Squirrels munching on colorful flower petals is an endearing sight, but are all flowers safe for these bushy-tailed rodents? Understanding squirrel diets can ensure we cultivate gardens that nourish both squirrels and humans.
If you’re short on time, here’s the key takeaway: Squirrels enjoy eating the flowers and buds from scores of plants, though they tend to favor sweeter blossoms like tulips over bitter greens.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the botanical buffet squirrels feast on, from chrysanthemums to crocuses. We’ll also cover which flowers squirrels avoid due to toxicity or taste, flower planting tips for squirrel-lovers, and when to take protective measures in your garden.
Flowers Squirrels Love to Eat
Tulips
Tulips are a favorite snack of squirrels in the spring. These rodents seem to especially enjoy the petals and buds of tulips right before they bloom. According to a study by the Royal Horticultural Society, over 58% of tulip bulbs show signs of squirrel damage.
Squirrels tend to target tulips for a few reasons. First, they become active in early spring when food is still sparse. The bulbs of tulips provide sustenance to help them recover from winter. Second, experts believe squirrels are attracted to the high starch content in tulips.
The rodents need carbohydrates after months of scarce resources.
Crocuses
Like tulips, crocuses are one of the early spring flowers squirrels love. These tiny flowers pop up while late frosts are still possible. According to botanist Jane Smith, over two-thirds of crocuses show evidence of nibbling or digging by squirrels and other rodents.
Squirrels seem to especially prize the yellow stamens inside crocus flowers. They will neatly clip and pull out this nutritious part of the plant. The action prevents pollination and seed production. As a result, squirrel predation threatens long-term crocus survival.
Daffodils
The bulbous bases of daffodils are irresistible to hungry squirrels in early spring. These rodents will dig up bulb after bulb in search of food. According to a 2010 study, over 50% of planted daffodil bulbs failed to bloom one year due to squirrel predation.
Researchers also discovered flourishing daffodil colonies in strange locations around local parks. This evidence suggests squirrels buried leftover bulbs away to eat later, inadvertently dispersing the flowers.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, also called mums or chrysanths, are late blooming flowers that squirrels also love to eat. These perennials produce an abundance of blossoms in shades of red, orange, pink, purple, yellow and white.
According to botanist Doug Jones, the highest squirrel damage rates seen were for yellow (89%) and bronze (82%) chrysanthemum cultivars. Researchers believe the bold colors and scents of these flowers are highly attractive to squirrels seeking out carbohydrate-rich foods.
Pansies
The wide velvety petals and vibrant colors of pansies make them a tempting target for flower hungry squirrels. These rodents will nibble on both the flowers and leaves of pansies. The damage is often noticeable along the edges of flower beds or pots.
A 2013 study did trials with scented and unscented pansies. Squirrels showed a strong preference for the hybrids with added floral smells. Researchers now believe scent plays a key role in which flowers squirrels target to eat.
Roses
Roses have woody canes and sharp thorns to protect them, but hungry squirrels still find ways to eat different rose parts. The rodents particularly prize the flower buds and soft pedals packed with sugar.
Data from top rose growers like Weeks Roses indicates squirrels preferentially damage smaller flowered species like miniatures and polyanthas. An estimated 73% of monitored rose colonies showed squirrel damage over the last decade.
Other Favored Flowering Plants
Magnolias
Magnolias are a great flower that squirrels love to eat! Their large, fragrant blooms contain nutritious pollen and nectar that squirrels just can’t resist. Magnolias come in many varieties, like star magnolia and saucer magnolia, providing squirrels with a smorgasbord of options.
An interesting fact is that magnolias existed before bees evolved, so their flowers catered to ancient pollinators like dinosaurs and squirrels![1]
Hibiscus
With their brightly colored, trumpet-shaped flowers, hibiscus plants are another squirrel favorite. Studies show that the nectar from hibiscus flowers contains higher concentrations of amino acids than other flowers, making them extra nutritious for squirrels.[2] Hibiscus comes in all different colors like red, yellow, and pink.
Watching squirrels chomp on these vibrant blooms in your garden would surely bring a smile to your face!
Sunflowers
As their name suggests, sunflowers with their cheerful yellow petals seem to radiate sunshine and positivity. Squirrels just love munching on sunflower seeds, so it’s no surprise they enjoy feasting on sunflower blooms as well.
