Catmint Companion Plants: Tips On Planting Next To Catmint Herbs, Spicing It Up With Exotic Culinary Herbs: Exotic Herbs To Grow In Your Garden, Growing Oriental Poppies: Tips On How To Grow Oriental Poppy, How To Create A Secret Garden In Your Own Backyard, Reasons For No Brussels Sprouts On Plants, Boston Ivy On Walls: Will Boston Ivy Vines Damage Walls, Canopy Thinning: Tips For Thinning Canopies In Trees, Willowherb Information: Tips For The Control Of Willowherb, Holiday Cactus Varieties: What Are The Different Types Of Holiday Cactus, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Rabbits are naturally resistant to mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will try to eat either of them. Yarrow is a drought-resistant perennial that does well in zones 3-9. Zinnias are some of the most popular annual flowers because they are durable and easy to grow in harsh conditions. The french marigolds are slightly less toxic and are likely to only cause some skin irritation, but its best to be on the safe side and keep them away from rabbits. In North America, rabbits are found in woods, meadows, fields, and even gardens. 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. What Do Rabbits Like to Eat? However, they do prefer a consistent level of moisture, so do try to keep the soil damp but not wet. These flowers are tasty enough that even humans might like them! While there is some cause for concern about plants that are potentially poisonous to pet rabbits, its usually not quite as dangerous as we are led to believe. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and consistently moist soil. 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. Nasturtiums usually grow in a bush, but they can also grow vine-like along a fence or wire. Few are safe, and it's far better to consider them all dangerous and not to allow your rabbits to eat any of them. 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. Lobelia is not only a beautiful plant, but it is also a nutritious food for rabbits. Related:10 Plants to Grow for a Pest-Proof Yard. Keep in mind that your rabbit's stomach is tiny. They come in dozens of size categories, bloom colors, and flower types. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. FENCING. If your garden has shown excessive rabbit damage in recent years, it might be because the critters are growing in number. FAQs. In contrast, Mandevilla plants are climbing up. An innate sense of danger often but not always steers animals away from plants that are toxic. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. F. Plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South Africa. (If your summers are hot, grow French marigolds instead for a longer bloom period.) Vet Rec Open, vol. However, although there are no guaranteed rabbit proof plants, some plants are less appetizing and more likely to be passed by. Look for varieties with bronzy tones infused in the leaves for extra color even after the blooms fade. However, some similar plants have. This means that they only eat material that comes from plants: things like grasses, seeds, fruits and vegetables. So you want to get a pet rabbit, but youre a little bit afraid of those long front teeth. Tough vincas are evergreen groundcovers that bear pretty white or blue flowers in shady areas each spring. Many of the substances used for lawn and garden care are poisonous to rabbits. Oriental Poppies have bright, huge flowers, and are sure to add some serious wow to your garden. Dipladenia plant care. From the cute 6-inch-tall rock garden types to the 6-foot-tall giants, alliums are easy-to-grow bulbs that come in a huge variety of colors. If . Q: Do rabbits eat . When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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? Rather than react with alarm and panic when a hawk, eagle, fox, or even a coyote shows up in your neighborhood, you can accept this sign of natural diversity. Irises. 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. Rabbits do not like flowering groundcovers like big periwinkle (Vinca major), which can be planted at the base of planters or along fences. Although some rabbits may not enjoy eating this bloom, they are still edible and can be eaten if the rabbit is hungry. Rose petals can actually be a very yummy treat for many rabbits. 1, 2020. doi:10.1136/vetreco-2020-000402. Foxglove is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. 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. Of course, this doesnt include mint flavored candies or gum, but the plants are all safe for rabbits to eat. Squirrels, deer, and other animals like feeding on the succulent leaves and stems of the bushy perennials. These bulbs bloom in shades of red, orange, yellow, white, and pink and offer a variety of flower shapes. Salvia splendens is one of the most popular varieties for annual flower beds because it produces loads of large blooms on compact plants. 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 is a plant that is usually only found as an indoor potted plant and has fuzzy leaves. You can give lavender to your rabbit fresh or even dried, allowing your rabbit to forage for the yummy pieces of lavender. It can also encourage your rabbit to eat more of that healthy hay. By Tony Hans Last Updated: July 22, 2022. As a general rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or leathery leaves. Bee Balm plants love full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and do well in USDA zones 4-9. 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. Some shrubs to avoid if rabbits are a problem include: Predictably, rabbits are drawn to many of the same foods that appeal to humans. Rabbits prefer young, tender shoots, and are fond of marigolds, pansies, and petunias, among other flowers. Hostas. Tender green shoots will be gnawed off, often right to ground level. An Unwanted Guest in the Garden. Their diets include grasses, clover and some cruciferous plants, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Despite these leaf-eating behaviors, not all plants are completely safe for rabbits to eat. Just remember to avoid using any poisonous fertilizers or pesticides out on your lawn. Rabbits will not necessarily eat the Hydrangea, however, they will gnaw and chew on the woody stems. The small tough foliage has a distinctly sharp taste that rabbits tend to avoid. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Poppies. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Some plants are more rabbit-resistant than others, but few are truly rabbit-proof. Geraniums are thought to deter rabbits with their pungent smell, although gardeners enjoy varieties with a citrus, rose or other appealing fragrance. Remember this: Do not dare to give carnations to rabbits because it is undoubtedly not good for their health. Periwinkle is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. 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. If your bunny has access to an outdoor run, you can feel safe knowing that this fast growing plant wont harm your rabbit. Verbena flowers range from pure white to shades of red, pink, or purple. How does one identify rabbit damage and what do they eat? Pansies are cute, unique flowers that make nice potted plants or garden plants. 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. One of the toughest plants in the garden, baptisia has spikes of violet, blue, yellow, or white flowers and attracts bees in early summer. Impatiens plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 through 11, with some variation depending on the cultivar. But it is very common for rodent and rabbit populations to dwindle when a fox or hawk shows up in the neighborhood. Check the leaves and stems of your plants for cleanly cut damage; insects and other pests usually leave jagged edges on damaged plants. Strain out the pepper pieces and mix in 2 tbsp. They will devour tender shoots in spring and gnaw through bark in the winter. They won't have to worry about scavenging to survive. Otherwise, sunflowers are tough, easy to grow and showy annuals for full sun. Also like people, when rabbits are hungry enough, they'll eat just about anything. Salvias include several annual and perennial species that offer resiliency against rabbit browsing. All rabbit species are herbivores and as such only eat plant matter. The pretty spotted or variegated foliage adds interest when the plant isn't blooming, and has a rough texture that rabbits tend to avoid. Keep the flowers deadheaded to encourage repeat blooms. Some rabbits will really love these flowers and gobble them up, while other rabbits will completely ignore them. 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. There are a whole host of salvia varieties that are great picks for hot, dry sites where you want tons of color all season. These plants, called carolina jasmine or yellow jasmine, are toxic to rabbits. Cottontail rabbits eat a wide variety of plant foods including grasses, sedges, sprouts, leaves, fruits, buds, and bark. In fact, many say that portions of Antirrhinum are toxic to pet rabbits and should not be grown around them. 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. Sun-loving lantana bears flower clusters that look like brightly-colored confetti. 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 will not even dig up carrots, though they will eat them if another creature has already uprooted them. Dipladenia plants need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. 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. 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. Availability of colors or sizes varies based on your local store. Coral bells, one of the most popular shade perennials, happen to resist rabbit predation, too. The plants that rabbits prefer to eat are grasses, roses, clovers, daisies, dandelions, kale, spinach, broccoli, beans, and lettuce. Known for their huge blooms, peonies are as rabbit-resistant as they are beautiful. Lavender is among the plants that are completely safe for rabbits to eat. However, please note that this is not a complete list of flowers that are not safe for rabbits to eat. Spray your plant with insecticidal soap and recheck it often for signs of mealybugs. 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. This plant can also grow as wildflowers, so theres no need to be worried if your rabbit happens to come across them on your lawn. Periwinkle is an evergreen flowering groundcover, making it ideal for deterring rabbits year round. Fortunately, a lot of the same plants that deer don't like are also disliked by rabbits. The clusters of blooms look wonderful in flower arrangements. Some rabbit-resistant perennials perform double duty by also attracting pollinators. One of the more ornamental herbs, lavender produces wonderfully fragrant foliage and flowers. Plant daylilies in full to partial sunlight, preferably in moist soil that drains well. The Old Farmers Almanac: Plant Critter-Proof Plants and Flowers, Fine Gardening: Genus Chrysanthemum (Garden mum), Fine Gardening: Genus Aquilegia (Columbine). As mentioned, dipladenia plants require a great deal of sun, so try to locate your plant in full sun. So its better to only give your rabbit clover as the occasional yummy treat. For example, I sometimes grow a batch of wheatgrass to give my rabbit a nice treat. Allow the tea to cool so you dont risk your rabbit burning their mouth. Rabbits graze a wide range of plants and can kill young trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, salvia is not usually eaten by rabbits, probably because of its scent. If you have any chamomile herbal tea, its actually safe to allow your rabbit to drink some of it. Rose petals can actually be a very yummy treat for many rabbits. 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. Grow geraniums in full sun and keep the faded flowers removed to encourage reblooming. Dyson vacuum comparison: Which Dyson model should you buy. 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. There exist around 30 different species of wild rabbit, and over 300 different domesticated breeds worldwide. They bloom best in full sun, but partial shade is fine, especially during the hottest months of the year. The prickly pear cactus, a juicy food for insects, birds and mammals. Best of all, bunnies leave them alone. These long-lived perennials are resilient as long as you stake up their heavy late springtime flowers to keep them from spilling on the ground after a heavy rain. Warning: Never feed yucca plants to your small pet, as they are poisonous to your pet. They are also called Torch Lilies, and are native to South Africa. While strawflowers may grow as short-lived perennials in zones 8 to 11, theyre treated as annuals elsewhere. 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