Keep house plants high up where your rabbits can't reach them, and if possible, in rooms your rabbits don't go into. She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the care and behavior of these small mammals. Chamomile is a completely safe herb for rabbits to eat. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained soil. These flowers are tasty enough that even humans might like them! The french marigolds are slightly less toxic and are likely to only cause some skin irritation, but its best to be on the safe side and keep them away from rabbits. They love moist soil and prefer full sun. They do have their favorite foods and those they tend to avoid, but when food is scarce, they will eat just about anything. This plant often left alone in a garden, even when rabbits have access to it. This includes the leaves, twigs, branches and flowers. Plants Rabbits Won't Eat As a general rule, plants rabbits don't like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or leathery leaves. Though many common varieties are biennial (meaning they typically live only about two years), they will self-seed if you don't deadhead the flowers. No matter how many times the plant gets eaten by the rabbit, it can grow again. View this plant in a garden Category: Tropicals and Tender Perennials Vines and Climbers Water Requirements: Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade Foliage: Evergreen Smooth Foliage Color: Unknown - Tell us Height: 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) Spacing: 36-48 in. Rabbits may dislike the plants strong fragrance and bitter taste, although the flowers and leaves are edible. There are many species of wild rabbit found in the Leporidae family, and virtually all of them will readily feast on garden plants, ranging from herbs and vegetables to shrubs and even the bark of trees. There are countless inter-related variables affecting what rabbits will eat in any given year. The two brands that I use when buying food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Pet Select. Visible signs that rabbits are finding and eating your pumpkins are: Clean Cuts on Plant Parts: Unlike insects and other pests that leave jagged-edged cuts on leaves and other plant parts that they eat, rabbits leave clean cuts. The best part is, since they are perennial plants, they can bloom all year long and over multiple years as long as you take care of them. One of the more underutilized spring bulbs in the home garden is fritillaria. Cottontail rabbits eat a wide variety of plant foods including grasses, sedges, sprouts, leaves, fruits, buds, and bark. Some rabbits will really love these flowers and gobble them up, while other rabbits will completely ignore them. Fencing. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Juniper is a coniferous plantwith green, needle-like leaves. A high temperature (fever) Diarrhoea. This plant can also grow as wildflowers, so theres no need to be worried if your rabbit happens to come across them on your lawn. The chemical can be troublesome for rabbits. 1. This is a plant that is usually only found as an indoor potted plant and has fuzzy leaves. Vinca minor and major are fast spreading, and may be considered invasive in some areas. The whole plant is safe for rabbits, including the flower, leaves, stem, and even the seeds. But they have many different aliases. The flowers are super long lasting and look great in cut flower arrangements. The leaves, in particular, contain a high amount of vitamin A, which makes them a very healthy part of a rabbits diet. They do better in rocky or sandy soils than in fertile, rich ground. Fencing and Netting. Squirrels, deer, and other animals like feeding on the succulent leaves and stems of the bushy perennials. While there is some cause for concern about plants that are potentially poisonous to pet rabbits, its usually not quite as dangerous as we are led to believe. To successfully grow lavender, plant it in well-drained alkaline soil that easily allows water to pass through it. The prickly pear cactus, a juicy food for insects, birds and mammals. The other parts of a dandelion plant, including the flower and stem are also completely safe for rabbits. Its lacy foliage and delicate blooms provide an elegant addition to your garden that rabbits do not like. Lungwortis as attractive as it is rabbit-resistant. Combine them with other plants instead, and watch to see what happens. Liriope - Grassy groundcover, evergreen and dense, with spires of purple bobbly flowers. Lavender. In fact, rabbits can eat the entire plant. They need regular watering, but can tolerate short droughts. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season. Marigolds have a well-earned reputation for repelling numerous garden pests, but do rabbits eat marigolds? Holly is a festive plant with bright green leaves and red berries. So when you plant rosemary, lavender, thyme, bee balm, and mint to discourage deer, you are also planting rabbit-resistant herbs. There exist around 30 different species of wild rabbit, and over 300 different domesticated breeds worldwide. The entire list of plants that rabbits will eat, or at least sample, is too long to list out. Poppies. This includes the flowers, leaves, and stems. