But if one of these unfortunate events does occur, you can at least know that your rabbits health is not at risk. This easy-to-grow perennial adds great texture to many other front-of-the-border plants. Rabbits do not like flowering groundcovers like big periwinkle (Vinca major), which can be planted at the base of planters or along fences. But the mild toxicity of the flowers and foliage repels rabbits. Squirrels, deer, and other animals like feeding on the succulent leaves and stems of the bushy perennials. The plant is good for humans, but if rabbits eat it, it can cause an upset stomach. It's very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. But rabbits have two pairs of both upper and lower incisors, while rodents have only one set. And since they are not strongly toxic to rabbits, it is okay to keep them in the same vicinity. As a general rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or leathery leaves. Plant daylilies in full to partial sunlight, preferably in moist soil that drains well. 7, no. Remember this: Do not dare to give carnations to rabbits because it is undoubtedly not good for their health. 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. 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. Pansies are cute, unique flowers that make nice potted plants or garden plants. 27. Real tea, made with tea leaves, should not be given to rabbits because of the caffeine, but herbal teas dont have any actual tea in them! The prickly pear cactus, a juicy food for insects, birds and mammals. Begonias are yet another annual that some rabbits avoid, while others seem to enjoy snacking on them. Nope. These bulbs bloom in shades of red, orange, yellow, white, and pink and offer a variety of flower shapes. Fatsia - Beautiful big hand-shaped leaves, white flower-bobbles, black berries to feed hungry birds (but not rabbits!) Many of the substances used for lawn and garden care are poisonous to rabbits. This includes the leaves, twigs, branches and flowers. Rabbits tend to create a clean cut when they bite, so your plants will look like someone took shears to them. Rio Dipladenia plants require 2 inches (5 cm) of water every few days, at least 4 . Rabbits inflict their most significant damage in fall by chewing on woody plants until they're more vulnerable to cold. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. There are countless inter-related variables affecting what rabbits will eat in any given year. Some gardeners say the plants smell pleasantly minty, while others complain of a skunk-like or catty odor. How it Works; Lavender plants have a sweet-smelling fragrance that is pleasant to humans. Fortunately, a lot of the same plants that deer don't like are also disliked by rabbits. Grow geraniums in full sun and keep the faded flowers removed to encourage reblooming. They are members of the Sunflower family, and can grow over 3 feet tall. Controlling and Deterring Rabbits in the Garden, 31 Best-Deer Resistant Flowers and Plants to Grow, How to Get Rid of Chipmunks Without Harming Them, How to Keep Deer Away From Your Landscape, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, list of plants rabbits generally don't eat. 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. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Grow it in full sun to part shade, in almost any type of soil; its both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant. It will die back in freezing weather, but regrow in the spring. Fallen branches and twigs can be a fresh and yummy treat for bunnies. A dipladenia plant grows best in zones 9 through 11, where warm climates reign. 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. 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. Growing Conditions:Part to full shade and consistently moist, well-drained soil. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Most varieties will die after blooming and produce pups from the base to replace themselves. Chamomile is a completely safe herb for rabbits to eat. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This plant also has nutritional and medicinal value. Lemon Balm is a perennial herb that does best in cool weather. Impatiens plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 through 11, with some variation depending on the cultivar. When the rabbit population swells, gardeners experience losses as hungry bunnies feed on lush greenery throughout spring and summer and tender woody plants in winter. One of the hardiest garden plants, daylilies bloom in a rainbow of shades and can take all but the toughest conditions. Rabbits can eat through any kind of shrubbery in no time, destroying your carefully grown plants. Hostas. Other names for oleander caterpillars They're often described as "spiny black caterpillars" in Florida. It can potentially cause digestive issues with rabbits, especially if eaten in large amounts. Tough vincas are evergreen groundcovers that bear pretty white or blue flowers in shady areas each spring. 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. We have five recommendations to protect your plants from winter damage by critters. Check the Lower Parts of the Plant: As grazers, rabbits prefer . They also tend to be pink or red in color while Mandevilla flowers come in a wider range of colors. Often, native plants are relatively rabbit resistant more so than non-native (exotic) plants. Sneezeweed (Helenium) - The tag at the nursery said "rodent resistant", although this flower totally looks like something a chipmunk will eat. The flower spikes appear in cheery shades of blue, pink, and white. The blooms typically appear in shades of violet and white and can easily be preserved as a dried flower for use in sachets and other craft projects. Give salvias full sun to light shade, in garden spots with average, well-drained soil. While not incredibly nutritious, daisies can be a yummy treat for your rabbit. Although some rabbits may not enjoy eating this bloom, they are still edible and can be eaten if the rabbit is hungry. Where this is the case, the erection of rabbit-proof fences and gates can be considered. Catnip plants love lots of light, so make sure they get plenty of it. Dipladenia Care. Allow the tea to cool so you dont risk your rabbit burning their mouth. 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. Rabbits will not even dig up carrots, though they will eat them if another creature has already uprooted them. This page provides some choices of plants that are relatively resistant to rabbits. Despite these leaf-eating behaviors, not all plants are completely safe for rabbits to eat. Lungwort is a lovely shade-loving plant with an ugly name. So its better to only give your rabbit clover as the occasional yummy treat. Butterflies and hummingbirds, on the other hand, love the tubular flowers. Look around your garden for pea-sized droppings in small piles, or check your plants for chewed marks. This rabbit-resistant plant tolerates heat and drought well. If . An Unwanted Guest in the Garden. 