What Flowers Do Squirrels Eat

If you love both flowers and watching wildlife, you might wonder what flowers do squirrels eat. Understanding their menu is the first step to a garden that thrives alongside these playful creatures. You can have beautiful blooms without giving up on your furry visitors. It’s all about smart plant choices and simple strategies.

This guide gives you practical tips. We’ll look at flowers squirrels often nibble and ones they usually avoid. You’ll learn how to protect your favorites and create a space everyone can enjoy.

Squirrels are opportunistic feeders. While known for nuts, they eat buds, shoots, and flowers, especially in spring when food is scarce. Their taste can vary, but some blooms are consistently tempting.

Common Flowers Squirrels Love to Nibble

If you plant these, be prepared for squirrel attention. They are drawn to certain types for their bulbs, petals, or seeds.

Tulips & Crocus: Squirrels treat these bulbs like buried treasure. They’ll dig them up and eat them, often before the plants even sprout.
Sunflowers: The seeds are a huge attractant. Squirrels will climb stalks and chew through flower heads to get them.
Roses: They are known to eat rose buds and young shoots. The tender new growth seems to be a particular favorite.
Dahlias: The tubers are similar to bulbs and can be dug up and eaten. Young dahlia shoots are also vulnerable.
Hostas: While loved for there foliage, the early spring shoots and flower stalks are frequently bitten off.
Hyacinths & Lilies: Their bulbs are another tasty target for digging squirrels.

Flowers That Are Less Appealing to Squirrels

The good news is many beautiful plants are naturally resistant. Squirrels tend to avoid flowers with strong scents, fuzzy leaves, or bitter tastes.

Daffodils: All parts of the daffodil are toxic and squirrels seem to know it. They are excellent, reliable bulb choices.
Alliums (Ornamental Onions): Their strong onion or garlic scent repels squirrels effectively.
Bleeding Heart: This shade-loving plant contains alkaloids that make it unappetizing.
Foxglove: Its toxicity keeps squirrels and many other animals at a safe distance.
Geraniums: Their distinctive scent and slightly fuzzy leaves are not prefered by squirrels.
Mint & Lavender: Overpowering aromas make these herbs and their flowers great deterrents.
Marigolds: Their pungent smell is a classic natural pest repellent in the garden.

Creating a Squirrel-Friendly Garden Plan

A squirrel-friendly garden doesn’t mean surrendering all your flowers. It means balancing their needs with your desire for blooms.

1. Plant a Decoy or Sacrificial Garden

Set aside a small area with plants squirrels love. A few sunflowers or a patch of crocus away from your main beds can distract them from your more precious plantings.

2. Use Physical Barriers

These are often the most effective methods.

Bulb Cages: Plant vulnerable bulbs inside wire cages or surround them with a layer of gravel in the planting hole.
Cloches or Netting: Use these to protect young seedlings and emerging shoots in early spring.
Baffles: Install squirrel baffles on bird feeder poles to keep them focused on the seed you provide, not your flowers.

3. Incorporate Repellents Strategically

Rotate between different types to prevent squirrels from getting used to one.

Capsaicin Sprays: Commercial or homemade sprays made from chili peppers can deter nibbling. Reapply after rain.
Blood Meal: Sprinkling this around bulbs acts as a fertilizer and a mild repellent due to its smell.
Motion-Activated Sprinklers: These startle squirrels with a burst of water, teaching them to avoid the area.

4. Provide an Alternative Food & Water Source

Sometimes, squirrels dig for water or eat buds out of hunger. Offering an easier option can help.

Place a simple birdbath or shallow water dish away from flower beds.
Set up a dedicated squirrel feeder stocked with whole, unsalted nuts or corn cobs at the far end of your yard.

Long-Term Garden Habits for Coexistence

Your daily habits make a big difference. Small changes can reduce conflict without much effort.

Clean up fallen seed from bird feeders regularly to not attract squirrels directly into flower beds.
Harvest ripe vegetables and fruits promptly so they don’t become a squirrel magnet.
Consider adopting a dog; their presence alone can make squirrels more cautious.
Be consistent. Squirrels are clever and will test boundaries if your deterrents are sporadic.

FAQ: Squirrels and Garden Flowers

Do squirrels eat all types of flowers?

No, they have preferences. They often target bulb flowers, seed-heavy blooms, and tender new growth. They typically avoid aromatic, fuzzy, or toxic plants.

What is the best flower to plant that squirrels won’t eat?

Daffodils are one of the most reliable. Their toxicity makes them universally avoided by squirrels, deer, and many rodents.

Will coffee grounds keep squirrels away from flowers?

Some gardeners report success, as squirrels dislike the smell. However, its effectiveness is inconsistent and it can affect soil acidity. It’s worth a try around the base of plants.

Why do squirrels dig in flower pots?

They dig to bury or retrive food, or sometimes to search for water in dry soil. Placing stones or wire mesh on top of the soil can discourage this behavior.

Are there any plants that actually repel squirrels?

While no plant is a guaranteed forcefield, strong-scented plants like alliums, mint, and marigolds are known to make areas less inviting to squirrels.

Creating a garden that you and the local wildlife can enjoy is a rewarding challenge. By choosing the right flowers and useing a few protective tricks, you can have a vibrant bloom display. The key is to work with nature’s habits, not just against them. With this knowledge, your garden can be a lively, colorful space for all its inhabitants.