Deer are attracted to sunflowers for their nutritional value and are known to damage them by consuming seeds, buds, and leaves. The extent to which deer will eat sunflowers varies depending on the time of year and location. As the plants grow taller, deer will eat the flowers and shorter varieties. To avoid damage to sunflower plants, it is essential to monitor deer damage signs and implement protection strategies.
Sunflower seeds are rich in protein, making them a great nutritional snack for deer. However, deer can eagerly eat sunflowers, targeting seeds, blooms, leaves, and stems. Some gardeners have reported success in deterring deer by using repellents, fencing, or planting alternative deer-friendly plants. Sunflowers are particularly vulnerable during their early growth stages when the young shoots and leaves are tender and appealing to deer. Mature sunflowers, with their tougher stems and leaves, are less likely to be eaten by deer.
Deer are inherently attracted to grass, fruits, and plant life, with sunflowers being a delectable choice for whitetails. While sunflowers may not be their number one choice for a meal, their tall, brightly colored characteristics and vast amount of protein appeal to deer. The extent to which they attract deer depends on various factors, including the specific traits of the sunflowers, the surrounding environment, and the local population.
In climates where sunflowers will grow, planting them is beneficial as they are high in protein and offer deer a unique food source. Deer are more attracted to solid black seeds (black oil) than the seed with the white stripe.
📹 Why You Should ALWAYS Plant Sunflowers in Your Garden
Sunflowers are very beneficial to your garden. Sunflowers attract bees, hoverflies, and many beneficial insects. Sunflowers also …
What is a bunny’s favorite flower?
Rabbits are known to eat various plants, including annual flowers like Bachelor’s button, Cockscomb, and Cosmos. They are voracious wild rabbits that can eat various plants, including herbs, vegetables, shrubs, flowers, and tree bark. However, damage to plants at ground level may indicate a plant or two attracting rabbits into your garden. Understanding what plants rabbits eat can help control the situation and plant your garden accordingly. In normal conditions, rabbits find some plants so tasty that they are drawn to landscapes containing them.
Why am I so obsessed with sunflowers?
The sunflower, which has been associated with the myth of Clytie and Apollo, is a symbol of loyalty and adoration. They are renowned for their cheerful disposition, rendering them an ideal choice for summer flower delivery, particularly for those in need of a mood-lifting gesture.
Why are sunflowers so special?
The sunflower, which has been associated with the myth of Clytie and Apollo, is a symbol of loyalty and adoration. It is for this reason that they are known for their association with the sun, which makes them an ideal choice for summer flower delivery, as they will brighten the recipient’s mood.
Is sunflower a plant or flower?
Sunflowers are tall annual or perennial plants that can grow up to 300 cm or more. Each “flower” is a disc of tiny flowers, creating a larger false flower to attract pollinators. The plants have one or more wide, terminal capitula with bright yellow ray florets outside and yellow or maroon disc florets inside. Some ornamental cultivars have red-colored ray florets, stemming from a single original mutant. Sunflowers are mostly yellow, but there are branching varieties in orange, red, and purple.
The petiolate leaves are dentate and often sticky, while the lower leaves are opposite, ovate, or heart-shaped. The rough and hairy stem is branched in the upper part in wild plants but unbranched in domesticated cultivars. The genus is distinguished by sterile ray florets and a caducous pappus on the disk flowers. Some species have additional shorter scales, and one species lacks a pappus entirely. A prominent, multicellular appendage at the apex of the style also distinguishes the genus. The florets are arranged in a natural spiral.
Do sunflowers attract anything?
Mexican sunflowers attract butterflies, beneficial insects, hummingbirds, and birds for food, pollen, and nectar. They are particularly good at attracting Monarch butterflies as they migrate through the country. Birds feast on the seeds, while butterflies enjoy the flower pollen and nectar. When growing sunflowers for wildlife, avoid pollen-less varieties. Plant tall varieties along a fence to block an unsightly view, or in the back of the flower border or along the side of a house or garage.