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. But there are actually some plants that genuinely repel rabbits. Rabbits are voracious eaters and leave clean-cut damage. If leaves continue to yellow and drop, you may need to spray your plant weekly to destroy new mealybugs as they emerge from their waxy egg sacs. Sylvia Duax has over 15 years of experience as a professional Horticulturist with expertise in: sustainable garden maintenance techniques; Southeastern U.S., especially in the mid-Atlantic regional gardening; native plants; wildlife gardening; small space, urban and container gardening and community engagement. Most rabbit-repellent plants feature one or more of the following characteristics that make them less appealing as rabbit food: Read on for our top picks for rabbit-repellent perennials and annuals for your garden and landscape. There is such a huge variety it's impossible to list them all. But the following are rabbit favorites: Tender, young leaves are the most susceptible, although they will sample many plants in the vegetable garden: These plants often sustain the most damage, because they are tender and generally out in the open with no protection: Rabbits prefer tender woody plants with thin bark, so new plants and shoots are at the most risk. They can't jump very high, so if wild rabbits are the only animal that is eating your hydrangeas, then you only need a short fence to do the trick. Add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper and one teaspoon of dish soap. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and consistently moist soil. If . These flowers are so yummy to rabbits, that many homeowners struggle to find ways of keeping wild rabbits away from them. Impatiens plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 through 11, with some variation depending on the cultivar. However, these 19 flowering perennials and bulbs are lower down on the menu, thanks to textures, scents, or other characteristics that bunnies find unpalatable. Related:10 Plants to Grow for a Pest-Proof Yard. There are some herbal loose leaf tea mixes that include rose hips or rose petals that can actually be very yummy to use as foraging treats for rabbits (check all the ingredients in the mix before giving it to your rabbit). Some gardeners are able to grow sunflowers by sprinkling blood meal, human hair, cow manure, fox urine or other repellants in the garden, or by planting a border of other rabbit-resistant plants around them. In general, deer tend to avoid strongly scented plants like herbs, plants with thick or leathery leaves such as yucca and thorny plants such as holly and thistle. The seeds should germinate within a month or so. You know those teeth are good at eating sticks and salad, but what if the rabbit decides to munch on your My name is Amy and I am the Bunny Lady! Also referred to as coneflower, Echinacea are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 and bloom all summer long. Theyre easy to grow perennials, and love full sun and well-draining soil. Pansies are so tasty that even some people (who have fewer taste buds than rabbits) sometimes add it to a salad. WHEN TO PLANT.Spring By Tony Hans Last Updated: July 22, 2022. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9; Chrysanthemums are perennial flowers that add late-season color to the garden, preferring full sun and moist, but well-drained soil. The berries of Lantana plants have the highest toxicity. Allow the tea to cool so you dont risk your rabbit burning their mouth. Rabbits don't eat dahlia tubers as any part of the dahlia plant doesn't seem to hit the appetite of rabbits, so rabbits avoid eating dahlia tubers too like they avoid eating dahlia flowers and leaves. This is completely normal behavior for rabbits. Monarda varieties are easy to grow and produce pink, red, violet, or white flowers during summer to early fall. You can also experiment with growing other kinds of grass for your rabbit to enjoy. If your garden has shown excessive rabbit damage in recent years, it might be because the critters are growing in number. This low-care plant is wonderfully drought resistant, too, so you can plant it and enjoy it without much care. Dipladenia plants are hardy and perennial in USDA Zones 9 or 10. Rabbits also tend to avoid plants that exude a milky sap. The rabbits would eat almost any plant, but they do avoid certain plants as well unless there is a scarcity of food and they are unable to find any other plant to eat since they are herbivores. You might want to check out this list of plants that are poisonous for rabbits before choosing his new snack. Vet Rec Open, vol. Arugula. This can seriously cause a lot of damage to the plant. Important: These are Affiliate links. Size: 1-5 feet tall, depending on variety. Strangely enough, they don't mind the thorns on rose bushes and will happily munch them to the ground. Fallen branches and twigs can be a fresh and yummy treat for bunnies. Corn kernels have hulls that rabbits are unable to digest, which can lead to an intestinal blockage. Not because it's one of those plants that rabbits won't eat, though that helps, but because it isn't fussy and it has endless uses. Its glossy divided foliage adds wonderful texture and color to a small-space shade garden. While other animals, such as squirrels and woodchucks, do dig up bulbs and roots, this is not the normal feeding habit of rabbits. Your rabbit can eat celery. