Lilies (Lilium) are popular garden plants, known for their striking color, form, and large, often fragrant flowers on tall, upright stems. However, gardeners in suburban and rural areas face the persistent challenge of browsing, particularly from white-tailed deer. The desire to maintain these beautiful blooms often conflicts with the feeding habits of local deer populations. Understanding the susceptibility of lilies to deer damage is the first step in successfully cultivating them. This article clarifies how deer interact with lilies and offers practical strategies for protection.
Lilies and Deer: Palatability and Specific Varieties
Lilies are a favored food source for deer and are not considered deer-resistant. The plants are succulent, high in moisture, and lack the strong odors or bitter compounds that deter herbivores. Deer often browse on tender leaves in the spring, but they find developing flower buds particularly appealing, consuming them before they have a chance to open. True lilies are commonly rated as plants that are “Occasionally Severely Damaged,” meaning that when browsing occurs, the damage is significant.
Confusion arises because many popular garden plants share the word “lily” but belong to different genera. Daylilies (Hemerocallis) and Hostas, for instance, are also highly palatable and frequently consumed. While some varieties, like the common orange Daylily or the Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium), are sometimes cited as slightly less appealing, this resistance is unreliable. Deer browsing behavior is driven by “deer pressure,” where local population density and food availability determine feeding habits. In areas with high deer populations or during periods of scarcity, deer are likely to target any available plant.
Practical Strategies for Protecting Existing Lilies
Protecting existing lilies requires an integrated approach combining physical and chemical deterrents. Physical exclusion offers the most reliable long-term solution.
Physical Barriers
A permanent barrier fence must stand at least 7 to 8 feet tall, as deer easily clear lower obstacles. For smaller, high-value areas, a 6-foot fence can be effective if the enclosed space is small, discouraging the deer from attempting a jump. Alternatively, a psychological barrier can be created using two parallel fences, each 4 to 5 feet tall and spaced 4 to 5 feet apart, which confuses the deer’s depth perception. For individual plants, small cages or netting can be placed over emerging shoots in early spring to protect vulnerable new growth and flower buds. This is useful for small groupings where a full perimeter fence is impractical.
Chemical Repellents and Cultural Practices
Chemical and scent-based repellents work by making the plant unpalatable or by signaling danger. Repellents often contain putrescent egg solids, which mimic a predator’s smell, or bitter compounds like capsaicin. The effectiveness of these products depends on consistent reapplication. Repellents must be sprayed directly onto the foliage and flower buds every two to four weeks, immediately after heavy rain, and whenever new growth emerges. Gardeners can also employ cultural practices, such as locating lilies close to a house or a high-traffic human area, as deer are generally wary of human activity.
Choosing Truly Deer-Resistant Alternatives
Gardeners who find protecting lilies too demanding can choose alternative plants that offer similar aesthetic appeal but possess natural deer-deterring characteristics. Plants avoided by deer often feature strong aromas, coarse textures, or toxic compounds. For tall blooms that mimic the dramatic presence of lilies, consider these resistant options:
- Ornamental Onion (Allium), which possesses a strong, sulfuric odor that deer dislike.
- Foxglove (Digitalis), which features spires of tubular flowers but contains cardiac glycosides, a natural toxin unappealing to browsers.
- Astilbe, a perennial offering feathery plumes and a texture deer generally avoid.
- Peonies (Paeonia), which are consistently ignored by deer and provide large, fragrant blooms on sturdy stems.
- Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or Coneflower (Echinacea), which serve well as border plants due to their highly aromatic or rough, fuzzy foliage.
Selecting these naturally resistant species allows for a colorful garden display with less need for continuous intervention.