Honeysuckle, a genus including both vining and shrub varieties, frequently attracts the attention of browsing white-tailed deer throughout North America. Deer definitively like honeysuckle, particularly certain species. This foraging behavior can become problematic for gardeners and landowners, especially where honeysuckle is grown as an ornamental plant or where invasive varieties are present. Deer are opportunistic herbivores whose diet shifts based on the availability and nutritional content of local flora.
Deer Preference for Honeysuckle Species
Deer exhibit a strong preference for specific honeysuckle species, with invasive types being highly favored. The most notorious varieties are the invasive Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), a twining vine, and shrubby Bush honeysuckles, such as Amur and Tartarian. These non-native plants are often browsed heavily because their foliage is available longer than native deciduous species. Studies indicate that Japanese honeysuckle leaves are high-quality forage, providing substantial crude protein content, sometimes ranging from 9 to 20 percent.
The extended leaf retention of these invasive types offers a readily available food source into late fall and winter, when most native browse has become dormant. Deer focus their feeding efforts on these semi-evergreen plants to maintain nutritional intake during lean months. This consistent use unintentionally aids the spread of invasive honeysuckle, as deer often ignore less palatable native plants, allowing the invasive species to outcompete them.
In contrast, native honeysuckle species are generally browsed with less intensity, often only when preferred food sources are scarce. For instance, the native Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is less appealing to deer. This difference in palatability can be attributed to factors like chemical defenses or differing nutrient profiles. However, no honeysuckle is entirely deer-proof; even less-favored varieties will be consumed when deer are under severe nutritional stress.
Seasonal and Environmental Drivers of Consumption
The most significant factor driving deer consumption of honeysuckle is the seasonal scarcity of other forage. As a semi-evergreen plant, honeysuckle is a critical food source during winter months when native vegetation has died back. This availability provides deer with a high-protein resource that helps sustain their body mass through the year. Protein levels in honeysuckle are often highest during cooler seasons, further increasing its value to the deer herd.
Deer rely on these plants to meet caloric and protein needs when snow cover limits access to ground forage and mast crops are depleted. Browsing pressure on honeysuckle tends to peak between late fall and early spring. The vigorous growth and dense thickets formed by invasive honeysuckle also provide thermal cover and bedding areas, making the plant a magnet for deer activity.
Environmental pressures, such as high local deer population density, also amplify the reliance on honeysuckle. In areas where deer numbers are high, competition for primary food sources leads to overbrowsing of preferred plants. This forces deer to consume less-favored or more available food, including even the less palatable native honeysuckle varieties. The intensity of browsing damage can be severe, regardless of the honeysuckle species.
Managing Deer Browsing on Honeysuckle
Landowners seeking to protect ornamental honeysuckle or limit the spread of invasive types have several management options focused on deterrence and exclusion. For high-value plants, physical exclusion methods offer the most reliable protection against browsing damage. Installing a physical barrier, such as a wire cage or netting around individual shrubs, prevents deer from reaching the foliage and terminal buds.
For larger areas or where fencing is impractical, chemical deterrents can reduce browsing frequency. These repellents work by creating an unpleasant taste or a strong odor that deer avoid. To maintain effectiveness, taste-based and scent-based deterrents must be reapplied regularly, especially after heavy rain or new growth. It is beneficial to rotate different repellent products to prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single formula.
If the concern is the ecological impact of invasive honeysuckle, managing the deer population and removing the invasive plants should be a combined strategy. Invasive honeysuckle can be controlled by cutting the stems close to the ground and immediately treating the stumps with an appropriate herbicide. This method removes the favored forage, which encourages the growth of more desirable native species that provide better long-term nutrition and habitat.
For those looking to incorporate honeysuckle into their landscape without attracting heavy deer damage, planting less-preferred, native alternatives is a proactive step. Species like Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) are browsed less often than the highly attractive Japanese or Bush varieties. Selecting these resistant cultivars helps balance the desire for attractive flowering plants with the reality of living in a deer habitat.