Do Deer Eat Basil?

• Deer Dietary Preferences
• Is Basil Deer-Resistant?
• Deer-Resistant Herb Garden

Basil is more than just a kitchen staple; it’s a beautiful and versatile addition to your garden. From sweet basil to Thai basil, this herb brings flavor to your dishes and a pleasant scent to your outdoor space. Its lush green leaves add vibrancy to your garden and can be a perfect match with other plants, creating a lively and fragrant garden.

So if you're planning a garden, you might be wondering: do deer eat basil? Understanding what deer like to munch on is key for keeping your herbs safe. Basil is famous for its strong aroma and use in cooking, but is it safe from deer? Let’s see whether deer eat basil and how you can grow a deer-resistant herb garden.

Deer Dietary Preferences

Deer are flexible eaters, munching on a variety of plants. Their choices can change based on what’s available, the season, and where they are. Generally, deer avoid plants with strong smells, bitter tastes, or tough leaves. Basil’s strong aroma might make it less appealing to them.

As you might now, we actually have deer living on our farm and even near the house, so their taste buds confirm or dispute our theories about what they should enjoy eating. 

So is Basil Deer-Resistant?

Basil, along with rosemary, mint, Greek oregano, sage and thyme, ranks high on the list of deer-resistant herbs. Deer can occasionally attack most any plants, but basil is usually by far not their top pick. The scent of basil, which we love, might actually push deer away. However, if food is scarce, deer might still nibble on your basil plants. So, while basil isn’t their favorite, it’s not entirely off the menu. Theoretically. When feral, possibly quite hungry deer are concerned. In normal circumstances though, deer don't go near this herb if they have even a slightest choice available to them. We grow basil in deers' plain sight and within their reach and it's wildly unpopular amongst them.

Crafting a Deer-Resistant Herb Garden

To build a garden that deer might ignore, try some creative approaches. Besides basil, plant other strong-smelling herbs like rosemary, thyme, mint and sage. These herbs are known for keeping deer at bay because of their strong scents. You can also mix basil with plants like lavender and marigolds, which naturally repel deer (well, most of them). This creates a scent barrier that might stop deer from entering your garden. Also, keep your garden clean by removing fallen fruits, vegetables, and debris that might attract deer. A neat garden is less inviting to deer looking for an easy snack.