Deer Resistant Bulbs

Believe it or not, there are some deer resistant bulbs that you can plant in the fall for beautiful blooms in the spring.

One of the first signs of spring flowers often comes in the form of bulbs planted in the fall. However, if you live in an area like I do, you can easily become discouraged when you find that your hard work is ravaged by deer and other rodents.

Even fencing doesn't deter some deer, as many can jump over them. So what can you do to keep them from grazing on the foliage and blooms of your early spring flowers?

Here is a list of a few good deer resistant bulbs that you can try planting in the fall, with great success against these plant eating pests.

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As a general rule, you want to plant your spring blooming bulbs before the first hard frost, which is often in October. You can find many calculators online that will give you the average frost date for your area like this one from Dave's Garden.  If you live in a warmer climate, you can try November, but you may need to buy pre-chilled bulbs.

Note: Young deer (not knowing any better), and very hungry herds may eat any of these plants, however, it is unlikely, as many have a bitter taste, and some are toxic.

Deer Resistant Bulbs to Try 

Scilla siberica aka Siberian Squill

This beautiful, clear blue beauty is very hardy and easily spreads through the garden. Some say it's invasive, but honestly, I would welcome an abundance of this beauty. It blooms early in the spring when you are dying for some color in the garden. Also, this plant contains a toxic alkaloid that deer and other rodents stay away from.

Zone Hardiness = 2 - 10
Full Sun / Partial Shade
Height = 4 - 6 inches
Naturalizes well  - Good for containers

Allium sphaerocephalon aka Drumstick Allium

Allium comes from the same family as garlic. The smell is a great deterrent to rodents and deer. I have several allium that bloom in the spring, however, this one blooms a little bit later in early summer.

Zone Hardiness = 2 - 10
Full Sun
Height = 20 - 24 inches
Seed heads are pretty dried in arrangements 

Luecojum aestivum aka Giant snowdrops

These delicate, whimsical flowers bloom in late spring and are sometimes referred to as Summer Snowflakes. I love the cute little bright green dots on the edges of the petals. They are from the same family as daffodils and contain lycorine, a bitter, poisonous substance that animals will not eat.

Zone Hardiness = 4 - 10
Full Sun / Partial Shade
Height = 14 - 16 inches
Naturalizes well - Multiplies over time. 

Narcissus aka Daffodils

Everyone is familiar with daffodils, but did you know that they come in many different varieties? This one is a pink blend of 16 different shapes and shade variations, a little different from your standard garden variety yellow. These are the most deer resistant bulbs I know of. I already have many daffodils in the garden, and can confirm that they have never been eaten by deer or rodents.

Zone Hardiness = 3 - 8
Full Sun / Partial Shade
Height = 16 inches
Naturalizes well - Multiplies over time.

Other good deer-resistant flower bulbs are typically anything that has a strong scent, such as crocus, grape hyacinth (muscari), and fritillaria.

This is also true for perennials and shrubs such as peony and iris. Typically, deer and other rodents steer clear of highly fragrant or highly textured plants like lavender. Read more about deer resistant plants here.

I can't wait to see how pretty they look come spring. Though nothing is foolproof, this selection of bulbs should make you feel good about spending money and time on plants that will last.