Mix and match sunflower plants with other annual and perennial flowers for added color. Mix tall perennials with sunflowers for added color, and plant medium-tall sunflowers near perennials like phlox and echincaea. Create a cutting garden with sunflowers specifically for indoor use, cutting them for flower arrangements in the morning.
Do wild rabbits like sunflower seeds?
Sunflower seed and kale are two popular options for feeding wild rabbits. Sunflower seed helps keep rabbits warm and they enjoy it, while kale is a hardy green that is inexpensive and easy to feed. This year, wild rabbits have been more frequent than in previous years, prompting the author to consider feeding them again. The cold helps preserve any fruit or vegetables, which can be difficult to feed during the warm summers in Nashville. Nighttime temperatures can be very cold at times, making it an ideal situation for putting out live food.
The author acknowledges that they are not in Alaska, but the cold temperatures make it an ideal situation for putting out live food. The author also mentions that they earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate.
What is the superstition about sunflowers?
Sunflowers are a popular symbol of summer and energy, with their colorful bud resembling the sun and following it during the day. This connection has led to various superstitions and traditions associated with the flower. Some common ones include the sun’s power to bring strength and luck, planting sunflowers around the house to bring luck, and placing a cut flower under a pillow at night to reveal the truth over the next day. The colorful and vibrant nature of sunflowers has led to the emergence of various superstitions and traditions associated with the flower.
Do rabbits eat sunflower plants?
Sunflowers are a palatable and innocuous plant for rabbits to consume, whereas the ornamental willow tree produces lance-shaped leaves with white or pink flowers and long, hair-covered leaves distributed evenly along their stems. Both plants are considered safe for rabbits to consume.
What is the myth of the sunflower?
In Greek mythology, Clytie was a water nymph who fell in love with Apollo and remained his companion. She underwent a metamorphosis, assuming the form of a sunflower and revolving around the sun’s course. Hiram Powers’ sculpture, which is thought to have been inspired by an antique Roman bust, features a sunflower in Clytie’s hair, thereby symbolizing her fate.
What flowers do deer eat most?
Deer are known to eat daylily flowers and foliage, as well as other bright-colored perennials like black-eyed susans, coreopsis, and crocosmia. They also enjoy a salad of hosta leaves, although some plants have been decimated. There is no “deer-proof” plant, as deer can devour anything, including spiny hollies and thorny rose bushes, if they’re hungry enough. Gardening in deer country is essential, especially during the prime winter deer-damage season.
What do deer love to eat the most?
White-tailed deer consume over 85 percent of their diet from browse, forbs, and mast. These forages provide over 80 percent of their diet in all seasons, except autumn. Mast consumption increases from 11 in summer to 28 in autumn, primarily hard mast like acorns. Leaf buds and evergreen leaves are particularly important during winter in northern areas. Deer use a variety of agricultural crops due to their high nutritional value, palatable taste, and digestibility.
📹 Keep Deer Away From Your Plants! Wireless Deer Fence. Deer Spike Post Repellent Deer Training System
As a frustrated gardener, I was in search of something that would help keep deer away from my plants. The deer constantly went …
First of all, you have a really nice piece of property and your sunflowers. Look beautiful. My question is, I just saw a article from someone speaking of sunflowers that they shouldn’t be in your garden because they put a toxin into the ground that kills anything around them within say one foot. I see yours look like they’re kind of separated away from your garden. So that has no ill effects on your garden. Do you know anything about these toxins? The guy was talking about. Thanks. Ed.
