Wild rabbits eat a lot of different things, including wildflowers, grasses, vegetable plants, and weeds. While there are some exceptions, most plants that are toxic for rabbits are only mildly poisonous. By Tony Hans Last Updated: July 22, 2022. A nearly indestructible shade garden plant, hellebores bloom in late winter or early spring and produce black, red, pink, white, cream, or green flowers. Periwinkle is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. They do not eat eggs, meat, or dairy - or any animal based products. Photo By: Image courtesy of Proven Winners. If youre trying to grow these safe garden plants or potted flowers, you may want to keep them away from your rabbit anyway. Check the Lower Parts of the Plant: As grazers, rabbits prefer . But did you know that the other parts of willow trees are also perfectly safe for rabbits to munch on. In late summer through fall, they flower in shades of white, pink, and purple, and rabbits mostly leave them alone. Rabbits in your garden are a nuisance, and they can destroy your hard work in a matter of days. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. The foliage and ripe berries are also known to contain a toxin that can affect many animals. FAQs. 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. Stomach pain and cramps. This low-care plant is wonderfully drought resistant, too, so you can plant it and enjoy it without much care. However, it depends on the specific rabbit's diet and preferences. You may not want to go out and collect stinging nettle for your rabbit though, since it can actually cause a rash on humans. Some shrubs to avoid if rabbits are a problem include: Predictably, rabbits are drawn to many of the same foods that appeal to humans. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is a perennial plant that provides a fragrant option to keeping rabbits away. A high temperature (fever) Diarrhoea. A wonderful ground cover for sunny spots, lamb's ear is adorned with soft, fuzzy silvery leaves that rabbits tend to avoid. If you have children or pets, make sure it is in a location that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested. While cute, rabbits can be serious garden pests! By Mark Wolfe Updated Mar 4, 2022 11:31 PM. This rabbit-resistant plant tolerates heat and drought well. Lemon Balm is a perennial herb that does best in cool weather. Echinacea plants bear violet, pink or white daisy-shaped flowers that will attract butterflies. Dipladenia plants need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Your rabbit can eat celery. Nasturtiums are tasty flowers for rabbits to snack on. So voracious are rabbits that it may be easier to list the plants that aren't eaten by rabbits than to list all the plants that are at risk. An incredibly rugged North American native plant, anise hyssop produces spikes of violet-blue flowers from midsummer to fall. Catnip plants love lots of light, so make sure they get plenty of it. Visit the. This includes the flowers, leaves, and stems. Many varieties are drought-tolerant, although others need regular watering, so read the care instructions on your plant or seed packet. They are herbivores and can make a quick meal of your garden. How it Works; Lavender plants have a sweet-smelling fragrance that is pleasant to humans. Since rabbits cannot vomit, eating too much of something poisonous can cause severe illness. If your lawn erupts with dandelions every year, go ahead and pick some to give to your rabbit (as long as your lawn uses safe fertilizers!). , which needs plenty of sun and blooms until frost. 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. 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. What Do Rabbits Eat? 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. They offer narrow strap-like foliage and large brightly colored flowers to complement any color palette, and they are easy to grow. But they have many different aliases. Lavender. Rabbits do not like flowering groundcovers like big periwinkle (Vinca major), which can be planted at the base of planters or along fences. However, rabbits prefer to stay away. Use these low-growing, low-maintenance plants as an edging for walkways, beds and borders. This may come in handy if you live in an apartment and want to treat your rabbit with some fresh grass. Hostas. Depending on the variety, salvia blooms may be cream, orange, lavender, pink, red, purple or blue on plants with green, gray-green or silvery green leaves. Its also very important to pay attention to any fertilizers or pesticides that are used with the plants your rabbit is eating. Agave is a long-leaf succulent that forms a rosette shape and is both drought-resistant and perennial. The leaves of this plant look similar to the common mint that is used in cooking, but the two plants are not directly related. Selecting rabbit resistant plants isnt a sure-fire solution because the critters will eat nearly anything if theyre hungry and food is scarce. The plants form a dense carpet of flowers, and the blooms continue year-round in warm climates. Black Eyed Susans are native to North America and are one of the most popular wildflowers grown in gardens. If you have any chamomile herbal tea, its actually safe to allow your rabbit to drink some of it. 