The hosta, with its lush foliage, is a popular choice for shade gardens, providing texture and color where other plants struggle. Unfortunately, these appealing qualities do not go unnoticed by local wildlife. The answer to whether deer like hostas is a resounding yes; they consider hostas a particularly palatable food source and often target them repeatedly once discovered in a landscape.
Why Hostas Are a Deer Favorite
Deer favor hostas due to their specific biological and textural characteristics. Hostas possess soft, succulent leaves that lack the tough, fibrous structure or fuzzy texture found in many other garden plants. This tender foliage is easy for deer to chew and digest, making it a preferred choice over tougher alternatives. The high water content also makes hostas an attractive, hydrating meal, especially during dry periods or when new shoots first emerge in spring. A garden bed full of easily accessible, nutrient-rich hostas presents a tempting, low-effort food source for opportunistic browsers.
Protecting Existing Hostas
Intervention and deterrence are necessary for established hosta beds. A multi-faceted approach combining physical barriers and chemical repellents is generally the most effective strategy. Physical exclusion, such as erecting temporary netting or a fence, is the most reliable method for protecting the plants from browsing.
A permanent, high fence of at least eight feet is required to fully exclude deer. Temporary barriers, like chicken wire cages placed around individual plants, can offer protection while they are young and most vulnerable. Motion-activated sprinklers are also an effective, non-lethal physical deterrent, startling deer with a sudden burst of water and sound when they approach.
Repellents work by using tastes or scents that deer find offensive, such as egg solids, garlic, or predator urine. Commercial products containing these ingredients should be applied directly to the foliage, especially on new growth, and reapplied after rain or watering. It is important to rotate the type of repellent used every few weeks, as deer can quickly become accustomed to a single scent or flavor, reducing its effectiveness over time.
Planting Deer-Resistant Options
For a long-term solution, gardeners can choose alternative shade-loving plants that deer naturally avoid. These deer-resistant options typically possess characteristics that make them unappealing, such as strong aromas, fuzzy textures, or a bitter taste due to mild toxicity.
Several reliable substitutes can fill the niche of hostas without the risk of being browsed:
- Ferns: Rarely bothered by deer due to their texture; options like the Japanese painted fern offer striking foliage.
- Hellebore (Lenten rose): Toxic and ignored by deer, providing early spring flowers and evergreen foliage.
- Coral bells (Heuchera): Feature fuzzy leaves and come in a wide palette of colors.
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria): Has hairy leaves and attractive spotted foliage.
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense): Possesses a strong scent that deters deer.
- Barrenwort (Epimedium): Offers a coarse texture, making it a poor food choice.