The presence of rabbits in a garden often leads to frustration, as these herbivores can quickly decimate tender vegetable plants. While no plant is entirely “rabbit-proof,” gardeners can minimize predation by making informed choices about what they sow. This guide focuses on planting selections that rabbits generally avoid, helping you cultivate a successful harvest. The strategy involves understanding their dietary preferences and using plants with natural deterrents.
Vegetables Rabbits Generally Reject
Rabbits instinctively avoid several major categories of garden vegetables, primarily those with strong flavors, toxic compounds, or unappealing textures. The Allium family (onions, garlic, and leeks) is one of the most reliable deterrents because these plants contain sulfur compounds that emit a pungent odor rabbits find distasteful. The strong scent and flavor cause them to bypass these crops.
The nightshade family, Solanaceae, also contains plants rabbits typically leave untouched due to toxicity. The foliage of potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant contains glycoalkaloids, like solanine, which cause digestive distress if consumed. The leaves and stems are reliably rejected by rabbits seeking safe forage.
Rhubarb is rarely eaten because its leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid, a compound toxic to many animals. Additionally, vegetables that develop a tough, woody texture after establishment, such as asparagus spears and corn stalks, are often left alone.
Why Rabbits Are Selective Eaters
A rabbit’s dietary selectivity is rooted in biological and sensory mechanisms, which are finely tuned to avoid harmful or unpalatable forage. Rabbits possess a highly developed sense of smell, which they use to assess the safety of potential food sources. They quickly learn to associate intense odors with an unpleasant or dangerous eating experience.
Many plants rabbits avoid contain secondary metabolites, which are non-edible compounds produced for self-defense. These compounds, such as alkaloids and saponins, taste bitter or cause gastric irritation, acting as a natural poison control system.
Physical characteristics also play a significant role in deterrence, as rabbits prefer soft, tender growth. Plants with tough, woody stems or those covered in a fuzzy or hairy texture are less appealing and more difficult to chew. This physical resistance makes the effort of consuming the plant too high.
Companion Planting: Herbs and Flowers They Avoid
Beyond vegetables, many herbs and ornamental plants offer natural deterrence that gardeners can use strategically. Aromatic herbs are excellent companions for vulnerable crops because they produce strong, volatile essential oils that repel rabbits.
These herbs all contain oils that create a highly scented barrier around nearby plants:
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Sage
- Basil
Gardeners can also incorporate specific ornamental flowers that rabbits tend to ignore, often due to toxicity or texture. Flowers such as marigolds, zinnias, and snapdragons are commonly bypassed. Lavender is also rabbit-resistant, as its silvery foliage has a strong scent and a slightly rough texture.
Companion planting involves strategically placing these resistant plants next to or around more vulnerable crops. Planting a dense border of aromatic herbs or ornamental alliums around a lettuce patch can effectively confuse and deter a rabbit seeking an easy meal.