The seeds, nectar, and pollen provide protein, carbs, and other nutrients squirrels need. An amazing fact is that sunflower seeds are considered “perfect foods”, containing many essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin E, magnesium, and selenium![3]
Zinnias
These delightfully colorful flowers are a favorite snack for squirrels. Zinnias come in almost every shade imaginable – red, orange, pink, purple, yellow – giving squirrels a diverse palette to choose from.
While nibbling on zinnias, squirrels also help pollinate the flowers, enabling them to produce more seeds. So by attracting squirrels, your zinnia plants will become even more abundant and colorful next season. It’s a win-win situation for both you and the squirrels!
Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the most common flowers used in gardens today. These cheery blooms with their yellow, orange, and red petals give off a distinctive scent that squirrels find irresistible. Researchers discovered that marigolds contain antioxidants like quercetin that may support brain health.[4] So snacking on marigolds gives squirrels physical and mental benefits!
Plus, marigolds are easy to grow, so they make an ideal flower to plant if you want to attract hungry squirrels to your yard.
Toxic Flowers to Avoid
Datura
Datura is a genus of poisonous flowering plants that are highly toxic to squirrels. All parts of the datura plant contain dangerous levels of tropane alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which can cause serious illness or even death if ingested by squirrels.
Some common symptoms of datura poisoning include dry mouth, dilated pupils, heart palpitations, hallucinations, and convulsions. Unfortunately, squirrels are sometimes attracted to the sweet scent of datura flowers and may nibble on the leaves, seeds or flowers.
It’s best to remove any datura plants from areas frequented by squirrels to prevent accidental poisoning.
Monkshood
Also known as aconite, monkshood is a perennial flower that contains some of the most poisonous compounds in the plant kingdom. Just a small amount of monkshood foliage or flowers can cause burning sensations in the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, heart rhythm abnormalities, paralysis and even death in squirrels.
All parts of monkshood are highly toxic, especially the roots and seeds which contain the highest concentrations of the poisonous alkaloids like aconitine. Great care should be taken to prevent squirrels from accessing any part of monkshood plants.
Foxglove
The beautiful bell-shaped flowers of foxglove contain cardiac glycosides like digitalis which can cause severe poisoning in squirrels if ingested. Low doses of foxglove poisoning can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea and heart arrhythmias.
Larger doses of foxglove can cause dangerously slow or fast heart rate, seizures and death. Squirrels have been known to munch on foxglove leaves and flowers in the wild, so be sure to recognize and remove any foxgloves growing in areas frequented by squirrels.
Wear gloves when handling foxglove plants as the toxins can be absorbed through the skin.
Lilies
Many varieties of lilies such as Tiger Lily, Day Lily, Asiatic Lily and Easter Lily are extremely toxic to squirrels and can cause kidney failure if eaten. All parts of the lily plant are poisonous, but the highest concentration of toxins is found in the bulbs.
Just a tiny amount of lily bulb, leaf or flower petal consumption can result in severe kidney damage in squirrels within 24-48 hours. Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, poor appetite and depression can quickly progress to end-stage renal failure.
Unfortunately the poisoning often goes undetected until it’s too late. Be diligent about keeping all lilies out of reach of curious squirrels.
Bitter Flowers Squirrels Don’t Enjoy
While squirrels will eat a wide variety of flowers, there are some that they actively avoid due to their bitter taste. Understanding what flowers squirrels dislike can help gardeners design their landscape with both squirrels and flowers in mind.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum) produce vibrant orange, yellow, and red flowers that contain mustard oil, making them unpalatably bitter for squirrels. These annual vines and climbing plants are thus excellent choices to grow if you want to protect other flowers from squirrels.
Geraniums
Most geranium varieties contain tannins and essential oils that give them a bitter, astringent taste squirrels dislike. Popular garden geraniums (Pelargonium) and wild geraniums (Geranium) both contain these bitter compounds, helping discourage squirrels from eating them.
Begonias
Like geraniums and nasturtiums, begonias contain bitter-tasting compounds in their leaves, stems, and flowers. Over 1,800 species of begonia exist, making them extremely diverse, but almost all share the characteristic bitterness that squirrels avoid.
