Keeping the Magic at Bay: Unicorn-Proof Your Garden

April 9th marks International Unicorn Day, celebrating the return of these fantastic beasts after their great winter migration, a period during which they take refuge outside of time and space, in places accessible only to the open hearts of children.

With their return, laidback gardeners sometimes find themselves grappling with these magical beings who love places teeming with color, imagination, life and joyful disorder – in short, gardens where nature reclaims its rights. A slightly wild space, where paths meander and plants spill over the borders, is a real magnet for unicorns.

However, their presence is not without some drawbacks. These majestic creatures feast on sweet nectar-soaked flowers, unscrupulously trample sensitive plants with their glittering hooves, and sometimes leave behind small droppings – delicious, of course, but disastrous for the boots of absent-minded gardeners.

Plants That Attract Unicorns

Unicorns are particularly attracted to sweet-smelling plants, enchanting fragrances and textures as soft as clouds. Among the most irresistible plants for them is the mythical cotton candy plant (Fluffia sucrissima), an extremely rare – and highly imaginary – variety whose fuzzy flowers give off a scent of spun sugar at sunrise. If you want to avoid unicorn visits, it’s best to give up pastel and sweet plants.

Plants That Repel Unicorns

As sensitive as they are elegant, unicorns have a delicate palate, which makes them particularly resistant to bitter plants, whose taste or smell evokes severity rather than reverie. Brussels sprouts, for example, have the same effect on unicorns as they do on many children: grimaces and screams. In short, if you want to dissuade a unicorn from settling here, ask your children which vegetables they hate… and plant them.

Unicorns Predators

Of the few creatures capable of scaring away a unicorn, the dragon remains the most effective. To attract one to your garden, simply create a discreet corner under a pile of rocks, like a fake cave. Pile up a small mountain of “treasures” there – gold, jewelry or other shiny objects are usually enough to arouse its curiosity. If the dragon feels at home there, it will make your garden its territory, providing natural protection against any fairy-tale intruders.

Unicorn Barrier

Preventing unicorns from accessing the garden is simple: just draw a straight, black line! A dull gray concrete wall works just as well. Unicorns are naturally repelled by monochrome, rigid shapes and the absence of fantasy. They prefer diversity, disorder and color… in short, anything that resembles a rainbow.

Repellents

Unicorns are extremely sensitive to the general atmosphere of the places they pass through. A garden that is too controlled – with its straight borders, symmetrical flowerbeds and meticulous maintenance – acts as a powerful repellent. Sarcasm, lack of imagination, excessive seriousness and fear of disorder are all invisible barriers for these sensitive creatures. If you banish unexpected corners, wild plants and winding paths, the unicorns will go their way.

Accepting Unicorns

But if you choose to welcome the unicorns into your garden, a magical balance will eventually be established. Of course, you will have to tolerate a few nibbled flowers and a few over-enthusiastic hooves, but in return, your plants will bloom more abundantly and with even more radiance. The tracks left in the soil will become nests for colorful foliage, and their succulent excrement will trigger a series of underground wonders invisible to the naked eye!

Although unruly, unicorns have a knack for encouraging nature to express itself freely. Their presence attracts fantastic fauna, awakens the seeds of wonder, and transforms a simple garden into an enchanted refuge—where dreams take root.