Well this is great information thank you. I’m going to tell you what God planted some sunflowers for me in my garden. I’m not joking. I had a birdfeeder up last fall across the yard. We also didn’t fill up that birdfeeder many times either in the fall.. Somehow those seeds work their way across the front yard to be planted right alongside my tomato plants LOL in perfect quadrants of four LOL. I have never planted sunflowers myself before because I heard that they are attract tomato hornworms? So I have a small yard small garden and didn’t want them around. But now even if they do attract those tomato hornworms. I’m sure I will not have an infestation and it will be OK. The benefits outweigh the deficits? I have already purchased a pack of beautiful fall colored sunflowers to get out into my yard very soon here. I make a really nice fall autumn yard scheme that they will look lovely in!!!! Yay. Also I am making this comment made article and I will use the organic seeds I grew for sunflower greens in my salad. I do not know if you cover this in this article?
Nice articles -thanks for all the info you provide. There seem to be many varities of sunflowers and the ones that i got from a friend had a large single sunflower at the end of many months of growing. I would rather have a plant that produces many smaller ones like the ones you seem to have. What is the variety that you show in these articles? Thanks.
Hi Jag! I had a few questions about my garden that I hope you can answer: 1) 4 years ago, I planted lemon seeds from India and the tree has grown well. However, after 4 years there is no sign of flowering or fruits. (I live in Canada) What may the reason be for this? 2) If I plant the lemon tree in the ground (its in a big container currently) through the winter, will it grow again in the spring/summer? 3) I have an Indian Jasmine in a big container that is growing well. I have been wanting to plant it in the ground however Im not sure if it will bloom again in the spring after going through harsh winters. Hope you see this!
I planted sunflowers for the first time and I had no idea how well they would attract the pollinatora. Today I discovered colonies of aphids which horrified me but I am so relieved that you said to expect that. I rinsed them off because the leaves were dying off and I haven’t seen any ladybugs. But now I won’t dwell too much on the infestation since it’s to be expected.
** I am not affiliated with the Wireless Deer Fence company. ** I am not sure which other animals this product would be effective with as these are marketed for deer. I purchased these with my own money, and created this article to share my experience using this product in my garden. If you have specific questions, please reach out to them directly: wirelessdeerfence.com/ My Amazon Store Where You Can Find Many of My Favorite Garden Items 👉 amzn.to/49F9RTU
I’ve used these for years and they are 100% effective for deer. I place them in late winter to early spring in locations where deer are likely to approach their favorite plants, in my case apple trees, vegetable garden, day lilies, hosta, blueberries and strawberries. The scent of the lure is so strong that the deer will go to the lure before any of your plants. I take them down around late June and remove the batteries to prevent corrosion. 6 spikes protect approximately 1 acre. I now have a rabbit problem and may try slanting the spike to lower the height of the zapper and replace the lure with a piece of celery. Wish me luck.
Thank you for this article! Mine just came in the mail this past Saturday. I placed them around my gardens. No deer activity yet. That’s do, in part because the manufacturer suggests NOT to remove existing barriers right away. I’ve been using homemade deer repellent for years! I also have a few jingle bells randomly strung on some fishing wire. They hate unnatural sounds! The reason I bought the spikes is every blue moon I forget to reapply then, MUNCH! They get my stuff! They are so persistent! I am excited to hear if they work for anyone else!!!
Been waiting for this review. The deer tried just about everything this spring in drought, looking for something to eat, spray or not. Mountain mint was a first for the deer. However this is Perfect timing with all the rain been difficult to keep up spraying and having a few trees nibbled because of course the spray washed off that was applied. Ordered two sets well worth it after all I have spent on deer detergents over the years.
We have a zoo near us with a lion exhibit. I get the lion manure from the zoo for a few bucks and put it in with my compost. I use the compost with all my plants and haven’t had any dear, rabbit, moles, racoons, ground hogs, etc for 6 years since I’ve used this method. It’s cheap, not much work, doesn’t stink and works. The lion manure must scare the “poop” out of them and they stay away. It doesn’t take a truck load either. Just a couple bushel baskets a year.
Thank goodness I found your article, it’s August 25, the deer in four years have not eaten my garden. The last few bites they have eaten my less than week planted hydrangea, and my pots right next to my house with sweet potato vine, very frustrating as I have a month let in my season. I’m ordering today.
