As a passionate gardener, nothing frustrates me more than spending time and money planting beautiful flowers only to have them devoured overnight by hungry rabbits. After years of trial and error, I’ve learned which annuals rabbits tend to avoid so I can have a gorgeous, bunny-free flower garden.
Based on my experience, here are the top 5 annual flowers that rabbits won’t eat:
1. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
This low-growing annual features clusters of tiny, fragrant white, lavender, or pink flowers from early summer well into fall. Rabbits dislike the fuzzy, fringed blooms and aromatic foliage Sweet alyssum thrives in full sun to part shade and doesn’t mind heat or drought once established Use as an edging plant or in containers.
2. Flossflower (Ageratum)
Also called bluemink, this heat-loving annual bears dense puffy blooms in shades of blue, white, or pink from summer through frost. The soft, fluffy flowers and distinct aroma deter rabbits. Flossflower does best in full sun and average soil with good drainage. Mass in beds and borders or pair with taller plants.
3. Wax Begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)
Wax begonias produce continuous clusters of rose-like flowers in scarlet, pink, white, and bi-color blooms all season long. The succulent stems and leaves contain compounds that rabbits find distasteful Give them partial sun, rich soil, and consistent water. Use in hanging baskets, window boxes, or garden beds
4. Geraniums (Pelargonium)
Available in a huge range of colors like red, pink, orange, white, and bicolor blooms, geraniums feature pretty, rounded flower heads. Rabbits dislike the thick, scented leaves. Site them in full sun, well-drained soil, and provide ample water. Use in containers or mass in garden beds for vivid color.
5. Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
An old-fashioned favorite, calendula or pot marigold blooms in sunny shades of yellow, orange, and cream from early summer until frost. The strongly scented leaves and flowers deter rabbits. Give them full sun to light shade and average to poor soil. Scatter seeds or plant seedlings in flower beds and borders.
Other Notable Annuals Rabbits Avoid:
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Zinnias – Bold, butterfly-attracting blooms in vivid colors. Needs full sun.
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Marigolds – Cheerful flowers in yellow, orange, white. Tolerates poor soil.
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Cleome – Showy spider flowers in pink, purple, white. Likes hot sun.
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Nasturtiums – Edible, trailing flowers in red, orange, yellow. For full sun.
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Petunias – Continuous trumpet-shaped blooms in all colors, Prefers sun,
Top Tips for Protecting Flowers from Rabbits
While some annuals naturally deter rabbits, you can also use these tactics to make your garden less appetizing:
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Fence in flower beds with small mesh wire fencing or poultry netting. Dig it at least 6 inches underground.
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Use motion-activated sprinklers or ScareCrow deterrents to startle rabbits away from plants.
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Sprinkle dried blood meal or human hair around sensitive plants to repel rabbits with scent.
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Interplant flowers with herbs like lavender, thyme, sage – rabbits dislike strong aromas.
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Add sharp mulch like pine cones, gravel, or wood chips around plants to hinder access.
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Train dogs or outdoor cats to chase rabbits from the yard to deter grazing.
Focus on Fragrance and Foliage
When choosing annuals, select flowers with fragrant foliage or blooms, fuzzy/prickly textures, and bold aromas. Rabbits have a strong sense of smell and typically avoid pungent plants.
Flowers like nicotiana, dusty miller, salvia, dianthus, cosmos, and flowering tobacco also tend to be less appetizing to bunnies.
Be Diligent with Protection in Early Spring
Rabbits are extra hungry in early spring when pickings are still scarce. Take extra measures to protect new seedlings and recently emerged plants. Use covers and fencing until plants are bigger and more established.
Accept Some Sacrifices in Rabbit Central
If your property is overrun with rabbits, accept that you may lose some flowers, vegetables, and landscaping. Focus your protection efforts on the plants that matter most. Let the rabbits nibble on the extras as their natural food sources.
By filling your garden with unfavorable flowers that rabbits avoid, you can finally enjoy the beauty of carefree blooms unmarred by nighttime rabbit raids. Stick with strong-smelling annuals, prickly textures, and plants known to deter rabbits.
And remember to appreciate the bunnies even as you actively discourage them from becoming flower thieves. With smart plant choices and vigilant protection, your flowers and bunnies can coexist in harmony. Just follow my tips to take back your garden from Peter Rabbit!
5 Annuals Rabbits Might NOT Eat!
FAQ
What is a rabbit-resistant annual flower?
Are there flowers that rabbits won’t eat?
Do rabbits eat marigolds?
Will rabbits eat impatiens flowers?
What plants can keep rabbits out of your garden?
For those who do not mind growing a plant that puts on more impressive foliage than flowering display, the following plants may be of interest: Keep bunnies out of your garden with these rabbit-resistant flowers, shrubs, trees, ground covers, vines, bulb plants, annuals, and perennials.
Can rabbits eat flowers?
There are a variety of plants and flowers that rabbits won’t eat. The bonus is that most of these species are also deer-resistant, offering double protection from common pests. There is a drawback, however, as some of these flowers are toxic plants —so it’s important to exercise caution in growing them around children or pets.
What plants do rabbits dislike?
Interestingly, many of the plants that rabbits dislike are plants that entice pollinators to visit the garden, including yarrow. Yarrow is a wildflower that attracts butterflies and other buzzing beneficial insects. The delicate white flowers return every year and require little maintenance. 12. Sweet Alyssum
Do Rabbits like flowering plants?
While rabbits, like deer, have adaptable appetites, they tend to avoid plants with foliage or growth that is hairy, bitter, spicy, rough, woody, or spiny. Here are 11 flowering plants that might send your rabbits searching for greener pastures.