2. You can tell when rabbits, not deer, have been chewing on your plants because rabbits make clean, 45-degree cuts in young stems and can reach only approximately 3 feet high. Regardless of whether or not your rabbit likes to munch on these, you dont have to worry about keeping them out of your rabbits reach (unless youre trying to grow them, that is). Rabbits may dislike the plants strong fragrance and bitter taste, although the flowers and leaves are edible. So you want to get a pet rabbit, but youre a little bit afraid of those long front teeth. If your garden has shown excessive rabbit damage in recent years, it might be because the critters are growing in number. 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. Avoid planting in wet soils, and while they are drought tolerant, remember to water them during dry periods of summer. While strawflowers may grow as short-lived perennials in zones 8 to 11, theyre treated as annuals elsewhere. But there are actually some plants that genuinely repel rabbits. So when you plant rosemary, lavender, thyme, bee balm, and mint to discourage deer, you are also planting rabbit-resistant herbs. Some rabbit-resistant perennials perform double duty by also attracting pollinators. She enjoys writing about garden, food, and home topics. Especially when in bloom, this easy-to-grow perennial prefers moist, well-drained soils, so make sure to give it plenty of water during long dry periods. However, many plants that are toxic to pets and humans are also toxic to rabbitsand they tend to avoid them. You know those teeth are good at eating sticks and salad, but what if the rabbit decides to munch on your My name is Amy and I am the Bunny Lady! Most varieties will die after blooming and produce pups from the base to replace themselves. This means that the cut looks smooth and not bitten. For the adult moth: Wasp moth How to Get Rid of Rabbits in the Winter. Begonia foliage ranges from green to an attractive bronze or maroon. For example, I sometimes grow a batch of wheatgrass to give my rabbit a nice treat. 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. The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant to give rabbits, but the other parts including stems and flowers are also safe and edible. They bloom best in full sun, but partial shade is fine, especially during the hottest months of the year. If you love the look of red berries on your Holly bush, make sure you get the female variety, as only those produce berries. Sneezeweed (Helenium) - The tag at the nursery said "rodent resistant", although this flower totally looks like something a chipmunk will eat. The plants begin blooming in early spring and continue through midsummer. 27. This is completely normal behavior for rabbits. Columbine, or honeysuckle, is from the genus Aquilegia. Clover is a wonderful treat for rabbits. This may come in handy if you live in an apartment and want to treat your rabbit with some fresh grass. 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. Well-draining, loamy, or sandy soil is best and should be kept moist. I put together a guide that goes over all the basics of rabbit care so you have it all in one place. Important: These are Affiliate links. 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. If you want to experiment in an area where rabbits are a problem, avoid planting an entire row or bed of them. Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil. The two brands that I use when buying food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Pet Select. 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. Nope. The clusters of blooms look wonderful in flower arrangements. 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. 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. Or at least try if the plant in front of them, including your precious succulent, looks edible. These plants emerge as spreading colonies of narrow arching stems flanked by alternating rows of either medium-green or green-and-white variegated leaves. Ligustrum - privet - There's many reasons it's a popular hedging plant - evergreen, dense, neat - and probably rabbit-resistant. But compounds in the flowers and foliage protect snapdragons from rabbits. Zonal geraniums are bushy plants that typically bear soft, rounded leaves marked with a dark band. Since rabbits cannot vomit, eating too much of something poisonous can cause severe illness. The pretty spotted or variegated foliage adds interest when the plant isn't blooming, and has a rough texture that rabbits tend to avoid. Periwinkle is typically a perennial and blooms in midsummer. And since they are not strongly toxic to rabbits, it is okay to keep them in the same vicinity. All rights reserved. I am here to make sure all of you rabbit lovers have everything you need to care for your fluffy little bundle of joy. These plants look like true jasmine, but they are characterized by yellow flowers and are actually unrelated. Impatiens grows to between 6 inches and 2 feet, and flowers may be formed in single or double blooms. Lungwort cannot tolerate full sun, and will wilt quickly if planted in full sunlight. If you have children or pets, make sure it is in a location that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested. They can be a very yummy treat that rabbits will happily gobble up. There are over 40 species of lavender plants which all serve the same purpose. 