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. It should be no surprise that plants with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and black-eyed Susan are less popular with rabbits. However, although there are no guaranteed rabbit proof plants, some plants are less appetizing and more likely to be passed by. There is another species of plants called perilla mint (also called beefsteak mint or Japanese basil) that is toxic for rabbits. Try the plants in borders, rock gardens and mixed beds. When it blooms, it's one of the most flamboyant plants in the spring garden with red, yellow, or orange flowers topped by a crown of leaves. The leaves, in particular, contain a high amount of vitamin A, which makes them a very healthy part of a rabbits diet. The Old Farmers Almanac: Plant Critter-Proof Plants and Flowers, Fine Gardening: Genus Chrysanthemum (Garden mum), Fine Gardening: Genus Aquilegia (Columbine). They can be a very yummy treat that rabbits will happily gobble up. One of the hardiest garden plants, daylilies bloom in a rainbow of shades and can take all but the toughest conditions. Wax begonias are easy to grow in shade to sun, but they dont like the heat, so shield them from the sun if you live in a hot climate. Lungwort is a lovely shade-loving plant with an ugly name. Also known as pot or English marigolds, calendulas are related to French and African marigolds. Moderation is crucial in a rabbit's healthy diet, containing no more than 5% treats. Attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, salvia is not usually eaten by rabbits, probably because of its scent. A fence is one of the best ways to keep rabbits away from your hydrangeas. Mints are all safe for rabbits to eat. Just a few of these variables include: population and overall health of the rabbits, weather conditions, geography and sources of food naturally available in surrounding woods and forested areas. Some rabbits will really love these flowers and gobble them up, while other rabbits will completely ignore them. Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. Periwinkle is toxic to pets, so be careful planting it if your animals are outside unsupervised very often. Make your own rabbit deterrent spray. Keep these moist and warm, about 65 to 75 degrees F. (18-24 C.), and place them in bright, indirect light. Rabbits are eating Alyssum around Zinnias which they are decimating. Hollyhocks are lovely flowers that are completely safe for rabbits to eat. And since they are not strongly toxic to rabbits, it is okay to keep them in the same vicinity. Its easy to grow and spreads quickly, and is resistant to drought, heat, and wind. 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. While some varieties are pink or white, blue is the most common color. Follow the Bunny Lady and her bunny partner Elusive and they seek to educate rabbit caretakers and make sure everyone is able to have a happy and healthy bunny in their home. There are two other types of marigold, however, that are toxic for rabbits. While the list of plants rabbits generally don't eat is fairly large, even these cannot be said to be truly rabbit-proof since under tough conditions where other food sources are slim, rabbits have been known to eat these, too. 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. 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. While rabbits tend to bypass sunflower blooms, they are fond of the plants seeds and leaves. Nasturtiums usually grow in a bush, but they can also grow vine-like along a fence or wire. There is no guarantee that any of the plants listed will remain free from damage in all conditions. HARDINESS ZONE.10-12 GROW.Mandevilla seeds require shallow planting, only covering them slightly with soil. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil, Size: 2-6 feet tall, depending on variety. Rhododendrons. Daisies can have a tendency to pop up all over a lawn. It's one of the best nectar plants for pollinators. It's not uncommon for people to wonder what wild rabbits eat, because pet . Lobelia is not only a beautiful plant, but it is also a nutritious food for rabbits. Yarrow is a drought-resistant perennial that does well in zones 3-9. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Juniper is a coniferous plantwith green, needle-like leaves. Lupines are spiky, tall plants that have an interesting texture. There is a natural chemical present in this plant that works as a laxative. Just be sure to practice moderation, especially with sunflower seeds. 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. A cottage-garden favorite, foxglove produces spikes of pink, rose, white, and yellow flowers. Fences and repellents help protect susceptible garden plants from these hungry pests. Moshobane, Claude Moshobane et al. Its perfectly safe to allow your rabbit to eat as much grass from out on your lawn as they want. Thyme. I am here to make sure all of you rabbit lovers have everything you need to care for your fluffy little bundle of joy. This means garden plants and potted house plants can often fall prey to a curious rabbit. Just be careful that you dont have a false jasmine plant. If youre planting seeds, sow them on the surface of the soil after all chance of frost has passed. Pot marigolds are also safe for rabbits to eat. Zonal geraniums are bushy plants that typically bear soft, rounded leaves marked with a dark band. In fact, many say that portions of Antirrhinum are toxic to pet rabbits and should not be grown around them. Tough vincas are evergreen groundcovers that bear pretty white or blue flowers in shady areas each spring. 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