From the perspective of the Calibrachoa plant, our survival and proliferation depend on our ability to deter predators while attracting pollinators. The question of whether deer and rabbits consume us is a matter of our evolved defense mechanisms and the foraging preferences of these herbivores.
Our most significant defense against browsing mammals is our biochemical makeup. We produce certain alkaloids and other secondary metabolites that render our foliage and flowers unpalatable to many animals. To the sensitive palate of a rabbit or deer, we taste bitter and slightly toxic. This is not an absolute guarantee of safety, as extreme hunger can override taste aversion, but under normal circumstances, we are a low-preference food source. We are not a plant they actively seek out when more appetizing options like hostas, impatiens, or tender vegetable shoots are available.
Deer are opportunistic feeders with a vast dietary range. However, they tend to avoid plants with strong scents, fuzzy leaves, or toxic properties. We are often listed on "deer-resistant" plant lists because we possess some of these traits. A deer may sample us, especially young, tender shoots in early spring when other food is scarce, but they rarely devour an entire planting. Their feeding is typically characterized by a quick, investigative bite rather than sustained grazing, often leaving behind damaged but not destroyed plants.
Rabbits present a different challenge. As smaller, ground-level foragers, they can cause significant damage to low-growing annuals. While we are also not a preferred meal for rabbits, the risk is slightly higher than with deer. A young, curious rabbit is more likely to take a test nibble on our stems and blooms. Furthermore, if a rabbit population is high and its preferred food sources are depleted, they may resort to eating us out of necessity, though they will likely move on to more desirable plants as they become available.
Our vulnerability is not constant; it is influenced by external factors. During a drought or a harsh winter, the natural food supply for deer and rabbits diminishes drastically. In these periods of scarcity, hunger will overcome their natural aversion to our taste, and they will consume plants they would otherwise ignore. Similarly, a sudden increase in the local animal population can lead to increased pressure on all available vegetation, including us.
Our growth habit also plays a role. As low-mounding or trailing plants, we are inherently more accessible to rabbits than to deer, who must bend down to reach us. From a horticultural perspective, we are often planted in containers, hanging baskets, and raised beds. This placement can offer a degree of physical protection, making it more difficult for rabbits to reach us and placing us out of the direct line of sight for deer browsing on the perimeter of a garden.