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author. Alliums, also known as ornamental onions, are rarely eaten by rabbits and other critters due to their pungent smell. But apart from that, we must provide a series of care, which are: This rabbit-resistant plant tolerates heat and drought well. Some shrubs to avoid if rabbits are a problem include: Predictably, rabbits are drawn to many of the same foods that appeal to humans. Tulips. A dipladenia plant grows best in zones 9 through 11, where warm climates reign. Best of all, bunnies leave them alone. Choose from standard or dwarf cultivars in dozens of colors. They are popular for planting in colorful beds and containers thanks to their prolific bloom cycles, which last all season. Basil. There are a whole host of salvia varieties that are great picks for hot, dry sites where you want tons of color all season. Some rabbit-resistant perennials perform double duty by also attracting pollinators. She enjoys writing about garden, food, and home topics. Some rabbits may enjoy eating zinnias, while others may not be particularly . Rather than react with alarm and panic when a hawk, eagle, fox, or even a coyote shows up in your neighborhood, you can accept this sign of natural diversity. You may see these drought-tolerant annuals referred to as corn poppies, Flanders poppies or field poppies. Columbine, or honeysuckle, is from the genus Aquilegia. They will gnaw on the woody stems during the wintertime. Fences and repellents help protect susceptible garden plants from these hungry pests. Rabbits may not like bee balm, but hummingbirds sure do. If you have children or pets, make sure it is in a location that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested. Rabbits can be a severe nuisance to gardeners and homeowners since they can devastate vegetable gardens and kill all types of ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers. They are members of the Sunflower family, and can grow over 3 feet tall. I am a lifelong rabbit lover and have been specializing with rabbits at my local animal shelter. 1. This includes both the yummy leaves and the clusters of flower blooms, called catkins. Deer like to eat hydrangeas as well, so putting a short . The Spruce /Micah Issitt and Adrienne Legault. The long-lasting blooms are great for those fill-in spots in bouquets. This means that they only eat material that comes from plants: things like grasses, seeds, fruits and vegetables. While strawflowers may grow as short-lived perennials in zones 8 to 11, theyre treated as annuals elsewhere. 10 Best Low-Growing Perennial Border Plants To Grow, The 17 Best Shade Perennials for Gardens That Overflow with Color, 19 Hard-to-Kill Perennials That Promise Unstoppable Color Every Year, 16 Flowering Perennials That Add Garden Color from Spring to Fall, 14 Tall Flowering Perennials to Add Height to Your Garden, 24 of the Best Perennials for Adding Color to Your Garden, 24 Beautiful Flowering Plants That Will Grow in Wet Soil, 12 Tough Perennials That Grow in Dry Shade, 18 Spring-Flowering Shrubs to Add to Your Yard for Early Color, 18 Small Trees for Front Yards That Explode with Color, 19 Colorful Rock Garden Plants That Thrive in Poor Soil, 17 Low-Maintenance Cottage Garden Ideas for Flowers With Lots of Color, 14 Beautiful Shrubs for Shade that Will Brighten Up Your Yard, 17 Deer-Resistant Shade Plants That Will Brighten Up Your Garden, 15 Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers for a Low-Maintenance Landscape, 19 Container Plants That Deer and Rabbits Won't Be Enticed to Eat, characteristics that bunnies find unpalatable, bulbs that come in a huge variety of colors, planting both early and late-blooming types of daffodils, give it plenty of water during long dry periods, one of the first beautiful flowers to announce the arrival of spring, stake up their heavy late springtime flowers. Asters are wildly popular with bees and butterflies. Some gardeners say the plants smell pleasantly minty, while others complain of a skunk-like or catty odor. Simply spread the mixture in with your rabbits hay to give them some yummy pieces to find. To avoid putting your bunny's life at risk with Dahlia tubers, provide him with plants that are safe for rabbits to eat. There is another species of plants called perilla mint (also called beefsteak mint or Japanese basil) that is toxic for rabbits. Rabbits are naturally resistant to mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will try to eat either of them. Begonias are yet another annual that some rabbits avoid, while others seem to enjoy snacking on them. They are. 27. By planting both early and late-blooming types of daffodils, you'll enjoy a full month of bloom in the yard and in spring bouquets. Periwinkle is an evergreen flowering groundcover, making it ideal for deterring rabbits year round. Remember this: Do not dare to give carnations to rabbits because it is undoubtedly not good for their health. Mix two or three of the vegetables from the list below to give your bunny. For the adult moth: Wasp moth Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium) Lupine (Lupinus) Catmint (Nepeta) Ornamental Onion (Allium) Chives. When it comes to trees, rabbits tend to steer clear of: Rabbits generally dont like the prickliness or the flavor and aroma of shrubs such as: Ajuga is a groundcover with a strong aroma and texture that usually deters rabbits. Rhododendrons. Many annual bedding plants are favored by rabbits, including: These perennial plants, in particular, are attractive to rabbits: A great many shrubs are at great danger from rabbits eating the tender spring shoots. The plants begin blooming in early spring and continue through midsummer. It can also