The presence of common garden rabbits often leads to frustration for gardeners, as these animals readily consume tender, new growth. Rabbits are opportunistic herbivores, relying heavily on grasses and herbaceous plants in warmer months, including many common garden vegetables and flowers. Understanding why these animals bypass certain plants is the first step toward preventing garden damage without the need for fencing or repellents. By selecting plants that inherently possess qualities rabbits find unappealing, a gardener can maintain a vibrant landscape that is naturally resistant to browsing.
Plant Characteristics That Deter Rabbits
Plants that resist rabbit feeding generally possess a combination of physical and chemical defenses that make them unpalatable or difficult to consume. Physical deterrents include tough, leathery foliage or stems that are too fibrous for easy chewing, especially for young rabbits. Textures like the dense, fine hairs found on some leaves create a fuzzy surface that rabbits instinctively avoid because it feels unpleasant inside their mouths. Coarse, prickly, or spiky surfaces also prevent a rabbit from getting a clean bite, making the plant a less desirable food source.
Chemical defenses are often the most effective mechanism for deterring herbivores. Many plants contain specialized compounds, such as alkaloids, glycosides, or resins, that taste bitter or are mildly toxic when ingested. The presence of milky sap, which can be irritating or poisonous, also signals that the plant is not a safe food source.
A strong, pungent odor is another significant deterrent, as rabbits rely heavily on their sense of smell to identify food. Aromatic oils, often concentrated in the leaves of certain herbs and flowers, mask the appealing scent of surrounding plants. These olfactory signals communicate that the plant is potentially toxic or simply tastes unpleasant, which encourages them to move on to other food sources.
Ornamental Plants Rabbits Typically Leave Alone
Many perennial flowers and shrubs incorporate these protective characteristics, making them excellent choices for a rabbit-resistant landscape. Plants with aromatic foliage are consistently avoided. This includes lavender (Lavandula), which contains strong essential oils, and Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), whose silvery leaves emit a pungent scent. Members of the mint family, such as Bee Balm (Monarda) and Catmint (Nepeta), also possess a powerful fragrance that rabbits find offensive.
Certain flowering plants use toxicity as a defense mechanism, a trait rabbits seem to recognize. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) contains cardiac glycosides, while Monkshood (Aconitum) is highly poisonous, and both are rarely consumed. Perennials with a thick, irritating sap, like Peonies (Paeonia) and Iris (Iris), are also generally left alone because their composition is unappetizing.
Ornamental plants with tough textures provide a physical barrier to feeding. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) is a good example, as its thick, silvery leaves are covered in dense hairs that rabbits dislike. For shrubs, the dense, leathery, and often toxic foliage of Boxwood (Buxus) is a common example of a woody plant that rabbits avoid. The woody nature and tough bark of mature shrubs like Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) and Lilac (Syringa) also make them less tempting targets than soft-stemmed annuals.
Edible Plants Rabbits Typically Leave Alone
The vegetable garden can be protected by incorporating specific culinary plants that rabbits find undesirable. The entire Allium family is known for its high sulfur content. This produces a sharp, acrid odor and taste that is a universal deterrent. Planting these in borders or interspersing them among more palatable crops can offer a degree of protection.
Allium Examples
The Allium family includes:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Chives
- Leeks
Many culinary herbs are naturally rabbit-resistant due to their strong aromatic oils. The thick, woody stems and intensely fragrant leaves of Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) and Sage (Salvia officinalis) make them unappealing browsing material. The pungent scent of Mint (Mentha) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is often enough to send a rabbit searching elsewhere.
The nightshade family (Solanaceae) includes several common vegetables avoided because their leaves and stems contain toxic compounds, such as solanine. This group includes established tomato and potato plants, as well as eggplant and peppers. While a rabbit may sample young, tender seedlings, they quickly learn to leave the mature, chemically-defended foliage alone. Plants with tough, unyielding structures, like Asparagus and the prickly vines of winter squash and cucumbers, are also less favored.