Are Carnivorous Plants Deer Resistant?

Matt asks if any carnivorous plants resist deer browsing after hearing Darlingtonia called "Deer Lick."

Deer Sometimes Sample, Rarely Devour

Jeff Dallas: "A nickname for Darlingtonia is 'Deer Lick.' The plants always put up one or two leaves when they first start growing in spring that are much taller than the rest of the pitchers they produce. It's theorized that these are to attract the deer to eat as to avoid the shorter pitchers."

Most pitcher plants taste terrible, so herbivores take a bite and move on. Deer are browsers—they sample many plants to avoid toxicity. Jeff has seen deer eat toxic elderberry leaves. On the East Coast, S. flava persists in cow pastures because cattle dislike the flavor.

Practical Takeaway

Don't rely on carnivorous plants as deer barriers, but don't panic if a deer nibbles a pitcher. The plant will survive and replace the leaf.