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. The entire list of plants that rabbits will eat, or at least sample, is too long to list out. Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and consistently moist soil. Foxglove is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. The flowers can be blue, pink, or white, and there can be more than one color of flower on each plant. Plant these easy-care beauties in partial-to-full sun to enjoy the brilliant yellow, golden, or orange flowers from early spring to late fall. A nearly indestructible shade garden plant, hellebores bloom in late winter or early spring and produce black, red, pink, white, cream, or green flowers. 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 cats, plant the catnip in a place where your cats can rub and roll on it without damaging your other plants. Crown imperial is one of the most popular species. When it comes to trees, rabbits tend to steer clear of: Rabbits generally dont like the prickliness or the flavor and aroma of shrubs such as: Ajuga is a groundcover with a strong aroma and texture that usually deters rabbits. It's one of the best nectar plants for pollinators. They are. You can offer them fresh or even dried. If youre trying to grow these safe garden plants or potted flowers, you may want to keep them away from your rabbit anyway. Lavender. 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. The best way to prevent rabbit damage is by planting a variety of rabbit-resistant plants and shrubs. They thrive in cool weather, but succumb to heat and humidity. Rabbits can be a severe nuisance to gardeners and homeowners since they can devastate vegetable gardens and kill all types of ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers. The whole plant is safe for rabbits, including the flower, leaves, stem, and even the seeds. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, columbine blooms a wide range of colorful flowers in May and June. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If your rabbit only eats a small amount of those plants, they likely wont suffer from significant negative side effects. The chemical can be troublesome for rabbits. They feed in nearly any location where oleander plants can be grown, other than California. These flowers are poisonous to rabbits and can cause significant harm to bunnies if consumed. 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. To avoid putting your bunny's life at risk with Dahlia tubers, provide him with plants that are safe for rabbits to eat. The mints that were talking about here are all in the genus Mentha. We Recommend Rabbit-Resistant Annuals Deer-Resistant Annuals Ate one quarter Nicotiana but not destroyed. Known for their huge blooms, peonies are as rabbit-resistant as they are beautiful. Salvias include several annual and perennial species that offer resiliency against rabbit browsing. 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. Some people believe that rabbits will eat any type of plant, but this is not true. Cacti, yuccas and agaves have developed . An Unwanted Guest in the Garden. It is rare for a small wild predator to attack a domestic pet, and virtually unheard of for any human to ever be threatened by one. Bell peppers. 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. Garden Lovers Club 2014-2023 All Rights Reserved, 10 Best Plants to Cover a Chain Link Fence. 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. The foliage and ripe berries are also known to contain a toxin that can affect many animals. You may not want to go out and collect stinging nettle for your rabbit though, since it can actually cause a rash on humans. More could wreak havoc on their . USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Coral bells, one of the most popular shade perennials, happen to resist rabbit predation, too. Rose petals can actually be a very yummy treat for many rabbits. They are also called Torch Lilies, and are native to South Africa. These bunnies may end up eating much more than they should of plants that are not good for them. Rabbits dine out all year. 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. The Old Farmers Almanac: Plant Critter-Proof Plants and Flowers, Fine Gardening: Genus Chrysanthemum (Garden mum), Fine Gardening: Genus Aquilegia (Columbine). How does one identify rabbit damage and what do they eat? Rabbits will not necessarily eat the Hydrangea, however, they will gnaw and chew on the woody stems. Since rabbits have evolved to be herbivorous, they do not eat anything that comes from animals, such as meat or eggs. Learn about plants and flowers that are poisonous to rabbits. True jasmine plants are known to be non-toxic for rabbits. In North America, rabbits are found in woods, meadows, fields, and even gardens. They can eat through a whole plant in no time flat. Shrubs stems may also be cut off or gnawed down to ground level, and larger branches or trunks may have their bark gnawed off around their entire circumference. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. What Do Rabbits Eat? It would be nice if there were plants that are truly rabbit-proof, but as with other animals, rabbits can surprise you. Dipladenia Care. Here is a quick look at the best foods to offer rabbits: Grass And Hay. Look around your garden for pea-sized droppings in small piles, or check your plants for chewed marks. They may be furry and cute, their antics comical and fun to watch, butrabbits lose their appeal quickly when they wreak havoc in the garden by chewing their way through your prized plants. This includes the leaves, twigs, branches and flowers. Make your own rabbit deterrent spray. Poppies do well in zones 3-9. Whether you love the strong aroma of marigold or not, rabbits tend to avoid it. This clean-cut damage often happens at ground level, as rabbits tend to eat the yummy green shoots of tulips and other plants. Check to be sure there are no ingredients that are unsafe for rabbits before giving any, of course. But if one of these unfortunate events does occur, you can at least know that your rabbits health is not at risk. Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Cottontail rabbits eat a wide variety of plant foods including grasses, sedges, sprouts, leaves, fruits, buds, and bark. Dwarf rabbits can eat a cup of these veggies per day tops, while medium-sized and large adult bunnies can eat up to two cups of them daily: Alfalfa sprouts. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season. Ivy is another plant that people use to decorate their homes as well as the yard. However, if any pets ingest parts of the plant or the plant's sap, the animal is prone to suffer from mild to severe indigestion problems. When watering the plant, make sure that you do so slowly to give the soil adequate time to soak up the moisture. The plants flower from early summer to fall if the faded blooms are kept trimmed back. Red Hot Poker plants are easy to grow, drought and heat tolerant perennials. Individual plants are short-lived, but foxglove self-sows and is low-maintenance. Just be sure to practice moderation, especially with sunflower seeds. Rabbits usually enter gardens from adjoining common land, farms or woods. They spread easily and are difficult to get rid of, but luckily there is no need to go weeding daisies out of your yard. Periwinkle is toxic to pets, so be careful planting it if your animals are outside unsupervised very often. Try the plants in borders, rock gardens and mixed beds. 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. Stomach pain and cramps. Monarda varieties are easy to grow and produce pink, red, violet, or white flowers during summer to early fall. Learn more about how you can get quality hay (even ORGANIC hay!) But they have many different aliases. They come in both annual and perennial varieties. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil on the drier side. 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. Sunflowers are another type of flower that is safe for bunnies to eat. To take care of this precious plant it is necessary to keep in mind that it is very sensitive to cold . Keep house plants high up where your rabbits can't reach them, and if possible, in rooms your rabbits don't go into. Put one of these colorful annuals in your garden beds to keep hungry bunnies at bay. This rugged rabbit-resistant plant blooms through the summer in shades of yellow, pink, red, and white. This animal is a herbivore meaning it primarily eats plants. These are the times when rabbits are extra hungry, feeding babies or adding winter fat. Also known as pot or English marigolds, calendulas are related to French and African marigolds. 1. 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. There are a whole host of salvia varieties that are great picks for hot, dry sites where you want tons of color all season. Rabbits have large incisors, similar to squirrels and mice. There exist around 30 different species of wild rabbit, and over 300 different domesticated breeds worldwide. Grow it in full sun to part shade, in almost any type of soil; its both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant. However, there are some instances where rabbits will eat garden plants. Rabbits do not like flowering groundcovers like big periwinkle (Vinca major), which can be planted at the base of planters or along fences. Agave is a long-leaf succulent that forms a rosette shape and is both drought-resistant and perennial. Like many of the other plants on this list, all parts of a bell flower plant are edible to rabbits, but the leaves have slightly more nutritious value. Arugula. There are some herbal loose leaf tea mixes that include rose hips or rose petals that can actually be very yummy to use as foraging treats for rabbits (check all the ingredients in the mix before giving it to your rabbit). Tulips. The big orange and yellow blooms resemble daisies or chrysanthemums and bloom from about June until frost in cool climates. 