supposed to be deer resistant.

==>>> when the deer are under stress such as a population boom ... it is my understanding.. that they will eat just about anything ... even things they might not prefer ... but are still edible ... which is how i would define resistance ...

do not equate resistance with deer proof ...

ken

I was just really surprised since they left them alone last year. It can’t be a shortage of food. There are still some of their usual favorites like Hosta, Hibiscus and Chokeberry left. The other sunflowers like Maximilian and swamp are untouched. And they usually get eaten. So I was hoping to find out how they fare in other gardens.

Tithonia contains lots of minerals and medicinal compounds that may help deer. The leaves taste bitter, but a deer might eat it to cure an upset stomach, or because it's lacking certain minerals that the plant has.

That sounds really interesting.

I have a friend who sprinkles Milorganite around her plants to keep the deer away. They don't like the smell.

Deanna

I'm in a suburb, so no deer around, but the rabbits have been eating the small tithonias. They didn't eat all of them, just in one place, but I'm growing my second crop now and I'm taking care that the rabbits can't get to them until they are ready to go into the ground. After that I just hope they survive. I have something like fifteen growing now, so it will be difficult to protect all of them.

Tom, do you know for sure that it's rabbits eating them? Could be could cut worms as well.

Deanna

Tom, voles could wolf down little Tithonias with ease. I've watched 15" morning glories dissapear down their throats. lol

Rabbits. I saw one eating one in the place where four were eaten down almost to the roots. I love rabbits and I'm glad they like my property. I haven't had much problems with them in the past. Mostly they eat the grass--which has been growing far too quickly with all the rain.

Wow, Cathy. What a beautiful picture!

So wonderful !