What Are Some Rabbit-Proof Flowers?

Rabbit damage is a real problem, yet many people lack either the time or inclination to drive the pests away with repellents, keep them at arm's length with a chicken-wire fence, or relocate them after a successful capture using a Havahart live trap. However, the best solution may be to take the path of least resistance: Grow primarily rabbit-proof flowers.

The bonus is that most of them double as deer-resistant plants. The drawback is that some of these flowers are considered poisonous plants (their toxins are what keep the pests away), meaning that it's important to exercise caution in growing them around children and/or pets. Below, examples will be listed of plants that rabbits tend not to eat, organized according to plant category:

• Viburnum
• Butterfly bush (the sub-shrub, Buddleia; an invasive plant in some regions)
• Lantana (an invasive plant in warm, humid climates)
• Adam's needle (a type of Yucca)
• Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, sub-shrub)
• Cotoneaster
• Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)
• Boxwood (Buxus)
• Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star')
• Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
• Holly (Ilex)
• Japanese rose (Kerria japonica)
• Lavender plant (Lavandula) (sub-shrub)

• Salvia
• Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum)
• Avens (Geum)
• Rodgers flower (Rodgersia)
• Columbine (Aquilegia)
• Delphinium
• Yarrow (Achillea)
• New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
• Coreopsis
• Daylily (Hemerocallis)
• Poppy (Papaver)
• Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
• Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
• Perennial bachelor's button (Centaurea montana)
• Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis; newer genus name, Lamprocapnos)
• Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
• Monkshood (Aconitum)
• Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
• Torch lily (Kniphofia uvaria)
• 'Silver Mound' artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana)

• Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)
• Alliums (including A. atropurpureum)
• Reticulated iris (Iris reticulata)
• Daffodil (Narcissus)
• Siberian squill (Scilla siberica)

• Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
• Flossflower (Ageratum)
• Wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)
• Geranium (Pelargonium)
• Pot marigold (Calendula)

• Japanese maples (Acer palmatum, etc.)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus)
• Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
• Maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba)
• Ash (Fraxinus)
• Magnolia (Magnoliaceae)

• Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
• Wisteria (Wisteria)
• Creeping myrtle (Vinca minor)
• Yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis)
• Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis; invasive in some regions)
• Creeping junipers (Juniperus horizontalis; Blue Rug, etc.)
• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
• Catmint (Nepeta)
• Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
• Spotted dead nettle (Lamium maculatum)

While the above-mentioned Vinca minor does put out a blue flower in spring, many people grow it more for its shiny green leaves. For those who do not mind growing a plant that puts on a more impressive foliage than flowering display, the following plants may be of interest:

• 'Silver Mound' artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana)
• Blue fescue ornamental grass (Festuca glauca)
• Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)