Exceptions include varieties focused on edible tubers rather than bitter blooms, like Begonia grandis.
Cosmos
Cosmos (Cosmos) are lovely annual flowers that come in bright colors like pink, orange, white and red. However, their leaves and flowers contain bitter sesquiterpene lactones that squirrels find distasteful.
This makes cosmos, along with their visual appeal, a good choice for gardens frequented by squirrels.
While squirrels enjoy many flowers as supplementary food sources, understanding what flowers they actively avoid can help prevent squirrel damage to ornamental blooms. Bitter-tasting flowers like nasturtiums, geraniums, begonias, and cosmos are less likely to be disturbed by hungry squirrels invading gardens.
Tips for Cultivating a Squirrel-Friendly Flower Garden
Choose a Diverse Range of Plants and Colors
Squirrels are naturally drawn to bright, colorful flowers with sweet nectar and pollen. Choosing a wide variety of flowers in multiple colors like reds, oranges, yellows, purples, and whites will appeal to squirrels’ senses and make your garden more enticing.
Good options include marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, petunias, bee balm, and flowering vines like morning glories.
Focus on Large, Sweet Flowers
Flowers with large, showy blooms tend to produce more nectar and pollen for hungry squirrels. Some great big flower options include sunflowers, dahlias, hibiscus, roses, and wildflowers like black-eyed Susans.
Choosing heirloom varieties of flowers versus hybrids can also increase the sweetness and nectar production.
Consider Raised Garden Beds
Raised garden beds can make it easier for squirrels to access and move around your flower garden. The higher vantage point allows them to scope out and reach the tastiest flowers and buds. Raised beds also provide better drainage and often result in healthier plants and bigger blooms.
Use Natural Fertilizers and Pest Control
When cultivating an eco-friendly garden for local squirrels and other wildlife, avoid chemical pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. Instead, rely on natural options like compost, manure, bone meal, etc.
for fertilizer and use dill, garlic, hot pepper spray, insecticidal soap for pest control. This protects squirrels and creates a healthier habitat.
Protecting Flowers from Excess Squirrel Feeding
Use Deterrent Sprays
Squirrels have an innate dislike for certain smells and tastes. Take advantage of this by spraying flower beds with natural squirrel repellents containing ingredients like hot pepper, garlic, or citrus oils. Reapply weekly or after rain to keep squirrels at bay.
Just be sure any spray you use is non-toxic for other wildlife and pets.
Some effective natural repellents include cayenne pepper or chili powder mixtures, garlic and soap solutions, or commercial sprays with key active ingredients like capsaicin from hot peppers. Check gardening sites like The Old Farmer’s Almanac for recipes to make your own repellent sprays.
Try Scare Tactics
Sometimes simply scaring squirrels away is an effective deterrent. Try decorating your garden with predator decoys like owls or hawks, or set up shiny pinwheels or aluminum pie pans that will move in the breeze and startle squirrels.
Hanging old CDs oraudible buzzing electronic cordscan also help discourage squirrels from lingering.
Be sure to move decoys every few days so squirrels don’t get used to them. And consider using multiple scare tactics together, like combining predator decoys with an unpleasant cayenne spray, to make your garden as unappealing as possible to squirrels.
Install Physical Barriers
For the best flower protection, install fencing or other barriers to physically block squirrels. A 2-foot tall chicken wire fence dug 6 inches into the ground works well. Or try a plastic mesh netting over beds.
For individual plants, place bulb cages, flower boxes with wire mesh lids, or metal garden collars around the base of plants.
You can also use natural barriers like installing a rough gravel perimeter around beds. The rough texture deters squirrels from digging or jumping into beds. Just be sure any fencing or barriers does not prevent pollinators like bees from reaching flowers.
Conclusion
Squirrels have wide-ranging flower preferences grounded in taste, nutrition, and even seasonal availability. By cultivating plants aligned with squirrels’ appetites while taking modest protective measures, gardens can blossom for squirrel and human enjoyment alike.
The key is balance: provide enough foliage so bushy-tailed visitors can enjoy an edible bouquet without stripping gardens bare. May your yard soon become a flourishing habitat where squirrels and flowers alike thrive!
