenced garden or a container on a porch or patio.
- Use deterrents: If you can’t plant in a deer-free zone, consider using deterrents to keep deer away from your Black Eyed Susans. These might include physical barriers, such as fencing or repellent granules, or plant-based deterrents, such as hot peppers or garlic.
Additional Tips For Growing Black Eyed Susans
In addition to considering deer attractance, there are a few other things to keep in mind when growing Black Eyed Susans:
- Provide full sun: Black Eyed Susans prefer full sun, so choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Use well-drained soil: Black Eyed Susans prefer well-drained soil, so avoid planting in areas with standing water or where water tends to collect.
- Fertilize lightly: Black Eyed Susans don’t require a lot of fertilizer, so avoid over-fertilizing. A light application of compost or balanced fertilizer in the spring should be sufficient.
Companion Planting with Black Eyed Susans
One way to make your Black Eyed Susans more appealing – or unappealing, depending on your perspective – is to plant them with other flowers or herbs that complement or deter deer.
Some good companion plants for Black Eyed Susans include:
- Bee balm: This fragrant herb attracts pollinators and can help deter deer.
- Lavender: Deer tend to avoid lavender due to its strong scent and bitter taste.
- Marigolds: These bright, cheerful flowers can help distract deer from your Black Eyed Susans.
Conversely, if you want to attract deer to your Black Eyed Susans, you might consider planting them with other flowers or plants that deer find attractive. Some options include:
- Apple trees: Deer love apples, so planting an apple tree near your Black Eyed Susans might attract deer to the area.
- Sunflowers: Deer tend to favor sunflowers, so planting these towering blooms near your Black Eyed Susans might draw deer to the area.
Conclusion
While deer may eat Black Eyed Susans in certain circumstances, they tend to favor other food sources. By understanding deer dietary habits and taking steps to protect your plants, you can enjoy these beautiful blooms without worrying about deer damage.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Black Eyed Susans are a great choice for any garden. With their bright yellow petals and dark center, they’re sure to add a pop of color and charm to your landscape. And who knows? You might even attract a few deer to your garden, if that’s what you’re looking for.
What Are Black Eyed Susans And Why Are They Important To Gardeners?
Black Eyed Susans are a type of perennial flower native to North America, specifically in the drier regions. They are characterized by their bright yellow petals and dark centers, resembling the ‘black eye’ that gives them their name. These flowers are often grown in gardens for their beauty, resilience, and ease of growth, requiring minimal maintenance.
Another reason gardeners value Black Eyed Susans is that they are rich in nectar, which attracts a variety of beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. As these plants attract pollinators, they enhance the overall health of the garden ecosystem, resulting in a better yield and more diverse flora.
Do Deer Prefer To Eat Black Eyed Susans?
Deer may occasionally feed on Black Eyed Susans, but these flowers are not typically considered their preferred food source. There are many other plants that deer tend to favor over Black Eyed Susans. The primary reason deer might not prefer to eat Black Eyed Susans is their bitter taste, caused by the plant’s high concentration of sesquiterpene glycosides.
This is not to say that deer will never eat Black Eyed Susans. In the absence of more preferred food sources, or when large deer populations are competing for resources, these flowers can still be eaten by deer. However, Black Eyed Susans are often less-likely to be targeted than more palatable plants like grasses and weeds.
How Do I Protect My Black Eyed Susans From Deer?
Protecting your Black Eyed Susans from deer can be achieved by employing several methods, such as installing physical deer barriers or repellents. Physical deer barriers include fencing, mesh, and barriers that surround the plants. Repellents can be chemical, like deer-repellent sprays, or organic, like human hair, hot pepper sprays, or blood meal.
It’s essential to select the right repellent method for your specific situation and test it first to ensure it’s effective. It’s also recommended to combine multiple methods, such as fencing and repellents, for better protection of your plants.
What Are The Other Plants That Deer Tend To Eat In My Garden?
Deer often prefer to graze on grasses, weeds, leafy plants, shrubs, and broad-leaved trees. They also enjoy a variety of cultivated plants, including perennials and groundcover plants like hostas, heuchera, and daylilies. If you have plants that offer more nutrition and flavor, it’s likely deer will target those over Black Eyed Susans.
Deer can cause significant damage to a garden, so understanding their food preferences is vital to protecting your plants. It’s recommended that gardeners familiarize themselves with deer-preferred plants in their region to design and implement effective deer-control strategies.
Can Black Eyed Susans Be Used As Deer-repellent Plants?
While Black Eyed Susans are not their preferred food source, deer are more likely to eat them if they’re nearby or if nothing else is available. This means they’re not effective as deer-repellent plants when planted separately. However, combining them with other deer-resistant plants, or as part of a comprehensive landscape plan, can offer improved protection for your garden.
A key approach is incorporating repellent plant species that can withstand deer feeding pressure and selecting edible plant varieties that satisfy deer without allowing them to overgraze. Blending those plants with deer-tolerant species like Black Eyed Susans can yield promising results in repelling deer.
What Are The Ideal Conditions For Deer To Graze Black Eyed Susans?
For deer to be more likely to graze Black Eyed Susans, both habitat and human factors contribute to these conditions. These conditions include overgrazing, food scarcity, physical proximity to the flowers, easy access due to habitat fragmentation or disruption of wildlife habitats. Hunting practices can push deer into populated areas seeking refuge and feeding on whichever plants are available.
Mature deer that live long enough and develop preference can more likely eat Black Eyed Susans even in areas not perceived as overgrazed due to life experience and more exposure to a wide variety of flora. Furthermore, environmental stressors and disruptions of the natural order can re-drive food hierarchy and make less edible plants more attractive.
Can Black Eyed Susans Grow Despite Being Occasionally Eaten By Deer?
Black Eyed Susans are known for their robustness, tolerating less fortunate food grazing scenarios. While maintaining good or near-ideal growth patterns despite damage to the primary aboveground foliage can be challenging, their dormant autumn buds hold enough energy reserves to induce survival.
Even amidst a few failed seed production cycles and general loss due to partial defoliation in instances of occasional or chance feeding by grazing deer, seeds likely survive, and seed production, by time’s progression to spring in ensuing years, restore robust native plant cover. However, repetitive damage might weaken these plants, exposing vulnerabilities already covered or making gaps for potentially aggressive, aggressive weeds.