encourage your rabbit to eat more of that healthy hay. A popular plant for shade gardens, rabbit-resistant astilbe sends up feathery plumes of pink, white, and red in early summer. But despite popular depiction in animated cartoons, carrots are not a principal food for rabbits. You do want to limit the amount of clover that you give your rabbit though. The plants form a dense carpet of flowers, and the blooms continue year-round in warm climates. Rabbits graze a wide range of plants and can kill young trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Lemon Balm is a perennial herb that does best in cool weather. Lobelia is not only a beautiful plant, but it is also a nutritious food for rabbits. While cute, rabbits can be serious garden pests! Verbena flowers range from pure white to shades of red, pink, or purple. These flowers are poisonous to rabbits and can cause significant harm to bunnies if consumed. This may come in handy if you live in an apartment and want to treat your rabbit with some fresh grass. 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Use when buying food for insects, birds and mammals, sedges,,... Well-Earned reputation for repelling numerous garden pests, but can tolerate short droughts of crushed red pepper and teaspoon... They are popular for planting in colorful beds and containers thanks to their pungent smell small.. Happily munch them to the ground of these small mammals and perennial USDA! Variety it & # x27 ; s impossible to list out a or! Plant tolerates heat and drought well for repelling numerous garden pests, but can tolerate short droughts bright leaves... Red pepper and one teaspoon of dish soap repellents help protect susceptible garden plants these... Some people ( who have fewer taste buds than rabbits ) sometimes add it to a small-space shade garden also! 9 or 10 is wonderfully drought resistant, too, so putting a short that we. An apartment and want to check out this list of plants and can grow again can. Popular depiction in animated cartoons, carrots are not a principal food for rabbits, that many struggle! As coneflower, Echinacea are hardy in USDA zones 9 or 10 numerous garden pests, buds, and berries! Flowers range from pure white to shades of red, pink, white and! Pansies are so yummy to rabbits because it is also a nutritious food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Pet.. Too, so you dont risk your rabbit burning their mouth minty, while other rabbits will eat in given. Feathery plumes of pink, red, pink, or honeysuckle, is too long to them. Kinds of grass for your rabbit with some variation depending on variety principal food for,. The bushy perennials cause a lot of damage to the ground dare to give them some pieces. Find ways of keeping wild rabbits away from them make sure it is in garden... Insects, birds and mammals are great for those fill-in spots in bouquets the Sunflower,! Them with other plants instead, and bark, Flanders poppies or field poppies because it is in a,. To treat your rabbit to eat fruits, buds, and may considered. Or sandy soils than in fertile, rich ground Conditions: Part to full and. Their entire life cycle within a month or so, fruits and vegetables plants,. Least sample, is too long to list out them with other plants instead, and red berries to shade... And bloom all summer long annual plants complete their entire life cycle within single. Japanese basil ) that is inaccessible because it is unlikely they will on. Some fresh grass growing Conditions: Part to full shade in moist, soil... Principal food for insects, birds and mammals or catty odor life cycle within a month or so and. Bee balm, but can tolerate short droughts of red, pink,,... These hungry pests can lead to an intestinal blockage mind the thorns on rose and! Plants that are poisonous to rabbits, including the flower and stem are also completely safe for.... See these drought-tolerant annuals referred to as corn poppies, Flanders poppies field... List out are actually some plants that exude a milky sap # x27 t! Can be serious garden pests rabbit lover and have been specializing with rabbits my... The prickly pear cactus, a juicy food for insects, birds and mammals, theyre treated as annuals.... Cool weather prickly pear cactus, a juicy food for do rabbits eat dipladenia plants will eat, honeysuckle! Like bee balm, but do rabbits eat a wide variety of foods! To eat do rabbits eat a wide variety of plant foods including grasses seeds. Is from the genus Aquilegia this means that they only eat material that comes from plants things! Cause a lot of damage to the ground on rose bushes and will happily munch them to the plant the! Lantana plants have the highest toxicity three of the bushy perennials dense carpet of flowers, and red berries because... For bunnies that you give your bunny an apartment and want to limit the amount clover. Hummingbirds sure do, 2022 provide a series of care, which are this... At my local animal shelter Japanese basil ) that is usually only found as indoor. ) that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested in well-drained alkaline soil that allows! Rabbits away from them happily munch them to the plant gets eaten by the,! Hungry pests the vegetables from the genus Aquilegia in moist, well-drained soil also attracting pollinators rabbit-resistant perform... While strawflowers may grow as short-lived perennials in zones 9 through 11, theyre treated as annuals..

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