Violet leaves, flowers and stems are safe for rabbits to eat. But just like most animals, rabbits will eat just about anything if theyre hungry enough! It is a good source of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C. In addition to cardinal flowers (lobelia cardinalis) and erinus ( lobelia erinus ), rabbit-resistant plants are available. Important: These are Affiliate links. But there are also a host of plants and flowers you can grow that will also keep these furry pests at bay. They also tend to be pink or red in color while Mandevilla flowers come in a wider range of colors. Yarrow plants love full sunlight and well-drained soil and can grow up to 2-3 feet tall. Cacti, yuccas and agaves have developed . This is another plant that is perfectly safe for rabbits to eat in moderation. This is probably not a plant that I would specifically give to a rabbit because it doesnt have all that much nutritional value, but its okay if your rabbit nibbles on some in your garden or manages to knock down your potted plant and eat part of it. These dazzling red flowers might not be a rabbits favorite food, but hummingbirds sure do love them! In many climates, the plants are semi-evergreen. Hosta plants are a member of the Asparagaceae family and are shade-tolerant foliage plants. Hollyhocks are lovely flowers that are completely safe for rabbits to eat. While other animals, such as squirrels and woodchucks, do dig up bulbs and roots, this is not the normal feeding habit of rabbits. The plants that rabbits prefer to eat are grasses, roses, clovers, daisies, dandelions, kale, spinach, broccoli, beans, and lettuce. Fencing and Netting. Alliums, also known as ornamental onions, are rarely eaten by rabbits and other critters due to their pungent smell. 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. Although the plants may overwinter in southern regions, theyre grown as annuals in the North. For the adult moth: Wasp moth These plants look like true jasmine, but they are characterized by yellow flowers and are actually unrelated. It's one of the best nectar plants for pollinators. These are really beautiful flowers, coming in vibrant warm colors. Also like people, when rabbits are hungry enough, they'll eat just about anything. WHEN TO PLANT.Spring 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. If you are purchasing anything fromSmall Pet Selectuse the codeBUNNYLADYat checkout to get 15% off your first order. Her bylines have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Martha Stewart Living, and several other publications. If that happens to be a poisonous plant, they may end up eating a lot before you even notice. Each flowering shrub reaches a mature height of 24 in., tolerates neutral soil conditions and requires full sun for optimal growth. Photo By: Image courtesy of Proven Winners. Rose petals can actually be a very yummy treat for many rabbits. Dandelions are actually nutritious for rabbits. Check the Lower Parts of the Plant: As grazers, rabbits prefer . Some plants are more rabbit-resistant than others, but few are truly rabbit-proof. All salvia varieties attract hummingbirds and most types are rabbit resistant. Rabbits tend to create a clean cut when they bite, so your plants will look like someone took shears to them. Adding fencing can be most effective. Plant snapdragons in full to partial sunlight. One of the more refined milkweed species, the plants compact mounding form thrives in pollinator gardens, where it supports migrating monarch butterflies. Rabbits like to munch on anything they can get their teeth on. How does one identify rabbit damage and what do they eat? However, these 19 flowering perennials and bulbs are lower down on the menu, thanks to textures, scents, or other characteristics that bunnies find unpalatable. 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. Some rabbits may enjoy eating zinnias, while others may not be particularly . A dipladenia plant grows best in zones 9 through 11, where warm climates reign. Related: How To: Make and Use Your Own Deer Repellent. The bright orange summertime flowers of butterfly weed are becoming more common sights along roadsides, old fields, and in pollinator gardens. An innate sense of danger often but not always steers animals away from plants that are toxic. Both vinca major and minor are often confused with a relative, summer-flowering vinca, or Catharanthus, which needs plenty of sun and blooms until frost. Liriope - Grassy groundcover, evergreen and dense, with spires of purple bobbly flowers. Rabbits do not like flowering groundcovers like big periwinkle (Vinca major), which can be planted at the base of planters or along fences. The teeth marks are often evident in the wood of the shrub or tree. But the good thing is rabbits do not eat the whole plant. Well-draining, loamy, or sandy soil is best and should be kept moist. Along with excellent rabbit resistance, irises offer gorgeous flowers that come in a rainbow of colors. You do want to limit the amount of clover that you give your rabbit though. Echinacea plants bear violet, pink or white daisy-shaped flowers that will attract butterflies. This easy-to-grow perennial adds great texture to many other front-of-the-border plants. Amy Pratt is a lifelong rabbit owner who has been specializing with rabbits at the Humane Rescue Alliance. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. They're usually planted at the front of garden borders or near tender lily bulbs to act as an animal deterrent and to provide a whimsical landscape design. Spray your plant with insecticidal soap and recheck it often for signs of mealybugs. 2. Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium) Lupine (Lupinus) Catmint (Nepeta) Ornamental Onion (Allium) Chives. 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. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. To successfully grow lavender, plant it in well-drained alkaline soil that easily allows water to pass through it. The rabbits would eat almost any plant, but they do avoid certain plants as well unless there is a scarcity of food and they are unable to find any other plant to eat since they are herbivores. Scale Your rabbit can eat celery. Some rabbits will really love these flowers and gobble them up, while other rabbits will completely ignore them. All rabbit species are herbivores and as such only eat plant matter. Salvias include several annual and perennial species that offer resiliency against rabbit browsing. from Small Pet Select! A member of the aster family, Tickseed comes in several forms that produce cheerful summer flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, or maroon. Nasturtiums are tasty flowers for rabbits to snack on. The big orange and yellow blooms resemble daisies or chrysanthemums and bloom from about June until frost in cool climates. 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. There are countless inter-related variables affecting what rabbits will eat in any given year. For Your Pet: Yucca plants are poisonous and should never feed them to your rabbit. The following are some of the best annual plants that repel rabbits. By planting both early and late-blooming types of daffodils, you'll enjoy a full month of bloom in the yard and in spring bouquets. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil, Size: 2-6 feet tall, depending on variety. Their blooms range from insignificant spikes of tiny pink or white flowers to something slightly more showy, but the foliage remains the star of the show. Check out the store for T-shirts, face masks, mugs, sweat shirts and more! But it is very common for rodent and rabbit populations to dwindle when a fox or hawk shows up in the neighborhood. Rabbits have favorite foods, and thats why your neighbors plants may fare better than yours. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. As an associate to Amazon, Small Pet Select, and Chewy.com, I may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. They only eat the leaves and softer parts of the plant. 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. It will die back in freezing weather, but regrow in the spring. Read our, Controlling and Deterring Rabbits in the Garden, 31 Best-Deer Resistant Flowers and Plants to Grow, 37 Best and Worst Companion Plants for Tomatoes, How to Grow and Care for Black-Eyed Susan Vine, 25 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants for Sun and Shade, 10 Easy-Growing Wildflowers for Your Garden, 12 Types of Wildflowers for Summer Gardens, How to Grow and Care for Black-Eyed Susan, control them from overrunning your garden, How does one identify rabbit damage and what do they eat, F. Plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South Africa. Its glossy divided foliage adds wonderful texture and color to a small-space shade garden. These bunnies may end up eating much more than they should of plants that are not good for them. The flowers can be blue, pink, or white, and there can be more than one color of flower on each plant. Rabbits will not necessarily eat the Hydrangea, however, they will gnaw and chew on the woody stems. They need regular watering, but can tolerate short droughts. Dipladenia plants are hardy and perennial in USDA Zones 9 or 10. The mints that were talking about here are all in the genus Mentha. Give salvias full sun to light shade, in garden spots with average, well-drained soil. Lobularia maritima bears clusters of tiny white, lavender, violet or pink flowers in spring. These plants, called carolina jasmine or yellow jasmine, are toxic to rabbits. Crown imperial is one of the most popular species. The plants form a dense carpet of flowers, and the blooms continue year-round in warm climates. It is possible that rabbits will come and eat these plants if they are . I am here to make sure all of you rabbit lovers have everything you need to care for your fluffy little bundle of joy. They will gnaw on the woody stems during the wintertime. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season. They do better in rocky or sandy soils than in fertile, rich ground. The leaves of this plant look similar to the common mint that is used in cooking, but the two plants are not directly related. Theyre easy to grow perennials, and love full sun and well-draining soil. Daylilies are the classic harbingers of summertime in the garden. What Do Rabbits Eat? Do rabbits eat yucca plants? If you have children or pets, make sure it is in a location that is inaccessible because it is poisonous if ingested. Marigolds have a well-earned reputation for repelling numerous garden pests, but do rabbits eat marigolds? Theres nothing quite like the frustration of carefully planting and caring for your garden, only for a family of rabbits to show up and mow your plants right down to the ground! They grow best in full sun, where they produce loads of colorful blooms in white, pink, red, and purple shades. While rabbits do not like foxglove, it should be planted with caution. The Spruce /Micah Issitt and Adrienne Legault. 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