5 Rabbit Resistant Plants
I’ve just finished planting a garden that has a little collection of bunnies visit each day. Cute….until they eat all your plants. So I’ve spent lots of time researching plants that rabbits aren’t keen on and it would seem a shame not to share the info. From what I can gather the little munchkins will eat almost anything if they get hungry enough so nothing is guaranteed. Rabbit proof fencing seems to be the only fool proof method - if that’s not a possibility have a go planting these.
1. Hydrangeas
This is a really useful one! So many beautiful hydrangeas that will grow in sun but also happily take some shade. Just remember to keep them well watered. I love all of the white flowering hydrangeas.
White hydrangea
2. Choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom)
An evergreen shrub, that grows to approx. 2m high and wide, with pretty white flowers in the summer. The foliage is really strongly scented - I can appreciate why the rabbits don’t want to eat it! Choisya shrubs will suffer in cold, exposed locations so make sure you plant it in a sheltered spot.
3. Hellebores
Lovely plants for some winter flowering colour and typically with evergreen foliage. They prefer a shadier location and will reward you with beautiful white or deep pink flowers when little else is in bloom.
4. Alliums
I love alliums and this is a popular opinion - they are a member of the onion family and I assume this is what puts the rabbits off. Plant the bulbs in late summer - I tend to drift them all through my planting borders. There are lots of different varieties but I find Purple Sensation to be reliable.
5. Nepeta (catmint)
One of my favourite plants, I don’t get to plant it much as my location in Warwickshire tends to be wet, heavy clay and it prefers well draining soil. It’s sends out beautiful, purple flowering stems in early summer, which are long lasting. It’s really stunning planted en masse. Position it in full sun and it will flower beautifully every year. Bunnies apparently aren’t interested but cats absolutely adore it - the only problem being they tend to roll around in it and squish it!
Nepeta
A few more to try...
Lavender, Irises, Buddleja davidii, Agapanthus, Alchemilla mollis, Euphorbia and Helianthus (sunflowers). Try this RHS article for an even wider list. Good luck!
