Daylilies are a common sight in many gardens, prized for their resilience and vibrant blooms, but they often become a target for local wildlife. Squirrels do, in fact, eat daylilies, contributing to the frustration many people experience trying to maintain their flower beds. Understanding this behavior and the specific damage caused is the first step toward effectively protecting these beautiful perennials.
Squirrels’ Preference for Daylily Parts
Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores, and daylilies offer them several appealing components depending on the season and the availability of other food sources. They particularly enjoy the tender, sweet parts of the plant, such as emerging flower buds, which are packed with nutrients and sugars. These buds are often consumed just before they open, eliminating the potential bloom entirely.
The underground structures of the plant also attract attention, as squirrels are known to dig up and consume the daylily’s fleshy tubers or roots. These parts are rich in starches and provide a source of moisture, which is attractive during periods of drought or when other food sources become scarce. While all varieties of Hemerocallis are fair game, some evidence suggests squirrels may show a slight preference for sweeter, yellow-flowered varieties.
This feeding behavior is often driven by environmental necessity rather than preference. When natural foods like nuts and berries are unavailable, the accessible starch and moisture reserves in the daylily tubers make them a convenient meal. Squirrels will also consume the flower petals and the young, tender shoots as they emerge in the spring.
Distinguishing Squirrel Damage from Other Pests
Identifying the precise animal responsible for garden destruction is important because different pests leave distinct signs. Squirrel damage to daylilies is often characterized by specific visual evidence, typically beginning with signs of digging. Squirrels use their paws and noses to excavate the soil around the base of the plant, often leaving a shallow, disturbed area where they have searched for tubers.
The most telling sign above ground is the fate of the flower buds, which are frequently bitten off cleanly and entirely removed from the scape, leaving a stub. If the bud is too large to carry away, a squirrel might leave it partially eaten near the plant. Damage from a deer typically appears as ragged or torn foliage and buds high up on the plant, as deer lack upper incisors and tend to rip rather than cut.
Rabbits cause damage much lower to the ground, focusing on young leaves and stems. They use sharp incisors to create clean, angled cuts on the plant material, usually within a few inches of the soil surface. Finding entire plants missing or unearthed tubers indicates squirrel activity, while small, clean cuts on the lower foliage point toward rabbits.
Practical Strategies for Deterrence
Protecting daylilies from squirrels requires implementing a multi-faceted approach, starting with physical barriers. For newly planted or prized specimens, covering the planting area with hardware cloth or chicken wire can prevent squirrels from digging up the tubers. The wire should be placed flat on the soil surface and secured at the edges, allowing the plant foliage to grow through the openings.
Repellents offer another layer of defense, often relying on scents or tastes that squirrels find unpleasant. Applications containing capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, can be sprayed directly onto the foliage and buds. The taste is irritating but harmless to the animal, discouraging feeding on the treated plants.
The effectiveness of repellents can decrease over time, so alternating between different types, such as mint or predator-scent granules, can keep the squirrels guessing. Providing an alternative food source, like a dedicated squirrel feeder placed far away from the daylily bed, can also distract them from the garden. These strategies, used in combination, significantly reduce the likelihood of squirrels treating your daylilies as an easy meal.