Marigolds (Tagetes species) are widely planted flowers known for their bright, cheerful colors and general hardiness in the garden. For home gardeners, these blooms represent a beautiful addition, but they often face challenges from common backyard wildlife, including squirrels. Many gardeners wonder if their vibrant marigolds are safe from hungry animals that might otherwise dig up bulbs or sample vegetables. The question of whether these flowers are a preferred food source highlights the conflict between cultivating a desired garden and coexisting with local fauna.
Do Squirrels Eat Marigolds?
Squirrels generally do not consider marigolds a preferred food source, which is why these plants are often recommended as natural deterrents. The strong, pungent scent and bitter taste of the plant material make it unappealing to most squirrels. While not strictly toxic, the flowers and leaves are low on their list of palatable items compared to nuts, seeds, and sweeter garden produce. Damage is usually incidental or exploratory, rather than sustained feeding behavior. A curious squirrel may take a single bite before moving on.
Natural Deterrent Properties of the Marigold Plant
The reason squirrels typically avoid marigolds lies in the plant’s unique biochemical makeup. Marigolds release volatile organic compounds that create a strong, distinctive aroma that interferes with a squirrel’s sensitive sense of smell. This potent fragrance can effectively mask the scent of more desirable food items, like buried bulbs or ripening vegetables. Beyond the scent, the plant tissues contain various phytochemicals that contribute to the bitter taste, including essential oils and thiophene derivatives. Thiophenes are sulfur-containing organic compounds known to have biocidal and insecticidal properties, which also make the plant unpalatable to mammals. These compounds serve as the plant’s built-in defense mechanism. For maximum repellent effect, selecting more pungent varieties, such as French or African marigolds (Tagetes patula or Tagetes erecta), is often suggested.
Circumstances When Marigolds Are Targeted
Despite their natural defenses, marigolds can still become targets under specific conditions that override the squirrel’s natural aversion. One of the most common reasons for consumption is a scarcity of preferred food sources, such as during drought, late winter, or early spring when other plants have not yet matured. In these times of desperation, the animal’s need for calories may outweigh the plant’s unappealing taste. Young or newly planted marigold seedlings are also more vulnerable because the volatile compounds have not yet fully concentrated, making the plant less potent. Squirrels may target tender stems or flower buds, often seeking moisture during dry spells. In many cases, the damage is not from eating the plant itself but from the squirrel digging in the soil, perhaps burying a nut, and inadvertently uprooting or damaging the marigold.
Protecting Marigolds from Wildlife
Gardeners can take proactive steps to minimize the chances of squirrels damaging marigolds and surrounding plants.
Physical Barriers
One effective strategy is to use physical barriers, especially around vulnerable, newly planted seedlings. Placing a layer of chicken wire or hardware cloth over the soil surface, secured at the edges, prevents squirrels from digging directly into the plant beds. The marigold stems can still grow through the mesh while the barrier keeps the animals out.
Companion Planting
Companion planting leverages the marigold’s deterrent properties by strategically placing them next to more desirable plants. Combining marigolds with other strong-smelling herbs like mint, garlic, or nasturtiums creates a layered scent barrier. This further disrupts the squirrel’s ability to forage.
Habitat Management
General habitat management also helps reduce the presence of squirrels near the flower beds. This includes removing tempting attractants like fallen fruit or bird feeders from the immediate garden area.