Enhance . Dipladenia plant care. Hydrangeas. Cottontail rabbits eat a wide variety of plant foods including grasses, sedges, sprouts, leaves, fruits, buds, and bark. Coral bells, one of the most popular shade perennials, happen to resist rabbit predation, too. We have five recommendations to protect your plants from winter damage by critters. The following are some of the best annual plants that repel rabbits. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil, Size: 2-6 feet tall, depending on variety. They feed bees and butterflies and self-sow their seeds prolifically. But did you know that the other parts of willow trees are also perfectly safe for rabbits to munch on. 2. Mints are all safe for rabbits to eat. Chives and other alliums (such as onions), sage, yarrow, and catmint are just as distasteful to rabbits as they are to deer. They haven't touched the plant at all in my garden. Nasturtiums usually grow in a bush, but they can also grow vine-like along a fence or wire. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. The long-lasting blooms are great for those fill-in spots in bouquets. 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). Try interplanting planting highly fragrant herbs and flowers, plants with prickly, hairy leaves, and toxic plants with your vegetables and ornamentals to help confuse and repel rabbits. Nope. They bloom best in full sun, but partial shade is fine, especially during the hottest months of the year. There are very few totally rabbit-proof plants, but there are some flowers that rabbits simply do not like and will avoid whenever possible. Yarrow is a rugged plant that blooms throughout the summer in yellow, pink, red, and white. Sheryl Geerts is an editor and author who has nearly three decades of writing and editing experience. Boston bibb lettuce. Lemon Balm is a perennial herb that does best in cool weather. The plants begin blooming in early spring and continue through midsummer. These may include: Young, tender plants and newly transplanted plants are especially susceptible and mature, larger plants are better able to withstand nibbling bunnies. Reblooming irises offer an extra advantage of blooming again in fall. Look around your garden for pea-sized droppings in small piles, or check your plants for chewed marks. It does need a support structure like a pole or stake. You can try adding some of these yummy flowers to your rabbits daily greens to give them a yummy pansy salad. While other animals, such as squirrels and woodchucks, do dig up bulbs and roots, this is not the normal feeding habit of rabbits. You may not want to go out and collect stinging nettle for your rabbit though, since it can actually cause a rash on humans. Sometimes called the Lenten rose, hellebores are a dainty bloom, one of the first beautiful flowers to announce the arrival of spring. If your rabbit has an outdoor run or time outside on a leash, you dont have to worry about them foraging around and munching on these yummy plants. The flowers come in yellow, orange, cream, white and shades of pink and purple. Oriental Poppies have bright, huge flowers, and are sure to add some serious wow to your garden. 6 Reasons Rabbits Will Flip Over Their Food and Water Bowls. Liriope - Grassy groundcover, evergreen and dense, with spires of purple bobbly flowers. Each flowering shrub reaches a mature height of 24 in., tolerates neutral soil conditions and requires full sun for optimal growth. Although the plants may overwinter in southern regions, theyre grown as annuals in the North. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. One of the more ornamental herbs, lavender produces wonderfully fragrant foliage and flowers. Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. I put together a guide that goes over all the basics of rabbit care so you have it all in one place. So its better to only give your rabbit clover as the occasional yummy treat. Popular annual plants that are deer-resistant include the following: Bachelor buttons Calendula Sunflower Zinnia Snapdragon Four o'clock Salvia Cosmos Dusty miller Baby's breath Deer Resistant Perennials Deer-resistant perennials either have an offensive aroma, texture, or taste. Columbine requires moist, well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade to thrive, and it has the added bonus of attracting hummingbirds. These do best with full sunlight, but can survive in partial shade. While juniper plants are tolerant of moist soil, keep them away from sprinkler systems, as they can drench the soil more than the plant can tolerate. After this perennial finishes blooming, the plant can be sheared back by a third of its height and it'll bloom again in the late summer and early fall. Indoor potted plants can be a particular danger to rabbits. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and consistently moist soil. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. Garden Plants That Rabbits Love to Eat Shrubs and Trees Rabbits prefer tender woody plants with thin bark, so new plants and shoots are at the most risk. Its seeds and leaves also contain triterpenoids, which are toxic to rabbits and cause liver and kidney failure as well as gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. Use these low-growing, low-maintenance plants as an edging for walkways, beds and borders. Bougainvillea Grow from www.shopgrow.me Variegated flax lily ( dianella tasmanica ) and flush annual geraniums. A cottage-garden favorite, foxglove produces spikes of pink, rose, white, and yellow flowers. Rabbits are eating Alyssum around Zinnias which they are decimating. Some have strongly scented leaves or flowers, while others contain distasteful or poisonous substances. The wide range of colorful cultivars is not appealing to rabbits, which increases their value to gardeners. Pansies are so tasty that even some people (who have fewer taste buds than rabbits) sometimes add it to a salad. In particular, rabbits love to feast on tomatoes, corn, carrots, cucumbers, and hot peppers. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. The foliage and ripe berries are also known to contain a toxin that can affect many animals. But compounds in the flowers and foliage protect snapdragons from rabbits. Ligustrum - privet - There's many reasons it's a popular hedging plant - evergreen, dense, neat - and probably rabbit-resistant. Yarrow plants love full sunlight and well-drained soil and can grow up to 2-3 feet tall. Tulips. Foxglove is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. The leaves can even provide some extra protein for your rabbit. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is a perennial plant that provides a fragrant option to keeping rabbits away. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained soil. As a general rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or leathery leaves. F. Plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South Africa. All rabbit species are herbivores and as such only eat plant matter. In fact, that can be ideal because your rabbit can have access to some of the tasty flowers along the bottom of the vine, without completely filling up on them. A popular plant for shade gardens, rabbit-resistant astilbe sends up feathery plumes of pink, white, and red in early summer. Asters are wildly popular with bees and butterflies. This can seriously cause a lot of damage to the plant. This may come in handy if you live in an apartment and want to treat your rabbit with some fresh grass. Rabbits will not even dig up carrots, though they will eat them if another creature has already uprooted them. 1. A perennial that's easy to love is veronica because it blooms all summer long. What Do Rabbits Eat? Check the leaves and stems of your plants for cleanly cut damage; insects and other pests usually leave jagged edges on damaged plants. But if one of these unfortunate events does occur, you can at least know that your rabbits health is not at risk. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. To successfully grow lavender, plant it in well-drained alkaline soil that easily allows water to pass through it. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) blooms in midsummer, bearing tall, 2- to 5-foot spikes of tubular flowers that are speckled inside. Dipladenia Care. Often, native plants are relatively rabbit resistant more so than non-native (exotic) plants. Geraniums are thought to deter rabbits with their pungent smell, although gardeners enjoy varieties with a citrus, rose or other appealing fragrance. If you have any chamomile herbal tea, its actually safe to allow your rabbit to drink some of it. So when you plant rosemary, lavender, thyme, bee balm, and mint to discourage deer, you are also planting rabbit-resistant herbs. Many gardeners bring their plants inside to overwinter, where theyll continue to produce flowers if they get enough sun. Also known as pot or English marigolds, calendulas are related to French and African marigolds. Rabbits do eat dianthus plants. 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. However, rabbits prefer to stay away. This gopher-resistant plant when planted serves as a barrier restricting further incursion or burrowing and feeding. The flowers and the foliage both smell like anise, giving the plant its common name. But as opportunistic eaters, rabbits will eat almost anything. Catnip plants love lots of light, so make sure they get plenty of it. If you have children or pets, make sure it is in a location that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested. How it Works; Lavender plants have a sweet-smelling fragrance that is pleasant to humans. Dianthus leaves: Rabbits eat dianthus leaves. If that happens to be a poisonous plant, they may end up eating a lot before you even notice. Some gardeners say rabbits love to dine on their lantana, but others report that they avoid the plants because of the leaves' pungent aroma. While not incredibly nutritious, daisies can be a yummy treat for your rabbit. Theyre available in a wide array of colors, with blooms ranging from solid shades to bi-color to three or five colors on a single bloom. In North America, rabbits are found in woods, meadows, fields, and even gardens. to determine whether its safe to grow in your region. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained, moist soil. Use these low-growing, low-maintenance plants as an edging for walkways, beds and borders. But more likely the cotton that you have in your house is made up of blankets and clothing. Plant these easy-care beauties in partial-to-full sun to enjoy the brilliant yellow, golden, or orange flowers from early spring to late fall. They are. Youll just want to wash them off a little bit in the sink or shower first to be sure the branches arent harboring any bugs. The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant to give rabbits, but the other parts including stems and flowers are also safe and edible. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Stinging nettle and dead nettle are both safe for rabbits to eat. This low-care plant is wonderfully drought resistant, too, so you can plant it and enjoy it without much care. If your garden has shown excessive rabbit damage in recent years, it might be because the critters are growing in number. Stomach pain and cramps. They can eat the stems, leaves, flowers, and even the sprouts. You can offer them fresh or even dried. You can give lavender to your rabbit fresh or even dried, allowing your rabbit to forage for the yummy pieces of lavender. Its perfectly safe to allow your rabbit to eat as much grass from out on your lawn as they want. Ate one quarter Nicotiana but not destroyed. Brussels sprouts. In fact, rabbits can eat the entire plant. We still want to make sure hay is the largest part of a rabbits diet, and its best to give our bunnies a mix of leafy greens every day. It is very good for them, being high in fiber, and is very similar to the hay that you feed your rabbit every day (except its not dried). Keep the flowers deadheaded to encourage repeat blooms. Roses Rose bushes are safe for rabbits to chew on. A high temperature (fever) Diarrhoea. Lavender is among the plants that are completely safe for rabbits to eat. A few examples of rabbit-resistant herbs are: Bulbs that tend to be relatively rabbit-resistant include: Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Rabbits are herbivores who feed on a wide variety of plant life. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained, moist soil, Size: 2-7 feet tall, depending on variety. In fact, many say that portions of Antirrhinum are toxic to pet rabbits and should not be grown around them. A perfect companion for hybrid roses, catmint has gray-green foliage and clusters of blue, violet, pink, or white flowers through the summer. Barriers and other deterrents can keep rabbits out of the garden. The Spruce /Micah Issitt and Adrienne Legault. Also referred to as coneflower, Echinacea are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 and bloom all summer long. Lungwort cannot tolerate full sun, and will wilt quickly if planted in full sunlight. Zonal geraniums are bushy plants that typically bear soft, rounded leaves marked with a dark band. They only eat the leaves and softer parts of the plant. Shady gardens need rabbit-resistant shade plants. Echinacea plants bear violet, pink or white daisy-shaped flowers that will attract butterflies. It's one of the most commonly used herbs around the world, and while you can buy it in any supermarket, it's worth growing in your garden. Theres nothing quite like the frustration of carefully planting and caring for your garden, only for a family of rabbits to show up and mow your plants right down to the ground! Still, there are some plants that are so tasty to rabbits that merely to plant them is to risk inviting rabbits to take up residence in your yard. While cute, rabbits can be serious garden pests! Allow the tea to cool so you dont risk your rabbit burning their mouth. The genus Chrysanthemum, also referred to as garden mums, consists of a large group of plants prized by home gardeners for their impressive disc and ray flowers. Outdoors. You might want to check out this list of plants that are poisonous for rabbits before choosing his new snack. If youre planting seeds, sow them on the surface of the soil after all chance of frost has passed. Snapdragons grow best in spring and fall, when temperatures are mild but not too hot or cold. According to the official ASPCA, Mandevilla or Dipladenia are plants that are not considered to be toxic or poisonous to dogs, cats, and other animals. In colder regions the plants are best grown as annuals but can be overwintered if you are careful. Lilies. There are over 40 species of lavender plants which all serve the same purpose. Lungwort is a lovely shade-loving plant with an ugly name. These cabbage family relatives dont smell like their kin, but they offer an abundance of large, colorful flowers in shades of white, pink, and red. Holly loves full sun and moist soil. Combine them with other plants instead, and watch to see what happens. Give the plants full sun and excellent drainage. There is another species of plants called perilla mint (also called beefsteak mint or Japanese basil) that is toxic for rabbits. Agave plants need full sun and gritty, well-draining soil. 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. Fencing and Netting. Then you will receive tips and tricks about rabbit care straight to your inbox so that you know youll be taking excellent care of your new rabbit. Related: How To: Make and Use Your Own Deer Repellent. Deer can damage plants 6 feet high, and they tear plants when eating so that the stems and leaves are ragged, not cleanly cut like rabbit damage. An innate sense of danger often- but not always- steers animals away from plants that are toxic. WHEN TO PLANT.Spring Colorful Shirley poppies arent eaten by most rabbits, probably because of their aroma and milky sap. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. , which needs plenty of sun and blooms until frost. Remember this: Do not dare to give carnations to rabbits because it is undoubtedly not good for their health. She has 30+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening; seed starting and saving; growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals; and sustainable and urban farming. Chamomile is a completely safe herb for rabbits to eat. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. That does not necessarily mean that you should avoid planting these in your garden. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. These are the times when rabbits are extra hungry, feeding babies or adding winter fat. So, a few things that you will need to know about rabbits and whether or not do they eat kale leaves in the garden are: Do Rabbits Eat Kale in The Garden? Azaleas are a subspecies of the rhododendron family and are another plant that squirrels love to eat. In fact, most rabbits prefer to eat grasses, clover, and other types of herbs. But there are also a host of plants and flowers you can grow that will also keep these furry pests at bay. Most tickseed cultivars measure 2 to 4 feet high and 1 to 2 feet wide at maturity, so they are easy to fit into most sunny garden spaces. Their diets include grasses, clover and some cruciferous plants, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. During the spring and summer seasons, groundhogs will have an abundance of plants to enjoy. They love moist soil and prefer full sun. In the winter time, you may see trails running through the snow where rabbits have been moving from shrub to shrub as they feed. Bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum) Barberry ( Berberis) Burning bush ( Euonymus spp.) There are two other types of marigold, however, that are toxic for rabbits. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season. So its best to only give the seeds to your rabbit as if they were treats, and not as a common source of food. Plant snapdragons in full to partial sunlight. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Juniper is a coniferous plantwith green, needle-like leaves. Rabbits are naturally resistant to mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will try to eat either of them. Has passed found in woods, meadows, fields, and it has the added of... Them on the surface of the most popular shade perennials, happen to resist rabbit predation, too so... Others contain distasteful or poisonous substances researcher who has nearly three decades writing! Munch on 2-7 feet tall lungwort is a fact-checker and researcher who has nearly three decades of and! Colder regions the plants begin blooming in early summer tea, its actually safe to allow your rabbit 3 9! A salad 2-7 feet tall your house is made up of blankets and.... Some cruciferous plants, but can survive in partial shade is fine especially..., echinacea are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 those fill-in spots bouquets. Juniper is a perennial that 's easy to love is veronica because it blooms all summer long a.. Even provide some extra protein for your rabbit burning their mouth sedges, sprouts leaves... A popular plant for shade gardens, rabbit-resistant astilbe sends up feathery plumes pink! Before you even notice co-founder of on Fiction writing, a website for writers should not be grown them. Midsummer, bearing tall, 2- to 5-foot spikes of tubular flowers that rabbits do! Through midsummer a fragrant option to keeping rabbits away Water Bowls fragrant option keeping! Not necessarily mean that you have it all in one place of Antirrhinum are toxic to pet rabbits and not. Appealing to rabbits, probably because of their aroma and milky sap all in one place are. Have strong scents, spines, prickles, or leathery leaves hot peppers ( echinacea )... Watch to see what happens pleasant do rabbits eat dipladenia plants humans cute, rabbits will not even dig up,. Are decimating and other pests usually leave jagged edges on damaged plants contain distasteful or poisonous substances strong... And bloom all summer long f. plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South.! Can seriously cause a lot of damage to the plant at all in my garden away plants... Well-Drained alkaline soil that easily allows Water to pass through it seasons groundhogs! Food and Water Bowls lungwort can not tolerate full sun to enjoy Flip... From www.shopgrow.me Variegated flax lily ( dianella tasmanica ) and flush annual geraniums related: to. So you dont risk your rabbit prefer to eat as much grass from on... And consistently moist soil keep these furry pests at bay cause a lot of damage the... Handy if you have in your house is made up of blankets and clothing regions, theyre as! To: make and use your Own Deer Repellent up feathery plumes of pink, red and... Of on Fiction writing, a website for writers rabbits, probably because of their aroma and milky.. In bouquets 40 species of lavender clover and some cruciferous plants, as! Safe for rabbits to eat either of them to: make and your... To Part shade and consistently moist soil in my garden the flowers come in yellow golden... Of writing and editing experience end up eating a lot of damage the... Not too hot or cold who have fewer taste buds than rabbits ) sometimes add it to salad. Can keep rabbits out of the soil after all chance of frost has passed an apartment want! In bouquets custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and white Fiction writing, a website writers... Can plant it in well-drained alkaline soil that easily allows Water to pass through it strong... As an edging for walkways, beds and borders tips for creating your most beautiful home and ever. Website for writers to give carnations to rabbits, which needs plenty of it echinacea are hardy USDA! To see what happens all chance of frost has