Are Annual and Perennial Hibiscus Deer Resistant

Hibiscus is a flower that blooms for many seasons. Sometimes, deer like to eat this Hibiscus plant, especially if other sources of food are scarce. It means that the gardeners should be vigilant in checking for signs of damage to these Hibiscus plants.

Are Annual and Perennial Hibiscus plants Deer Resistant?

Annual Hibiscus: The hibiscus genus is a big one. Lots of hibiscus varieties grown as annuals in cooler locations are hardy in temperate climates, such as Hibiscus trionum which is hardy in USDA zones 10 through 11. It is white, pink and red flowers only live one day, but are swiftly replaced by others. Annuals are less subject to deer given their summer appearance. At the other times of the year the mammals usually have many more choices of the plants to nibble in summer.

Perennial Hibiscus: Perennial hibiscus die back in autumn. The Hibiscus Kopper King that thrives in United States Dept of Agriculture (USDA) zones 4 to 9 has foliage that copper-coloured which contrasts with the big pale flowers. Several hibiscus varieties are evergreen in the warmest climates. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis well known as chinese hibiscus grows to 12 feet and flowers year-round in United States Dept of Agriculture (USDA) zones 9 to 11. Those examples are subject to deer.

According to Rutgers University, sometimes Hibiscus flowers are eaten by deer. Lots of factors that can determine whether they are eaten. It includes the amount of other food available, deer population, weather conditions, and location of your garden. Food preferences of these animals can vary from one region to another region.

Several varieties of hibiscus can be more resistant to deer than others. Even by choosing the color plants are highly recommends varieties like Red Heart, Pink Giant and Blushing Bride for areas that have many deers activity. Due to these species are attractive to deer so do not plant them near hostas, geraniums or daylilies.

Some good plants to place near hibiscus are the trees such as birch, cedar, buckeye, spruce and fir. It is because those types of the plants are deer-resistant that means the animals will look elsewhere for food.

Deer Eat the Hibiscus plants

Hibiscus is one of shrubs that preferred by deer. However, there is no point to remove them to preventing the deer visits. If you have deer in your area, almost any plant attracts the mammals to your garden. Keep in mind that some varieties of hibiscus can be more resistant to deer than others. For the best results, they should not be planted near hostas, daylilies or geraniums, because those plants are attractive to deer.

How to stop Deer from eating Hibiscus plants?

Deer will nibble your hibiscus plants when you are not looking them because are voracious eaters. Deer have their place in nature, but it is not around your hibiscus. You are able to use some methods to keep the deer from eating your hibiscus and other garden plants.

Here are things that you will need:

• 12 rotten eggs
• Cheesecloth
• Empty gallon jugs
• Spray bottle
• 2 posts, each 3 feet long
• 2 pieces of 12-inch yarn
• 2 clean aluminum pie pans
• hammer
• 2 nails
• Mesh netting
• Fishing line

Step by step:

• Step 1

At the first step, you have to remove bird feeders from the yard before you go to bed for the night. Deer can come into the yard at night or in the early morning and feast off the fodder you have put out for birds. When deer discover a convenient food source, they return to it. Then they are going to find your hibiscus plants.

• Step 2

After that, you have to mix 12 rotten eggs into 5 gallons of water to make a pungent liquid which naturally deters the deer. Please strain the liquid through the cheesecloth and store it in gallon jugs. Also, you have to spray the mixture onto your hibiscus plants two to three times a year.

• Step 3

You have to spread another type of natural deer repellent on the soil near your hibiscus plants as a supplement or alternative to your rotten-egg mixture. Human hair, soap, cayenne pepper and mothballs all emit odors that deer frequently will avoid. Please change your natural repellent weekly so the deer do not get used to one type. You need to reapply natural deer repellents after strong winds, heavy rains,  and other weather phenomena.

• Step 4

To stop Deer from eating Hibiscus plants, you have to build a fence around your hibiscus plants or around your property. You are able to build two-wire electric fences with one wire 30 inches above the ground, and the other 15 inches off the ground can keep deer away.

• Step 5

The next step that you have to do is to sink two 3-foot posts into the ground on the side of your hibiscus plants. Please make a hole in each of two clean aluminum pie pans. Then, thread a piece of yarn about 12 inches long through the hole in each pan. Just hammer a nail into the top of each post and tie the pans to the nails. The pans will flash in the sunlight and moonlight, scaring deer away from your own hibiscus plants.

• Step 6

You have to place some yards of mesh netting over your hibiscus plants to keep the deer from eating the flowers and foliage.

• Step 7

You have to find the path that deer are using to reach your hibiscus plants. If the deer are entering your property through a break in the trees or fencing, string fishing line across the path to make an invisible fence. Deer are going to bump into the line, get confused, and then leave your hibiscus plants alone.

• Step 8

Please place plants that the deer find near hibiscus plants. Usually, the Deer are not attracted to spicy-smelling plants, ferns and ornamental grasses. You are able to plant daffodils, thyme, boxwood or narcissus to keep deer away.