Hostas are a staple in many shade gardens, offering texture and color where flowering plants struggle. In regions with active wildlife, gardeners often hope these popular perennials are unappetizing to deer. This article examines the true palatability of hostas and explores proactive strategies to protect them from browsing.
Hosta Palatability: The Direct Answer
Hostas are considered a highly preferred food source for white-tailed deer and are not deer resistant. Rutgers University often places hostas in the “Frequently Severely Damaged” category. Deer are attracted to the soft, tender texture and high water content of the leaves, especially newly emerging shoots in spring. The foliage offers a succulent, easily digestible meal compared to tougher, more fibrous plants.
Factors Influencing Deer Feeding Behavior
Damage to hostas is often determined by external pressures on the local deer population. High local population density increases competition for food, leading to more aggressive browsing on all available plants. When preferred forage is scarce, hostas become an acceptable substitute. The availability of alternative food sources also plays a significant role in a deer’s diet. Seasonal hunger levels, particularly in early spring when new growth is tender and other food is limited, increase the likelihood of browsing. Deer are also creatures of habit, often following established paths and returning to locations where they have previously found food.
Physical and Chemical Deterrent Strategies
Protecting hostas effectively often requires a multi-faceted approach combining physical barriers and chemical deterrents to confuse and discourage deer. The most reliable physical solution is fencing, though it requires significant height to be effective, as deer can easily jump fences up to eight feet tall. Less permanent options include draping lightweight netting or chicken wire over the plants during the vulnerable early spring growth period.
A less visually intrusive physical method involves companion planting, which utilizes plants that deer find unappealing due to strong scents or bitter tastes. Placing plants like lavender, daffodils, or ferns near hostas can create a buffer zone that deters deer from approaching the preferred foliage. Simple, affordable barriers like fishing line strung between stakes at various heights can also work, as deer cannot see the line and are hesitant to cross the unseen obstacle.
Chemical deterrents work primarily through scent and taste and are available in both topical and systemic forms. Topical sprays often contain ingredients that mimic predator scents, like coyote urine, or create an offensive taste using rotten eggs, capsaicin, or garlic. These sprays must be reapplied frequently, especially after rain, to maintain their effectiveness.
Systemic granular options deliver a foul-tasting compound, often a hot pepper concentrate, through the plant’s root system. Once absorbed, the deterrent is protected within the plant cells, meaning it does not wash off with rain and can remain effective for an entire growing season. Regardless of the type chosen, it is important to rotate between two or three different products, as deer can quickly habituate to a single repellent’s scent or taste, rendering it ineffective over time.
Choosing Less Preferred Hosta Cultivars
While no hosta is entirely immune to deer browsing, certain cultivars possess physical traits that make them less appealing. The most significant factor is leaf substance, which refers to the thickness and durability of the leaf tissue. Hostas with thick, leathery leaves are less palatable than those with delicate, thin foliage. Blue-colored hostas are often less preferred because their color comes from a waxy coating, which gives them a tougher texture and a slightly bitter taste.
Less preferred cultivars include:
- ‘Blue Angel,’ ‘Halcyon,’ and ‘Krossa Regal,’ which feature this dense, waxy substance.
- Extremely large varieties like ‘Sum and Substance.’
- Cultivars with heavily textured, corrugated leaves, such as ‘Frances Williams.’