Cyclamen, with their delicate petals and marbled foliage, are a prized addition to many gardens and containers. For gardeners in areas with active wildlife, the presence of deer creates a challenge: protecting these plants from browsing. This requires understanding the risk and implementing effective strategies to discourage deer from treating the landscape as an easy food source. The goal is to create a less appealing environment without sacrificing the garden’s beauty.
Assessing Cyclamen’s Appeal to Deer
Cyclamen is often classified as deer-resistant, but the answer to whether deer eat them is not a simple yes or no. This resistance stems from natural chemical deterrents, specifically terpenoid saponins, concentrated most heavily in the subterranean tubers. These compounds give the plant an unpalatable taste that deer generally seek to avoid. However, deer are highly opportunistic animals, meaning the “resistant” label is not a guarantee against browsing. When natural forage is scarce, particularly during late fall and winter, a hungry deer may sample or consume almost any plant, including cyclamen.
If damage is observed, correctly identifying the culprit is important, as the method of feeding leaves distinct clues. Deer lack upper incisors, so they must grasp and tear plant material, resulting in ragged, shredded edges on stems and leaves. This browsing often occurs at a height up to six feet from the ground. In contrast, a rabbit or rodent uses sharp incisors to leave a clean, angled cut close to the ground.
Implementing Physical Barriers
Physical exclusion methods that actively prevent access are the most reliable option for guaranteed protection of cyclamen and other prized plantings. The height of a permanent perimeter fence is the most important factor, as deer are capable of jumping considerable distances. Since a typical deer can easily clear a six-foot fence, a permanent barrier should ideally be seven to eight feet tall.
An eight-foot fence is recommended in open areas where deer have a clear view and a comfortable landing zone. In smaller, more confined garden spaces or heavily wooded areas, a seven-foot fence may be sufficient because reduced visibility makes deer hesitant to jump. It is also important to secure the bottom of any fence to the ground, as deer will attempt to push underneath a barrier.
Deer netting provides a less permanent or less expensive temporary barrier. This lightweight, UV-resistant mesh is often seven feet high and can be draped over plants or strung between posts. The netting works by creating a visual and physical obstacle, and the dark color makes it relatively unobtrusive in the landscape. For individual cyclamen plants, especially those in pots or small beds, a mesh cloche or wire cage can be placed directly over the plant for physical protection.
Utilizing Taste and Scent Repellents
Repellents offer a non-physical method of protection, working by making the cyclamen either smell or taste offensive to the deer. Effective commercial products often utilize a dual-deterrent system combining taste and scent aversion. Taste-based repellents must be applied directly to the plant foliage and contain ingredients like capsaicin. This creates an irritating sensation upon contact with the deer’s mucous membranes, discouraging further browsing.
Scent-based repellents trigger a fear response, often containing putrescent egg solids or other sulfurous odors that mimic the smell of a predator. Although the odor is pungent to humans immediately after application, it dries quickly and becomes largely undetectable to people while still signaling danger to the deer. These liquid repellents are effective but require diligent maintenance.
Repellents must be reapplied frequently, especially to new plant growth and after significant rainfall or watering, as the active ingredients can wash off. To maintain effectiveness over time, rotate between products with different active ingredients to prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single repellent type. Non-chemical deterrents, such as motion-activated sprinklers, can also be used, startling the deer with a sudden jet of water and sound.