Wisteria, with its beautiful cascading flowers, is generally not a preferred food source for deer. This makes it a popular choice for landscapes in areas where deer are common. Understanding its resistance and how to protect your plants can help ensure your wisteria thrives.
Wisteria’s Deer Resistance
Wisteria is considered deer-resistant due to its natural characteristics. It contains compounds that are unpalatable and mildly toxic to deer, deterring significant consumption. The taste is often bitter, and the texture, especially of mature stems, can be fibrous and less appealing than other available forage.
This resistance applies to common varieties like Chinese (Wisteria sinensis), Japanese (Wisteria floribunda), and native American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), which is particularly noted for its deer resistance. While deer might sample a plant, they typically move on to more palatable options.
Why Deer Might Still Browse Wisteria
Despite its general resistance, wisteria can occasionally be browsed by deer under certain conditions. This often occurs due to extreme deer pressure or a lack of other food sources, especially during periods of scarcity like droughts or harsh winters, or in areas with high deer populations where preferred vegetation is depleted.
Young wisteria plants or new, tender growth are more vulnerable than established sections, as their soft shoots are more palatable. Additionally, individual deer have varying preferences, and some may browse wisteria even when other food is available.
Protecting Your Wisteria
If deer browsing becomes an issue, several methods can help protect your wisteria. Physical barriers offer the most reliable protection. Temporary fencing, such as chicken wire or netting, can safeguard young plants until they are established and their growth becomes less appealing to deer. For larger areas or mature plants, an eight-foot tall fence is generally effective, as deer are capable jumpers.
Deer repellents provide another layer of defense, working through scent or taste. Scent-based repellents use unpleasant odors like garlic, mint, or predator urine. Taste-based repellents make the plant unpalatable with bitter or spicy compounds. Repellents require regular reapplication, especially after rain, to maintain effectiveness.
Identifying Deer Damage
Accurately identifying deer damage is important to implement the correct protective measures. Deer lack upper incisors, so they tear vegetation rather than making a clean cut, resulting in ragged edges on leaves and stems. In contrast, rabbits or other small rodents leave a cleaner, sharper cut.
Deer typically browse up to about six feet, creating a noticeable “browse line” on plants in heavily affected areas. Other signs of deer activity include distinctive hoof prints, often shaped like two halves of a heart, or small, dark, pellet-like droppings. Observing these signs helps confirm deer as the cause of plant damage.