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. Vegetation that is not toxic and is readily available will often be munched by a wild rabbit. North Dakota State University suggests mixing three fresh jalapeno peppers, ground in a blender, with enough water to make a liquid solution. You may not want to go out and collect stinging nettle for your rabbit though, since it can actually cause a rash on humans. But as opportunistic eaters, rabbits will eat almost anything. Ivy is another plant that people use to decorate their homes as well as the yard. Rabbits are herbivores who feed on a wide variety of plant life. It has a high amount of protein and can cause digestive upset or weight gain in high amounts. Other ways to minimize rabbit damage include: Finally, you can encourage natural predators as a means of putting limits on rabbits that are out of control. They can be much more toxic than poison plants, so be sure to pay attention to any chemicals you use to keep your garden and plants looking nice. Ajuga, or Bugleweed plants, are perfect for ground cover, and may be rose, white, or purple. The teeth marks are often evident in the wood of the shrub or tree. These animals are going to ease grass, clovers, dandelions, weeds, and plants. Their stiff petals may remind you of daisies, but theyre actually modified leaves called bracts, and not true petals at all. Well-draining, loamy, or sandy soil is best and should be kept moist. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Snapdragons grow best in spring and fall, when temperatures are mild but not too hot or cold. The whole plant is safe for rabbits, including the flower, leaves, stem, and even the seeds. While you may want to keep your rabbit away so they dont eat up your lovely potted jasmine plant, you can at least know it wont do any harm to your rabbit. The flowers and the foliage both smell like anise, giving the plant its common name. 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. Most of the time when rabbits have enough safe plants to munch on, theyll ignore other unsafe plants because these dont taste as good. There is another species of plants called perilla mint (also called beefsteak mint or Japanese basil) that is toxic for rabbits. Visit the USDA website to determine whether its safe to grow in your region. Enhance . Safe flowers can be given in moderation, but shouldnt make up a large portion of a rabbits diet. Its perfectly safe for rabbits though, and does not appear to cause any kind of skin irritation. This rabbit-repelling flower is also drought and heat tolerant. While children (and adults) love playing with snapdragon blooms to make the little flowers snap open, rabbits find the plants unpalatable. If you want to experiment in an area where rabbits are a problem, avoid planting an entire row or bed of them. Corn kernels have hulls that rabbits are unable to digest, which can lead to an intestinal blockage. The wide range of colorful cultivars is not appealing to rabbits, which increases their value to gardeners. Whether you keep them potted inside or grow them in a garden, you may not want your rabbit to get ahold of these flowers because of how beautiful they are. With wild rabbits at epidemic numbers in many suburban and even urban areas, it is no surprise that small natural predators have popped up in areas where it was once unusual to see them. Though the leaves are its best feature, lamb's ears also produces spikes of pink flowers throughout the summer. Sprinkle with five cloves of garlic and dip them in water. 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. Violet leaves, flowers and stems are safe for rabbits to eat. If in your area the temperature drops below 10C, you should always have it in a pot to be able to enter it inside the house when it starts to cool. However, theres hope for your garden! Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. Rhododendrons. These do best with full sunlight, but can survive in partial shade. Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium) Lupine (Lupinus) Catmint (Nepeta) Ornamental Onion (Allium) Chives. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and consistently moist soil. Its easy to grow and spreads quickly, and is resistant to drought, heat, and wind. GardenLoversClub.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Alliums, also known as ornamental onions, are rarely eaten by rabbits and other critters due to their pungent smell. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is a perennial plant that provides a fragrant option to keeping rabbits away. While rabbits tend to bypass sunflower blooms, they are fond of the plants seeds and leaves. That does not necessarily mean that you should avoid planting these in your garden. Thyme. They do not eat eggs, meat, or dairy - or any animal based products. Deer like to eat hydrangeas as well, so putting a short . What Do Rabbits Like to Eat? Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. You can offer them fresh or even dried. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Fortunately, there are many flowering plants -- annuals, perennials and shrubs -- that rabbits generally avoid. They come in both annual and perennial varieties. Bell peppers. 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. Simply spread the mixture in with your rabbits hay to give them some yummy pieces to find. 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. Rabbits have favorite foods, and thats why your neighbors plants may fare better than yours. Humidity is not too important, but temperatures must be above 65 (18.3). If youre worried about your rabbit chewing on materials in your home, then try to make sure they are made of natural fibers, like cotton. Just remember to avoid using any poisonous fertilizers or pesticides out on your lawn. Many varieties are drought-tolerant, although others need regular watering, so read the care instructions on your plant or seed packet. This means garden plants and potted house plants can often fall prey to a curious rabbit. Lobularia maritima bears clusters of tiny white, lavender, violet or pink flowers in spring. However, although there are no guaranteed rabbit proof plants, some plants are less appetizing and more likely to be passed by. Nasturtiums are tasty flowers for rabbits to snack on. Their diets include grasses, clover and some cruciferous plants, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Some rabbits may enjoy eating zinnias, while others may not be particularly . 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