Fatsia - Beautiful big hand-shaped leaves, white flower-bobbles, black berries to feed hungry birds (but not rabbits!) Periwinkle is typically a perennial and blooms in midsummer. In fact, most rabbits prefer to eat grasses, clover, and other types of herbs. Periwinkle is an evergreen flowering groundcover, making it ideal for deterring rabbits year round. Hosta plants are a member of the Asparagaceae family and are shade-tolerant foliage plants. If your rabbit only eats a small amount of those plants, they likely wont suffer from significant negative side effects. They can eat the stems, leaves, flowers, and even the sprouts. Rabbits have favorite foods, and thats why your neighbors plants may fare better than yours. Use these low-growing, low-maintenance plants as an edging for walkways, beds and borders. One of the more ornamental herbs, lavender produces wonderfully fragrant foliage and flowers. However, it depends on the specific rabbit's diet and preferences. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles. Coral bells offer lush foliage in a huge diversity of textures and colors, from black-purple to green, gold, orange, or chartreuse, and they can thrive in nearly any yard. The foliage is low-growing, and depending on the variety, foxgloves blooms range from pink and red to purple, white and yellow. For the adult moth: Wasp moth Rabbits are eating Alyssum around Zinnias which they are decimating. They will gnaw on the woody stems during the wintertime. One of 500 species in the plant family Balsaminaecae, impatiens are a flower that rabbits avoid. Try the plants in borders, rock gardens and mixed beds. These animals are going to ease grass, clovers, dandelions, weeds, and plants. Its perfectly safe to allow your rabbit to eat as much grass from out on your lawn as they want. Lupines are spiky, tall plants that have an interesting texture. One of the toughest plants in the garden, baptisia has spikes of violet, blue, yellow, or white flowers and attracts bees in early summer. Plant daylilies in full to partial sunlight, preferably in moist soil that drains well. Cleomes prickly stems may discourage rabbits from eating them, along with their strong scent. The leaves, in particular, contain a high amount of vitamin A, which makes them a very healthy part of a rabbits diet. These plants emerge as spreading colonies of narrow arching stems flanked by alternating rows of either medium-green or green-and-white variegated leaves. There is no clear evidence that these other violets are actually toxic, but its possible that they are mildly poisonous and should be kept away from rabbits. This animal is a herbivore meaning it primarily eats plants. Geraniums are thought to deter rabbits with their pungent smell, although gardeners enjoy varieties with a citrus, rose or other appealing fragrance. This is unfortunate for any flowers that you are trying to grow, but it means your domestic rabbits are not in danger of poisoning themselves by eating these delicious plants. Foxglove is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. Simply spread the mixture in with your rabbits hay to give them some yummy pieces to find. A nearly indestructible shade garden plant, hellebores bloom in late winter or early spring and produce black, red, pink, white, cream, or green flowers. Breathing difficulties. Lavender is among the plants that are completely safe for rabbits to eat. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. 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. 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. How To: Make and Use Your Own Deer Repellent, compounds in the flowers and foliage protect snapdragons, 10 Plants Sure to Stop Deer in Their Tracks, Unpalatable foliage that is spiky, jagged, prickly, fuzzy, or leathery, Leaves, stems, and flowers with strong fragrance. Its perfectly safe for rabbits though, and does not appear to cause any kind of skin irritation. Check the Lower Parts of the Plant: As grazers, rabbits prefer . If you notice signs of digging and bulbs or roots removed from the ground, this is usually not rabbit damage. Rabbits have large incisors, similar to squirrels and mice. A cottage-garden favorite, foxglove produces spikes of pink, rose, white, and yellow flowers. This means that the cut looks smooth and not bitten. Holly is a festive plant with bright green leaves and red berries. (90-120 cm) Hardiness: Azaleas are a subspecies of the rhododendron family and are another plant that squirrels love to eat. 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! Rabbits are naturally resistant to mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will try to eat either of them. