There are rabbit tracks in my six-fence rose garden, and the only roses that are still alive are about 18 inches tall.
With their beautiful blooms and fragrant scent, rose bushes are a favorite plant for many gardeners. But these prized shrubs often end up on the menu for rabbits too. So do rabbits eat rose bushes?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes Rabbits can and will munch on all parts of rose bushes, especially in winter and early spring when food is scarce. Read on to learn how to identify rabbit damage and tips to protect your roses
Why Rabbits Eat Roses
During warmer months, rabbits enjoy a diverse diet of greens, fruits, vegetables, clovers, and herbaceous plants. But when the garden goes dormant in winter, rose bushes become a tasty target. Here’s why rabbits go for roses:
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Hunger – Rabbits need to eat daily and rose branches and bark provide nutrition when other food is limited.
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Location – Rose bushes are often planted along foundations and fences – prime areas rabbits frequent.
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Accessibility – With few barriers around mature rose shrubs, rabbits can easily access the plants.
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Taste – Rabbits seem to find all parts of the rose plant, including the leaves flowers canes, and bark, palatable.
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Nutrition – Rose branches and bark provide protein, nutrients, and fiber that rabbits desperately need in winter.
Identifying Rabbit Damage on Roses
To know if rabbits are feasting on your roses, look for these signs:
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Neat, angled cuts through stems and branches
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Stripped outer bark on canes
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Chewed or missing buds and flowers
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Pruned leaves without jagged edges
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Clean cut branches left on ground
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Rabbit pellets around bushes
Rabbit damage differs from other rose pests like deer, voles, and insects that tend to rip or shred plant parts rather than making smooth cuts.
![Rabbit damage on rose bush][]
Notice the angled snip marks from rabbits. Credit: sandsun / Shutterstock
Protecting Roses from Rabbits
Discouraging rabbits from nibbling your roses takes persistence, but these tactics can help:
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Remove hiding spots like tall grasses and weeds near roses.
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Apply natural repellents like hot pepper wax or garlic spray. Reapply after rain.
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Protect with fencing or wire cages around plants. Use small mesh to keep out young bunnies.
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Add wind chimes, aluminum pans, or mylar tape to startle rabbits away.
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Use deterrents like pet hair, human hair, dog waste, or predator urine near plants.
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Switch out repellents frequently as rabbits become desensitized.
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Adopt dogs or cats – their presence naturally scares away rabbits.
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Grow rabbiteye blueberries or other preferred plants to distract them from roses.
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Hand pick or trap and relocate rabbits after confirming it’s legal locally.
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Apply organic fertilizer to help roses recover quickly from damage.
Cultivating Rabbit Resistant Roses
When shopping for new rose bushes, seek out resistant varieties that rabbits tend to avoid:
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Rugosa – Thorny shrub rose with wrinkled leaves. Great scent.
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Lilac – Light purple, heavily scented double blooms.
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Knockout – Low maintenance with continuous red, pink or yellow flowers.
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Austrian Copper – Gorgeous yellow blooms on a tough bush.
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Drift Roses – Low growing groundcover rose.
Planting a mix of rabbit-resistant roses combined with protection methods can help safeguard your investment and allow you to enjoy rose gardening. With persistence, you can have both thriving roses and rabbits!
Can My Rabbit Eat Rose Bushes?
FAQ
How do I stop rabbits from eating my rose bushes?
Will roses come back after rabbit damage?
Do rabbits and squirrels eat roses?
What is eating my roses at night?
Can rabbits eat rose bush leaves?
Furthermore, it is interesting to note that rabbits may work around thorns on a rose bush when consuming the plant material. This is becase rabbits enjoy chewing on rose bush leaves, which are often soft and young. However, the leaves can be prickly, so rabbits have to be careful.
Can rabbits eat rose petals?
Rose petals contain vitamins and minerals beneficial to rabbits. They have vitamin C which boosts the immune system of your bunny. Also present are traces of calcium good for bone health. However, not all parts of a rose plant are rabbit-friendly. The thorns can harm them if they try nibbling on stems or leaves with prickly points attached.
Do Rabbits like roses?
Tender and succulent foliage: Rabbits have a particular fondness for tender, young foliage, and the leaves and petals of roses fit the bill perfectly. As rabbits browse through your garden, they are drawn to the soft and succulent leaves of rose bushes. Attractive colors: Rabbits are known to be attracted to bright and vibrant colors.
Do Rabbits Kill rose bushes?
If your rose bushes are damaged at the top, you can start suspecting deer. Rabbits typically don’t kill off rose bushes, but they can cause enough damage to delay their growth. It may take a long time for your roses to recover and show their true potential. That’s why you should protect your roses in time, before you start noticing the damage.
What happens if a rabbit eats a rose?
In cases where the rabbit has eaten a significant portion of the plant’s stem, the rose may take longer to recover, and it’s essential to cut back any damaged stems to encourage new growth. If the rabbit damage occurs late in the growing season, the rose may not have enough time to recover fully before winter sets in.
Are rabbits attracted to rose bushes?
As rabbits browse through your garden, they are drawn to the soft and succulent leaves of rose bushes. Attractive colors: Rabbits are known to be attracted to bright and vibrant colors. The captivating hues of roses, ranging from deep reds to soft pinks and vibrant yellows, can catch the attention of these garden pests.