Fencing is an option but comes at a price and can detract from the appearance of your landscaping. Fortunately, deer are selective in the bulbs they choose to eat; pick the right ones, and you may be able to protect your flower beds. Experts know enough not to use the term “deer-proof” lightly since deer will eat most anything. There are only a few bulbs that can truly be called “deer-proof.” There are, however, a good number of bulbs that can be accurately considered “deer-resistant.” These are bulbs that deer generally leave alone unless they are desperate for food. Because hyacinth flowers occur in clusters on a flower spike, hyacinths are showier than any of the other plants on this list. They are also the most aromatic of the spring bulbs, and that’s likely one reason why deer disdain them. Powerful fragrance seems to be one of the best protections that plants have against deer incursions. Don’t confuse these hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) with grape hyacinths (described below). Hyacinths typically appear a bit later than the early-spring bloomers, such as crocus, grape hyacinth, and snow drops, and have flowers that are quite large and showy. Most daffodils bloom in the early spring along with tulips but slightly after the snow-lovers such as crocus and snowdrops. They can be planted in formal garden beds but are also frequently naturalized in lawns and woodland settings. Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa; the Greek Chion means “snow”) should be planted in fall. As with all plants bearing small flowers, it needs to be grown en masse to produce an appreciable visual effect. Once a crocus has been thoroughly munched, it’s gone for the year. Many people protect crocus in the spring with wire netting to protect them from deer and rodents until the blooms have faded. But it’s not only with its leaves that this cultivar flaunts its superiority over the species. Scilla siberica ‘Spring Beauty’ bears fewer leafless stalks, and each blooming stalk produces as many as six blooms. Grape hyacinth is often planted is masses in the open, where it spreads to form delightful drifts of color in early spring. Deer tend to turn their noses up at allium; the most likely reason is that, as a member of the onion family, it produces a strong flavor and smell. While the flowers are beautiful, they can be dangerous for pets. They are toxic to dogs and cats if ingested. There are good and bad aspects to this iris. If you are looking for something small, you will get it with netted iris, which is classified as a dwarf. On the negative side, it lacks the aroma you may have come to associate irises with; nor is it long-lived. This bulbous iris blooms about the same time as snow-drops, glory-of-the-snow, and the early crocuses. It is best planted in masses in sunny areas and works well in rock gardens.
