From a botanical perspective, impatiens (Impatiens walleriana and related species) are categorically not considered deer-resistant plants. They are, in fact, a preferred food source for deer in many regions. The reason for this lies in the plant's physical and chemical makeup. Unlike many plants that have evolved robust defense mechanisms, impatiens lack the traits that typically deter hungry herbivores like deer. Their tender foliage, high water content, and lack of offensive textures or toxic compounds make them an easily accessible and palatable snack, much like a salad bar for the local deer population.
Deer-resistant plants often possess one or more key defensive characteristics that impatiens notably lack. Firstly, impatiens have extremely soft, succulent stems and leaves. They do not have thorns, prickles, or tough, fibrous foliage that would make them difficult or unpleasant to eat. Secondly, the leaves are not aromatic. Plants like lavender, sage, or rosemary deter deer with their strong scents, which are caused by volatile essential oils that deer find unpalatable. Impatiens leaves have little to no scent, offering no olfactory warning. Most importantly, impatiens do not produce significant levels of toxic or bitter-tasting chemical compounds, such as alkaloids or iridoid glycosides, which are found in truly deer-resistant plants like daffodils or foxgloves.
The very features that make impatiens a popular choice for gardeners are what make them so appealing to deer. The plant's tissues are hydrating due to their high moisture content, which is particularly attractive to deer, especially during dry periods. Furthermore, the lush, rapid growth of impatiens, fueled by their preference for rich soil and consistent watering, results in tender, nitrogen-rich vegetation. This type of growth is highly nutritious and easily digestible for deer, representing a valuable and low-effort food resource compared to tougher, woody, or chemically protected plants.
When a deer browses on an impatiens plant, the damage is typically severe and characteristic. Deer lack upper incisors, so they tear plant material rather than making a clean cut. This results in ragged breaks on stems and leaves, often stripping entire branches. A single feeding event can destroy a mature impatiens plant, as the soft stems are easily broken and the foliage is consumed en masse. Unlike a nibble from an insect, deer browsing can remove the entire top growth of the plant in seconds, halting photosynthesis and often killing it outright or severely stunting its ability to recover and flower.
Given that the impatiens plant itself cannot deter deer, the protective strategy must come from the gardener. If deer are a known presence in your area, the most effective approach is to avoid planting impatiens in open, accessible areas and instead opt for plants with proven resistance. These include species with furry or leathery leaves (lamb's ear, bearded iris), strong scents (catmint, Russian sage, peonies), or toxic properties (daffodils, monkshood). For gardeners committed to growing impatiens, the only reliable solutions are physical barriers, such as high fencing, or the use of commercial deer repellent sprays that must be applied and reapplied consistently to make the plants taste or smell unpleasant.
