Rabbits

While no plant is completely rabbit proof there are a number of plants that rabbits normally will not eat unless there is no other greenery in the area, of course! As a general rule of thumb, rabbits are less attracted to plants with fuzzy or tough leaves, strong odors, drought tolerant native plants and plants with strappy or needle-like leaves and plants that have a milky sap.

There are also cutural and mechanical controls that you can use such as planting in raised beds, removing brush piles and exposing covered areas where rabbits tend to hide. Maintaining more open space in your yard will also discourage rabbits by exposing them to natural predators. Fencing with chicken wire, hardware cloth or flexible netting is also an alternative - just make sure that the holes are small enough to keep the critters out and that it is buried 4-8" and at least 2 feet high.

The following is a list of herbaceous type groundcovers, annuals, perennials and shrublets that I and others have found untouched by the rabbits that frequent our yards. It is suggested that if you plant these less desirable plants around the more delectable plants rabbits will be deterred from feasting. this list is by no means comprehensive so I'd appreciate any additions you may wish to add for the benefit of your neighbors!

Agave
Allium
Aloe
Anemone
Angelonia
Aster
Astilbe
Azalea
Balloon Flower - Platycodon
Balsam - Impatiens
Basil
Basket of Gold - Aurinia saxatilis
Beach Strawberry - Fragaria chiloensis
Beard Tongue - Penstemon
Bear's Breech - Acanthus mollis
Bee balm - Monarda spp.
Begonia
Bergenia
Bird of Paradise - Strelitzia
Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta
Blackfoot daisy - Melampodium
Blanket Flower - Gaillardia spp.
Bleeding Heart - Dicentra spectabilis
Blue Fescue - Festuca glauca
Blue Flax - Linum lewisii
Blue-eyed grass - Sisyrinchium bellum
Butterfly bush - Buddleja
California Fuchsia - Zauschneria californica
California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica
Calla Lily - Zantedeschia
Candytuft - Iberis
Canna
Carpet Bugle - Ajuga
Catmints - Nepeta spp.
Centaurea
Chives - Allium
Cinquefoil - Potentilla spp
Cleome - Cleome serrulata
Coneflower
Coral Bells - Heuchera
Coreopsis
Corn
Cotoneaster
Cranesbill - Geranium spp.
Creeping baby's breath - Gypsophila repens
Creeping Oregon Grape Holly - Mahonia epens
Crocosmia
Crocus
Cucumbers
Daffodil - Narcissus spp.
Dahlia
Daylily - Hemerocallis spp
Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum
Delphinium - Delphinium spp.
Dianthus - Dianthus spp.
Dwarf Plumbago - Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
English Ivy - Hedera helix
Euphorbia
Euryops
False Spiraea - Astilbe
Feather grass
Ferns
Flax - Phormium
Fleabane - Erigeron spp.
Forget-me-not - Myosotis scorpiodes
Fortnight lily - Dietes
Foxglove - Digitalis
Freesia
Gazania
Geum
Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia
Goldenrod - Solidago spp
Hardy Geraniums - Geranium spp.
Heliotrope
Herbs (many species)
Hypericum
Ice Plant
Iceland Poppy - Papaver nudicaule
Impatiens
Iris
Jacob's ladder - Polemonium caeruleum
Japanese spurge - Pachysandra termminalis
Juniper
Jupiter's beard - Centranthus ruber
Kangaroo Paw - Anigozanthos
Kinnikinnick - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Lamb's ears - Stachys byzantina
Lamium
Lantana - Lantana
Lavender
Lily of the Nile - Agapathus
Lily turf - Liriope and Ophiopogon
Lupine - Lupinus spp.
Marguerite Daisy - Chrysanthemum frutescens
Marigold
Matilija Poppy - Romneya coulteri
Mexican oregano
Mint
Miscanthus
Monarda
Monkey Flower - Mimulus
Monkshood - Acotinium spp.
Moonbeam Coreopsis
Moss Pink - Phlox subulata
Muhlenbergia
Mum
Myoporum parvifolim 'Prostratum'
Naked Lady - Amarillis belladonna
Nandina
Nepeta
Oregano
Oriental Poppy - Papaver orientale
Penstemon - Penstemon spp.
Periwinkle - Vinca
Petunia
Pincushion flower - Scabiosa
Potatoes
Red Hot Poker - Kniphofia
Rosemary
Russian Sage
Sage - Salvia spp
Sage - Artemisia
Santolina
saxifrage
Scaevola
Sea Pink - Armeria maritima
Serbian bellflower - Campanula poscharskyana
Shasta Daisy - Chrysanthemum maximum
Siberian Iris - Iris sibirica
Siberian Squill - Scilla siberica
Snapdragons - Antirrhinum
Snow-in-Summer - Cerastium tomentosum
Society Garlic - Tulbaghia violacea
Speedwell - Veronica spp
Squash
St John's Wort - Hypericum
Statice - Limonium
Stone crop - Sedum
Straw Flower - Helichysum
Sulfur flower - Eriogonum umbellatum
Sunflower - Helianthus
Swan River Daisy - Brachyscome
Sweet Violet - Viola odorata
Thyme
Tomatoes
Verbena
Veronica
Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Wisteria
Yarrow - Achillea spp.