If you have deer in your garden, you’ll know what this means. When you’ve been plant shopping, you’ve probably asked the staff at the nursery to help you pick things that deer won’t eat. Yet what does that really mean?.
As a gardener, I love growing vibrant impatiens in shady areas of my yard. Their bright blooms add pops of color where many other plants struggle. However, I’ve had issues keeping them safe from hungry deer that wander through my neighborhood. Are impatiens actually deer resistant plants? After dealing with decimated beds, I decided to find out.
Unfortunately the answer is no – impatiens are not resistant to deer. These animals love the sweet taste of impatiens flowers and leaves making them a prime target for grazing. According to research by Rutgers University, impatiens are rated as “occasionally severely damaged” on their scale of deer resistance.
This means deer will eat impatiens when given the chance, especially if tastier options aren’t available. While not a favorite, the colorful blooms and tender foliage seem irresistible to deer. So don’t be surprised to find these plants nibbled on or completely gone after a deer visits your garden.
Why Deer Love to Eat Impatiens
There are a few key reasons deer target impatiens:
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Sweet flavor – The blooms and leaves have a sweet, appealing taste that deer love. This makes impatiens an alluring snack.
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Soft foliage – The tender leaves and stems are easy for deer to chew and digest. They don’t have to work hard for a tasty mouthful.
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Bright colors – The vivid blooms stand out, Deer spot them easily and gravitate toward the eye-catching color
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Shaded habitat – Impatiens thrive in shade which is also where deer tend to rest on hot days. Easy access puts impatiens at high risk.
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Lack of defenses – Unlike thorny rose bushes or fuzzy lamb’s ear, impatiens have no built-in protections to discourage deer from eating them.
Tips for Protecting Impatiens from Hungry Deer
While not deer resistant, there are ways to safeguard your impatiens:
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Plant pungent herbs like lavender, sage, and thyme nearby. Deer dislike the strong scent.
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Use physical barriers like fencing or netting to block access. A 4-foot tall fence should suffice.
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Scare deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers or noisemakers may help discourage deer from approaching.
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Grow impatiens in hanging baskets or on elevated surfaces deer can’t reach. A tall pedestal works great.
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Apply commercial repellent sprays based on eggs or hot peppers around your impatiens. Reapply after rain.
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Add blood meal fertilizer to the soil – the smell repels deer. Just avoid direct contact with plant leaves.
Will Impatiens Recover if Deer Eat Them?
If deer snack on your impatiens, the plant may recover depending on how much damage occurred:
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If most leaves are eaten, new growth is unlikely since the remaining stems and roots can’t support it.
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If flowers were nibbled but some foliage remains, prune damaged parts and fertilize. New blooms may emerge.
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If stems are eaten to the ground, the plant is probably done for the season unless the root system is intact.
While not deer proof, taking some precautions will help deter these hungry visitors from damaging your impatiens. A few bites may be tolerable, but repeat snacking will quickly kill these beautiful shade plants. Protect them as best you can if deer frequent your area.
Have you had trouble with deer eating your impatiens? What deer deterrent methods have you tried in your garden? Please share your experiences in the comments!
Footnote 1 – Rutgers vs. Karen
Where I differ from Rutgers:
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica cvs..) are totally decimated by deer in my garden (D+!). Rutgers lists it as C – which I think is a change as I swear they used to list it as B! (In Texas and North Carolina it is actually considered at least B)
Gold dust plant (Aucuba japonica) – in WA they are C or even D. Rutgers lists it as B.
Let’s be clear: it does NOT mean deer-PROOF.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s go into a little more detail so you can make smart decisions about which plants to buy and where to put them.
My go-to reference for whether or not a plant is deer-resistant is the Rutgers website. The great thing about this site is that it is backed by considerable professional experience and observations and lists a plants LEVEL of resistance (more about that in a moment). The downside is that they are based in New Jersey, so there is some significant variation in their observations and mine here in Washington state. It is, however, an excellent place to start.
Top 7 Deer Resistant Perennials!
FAQ
Which impatiens are deer resistant?
Do impatiens prefer sun or shade?
How do I keep deer from eating my impatiens?
What are the best flowers that deer will not eat?
Is impatiens a deer-resistant plant?
Impatiens are not deer-resistant. For some deer, impatiens are not too tasty, but for others, they are a ‘deliciously sweet treat’. Deer are browsers and herbivores, and they are drawn to easy-to-eat, tasty plants.
Do deer eat Impatiens?
While Impatiens are certainly beautiful plants, they are also admired by animals like deer and rabbits, but not for their good looks. Animals are likely to eat Impatiens and can quickly clear out a flower bed. Impatiens grow as annuals in most areas, so this plant is likely to fall victim to hungry foragers during the spring, summer, and fall.
Are New Guinea Impatiens deer resistant?
While no impatiens variety can be guaranteed to be completely deer-proof, certain varieties are less palatable to deer. These include New Guinea impatiens, which have thicker leaves and are less appealing to deer. 5. Can I plant impatiens if I have a deer problem?
Do Rabbits like Impatiens?
The flowers are what really stand out on this plant, but the glossy foliage is also striking and provides a lovely contrast against the blooms. While Impatiens are certainly beautiful plants, they are also admired by animals like deer and rabbits, but not for their good looks.
Are impatiens perennials?
Impatiens are perennial plants, but they are not frost-hardy and are more often grown as annuals. These versatile bedding plants grow rapidly and will thrive in shade or partial sun. They are popular for hanging baskets and window boxes and are also ideal for providing a splash of color in containers and filling in gaps in your flower borders.
Do animals eat Impatiens?
If your plants survive the onslaught of these smaller pests, then a host of larger animals are queuing up to eat your beautiful display of impatiens! Deer are pretty high up on the list of suspects, but other animals such as rabbits, rats, opossums, and chipmunks will also happily eat impatiens.