The coneflower (Echinacea) is a popular perennial plant often targeted by rabbits, particularly when its foliage is young and tender. As generalist herbivores, rabbits find new growth an easily accessible and highly palatable food source, especially early in the growing season. Protecting these plants requires understanding rabbit behavior and implementing physical and sensory strategies to make the garden an unappealing foraging area.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion
The most reliable method for protecting coneflowers is installing a physical barrier that prevents access. Fencing must account for both the rabbit’s ability to jump and its instinct to burrow underneath obstacles. An effective rabbit fence should stand at least 24 to 36 inches above the ground, a height sufficient to deter most cottontail and jackrabbit species from leaping over the barrier.
The material should be a small-gauge wire mesh, preferably one inch or smaller, to prevent young rabbits from squeezing through the openings. Hardware cloth is an excellent choice for longevity, as it is more rigid than standard chicken wire, resists corrosion, and maintains a tighter grid. The depth of the installation is often more important than the height, since rabbits are instinctive diggers attempting to tunnel beneath the obstruction.
To thwart burrowing, the fence bottom must be buried a minimum of 6 to 8 inches below the soil line. For maximum effectiveness, the buried portion should be bent outward in an L-shape, forming a 6-inch horizontal skirt facing away from the protected area. When a rabbit begins to dig, it encounters this buried wire flap, which disrupts its burrowing path and prompts it to abandon the attempt. For individual coneflowers, a temporary cloche or cage made of hardware cloth can be used, securely pinned to the ground around the plant’s base.
Sensory Repellents and Deterrents
Sensory repellents work by making the coneflower foliage unappetizing through strong scents or unpleasant tastes. Commercial repellents often use putrescent whole egg solids, which have a repulsive odor to rabbits but become nearly odorless to humans once dry. Other active ingredients include capsaicin and concentrated garlic, both of which provide a strong taste deterrent. These products must be applied directly to the plant foliage and stems to be effective.
The effectiveness of these sprays depends heavily on consistent reapplication, especially after rain or heavy watering, which can wash the active compounds away. A general schedule involves spraying weekly for the first few weeks, then transitioning to a monthly maintenance application, reapplying immediately following significant rainfall. Rotating between products with different active ingredients, such as switching from an egg-based scent to a capsaicin-based taste deterrent, can help maintain efficacy.
Motion-activated sprinklers offer a non-chemical deterrent by startling rabbits with a sudden burst of water and movement. These devices rely on the rabbit’s innate flight response, causing the animal to associate the garden area with danger. While effective, they must be positioned carefully to cover the entire area and require a reliable water source. This method conditions the rabbit to seek food in a different location.
Landscape Modifications to Discourage Rabbits
Modifying the surrounding landscape reduces the appeal of the area as a permanent habitat, thereby lowering the likelihood of consistent foraging pressure on coneflowers. Rabbits are prey animals that require ample cover and shelter to feel secure from predators. Eliminating potential hiding spots near the garden is an important step in discouraging them from taking up residence.
This involves removing:
- Brush piles and stacks of firewood.
- Low-growing, dense vegetation.
- Weeds and tall grasses near the garden perimeter.
Similarly, sealing off access beneath low decks, sheds, or porches removes secure locations for nesting and burrowing. Removing loose soil or securing existing holes helps prevent female rabbits from establishing a warren near your plants.
A clean, open landscape increases a rabbit’s perceived risk of predation, making the location less desirable for resting and reproduction. Reducing the overall comfort and safety of the environment makes the garden a less convenient and less frequent stop on the rabbit’s foraging route.
Strategic Planting for Protection
Strategic planting uses the repellent qualities of certain plants to create a natural, unappetizing buffer zone around vulnerable coneflowers. Companion planting involves surrounding the target plants with strongly aromatic or distasteful species that rabbits typically avoid. Plants with pungent odors, like chives, rosemary, sage, or ornamental onions (Allium), can create an invisible shield that masks the scent of the coneflowers.
Rabbits also tend to avoid plants with stiff, leathery, or toxic foliage, such as snapdragons or lantana. Positioning these rabbit-resistant plants along the edge of the flower bed can act as a natural perimeter barrier, encouraging the animals to turn away before reaching the preferred Echinacea. While no plant is completely “rabbit-proof,” these choices are consistently ranked lower on the rabbit’s menu when food is scarce.
Another strategy involves planting genuinely unpalatable alternatives in other areas of the yard to divert attention away from the coneflowers. Species like lavender and marigolds are often bypassed due to their strong taste or scent. Placing these plants in accessible, non-target areas may reduce the incentive for rabbits to test the coneflowers.