Sunflowers are a favorite in many gardens, attracting a wide variety of wildlife. Their seeds, foliage, and even roots provide sustenance, making them appealing to numerous animals from small insects to larger mammals.
Animals That Eat Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are a primary food source, attracting a diverse range of birds and small mammals. Birds such as finches, cardinals, jays, and blackbirds frequently visit sunflower heads to extract seeds. They often perch directly on mature flower heads, using their beaks to crack open shells and consume the kernels. Scattered empty husks on the ground beneath the plants indicate their feeding.
Small mammals are common consumers of sunflower seeds. Squirrels and chipmunks are common, often climbing stalks to access seed heads. Squirrels may chew through the stem to carry off entire flower heads, or break apart the head for seeds. Mice and rats also consume fallen seeds or climb plants to reach heads, and may dig up newly planted seeds.
Animals That Eat Sunflower Foliage and Stems
Beyond the seeds, various animals target sunflower leaves and stems. Larger mammals, such as deer, browse on sunflower leaves and tender stems. Rabbits also consume nearly every part of the sunflower plant they can reach, including petals, leaves, and stalks. Groundhogs are another common pest that feeds on sunflower foliage.
Insect pests also damage foliage and stems. Caterpillars, including cutworms and saltmarsh caterpillars, can defoliate plants by chewing holes or notches in leaves. Cutworms are especially damaging to young seedlings, often cutting them off at or just below the soil line. Grasshoppers create irregular holes in leaves and can cause significant defoliation. Other insects like sunflower stem weevils can bore into stems, weakening the plant and potentially causing it to break.
Animals That Eat Sunflower Roots
Some animals damage sunflowers by targeting their root systems, compromising plant stability and health. Underground pests like gophers and voles are common. Gophers can pull entire plants underground, leading to sudden wilting and collapse. Voles gnaw on roots beneath the soil surface, causing plants to wilt or become stunted.
Soil-dwelling insect larvae, known as grubs, also feed on sunflower roots. These larvae, typically immature beetles, can cause significant root damage, leading to poor plant growth and eventual collapse. Their activity can make plants appear unhealthy or fall over without apparent above-ground damage.
Protecting Sunflowers From Animal Damage
Protecting sunflowers from animal damage involves a combination of physical barriers, repellents, and cultural practices. Physical barriers prevent access, including garden netting draped over maturing flower heads to deter birds and squirrels. Fencing, such as chicken wire, protects young plants from rabbits, and an 8-foot high fence deters deer. For burrowing animals, burying wire mesh 12 inches deep around the garden perimeter prevents tunneling.
Repellents deter animals by taste or odor. Commercial sprays with capsaicin or putrescent egg solids make plants unappetizing. Natural deterrents like garlic, strong-smelling plants (marigolds, lavender, mint), and cayenne pepper sprinkled on leaves may discourage pests. Reapplication is often necessary to maintain effectiveness.
Scare tactics temporarily deter animals, though effectiveness may diminish as animals adapt. Reflective objects (Mylar tape, old CDs) and motion-activated sprinklers can startle pests. Moving these devices frequently maintains their surprise factor. Cultural practices also contribute to protection, such as timely harvesting of seeds before they become highly attractive to animals. Some gardeners plant extra sunflowers as a “decoy crop” or provide alternative food sources to divert animal attention.