If you deal with deer in your area, it’s helpful to know the most deer resistant bulbs for spring planting. Nothing is more disappointing than to plant some beautiful bulbs for spring, only to discover that the deer love to feast on them. {Tulip bulbs, I’m looking at you!}. So let’s just avoid tulip bulbs altogether and plant deer resistant bulbs this year. Nothing against marigolds, but I need more variety. Are you with me?

Deer resistant bulbs for spring planting

As I already stated, if you want deer resistant bulbs, don’t rely on tulips. As much as I love them, the deer love them too. And that just leads to so much disappointment every time I discover that the deer have bitten off scores of my tulip buds before they could even open.

Thankfully, there are some beautiful bulbs that the deer don’t like–or at least they will avoid under normal circumstances. In a hard year when the deer have gone hungry, all bets are off on some of these, but I’ll specify which those are.

Daffodils

You may already know that daffodils are deer resistant, and I think that’s a safe claim based on my own observations. Though the deer too often enjoy my tulips, they have never bitten off a daffodil. Why is that?

Daffodils are members of the Amaryllis family. Amaryllis are truly deer {and rodent} proof because they contain lycorine. Lycorine is a substance that no animal will touch because it is both bitter and poisonous. So plant as many daffodils as you wish, because they are safe from deer! Before planting, see my post on daffodils that never disappoint. 

Snowdrops

Aren’t these delicate little flowers just so beautiful? Snowdrops are one of those deer resistant bulbs you need on your list for spring planting. And it’s a sure bet that the deer will leave them alone, because they also contain lycorine as a member of the Amaryllis family.

Other deer resistant bulbs

• Glory of the Snow
• Iris Harmony
• Starflower
• Moly
• Nigrum

Outsmart the deer this year with deer resistant bulbs you’ll be able to enjoy every spring!