There is a lot of speculation on the web about whether or not deer eat creeping phlox. Some people say that they have never seen a deer eat this flower, while others swear that they have seen deer grazing on it.
In order to get to the bottom of this mystery, I did some digging (pun intended) and discovered what science has to say about it. Keep reading to learn more.
While deer will occasionally nibble on creeping phlox, it’s not one of their preferred foods. In fact, they tend to avoid plants with thick, leathery leaves, like phlox, in favor of more tender greens.
[Related Article: Do Deer Eat Pumpkins]
Why Do Deer Avoid Creeping Phlox
The reason why phloxes are deer resistant is that they are prickly, sap-filled, and fragrant. If you place them strategically, your garden will be safe. Deer tend to avoid strong smells, so the fragrant phlox is usually enough to keep them away.
In addition, the prickly leaves and sap-filled stems make it difficult for deer to eat the plant without getting hurt.
Do Deer Eat Phlox Flowers
If you’re looking for a flower that deer will steer clear of, you might want to consider phlox. These plants produce strongly aromatic flowers, and deer are particularly sensitive to pungent scents
. As a result, phlox blossoms are typically avoided by deer as a food source. However, it’s important to note that even though deer generally don’t eat phlox flowers, this doesn’t make the plants 100% deer-resistant.
There are some varieties of phlox, such as Phlox paniculata, that deer may eat during periods of food scarcity.
So if you’re hoping to deter deer from your garden, phlox is a good option – but it’s not a guaranteed solution.
Are Any Phlox Deer-Resistant
Almost all varieties of Phlox are resistant to deer. The most commonly known deer-resistant Phlox plants include the Creeping Phlox, Sand Phlox, Moss Phlox, Woodland Phlox, and Blue Moon Woodland Phlox.
Even the Garden Phlox, also known as Tall Phlox, is quite deer-resistant.
So whether you’re looking for a groundcover or a tall showstopper for your garden, you can rest assured that you won’t have to worry about deer munching on your beautiful Phlox plants.
Conclusion
Although deer usually don’t feast on Phlox because they dislike its strong fragrance, and also because the leaves of this plant have hairy textured prickles which are disliked by deer too, adverse situations and hunger can provoke deer to eat Phlox sometimes.