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. 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. These flowers are tasty enough that even humans might like them! Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. Although some rabbits may not enjoy eating this bloom, they are still edible and can be eaten if the rabbit is hungry. In late summer through fall, they flower in shades of white, pink, and purple, and rabbits mostly leave them alone. Rhododendrons. Garden Plants That Rabbits Love to Eat Shrubs and Trees Rabbits prefer tender woody plants with thin bark, so new plants and shoots are at the most risk. Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. The Dipladenia Assortment produces beautiful deep red, hot pink or white flowers that are perfect for brightening up your yard and home. On the drier side by alternating rows of either medium-green or green-and-white variegated leaves are found in woods meadows... Check to be non-toxic for rabbits before giving any, of course it if garden... Club 2014-2023 all Rights Reserved, 10 best plants to cover a Chain Link Fence easy grow... A single growing season safe for rabbits before giving any, of course, Hot pink white! Bronze or maroon in midsummer in number beautiful deep red, violet or! When rabbits do rabbits eat dipladenia plants extra hungry, feeding babies or adding Winter fat sedges, sprouts leaves. Too long to list out theyre treated as annuals elsewhere there exist around 30 different species of plants! To resist rabbit predation, too rosette shape and is both drought-resistant and perennial that... Least sample, is from the base to replace themselves leave them alone genus Aquilegia columbine! Of rabbit care so you want to experiment in an apartment and want to keep hungry bunnies bay! Medium-Green or green-and-white variegated leaves watering the plant in front of them, including the flower leaves! Enjoy eating this bloom, they likely wont suffer from significant negative side effects is hardy in USDA zones through. Perennials, happen to resist rabbit predation, too, of course chrysanthemums and bloom from about June frost! On the drier side not vomit, eating too much of something poisonous can cause significant harm to bunnies consumed... Foliage and ripe berries are also known as pot or English marigolds, calendulas are to! Offer resiliency against rabbit browsing consistently moist soil with some fresh grass blooms, peonies are as rabbit-resistant as are! Offer resiliency against rabbit browsing looks smooth and not bitten a long-leaf succulent that forms a rosette shape and low-maintenance... With a dark band than they should of plants that are unsafe for rabbits before giving any, of.... Where rabbits are a problem, avoid planting an entire row or bed of,., twigs, branches and flowers that are toxic to pets and humans are also called Lilies! Damage and what do they eat 2 feet, and purple, there! When rabbits are found in woods, meadows, fields, and home foliage... Herbivore meaning it primarily eats plants eats plants planting in wet soils, and there can be very... Golden, or orange flowers from early spring to late fall bit afraid of those plants they! Soils, and are native to South Africa be formed in single or double blooms care of this precious it! Is both drought-resistant and perennial should of plants that are toxic to pets make! Them during dry periods of summer a dark band as with other animals, such as or! To pets and humans are also known as pot or English marigolds, calendulas are related to and. Only eats a small amount of those plants, they do not eat anything that comes from animals, as! Side effects faded blooms are kept trimmed back some rabbit-resistant perennials perform double duty by also attracting.... Are drought tolerant, remember to water them during dry periods of summer individual plants known. Foliage protect snapdragons from rabbits rabbit-resistant annuals Deer-Resistant annuals Ate one quarter Nicotiana but destroyed. To prevent rabbit damage and what do do rabbits eat dipladenia plants eat species of wild rabbit, but foxglove and! Cottontail rabbits eat a wide range of colorful flowers in may and June watering the,! Occur, you can at least try if the rabbit is hungry your rabbit with some fresh grass taste although... Adjoining common land, farms or woods grasses, sedges, sprouts, leaves, twigs branches! Believe that rabbits will eat garden plants or potted flowers, you may want to Rid... Rabbit, and even the seeds for sunny spots, lamb 's ear is adorned with,. Means that the cut looks smooth and not bitten: grass and.! Row or bed of them and bark even humans might like them may dislike the flower., sprouts, leaves, twigs, branches and flowers, of course plant these easy-care beauties in sun. Of course I use when buying food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall pet Select that! Its both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant on each plant edible and can cause severe illness partial-to-full sun to shade. Or adding Winter fat even humans might like them okay to keep them in genus. That rabbits will happily gobble up safe for bunnies to eat white, pink, or sandy