Residential development and persistent deer populations create a dilemma for gardeners: balancing beautiful landscaping with wildlife browsing. Plants must be selected for their aesthetic appeal and their ability to withstand opportunistic feeders. Understanding a plant’s palatability, like that of the tiger lily, is necessary for successful gardening in deer-frequented areas.
Deer Preference for Tiger Lilies
Deer generally avoid eating tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium), but they are not completely deer-proof. Tiger lilies contain natural chemical compounds that deter most herbivores, making them a less appealing food source compared to succulent garden plants like hostas or daylilies. While most lilies are rated as “Occasionally Severely Damaged,” the tiger lily usually falls into a lower preference category.
Deer are opportunistic feeders, and their choices depend heavily on available forage. They consume plants they normally ignore during periods of drought or when preferred food sources are scarce, such as in late winter or early spring. New shoots, soft flower buds, and young leaves are the most vulnerable parts of the tiger lily, as they are higher in moisture and nutrients than mature foliage.
Protecting Lilies from Deer Browsing
Gardeners can employ a layered approach using both physical barriers and chemical deterrents to protect tiger lilies from browsing deer. The most dependable method involves installing a physical barrier, such as an enclosure or perimeter fence. To reliably deter deer from jumping, a fence should be at least 8 feet tall, as deer are capable of clearing obstacles up to that height.
For smaller garden beds, an alternative is using a double-fence system. Two shorter fences, about 4 to 6 feet tall, are placed a few feet apart. The deer’s limited depth perception makes them hesitant to attempt a jump they cannot safely clear. Individual plants or small groupings can also be protected with temporary cages made from chicken wire or mesh netting, which can be removed once the primary browsing season ends.
Chemical deterrents work by creating an offensive odor or taste and are most effective when applied consistently and rotated. Most commercial repellents contain putrescent egg solids, which mimic the smell of a predator’s territory and deter deer by creating a fear response. These sprays must be reapplied every two to four weeks, especially after heavy rainfall or during periods of rapid new growth. To prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single deterrent, alternate between scent-based and taste-based products.
How to Identify Deer Damage
Distinguishing deer damage from that caused by other garden pests is straightforward due to the deer’s unique dental anatomy. Deer lack upper incisors, meaning they cannot make a clean cut when they feed. Their feeding action involves grasping the plant material between their lower teeth and a hard dental pad on the upper jaw, then ripping it away.
This process results in a characteristic ragged, torn, or shredded appearance on the remaining stems and leaves of the tiger lily. Damage from rabbits, in contrast, looks like a clean, 45-degree angle cut, as they possess sharp incisors that slice cleanly through the plant. Deer browsing also occurs at a greater height, often reaching up to six feet, while rabbit damage is generally confined to the lower eighteen inches of the plant. Further evidence can include the presence of large, oblong, clumped droppings and the distinct, heart-shaped impressions of cloven hoof prints in the soil near the damaged plants.