It all starts so positively, first fluffy bunny rabbit toys, next Bugs Bunny on TV and finally a real live bunny, hutch and all. As a child I had a rabbit called Flopsy and as much as the little devil scratched and bit me I still loved him. The naivety of youth! I no longer see cute fluffy bunnies but instead finely tuned eating machines! I have been lucky enough to not have suffered with these animals in the gardens I have owned or worked in until recently. So I thought I would share with you my findings on some of my top rabbit proof plants out there.
My favourite plants the bunnies won’t want to nibble!
Aconitum (Monkshood) - this perennial has the most beautiful dark blue flowers. All parts of this plant are poisonous, presumably why the rabbits stay away. It likes partial shade but I’ve had it growing happily in full sun. You will need to stake the flowers which will emerge in late summer and autumn.
Hemerocallis (Daylilies) – I love these, there are so many different colours to choose from and they are a tidy plant that just gets on with it. They flower best in the sun and like a good fertile soil, that’s not asking a lot for weeks of flowers!
Scabiosa (Scabious) – again there are lots to choose from with these. The perennial types form a clump from which numerous flowers are produced and if you are happy to spend a little time deadheading they will just keep flowering for you.
Geranium (Cranesbill) – need I say anymore. Whatever the situation there will be one that thrives in it.
Euphorbia (Wood spurge) – again there is such variety with Euphorbia’s and they are hard working in tough dry situations. Be careful of the milky sap as it is an irritant, presumably the rabbits have figured that out too.
Echinops (Globe thistle) – a big bold architectural plant that if you have the room at the back of your border is a must. The rabbits won’t like it but the bees will not leave it alone!
Astilbe – for those of you who are looking through this list thinking there is nothing for damp conditions this ones for you. Even when they are not in flower Astilbe’s have fantastic foliage that acts as great ground cover. When they do flower in late summer they have fabulous tall plume-like flowers, which come in all sorts of colours.
This is by no means an exhaustive list but instead I have gone for overall plant performance along with the fact rabbits don’t like to nibble them. There are hundreds of perennials and shrubs that rabbits will not be interested in, if you are after a great long list of them check out this link to the RHS website.