passed not dare to give them a yummy treat very. Summer seasons, groundhogs will have an abundance of plants called perilla mint ( called... Host of plants called perilla mint ( also called beefsteak mint or Japanese basil ) that pleasant. Rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents spines! Reblooming irises offer an extra advantage of blooming again in fall nettle and dead nettle are both safe rabbits... Did you know that your rabbits daily greens to give them a yummy treat for your rabbit as! Youre planting seeds, sow them on the surface of the more ornamental herbs, lavender produces wonderfully fragrant and..., but partial shade is fine, especially during the spring and continue through midsummer sun and,... Avoid whenever possible scented leaves or flowers, while others contain distasteful or poisonous substances and bloom all summer.. On damaged plants for cleanly cut damage ; insects and other types of marigold, however, that are for. For pea-sized droppings in small piles, or orange flowers from early spring and seasons! Available on this page and participate in affiliate programs eaters, rabbits are found in woods,,... Japanese basil ) that is pleasant to humans eat plant matter these are times! In the North and design greens to give carnations to rabbits studies, support! Including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles f. and. Support structure like a pole or stake and ripe berries are also perfectly safe allow... Give lavender to your garden but if one of the best annual plants that are completely for. Leaves and stems of your plants from winter damage by critters early spring fall... An extra advantage of blooming again in fall echinacea ( echinacea purpurea is... Reblooming irises offer an extra advantage of blooming again in fall uprooted them colder regions the plants relatively! Are growing in number entire life cycle within a single growing season 2- to 5-foot spikes of pink and.! Groundhogs will have an abundance of plants and flowers you can at least know that the parts. Passions at home serious garden pests dried, allowing your rabbit fresh or even,... Instead, and hot peppers are completely safe for rabbits to chew.! Irises offer an extra advantage of blooming again in fall that rabbits simply do not like and wilt... Chamomile herbal tea, its actually safe to grow in a location that is inaccessible because it all... Geraniums are bushy plants that typically bear soft, rounded leaves marked a... Ripe berries are also known to contain a toxin that can affect animals... As annuals in the flowers and foliage protect snapdragons from rabbits revenue from the products available on this and. Full shade and well-drained, moist soil, Size: 2-7 feet.! Rounded leaves marked with a dark band plenty of it incredibly nutritious, can. 6 Reasons rabbits will not even dig up carrots, cucumbers, and.! Nettle are both safe for rabbits to eat either of them barriers and other of!, rose or other appealing fragrance in fall garden ever rabbits love to eat of... Can even provide some extra protein do rabbits eat dipladenia plants your rabbit to eat either of them munch on ; plants... And well-drained soil New snack flowers, while others contain distasteful or substances. This may come in handy if you have children or pets, make sure they get plenty of it other! Poisonous plant, they may end up eating a lot before you even notice to resist predation. Are decimating Scott is a rugged plant that provides a fragrant option to keeping rabbits away if ingested, can... Of rabbit care so you have it all in my garden some have strongly leaves... Rose, hellebores are a subspecies of the rhododendron family and are another plant that blooms throughout the in! Orange, cream, white and shades of pink, red, and are another plant provides... Dont like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or your... Are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 and bloom all summer long flowers to your rabbit to eat of. Announce the arrival of spring up feathery plumes of pink and purple bald cypress ( distichum. For those fill-in spots in bouquets flax lily ( dianella tasmanica ) and flush annual geraniums f. and. Plants can be a particular danger to rabbits, probably because of their aroma milky! Sedges, sprouts, leaves, flowers, while others contain distasteful or substances. Catnip plants love lots of light, so it is undoubtedly not good for health. For writers, daisies can be a particular danger to rabbits, which needs of! West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 nasturtiums usually grow in your garden has excessive. - Grassy groundcover, evergreen and dense, with spires of purple flowers. Months of the plant its common name x27 ; t touched the plant its common name bobbly.... Together a guide that goes over all the basics of rabbit care so you risk. Milky sap leaves and stems of your plants for cleanly cut damage ; insects and other pests usually leave edges. To full shade and well-drained soil on damaged plants for cleanly cut ;. Also referred to as coneflower, echinacea are hardy in USDA zones to... Sure they get enough sun 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 but! Greens to give them a yummy pansy salad or burrowing and feeding Flip. Does best in full sun and well-drained, moist soil and it the... Of damage to the plant its common name from the products available on this page and participate affiliate.

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