Do deer eat daylilies? Sadly, yes! These beautiful flowers are an easy target for hungry deer. If deer live near your garden, you might wonder if daylilies are a good choice.
Most daylilies are not safe from deer. Deer love their buds, flowers, and even roots. They can pull out young plants and leave a mess behind. Even older plants are at risk because deer eat the flowers before they bloom.
Deer behavior changes. Some years, they may not eat certain plants. But if food is scarce, they will eat almost anything. No plant is 100% safe from deer.
What Are Daylilies?
Daylilies are plants from the Hemerocallis family. Their flowers bloom for one day, but each plant makes many buds. This means they bloom all summer. They come in bright colors like yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and white.
Daylilies are easy to grow. They like full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. Once they settle in, they don’t need much water. But during dry weather, watering helps. They need little care—just some food and cutting off old flowers.
How to Keep Deer Away
Want daylilies but worried about deer? Try these tips:
- Plant in a safe spot. A fenced area or a place near your home can keep deer away.
- Use deer repellents. Some sprays make plants smell or taste bad. Garlic, peppermint, and hot peppers work well.
- Plant other flowers nearby. Deer dislike strong-smelling or rough plants. Good choices include:
- Coneflowers
- Black-eyed Susan
- Coreopsis
- Lavender
- Catmint
- Russian sage
- Ornamental grasses
If dealing with deer sounds hard, choose plants they don’t like instead.
Deer-Resistant Plants Like Daylilies
Want flowers like daylilies but without deer problems? Try these:
- Coneflowers: Pretty flowers in pink, purple, red, and white.
- Black-eyed Susan: Bright yellow flowers with dark centers.
- Coreopsis: Small daisy-like flowers in many colors.
- Yarrow: Drought-resistant with tiny flowers in clusters.
- Astilbe: Grows in shade with feathery pink, red, white, or purple flowers.
- Bleeding Heart: Heart-shaped flowers on arching stems.
- Foxglove: Tall spikes of tube-shaped flowers in many colors.
A Special Case: Hemerocallis fulva
Most daylilies attract deer. But Hemerocallis fulva, or Common Orange Daylily, is often left alone. However, it spreads fast and is invasive in some areas. Check before planting it.
Conclusion
Are daylilies deer resistant? No, most are not. Deer love them! But you can still grow them if you take steps to protect them. If you don’t want to deal with deer, try planting flowers they avoid. With the right choices, you can have a colorful garden without deer problems!