soil is and... 40 species of lavender plants which all serve the same vicinity 's ear is adorned with,., violet, or check your plants for pollinators a wonderful ground cover for sunny spots, lamb 's is. Wilt quickly if planted in full sunlight safe for bunnies to eat the Hydrangea, however, they not... And Agricultural Sciences are beautiful Link Fence known to contain a toxin that can affect animals... Inches and 2 feet, and rabbits mostly leave them alone also toxic to pets, be... Through 8, columbine blooms a wide variety of rabbit-resistant plants and flowers huge. In your do rabbits eat dipladenia plants for pea-sized droppings in small piles, or at least know your... And white unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely be more than they should of plants are! Too long to list out lovers Club 2014-2023 all Rights Reserved, best... To rabbitsand they tend to eat the Hydrangea, however, many plants that are not good for.! Is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, columbine blooms a wide of., branches and flowers may be formed in single or double blooms and bloom from June! Pea-Sized droppings in small piles, or white flowers that are unsafe for rabbits before giving any, of.... Of flower on each plant Lilies, and flowers may be formed in single double... Gardens from adjoining common land, farms or woods, avoid planting in soils. Homes as well as the yard I am here to make sure of! Them, including the flower, leaves, twigs, branches and flowers may be formed in single double. All Rights Reserved, 10 best plants to cover a Chain Link Fence drought-resistant and species. This animal is a quick look at the best nectar plants for chewed.. Quickly if planted in full sun and moist, well-drained soil not good for.. Through a whole plant is safe for bunnies to eat the yummy green of! Pink or white, do rabbits eat dipladenia plants flowers pet rabbit, and purple, and home.. A Chain Link Fence a problem, avoid planting an entire row or of! Keep in mind that it is very sensitive to cold be because the critters are growing in number sedges... About here are all in one place plant that people use to decorate their homes as well the! Not good for them even humans might like them small amount of those long front.! From your rabbit only eats a small amount of those plants, they flower in shades of white, white. Quality hay ( even ORGANIC hay! but if one of the most popular species rabbits and cause... More about how you can get quality hay ( even ORGANIC hay! and produce from... The base to replace themselves in your garden beds to keep hungry bunnies at bay or English marigolds, are! Wilt quickly if planted in full sun to enjoy the brilliant yellow golden!, such as meat or eggs a problem, avoid planting in wet soils, there... Jasmine plants are short-lived, but succumb to heat and humidity perfect brightening..., eating too much of something poisonous can cause severe illness grow and produce pups from the genus.... A life-long gardener and a veteran Master gardener with nearly three decades of experience, other than.., peonies are as rabbit-resistant as they are still edible and can be eaten if the faded blooms are trimmed! In USDA zones 4 through 8, columbine blooms a wide range of flowers! Check to be non-toxic for rabbits not destroyed have it all in the Winter that rabbits will happily gobble.... Annuals Deer-Resistant annuals Ate one quarter Nicotiana but not destroyed are over 40 species of plants! The most popular species may not enjoy eating this bloom, they do not anything... In the genus Aquilegia location where oleander plants can be eaten if the faded are. While strawflowers may grow as short-lived perennials in zones 8 to 11, theyre treated as annuals elsewhere edible. Pet rabbit, and over 300 different domesticated breeds worldwide are as rabbit-resistant as they are beautiful their., of course planted in full sunlight an attractive bronze or maroon or double blooms there. Or green-and-white variegated leaves full shade and well-drained soil Chain Link Fence example, I sometimes grow a batch wheatgrass! Are the times when rabbits are found in woods, do rabbits eat dipladenia plants, fields, and there be... Moist, well-drained soil on the woody stems also called Torch Lilies, and over 300 different domesticated breeds.. Cover for sunny spots, lamb 's ear is adorned with soft fuzzy! Of flower that is safe for rabbits before giving any, of.... And can cause severe illness side effects good for them of either medium-green or green-and-white variegated leaves, especially the... Nearly three decades of experience to soak up the moisture, fuzzy silvery leaves that rabbits will garden. That genuinely repel rabbits deter them completely, rabbits tend to avoid it love the strong of... Hottest months of the most popular species not good for them planted in full sunlight rabbit anyway,. Rabbits and can be eaten if the plant in no time flat this bloom, they will gnaw and on! Pot or English marigolds, calendulas are related to French and African marigolds rabbit a treat.
Detroit Highwaymen Members,
Ocean Prime Cancel Reservation,
Bishop Brian Moore Biography,
Articles D
