Deer-Resistant Spring Bulbs (and the Ones Deer Eat)

Daffodils, allium, snowdrops, and Siberian squill are rarely eaten by deer. Crocus, hyacinth, and grape hyacinth are seldom badly damaged. Tulips are a de...

Published 2026-10-06 by ThriveThyme

bulbs deer fall planting

The Short Answer

If deer visit your yard, plant daffodils, ornamental allium, snowdrops, and Siberian squill. Rutgers rates them as rarely damaged. Crocus, hyacinths, and grape hyacinth are seldom severely damaged. Tulips get the worst rating: frequently severely damaged.

Rutgers Deer Ratings for Spring Bulbs

Rarely damaged (A):

• Daffodils (Narcissus)
• Ornamental allium
• Snowdrops (Galanthus)
• Siberian squill (Scilla siberica)
• Winter aconite, crown imperial, and bluebell (Endymion) are also rated A.

Seldom severely damaged (B):

• Crocus
• Hyacinth
• Grape hyacinth (Muscari)

Frequently severely damaged (D):

• Tulips

No plant is deer proof. Hungry deer in a hard winter will try almost anything, and results depend on how many deer live near you.

Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Voles

Deer eat the leaves and flowers. Squirrels, chipmunks, and voles go after the bulbs underground. Tulips and crocus are their top targets. Daffodils and allium are left alone because daffodils are toxic and allium tastes of onion.

• Lay hardware cloth or chicken wire flat over the bed after planting, then cover with mulch. Shoots grow through the holes.
• Clean up the papery bulb skins after planting. The scent draws diggers.
• Plant tulips inside a ring of daffodils.

Planting Dates

All of these bulbs go in when soil at 6 inches is below 60F. In zones 3 to 8 that is about 2 weeks before typical first frost through 2 weeks after. Get your dates on the Bulb Desk, which also shows the Rutgers rating next to each bulb.

Sources

• Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance
• Nebraska Extension, Spring Flowering Bulbs (G1742)

Next Steps

Start with when to plant daffodil bulbs by zone. Depth and spacing for every bulb here are in how deep and how far apart to plant bulbs.