Are you ready to grow Sedum (Stonecrop) in your garden and you’re concerned about its survival?
Will Deer devour it? What’s the risk involved in growing different varieties of Sedum in your home garden?
Since Deer eat Geraniums and Sunflowers, should you be worried that the animal will also snack on your Sedum?
Do Deer eat Sedum?
Deer do not Sedum plants. The succulent leaves of Sedum have a bitter taste, a sticky texture, and smell fishy, even when you’re miles away. Most Deer have food preferences, and will likely not consider Sedum, except there’s a scarcity of food nearby.
Sedum belongs to a class of flowering plants with succulent characteristics. It’s a perennial plant. It’s also known as Stonecrop.
Deer will eat sedum when there are no other edible plants in the area, and they especially enjoy varieties with seed heads.
While these plants are poisonous to humans, they’re popular with many other types of wildlife and attract a range of birds.
A sedum plant in a lawn or garden will usually produce babies, so it’s best to prune the plant at the end of the growing season.
Autumn Joy Sedum Variety: Do Deer Eat It?
Some sedums are incredibly popular as landscape plants. The ‘Autumn Joy’ variety of sedum is a favorite among deer because of its big, dramatic flower heads. Because of its succulent leaves, this plant doesn’t attract bugs or other pests and is tolerant of most soil types.
In addition to this, the ‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum is resistant to Deer and other animals and is very low maintenance.
Some gardeners find that this variety of sedum is especially popular with deer. But deer will hardly eat them. Its sticky, bitter foliage is a big turnoff for squirrels and deer.
Generally, Sedum is toxic to humans, deer and other pests have been known to feed on tender new shoots on some occasions. This plant is highly deer repellent and should be planted in sunny areas.
Where Does Sedum Autumn Joy Grow Best?
In addition to its pungency and esthetic value, the Sedum Autumn Joy grows in USDA Zones 3 through 11. The star-shaped flowers turn a coppery red in the summer and bloom in clusters in the fall.
This succulent is an excellent choice for gardens with a Mediterranean climate. Some gardeners report that deer don’t even bother the autumn joy.
Most varieties of sedum are deer-resistant, although deer do occasionally gnaw at the growth buds and stems. The plant is generally intolerant of cold weather, but the succulents are often a target for slugs. In the wild, it is common to see slugs nibbling at the fleshy growth buds in the spring. Slugs don’t seem to affect sedum when it is in a cold climate.
Are All Sedum Varieties Edible?
Some sedums are reclassified as Hylotelephium, but it is not considered edible plant. The plants grow anywhere from a few inches tall to two feet. In mild climates, sedums remain evergreen through the winter, while taller types are dormant.
What Animal Eats Sedum (Stonecrop) Plants?
The main concern for people who grow sedums in their gardens is deer eating the plants. While sedums are poisonous to humans, they are preferred by other small mammals, and they are known to eat both live and dead sprigs.
In order to prevent further damage, it is important to protect your sedges from larger four-legged creatures.
The best way to prevent deer from destroying your sedges is to keep them away from water.
While Deer don’t necessarily snack on sedums, other animals that eat sedums include rabbits, birds, and squirrels. If you notice a smashed or chewed sprig of a sedum plant in your garden, you can treat it by removing it from the rest of the garden.
Birds Eat the Leaves of Sedum Plant
The leaves of sedums are eaten by birds. In winter, aphids are the most common pests that damage sedum plants.
Ladybirds are natural predators of aphids, which is an effective way to reduce the damage caused by aphids.
The succulent leaves and tender new shoots of sedum plants are edible. Many people use sedum as ground covers in their gardens. But you can also use the leaves and flowers in stir-fries and soups.
If you want to prevent birds from eating your sedges, you can try fencing or netting your sedum. Remember that sedum is poisonous to man, so you need to use the proper precautions.
Slugs and Snails Damage Sedum Plants
Slugs and snails are the other common pests that damage sedums. Slugs will destroy entire seedlings if they find them attractive, and mealybugs will feed on sedum stems and leaves. Slugs are also responsible for destroying stems and leaves.
Although the most dangerous pests are slugs, a ladybird can help control them by eating the seedlings.
Rodents Eat Sedum (Stonecrop) Plant
Rodents can also consume succulents. In fact, sedum plants are considered edible by jackrabbits, woodrats, and alpacas.
They are generally a good source of food for them, and there are some species that will eat them for the nutritional benefits. If you have an abundance of sedum plants, is it worth the risk?
If you have a succulent garden, you can be assured that it is safe from animals that would otherwise eat it.
If deer are not a threat, you should take steps to prevent their damage. If you have a pet, the animals should be kept out of reach.
However, if the animal is a threat to your plants, you should remove it immediately. If the plant is not edible, you can consider the use of insecticidal soap.
Use Fence to Keep Pests Away from Destroying Your Sedum
Despite the fact that deer don’t typically eat succulents, in this case, Sedum, other animals will eat them. Most of these animals prefer to graze on fresh leaves, but you can try repelling them with sprays or a good fence.
These pets will not like the smell of the flowers and will merely leave your garden looking messy. If they do eat your succulents, they might pay for it via stomach upset or other mishaps.
In addition to animals, there are also plants that are not particularly attractive to deer. If your garden is prone to Deer and other pests, you can protect your sedums by using a mini-greenhouse. You can buy portable versions, larger ones, and even 3-tier ones.
If you want to protect your succulents from mealybugs, for example, you can use repellents to keep them away.
These repellents are toxic to wildlife, so if you want to protect your sedums, you should use insecticides as well. If you find bird holes, you’ll need to spray for a certain kind of pesticide.
Besides, it’s also wise to buy some dried spices and pepper spray to keep squirrels at bay.
Conclusion
Sedum (Stonecrop) is a groundcover that can survive harsh weather. While deer don’t eat the foliage of sedum, it’s a good source of fiber.
We’ve established that some sedums are deer-resistant, but you need to know the type of soil to avoid them.
They prefer rocky soil, so you’ll have to choose a plant that’s not susceptible to a poor soil type.
In addition to being weeds and deer-resistant, sedums (Stonecrop) can also serve as a companion plant, to shield your deer-favorite plants (such as Sunflowers). Sedum can survive in average or poor soil.