The New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) is a popular garden annual celebrated for its vibrant, continuous blooms and ability to thrive in shadier conditions. Gardeners often worry about protecting these flowers from local wildlife, particularly rabbits. Understanding the interaction between these herbivores and Impatiens hawkeri is important for effective garden management.
Are New Guinea Impatiens Palatable to Rabbits?
New Guinea Impatiens are categorized as a low-preference plant, meaning rabbits generally avoid them when more desirable food sources are available. However, this resistance is not absolute. The plant’s palatability depends on environmental factors and the specific rabbit population. Rabbits, such as the common cottontail, have adaptable appetites, and their behavior changes based on immediate needs.
When natural forage is scarce, such as during dry summer periods or late in the season, rabbits are more likely to sample plants they would normally ignore. They target the most tender parts, including new spring growth, soft flower petals, and young stem tips. While the plant is not a staple of their diet, damage is regularly reported by gardeners, showing that “rabbit-resistant” does not mean “rabbit-proof.”
Potential Health Risks of Ingestion
New Guinea Impatiens are not considered highly toxic, but they do contain natural irritants that can affect an animal if consumed. Like other plants in the Impatiens genus, they contain calcium oxalate crystals. These microscopic, needle-shaped crystals are present throughout the tissue and act as a defense mechanism against herbivores.
When a rabbit chews the plant, the crystals cause immediate mechanical irritation to the mouth, lips, and throat. Consuming a larger quantity may lead to mild gastrointestinal upset, resulting in symptoms such as drooling, pawing at the mouth, or mild diarrhea. The primary effect is discomfort, which usually discourages further feeding. For gardeners, the main concern is the cosmetic damage to the flowers and foliage, not lethal poisoning of the animal.
Proven Strategies for Protecting Your Plants
Protecting your New Guinea Impatiens requires a layered approach that combines physical exclusion and sensory deterrence. The most reliable method is implementing a physical barrier, as it completely prevents access to the plants. Fencing should use chicken wire or hardware cloth with openings no larger than one inch to ensure young rabbits cannot squeeze through.
The fence must be at least two to three feet high, as rabbits can stand on their hind legs to reach foliage. To prevent burrowing, the bottom edge should be buried six inches into the ground. Bending the bottom six inches outward into an “L” shape before burial provides an additional deterrent against digging.
Repellents
Repellents offer a secondary line of defense by using smells or tastes rabbits dislike. Commercial repellents often use ingredients such as putrescent egg solids. Homemade sprays typically rely on pungent elements like cayenne pepper or garlic powder. These repellents must be applied directly to the foliage and surrounding soil to be effective. Since rain and irrigation wash away the active ingredients, reapplication is necessary every few days or immediately following precipitation.
Cultural Practices
Adjusting the landscape through cultural practices can discourage rabbits from settling near your flowers. Rabbits seek cover from predators, so keeping the garden area tidy helps eliminate hiding spots. This involves regularly mowing tall grass, removing brush piles, and trimming back dense, low-hanging shrubs. A distraction planting strategy involves placing high-preference forage, such as clover, away from ornamental beds to divert the animals’ attention.