I'm lucky to be able to walk a few yards from my house into a beautiful woodland area, and I love spotting wildlife there. But, it does mean my yard is often frequented by squirrels. While adorable to see, these creatures can become a nuisance when it comes to bulbs.
They have a taste for soft, starchy bulbs, like tulips and crocus, which is why you'll often find these dug up if you have a large squirrel population in your area. So, I'm being proactive with getting rid of squirrels from my yard by planting bulbs squirrels don't eat. This is an insurance policy for my spring garden, by choosing bulbs I know these garden visitors won't be tempted to help themselves to.
Choosing these flowers over others will minimize and stop squirrels from digging up bulbs in your yard, resulting in a dazzling, undisturbed display later down the line. Here, I list my top five choices, alongside some expert tips on how to grow them successfully.
5 bulbs squirrels won't eat
If you have a major problem with squirrels tearing your garden to bits, consider also growing squirrel-repellent plants. These are plants that will actually deter squirrels from your yard, often due to the scent they give off. Paired with the below bulbs squirrels don't eat, you can be sure to have a colorful and thriving garden next year.
1. Grape hyacinth
- Hardiness: US hardiness zone 3 to zone 9
- Flowering: March-May
Grape hyacinth (muscari) is a charming miniature bulb, ranging in colors from dark purple to pastel blue, pink, and white. It earns its name from its similar appearance to hyacinths, although they are not related.
You can grow muscari with the confidence squirrels won't help themselves to the bulbs before they have a chance to bloom. This is because these bulbs are highly unpalatable to them, even containing toxic compounds.
'One of the best things about grape hyacinth is its versatility,' says Homes & Gardens' Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull. 'It can be grown in pots, raised beds, and at the front of borders. It looks particularly impressive when planted en masse,' she adds.
Find muscari bulbs at Burpee.
Find muscari bulbs on Amazon.
Rachel is a gardening editor, floral designer, flower grower and gardener. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger. She then trained and worked professionally as a floral designer. She joined the Homes & Gardens team in 2023, where she heads up the Gardens section, and presents the weekly social series Petals & Root
2. Winter aconite
- Hardiness: US hardiness zone 4 to zone 9
- Flowering: January-March
If you're looking for an early spring flowering plant that will be protected from hungry squirrels, consider planting winter aconite bulbs in fall.
These yellow blooms emerge in late winter and alongside daffodils and snowdrops, are some of the earliest signs of spring. Just like muscari, these are bulbs squirrels don't eat thanks to their unpalatable nature.
Winter aconite bulbs contain cardiac glycosides which are toxic to both humans and animals. It can therefore be poisonous and is a bulb squirrels won't attempt to munch on.
'To grow winter aconites, it's important to get bulbs planted by November,' says Rachel. 'They perform best in a partial shade position, making them one of the best woodland plants,' she adds.
Find winter aconite bulbs on Amazon.
3. Camassia
- Hardiness: US hardiness zone 3 to zone 8
- Flowering: April-June
Camassia is a beautiful bulb that offers height during the late-spring and summer months. You plant camassia bulbs in fall where you can rest assured they won't be disturbed by squirrels.
Squirrels find camassia bulbs bitter and unappealing, which is why they make the list of bulbs squirrels don't eat. They also tend to be harder than the softer bulbs squirrels like to feed on (such as tulips).
'It's fairly straightforward to grow camassia for spring and summer,' says Rachel. 'The bulbs should be planted with the pointed edge facing upwards. This is also a bulb to never plant in pots because they have a spreading habit,' she advises.
Find camassia bulbs at Burpee.
Find camassia bulbs on Amazon.
4. Daffodils
- Hardiness: US hardiness zone 3 to zone 9
- Flowering: January-May
It's not surprising that daffodils are on this list of bulbs squirrels don't eat because they're also one of the most effective repellents for squirrels.
Squirrels don't eat daffodil bulbs because they contain lycorine and other alkaloids which are unpleasant and harmful to rodents. For this reason, planting daffodil bulbs is a reliable option for a squirrel damage-free yard.
'Every spring garden needs daffodils and there are actually lots of narcissi bulbs to choose from,' says Rachel. 'One of the key things to do is not cut back daffodils while the foliage is still green, even after the blooms have faded. This helps the bulbs store energy to put on another dazzling show next spring,' she explains.
Find daffodil bulbs at Burpee.
Find daffodil bulbs on Amazon.
5. Summer snowflake
- Hardiness: US hardiness zone 4 to zone 8
- Flowering: April-June
Summer snowflake is easily mistaken for snowdrops as the two have very similar appearances, but they bloom at different times. With snowdrop finishing their show around March, summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) starts to bloom from mid-spring until summer.
Summer snowflake bulbs are unpalatable to squirrels, thanks to the natural chemical deterrents they contain. More widely, leucojum is also safe from deer and other rodents.
'Leucojum is one of the best spring bulbs to plant in fall, rewarding you with stunning white snowdrop-shaped blooms in spring,' says Rachel. 'It's hugely popular with pollinators, providing a nectar-rich source. Choose a full-sun spot for these bulbs, planting in clusters for an impressive naturalizing look,' she adds.
Find summer snowflake bulbs on Amazon.
Shop squirrel-proofing essentials:
These marigold plants can be placed strategically around vulnerable plants and bulbs to deter squirrels. Squirrels can't stand the smell of marigolds, naturally repelling them.
Rodents like rats and squirrels are repelled by the scent of peppermint. You can use this peppermint spray around your yard to create a rodent-proof barrier, keeping your plants safe from damage.
Place these chicken wire plant covers over planted bulbs to stop squirrels digging them up. They can also protect young seedlings from bird, deer, and rodent damage.
FAQs
What do squirrels eat in fall?
Squirrels tend to look for nuts, seeds, and plant roots for fall and winter food. They're also known to dig up soft plant bulbs, particularly favoring tulips and crocus. If you have a large squirrel population in your area, it can be a good idea to choose plants and bulbs they won't target to ensure your garden has plenty of life come spring.
There are lots of other things you can do to protect your garden from squirrel damage. This includes using peppermint to deter squirrels and using marigold flowers to deter squirrels.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.