Flowers That Are Rabbit-Proof

Use rabbit-proof flowers to keep rabbits away from garden areas.

Rabbits may be cute in Disney movies, but when they're in your garden they're a nightmare. Voracious eaters, rabbits particularly favor vegetable crops, tender spring shoots and tulips. Rabbits even eat in winter, nibbling on branches and bark. Find flowers that are rabbit-proof, and keep those little eaters out of your garden beds.

Rabbit Favorites

Rabbits will eat almost any plant, if its easy to reach and nontoxic, but there are some plants they are particularly drawn to more often. Roses and fruit trees are often targeted. Many garden flowers are edible to rabbits, and they will dine on the tender young shoots or almost any plant in the early spring.

Rabbit Dislikes

Rabbits dislike many types of flowers, and will not eat them when more preferable fodder is available. Columbine, aster, begonia, crocus, dahlia, daylily, iris, daffodil, hyacinth, marigold, sunflower, peony and petunia flowers are disliked by rabbits. Where other food is present, rabbits will not eat flowers they generally dislike. But, these flowers aren't necessarily rabbit-proof; they can and will be eaten by rabbits under the right set of circumstances.

Rabbit Repellent

Few rabbit-proof plants exist, as any animal will eat even disliked food when supplies are scarce. Some flowers will actually repel rabbits, however, sending them away from garden beds you'd like to protect. Plant impatiens, forget me nots, campanula, yarrow, coral bells, aster, foxglove, verbena and coneflower around roses, tulips and other garden beds that will otherwise attract rabbits.

Preventing Rabbits

Rabbit-proofing a garden is possible, but it requires a lot of work. The most effective way to prevent rabbits is to erect a fence, burying it several feet into the soil. Mix together hot pepper sauce (two tablespoons) in 12 gallons of water to create an organic deterrent that keeps rabbits away. Unpleasant smells discourage rabbits, as will a deep, high fence they cannot conveniently find a way around.

References

• University of Arizona Extension: Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants
• University of Illinois Extension: Plants Not Favored by Deer and Rabbits
• Rutgers Plant Talk: Keeping Rabbits Away from Desirable Plants in Your Garden and Landscape

Resources

• Penn State Cooperative Extension: Rabbit-Resistant Plants
• Gardening In The Pinery: A Recommended List of Deer & Rabbit Resistant Plants