Thanks for sharing this product. I utilize fencing, and I must garden products. The deer are getting worse every year in North Carolina. It is sad to see plants damaged after hard work and anticipation of how your plants will grow only to see them get set back. I was curious, do your deer bother your Japanses maples? Im suprised they bother your conifers. All ive read is that deer avoid conifers except yews. Love your articles
Have had it with deer and rabbits. Spray does work, but we have an overhead sprinkler system and between that and intermittent rain, it can easily be washed off. I am slowly removing the plants that attract them, and replacing with plants that laugh at deer and rabbits. It means I can’t have some of my favorites, but I can live with that and I can’t live with half eaten plants that look awful for the season. Dwarf crape Myrtles are good, as are butterfly bushes and astilbe. Alliums have become one of my favorites. It is also expensive to replant, knowing the cost of plant life today. But, I am looking forward to seeing everything flourish and not be dinner for the animal kingdom
I want to try these so badly. And I’m willing to pay the price if they actually work. I’ve wasted more than $60 or even $120 on plants that have been destroyed by deer. BUT, I watched many other articles and some show the deer getting zapped and instead of jumping and running back in the direction it came, it jumped OVER the zapper and directly into the space the gardener was trying to keep it out of. Have you (or anyone out there reading this) had any experiences like that? I would be mortified if the deer jumped over one plant and ended up trampling the 4 or 6 or 10 plants behind it as it made its frantic exit.
Just last week I saw that one of my daylilies had buds that were cut off just like your deer damaged ones. I wasn’t sure if it was deer or not, but this week I saw hoof prints in my shrub bed mulch. Eeek! I just put in my order! Mainly I have had rabbit damage and have to fence my tulips each spring. I keep my ornamental quince fenced always. They loved eating the bark off of it in the winter.
Thanks so much for this article. I went out of town and the deer ate my container hostas that had been in place for at least 4 years between my house and my generator. Argh!!!😡😡😡 I have no problem zapping the destructive deer. A farmer about 10 miles away has received permission to shoot deer, which were eating his crops. I will definitely order some of these spikes. As for bunnies, I wish someone would make electrified cloches.
I wish I had seen this sooner! I planted Youpon holly bushes and the deer devoured them immediately! I thought I could actually have a few minutes to get my supplies organized but I was so very wrong! I don’t want to get zapped 😅 but I’m really tempted to add these around my newly planted apple & thundercloud plum trees as an extra layer of protection!
BUYERS BE AWARE: After perusal this article I bought one set of the fence and set them exactly the same way. But one of the post does not work as it doesn’t spark when testing, the other two posts work so my setup process is correct. Also tried several new batteries and let the post charged for a few days still doesn’t work. So I contacted the seller and they replied asking if I have charged the post for at least an hour which I did and confirmed back to them. After that, no more response at all even after I followed up. It has been two weeks now and I doubt they will get back to me at all. So whether they work for deer or not, you may not even get a good product and there is no customer service to help out. Waste of money!!
thanks, I will give these a try. I’m already spending 20-30 dollars on the spray every few months, and then next step would be to install ugly fencing that may or may not work. I’m trying to grow a privacy hedge, not much privacy when they keep getting grazed down!!! Someone needs to send these deer back to the jerk store.
Wish they were solar powered. And I wonder if instead of being dependent on a life of “scent tubes” you can just put some Irish Spring bar soap or something else around. The point is to repel them, not attract them. I know the narrative here is that you’re “training” them just as you do with a wireless border fence for dogs, but that’s not how you train your dogs to avoid the border. You don’t put bacon down at the perimeter and try to “lure” the dog into being shocked. I would rather the deer associate the smell of my plants with the shock, not the smell of the scent tubes. Once you’re out of scent tubes, the deer will ignore the sticks and go back to eating all the plants in the garden that aren’t right next to the stick.