The perennial Gaura lindheimeri, often sold under the common name Whirling Butterflies, is a favorite in many garden designs for its long bloom period and airy, delicate flowers. Its graceful, wand-like stems add movement and lightness to borders and containers throughout the summer season. For gardeners living in areas with local deer populations, plant selection often depends on resistance to browsing. This article explores the plant’s natural defenses and the specific conditions that may override its resistance.
Gaura’s High Rating as a Deer-Resistant Plant
Gaura is widely classified as a plant that is seldom damaged by deer. This general aversion is a result of several defense mechanisms. Deer often sample a plant with a few bites before deciding if it is worth consuming, and Gaura’s physical and chemical properties usually cause them to move on quickly.
Gaura possesses thin, wiry stems and foliage that is often described as unpalatable due to its slightly rough or fuzzy surface structure. Deer prefer plants with smooth, soft, and succulent leaves that are easy to chew, making the coarse texture of Gaura an undesirable sensation in their mouths. This physical characteristic contributes significantly to the plant’s low palatability.
Beyond texture, the plant’s chemical composition provides a second layer of defense. Like many deer-resistant species, Gaura’s foliage contains compounds that impart a naturally unpleasant or bitter taste. Deer rely heavily on their sense of taste and smell when foraging, and this combination of unappealing texture and bitter flavor makes Gaura a low-priority meal choice.
The wiry structure of the stems also means that even if a deer attempts to browse, it will likely get less nutritional reward for its effort compared to consuming a soft-leaved plant. This low energy return, combined with the unappealing sensory experience, establishes Gaura as a plant that deer will typically bypass when other forage options are available.
Factors That Cause Deer to Browse Gaura
It is important to understand that the classification of “deer-resistant” does not mean a plant is “deer-proof.” Resistance is a relative term that can be overridden by environmental and situational factors, particularly when deer are under extreme pressure. The most significant factor leading to browsing is severe hunger, which occurs when preferred food sources become scarce due to drought, deep snow cover, or overpopulation. In these scenarios, the deer’s need for calories outweighs its natural aversion to the plant’s texture and taste.
The age of the plant also plays a role in its susceptibility to damage. Newly planted Gaura, especially those recently purchased from a nursery, may be more vulnerable to browsing. The young foliage and stems may not have fully developed the chemical compounds that create the bitter taste, or they may have been grown with high levels of nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen, which acts like a salt, can temporarily enhance the flavor of the foliage, making the tender new growth more palatable to a hungry deer.
Local population density is another variable. In areas with high deer populations, competition for food is intense, forcing animals to consume less desirable plants. Furthermore, fawns, which are still learning which plants to avoid, have been observed to browse species that adult deer typically ignore. This generational browsing can lead to damage even on established, mature plants.
Non-Lethal Deterrents for High-Pressure Areas
For gardeners in areas with high deer pressure, a multi-faceted approach combining exclusion and repellency is the most effective strategy to protect Gaura. Physical barriers are generally considered the most reliable method, as they completely prevent access to the plant. A permanent perimeter fence must be at least eight feet tall to prevent deer from jumping over it.
For individual plants or small beds, temporary barriers like netting or short, removable fencing can be used to protect Gaura, especially when the plants are young and most vulnerable. These barriers can be removed once the plants are established and have developed their full defensive characteristics. Alternatively, planting Gaura in a strategic location, such as close to the house or near areas of high human activity, can deter deer, as they generally prefer to forage in quiet, secluded spots.
Repellent sprays work by appealing to the deer’s sense of smell or taste, making the plant immediately undesirable upon contact. The most successful formulations use ingredients with strong, unpleasant odors or tastes, such as egg solids, blood meal, or capsaicin (hot pepper). Deer can become accustomed to a single repellent over time, so it is important to rotate between two or three different types of products to maintain their effectiveness.
Another strategy is to use Gaura’s inherent resistance by employing a placement strategy. Planting Gaura and other highly resistant species along the outer edges of a garden bed can create a protective perimeter. This less palatable border can discourage deer from venturing further into the garden where more desirable, non-resistant plants may be located, effectively using Gaura as a natural, low-maintenance deterrent.