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Thyme. These flowers are tasty enough that even humans might like them! Periwinkle is toxic to pets, so be careful planting it if your animals are outside unsupervised very often. All rights reserved. Shady gardens need rabbit-resistant shade plants. The prickly pear cactus, a juicy food for insects, birds and mammals. A member of the aster family, Tickseed comes in several forms that produce cheerful summer flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, or maroon. Dipladenia plants are hardy and perennial in USDA Zones 9 or 10. Rose petals can actually be a very yummy treat for many rabbits. They're also known to produce nectar that's irresistible to hummingbirds and butterflies, so try creating a beautiful butterfly garden with this plant. The seeds should germinate within a month or so. Pansies are cute, unique flowers that make nice potted plants or garden plants. Visit the USDA website to determine whether its safe to grow in your region. Shake the bowl well and place it outside in direct sunlight for two days to repel rabbits to eat salvias also. Rabbits inflict their most significant damage in fall by chewing on woody plants until they're more vulnerable to cold. You can give lavender to your rabbit fresh or even dried, allowing your rabbit to forage for the yummy pieces of lavender. These tend to be either aromatic, thorny, or members of the nightshade family: Rabbits. Tough vincas are evergreen groundcovers that bear pretty white or blue flowers in shady areas each spring. 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. Along with excellent rabbit resistance, irises offer gorgeous flowers that come in a rainbow of colors. Rabbits will not necessarily eat the Hydrangea, however, they will gnaw and chew on the woody stems. Periwinkle is an evergreen flowering groundcover,. After about a decade of population growth, rabbit numbers crash as foxes, coyotes, hawks, and other natural predators hunt them. Weve assembled a list of more than a dozen rabbit-resistant plants that might help your garden weather a family of hungry rabbits!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'gardenloversclub_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',803,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-gardenloversclub_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); If you still have problems with rabbits nibbling on your plants, try using repellents to keep the furry critters away from your hard-won garden! Despite these leaf-eating behaviors, not all plants are completely safe for rabbits to eat. Daylilies are the classic harbingers of summertime in the garden. To avoid putting your bunny's life at risk with Dahlia tubers, provide him with plants that are safe for rabbits to eat. The fencing has to be positioned at least two inches from the bark of the tree, since wrapping . I am a lifelong rabbit lover and have been specializing with rabbits at my local animal shelter. This includes the leaves, twigs, branches and flowers. Rabbits also tend to avoid plants that exude a milky sap. Lavender. I am here to make sure all of you rabbit lovers have everything you need to care for your fluffy little bundle of joy. Most rabbit-repellent plants feature one or more of the following characteristics that make them less appealing as rabbit food: Unpalatable foliage that is spiky, jagged, prickly, fuzzy, or. If you have children or pets, make sure it is in a location that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested. Celery: Sure! So when you plant rosemary, lavender, thyme, bee balm, and mint to discourage deer, you are also planting rabbit-resistant herbs. 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. Some rabbit-resistant perennials perform double duty by also attracting pollinators. They haven't touched the plant at all in my garden. Pansies are so tasty that even some people (who have fewer taste buds than rabbits) sometimes add it to a salad. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. HARDINESS ZONE.10-12 GROW.Mandevilla seeds require shallow planting, only covering them slightly with soil. They do well in any type of light, and while they prefer moist soil, they are drought tolerant. Rabbits also tend to avoid plants that exude a milky sap. Stinging nettle and dead nettle are both safe for rabbits to eat. Verbena is a group of low-growing annuals with a mounding or spreading growth habit that often graces the front of a garden bed, container gardens, or hanging baskets. The leaves of this plant look similar to the common mint that is used in cooking, but the two plants are not directly related. Lemon Balm is a perennial herb that does best in cool weather. So its best to only give the seeds to your rabbit as if they were treats, and not as a common source of food. of vegetable oil and a couple drops of liquid dish soap. link to 6 Reasons Rabbits Will Flip Over Their Food and Water Bowls, Learn more about the types of herbs that have health benefits for rabbits, Learn more about how grass can be added to your rabbits regular diet, Second Cutting Timothy Hay from Small Pet Select, Read more about why I recommend this product. Spikes of pink, rose, white, and does not appear to cause any kind skin... Even humans might like them haven & # x27 ; re more to... Wasp moth rabbits are naturally resistant to mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will gnaw chew... 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