Are hollyhocks deer resistant?

Question

I just bought some hollyhock bulbs for my garden. My backyard isn't fenced in and I live in a rural area where deer roam as they please. It's futile trying to deter them. In order to get around that little problem, I'm trying to grow a garden that won't be very appitizing for those nibbling demons. So far they don't seem to like the Darf Iris, Siberian Iris, and Narcissus bulbs I've planted. Now, I want to try planting some summer bulbs this year. I got Gladilous and Dalihas and I'm pretty sure deer don't like them. As for the Hollyhocks I have no clue... Sadly, the brand I got didn't say on the labels weather deer find them appealing or not. Aside from bulbs, I'm trying my luck with wildflower seeds like Bachelors Button and Butterfly Weed. I also planted a rose bush last year.

Long story short. Are hollyhocks eaten by deer?

Oh and if you would like to suggest some flowers that would be great. I'm a novice gardener and it's nice to hear advice from others. :)

Answer 1

Just about any plant can be eaten by deer :-(



While there is nothing like a beautiful garden, there is also nothing worse than the disappointment of looking out your window and realizing that the local deer just used it as their dinner table. Most people work long and hard to get their garden just the way they like it and having deer destroy it is not something anyone looks forward to. One of the ways that you can protect the garden is by using deer resistant plants.



Perennials regularly show up on charts as some of the most deer resistant plants. While there are things such as strawberries that will get gobbled up as soon as they blossom, spices such as Thyme, Tarragon and Anise are totally unattractive to deer. These are great plants to put around the perimeter, especially if you plan on having fruit in your garden.





Daffodil, Autumn Crocus and Crown Imperial are among the bulbs that deer seem to stay away from, but these do not always fit into the garden design.



Deer Resistant Plants - http://www.wildlife-animals.com/deer/deer-resistant-plants.php

Answer 2

I've never seen hollyhock 'bulbs'.

In my garden hollyhocks are biennials, or short-lived perennials.



And deer eat them.



I checked your profile to get some idea where you live, but with a hidden profile, it's difficult to advise you. When we don't know where you live, we don't know what you would be able to grow.



In my garden, deer eat glads and dahlias and rose bushes, and butterfly weed...



There are a lot of things that I have grown in the worst areas for deer, generally speaking, haunted graveyard gardens would be just about deer-proof. Think foxgloves and wolf's bane, and may apples... poisonous pretties...



I wrote up a deer gardening page a number of years ago, should get you on the right track:

http://www.stonethegardener.com/deer.html

Answer 3

Don't know about hollyhocks but you can google "deer resistant plants" and get lists of them. Keep in mind, though, that plants which aren't bothered when they are mature can get eaten when they're young, and that plants deer eat at your place they might leave alone somewhere else. That's why the lists are for deer resistant plants, not deerproof ones. If you want a tall flowering plant, foxglove should be okay, and deer don't tend to eat anything aromatic such as herbs. They will probably eat your rose bush when they find it.

Answer 4

Deer like Hollyhocks. We use something called Deer Stopper and it works we apply it often. Google it.

Answer 5

What Are Hollyhocks