Alexa,

I have 15 or so citrus trees in the yard and we have a healthy deer population. I was having massive damage to fruit trees on the property so recently fenced the entire property......BUT the deer never once bothered my citrus, not so much as a leaf. The deer here are use to citrus and don't like them. Since citrus are new to your deer they may sample it but that should be it.

i dont know any mammals that eat citrus leaves. i never tried any myself but doubt it tastes any good. i know the swallotail butterflies like to lay their eggs on citrus leaves. i had a few 2 years ago, a few of them turned to pupa and i know atleast one of them hatched, saw it flying around the yard early spring.

I have 3,000 Meyer trees on my "home" farm; and a small herd of goats; I can tell you for sure that Meyer lemon trees are among the most favorite foods of the goats. Anytime someone forgets to close a gate, the goats run thru and start eating the trees; of course the trees recover, but it takes awhile. Funny thing is they don't ever bother the numerous other varieties of citrus I have; only the Meyers. Don't know about deer, but their diet is very much like a goat.

Caliloo, the deer have a squatters' colony by my house. They do not touch my citrus. Deer tend to ignore very aromatic plants and citrus leaves and flowers are very aromatic. But I have seen squirrels running off with kumquats.

If you like Thai food you eat citrus leaves with almost every meal:)

Thanks everyone. I did have it outside last fall before it got cold and the deer never touched it, but they were fat and happy and full from a summer of gorging themselves on hostas, and daylilys. I know if they are hungry enough they will eat anything, but I hope they decide there are better options.

Thanks!

I have a Meyer lemon in a container. For the first time this year (it is about 20 years old) I have deer nibbling on the leaves and immature fruit!

i have a Seville orange tree and deer eat the leaves they can reach. I saw a deer eat an orange - the entire thing- off of the ground the other day! I'm planning a meyer lemon soon--I hope they don't touch it.

Deer will eat almost anything that is green. Nothing is deer proof. I noticed today that

oh that looks sad