The Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa) is a beloved perennial plant cherished for its delicate appearance and long blooming season. These attractive flowers form neat, mounding clumps and produce blooms that resemble tiny pincushions, making them popular in many garden beds. Gardeners often worry whether this plant will become a regular meal for browsing deer. The Pincushion Flower is generally not a preferred food source for white-tailed deer, but “deer resistant” is not the same as “deer-proof.”
Pincushion Flower’s Deer Resistance Rating
The Scabiosa genus is consistently rated by horticultural experts and university extensions as deer-resistant, often falling into the “rarely damaged” categories. This resistance is due to several unappealing characteristics inherent to the plant’s structure and chemistry. Deer primarily avoid this perennial due to its distinct, bitter taste, which results from chemical compounds in the foliage that are unpalatable to them.
The plant’s texture also contributes to its low appeal. Deer tend to avoid anything with a fuzzy or slightly hairy surface, a trait found on the buds and leaves of many Pincushion Flower varieties. Additionally, the foliage emits a mild scent that is pleasant to humans but off-putting to deer, whose sense of smell is highly developed. These combined defenses mean that deer will almost always choose more favored, tender plants before browsing the Pincushion Flower.
Environmental and Situational Factors
While Scabiosa possesses natural defenses, its resistance is influenced by external pressures, meaning deer may still sample or consume the plant under certain conditions. Periods of extreme drought reduce the quantity and quality of a deer’s natural forage, forcing them to consume plants they would normally ignore. When preferred foods like forbs and tender new shoots become scarce, the deer’s need for calories can override its distaste for the Pincushion Flower’s flavor.
Resistance can also fail in areas experiencing high deer pressure, where large populations have depleted most palatable vegetation. In these scenarios, deer are often pushed to the brink of starvation, leading them to browse on almost any available green matter. Furthermore, new growth on Pincushion Flowers is often more succulent and less concentrated with bitter compounds than mature foliage. Deer are curious feeders and are more likely to sample these tender, young shoots in the spring, potentially damaging the plant even if they leave established leaves alone.
Protecting Pincushion Flowers from Deer
Gardeners who experience browsing despite the plant’s natural resistance should employ a multi-layered defense strategy focused on non-lethal deterrence.
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers offer the most reliable protection, such as temporary deer netting draped over young plants or an effective perimeter fence. For a full barrier, fencing should be at least seven feet high to prevent deer from clearing it. Even a lower fence combined with a visual deterrent, such as a taught wire placed a few feet inside the perimeter, can confuse a deer’s depth perception and prevent jumping.
Deterrent Sprays
Scent and taste deterrent sprays are a practical intervention, utilizing ingredients like putrescent egg solids, capsaicin, or garlic to make the foliage instantly unappetizing. These topical products require diligent reapplication, typically every two to four weeks, to remain effective. They should be reapplied immediately following heavy rainfall. It is also important to spray new growth regularly, as the protective residue will not transfer to recently sprouted leaves.
Companion Planting
Companion planting involves strategically placing highly aromatic plants alongside Pincushion Flowers to mask their presence and confuse the deer’s sensitive nose. Herbs with strong scents are excellent choices for interplanting or bordering the garden bed:
- Lavender
- Salvia
- Yarrow
- Catmint
This sensory confusion makes the entire area less appealing to deer, as they are less likely to risk consuming a plant when the vicinity smells of something they dislike.