Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bad tasting bulbs- they’re a good thing
Why would bad tasting bulbs be a good thing? Because deer, squirrels and other rodents list them as last choice on the buffet called your garden! Colorblends President Tim Schipper is a 3rd generation bulbsman out of Connecticut and he shared a list of bulbs that are a feast for our eyes but not on the squirrels menu.
- daffodils
- snow drops
- snow flakes
All three of these bulbs contain lycorine, a bitter alkaloid that’s toxic when eaten.
These bulbs are critter resistant in varying degrees due to their bad taste:
- alliums
- starflowers
- glory of the snow
- blue squill
Unfortunately, tulips and crocuses, which are eye candy for us are candy for deer and rodents!
Your best bet if deer are the biggest problem are:
- Allium
- Camassia – which looks a bit like hyacinth (with varying shades of white and purple) – it also likes the soil a bit more acidic
- Glory-of-the snow
- Winter wolf’s bane aka winter aconite – a darling little yellow cutie
- Frittilaria – ‘Crown imperial’ is yellow ‘Aurora’ is orange. The flower heads hang down
- Fritillaria meleagris aka checkered lily aka Snake’s head – a purple flower whose single bloom hangs downward
- Starflower
- Blue squill
And there you have it, no smelly sprays, fences or firearms… just bad taste.