Rabbit-resistant flowers are less likely to be browsed, not guaranteed to be left alone: hungry rabbits may eat plants they usually avoid. For a flower garden that holds up better, choose plants suited to your light and soil, protect new transplants, and use a low mesh barrier if rabbits keep feeding.
Extension sources identify aromatic, prickly, tough-leaved, toxic, or milky-sap plants as traits that can discourage browsing, but no plant list is foolproof. The 19 flowers below are supported by extension plant lists or profiles; match them to your site and consider safety as well as flowers and foliage.
19 Flowers That May Hold Up Better to Rabbits
Light, moisture, mature size, and bloom timing vary by species and cultivar. Use this comparison as a starting point, then check the plant label or local extension guidance for the variety you buy. Rabbit resistance is not a guarantee.
| Plant | Light and moisture | Garden use and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blanket flower (Gaillardia spp.) | Sunny; relatively dry conditions | Bright, long-blooming choice for sunny beds. |
| Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) | Sunny; dry conditions | Orange-flowering perennial with pollinator value. |
| Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | Sunny; well-drained soil | Aromatic foliage suits sunny beds; rabbits may still browse it. |
| Catmint (Nepeta spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Aromatic gray-green foliage and long-lasting lavender-blue flowers. |
| Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | Sunny; conditions vary by variety | Durable perennial with flat flower clusters. |
| Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) | Sun; average conditions | Bright, broadly adaptable flower. |
| Ornamental onion (Allium spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Vertical flower heads and pungent foliage. |
| Salvia (Salvia spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Many garden salvias have aromatic foliage and support pollinators. |
| Marigold (Tagetes spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Annual with scented foliage; UMN Extension notes its odor is often avoided by deer and rabbits. |
| Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) | Sun; average to moist conditions | Daisy-like flowers for sunny beds. |
| Verbena (Verbena × hybrida) | Sun; average to moist conditions | Flowering option for sunny sites. |
| Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Spring bulb; protect during establishment if rabbit pressure is severe. |
| Peony (Paeonia spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Long-lived ornamental with large flowers. |
| Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) | Sun to part shade | Annual or short-lived bedding flower. |
| Bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.) | Shade garden | Arching flowers make it a useful shade-garden candidate. |
| Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) | Part shade | Valuable foliage as well as flowers; flower stalks may not be equally resistant. |
| Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) | Shade-tolerant | Fragrant ground cover; can spread, and has documented toxic characteristics. |
| Iris (Iris spp.) | Sun to part shade | Sword-like foliage and showy flowers. |
| Bee balm (Monarda spp.) | Check variety and local growing conditions | Aromatic foliage, colorful flowers, and pollinator value. |
How to Choose Plants for Your Garden
Plan for the conditions plants will actually face, not just their resistance to browsing. Compare light, moisture, size, bloom timing, foliage, and safety before planting. Pollinator value is a benefit, but it does not guarantee that rabbits will avoid a plant.
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- Light and moisture: Match plants to the bed. For example, Penn State Extension lists blanket flower for sunny, relatively dry sites and coreopsis and verbena for sunny sites with average-to-moist conditions.
- Season and appearance: Combine spring bulbs such as daffodils with summer flowers and plants whose foliage adds texture beyond bloom time.
- Space and spread: Check the mature size of each species and cultivar before placing it at the front, middle, or back of a border. Check local guidance before planting ground covers or other plants that may spread aggressively.
- Wildlife and safety: Bee balm, butterfly weed, catmint, salvia, and yarrow can support pollinators, but toxicity and plant safety should be considered around children and animals.
Why Some Plants May Be Less Appealing
Colorado State University Extension identifies strong aromas, prickles and spines, tough leathery leaves, toxic plants, and milky sap as traits that may discourage browsing. These are tendencies, not guarantees. Colorado State cautions that a hungry animal may eat almost anything, including poisonous plants.
Penn State Extension likewise notes that rabbits eat many flowers and favor tender shoots, such as young tulip stems. New plants and soft growth can be vulnerable even when a species is often listed as rabbit-resistant.
How to Keep Rabbits Out of a Flower Garden
If rabbits continue to feed, physical exclusion is more dependable than relying on plant choice alone. Penn State Extension recommends a 2-foot chicken-wire fence with the bottom tight to the ground or buried a few inches. Mesh with openings of 1 inch or smaller can keep young rabbits from getting through. For more intensive protection, Penn State recommends 1/4-inch hardware cloth around landscape plants and young trees.
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- Choose plants suited to the bed’s light and moisture, keeping in mind that resistance is not immunity.
- Protect newly transplanted flowers while they establish; recently moved plants can be more vulnerable.
- For a temporary flower-bed cage or low barrier, use chicken wire and keep the bottom edge tight to the ground or bury it a few inches.
- Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth where pressure is high or plants need more intensive protection.
- Inspect the barrier regularly and close gaps at ground level so rabbits cannot crawl underneath.
UMN Extension also recommends hardware cloth as a rabbit barrier and warns against gaps at ground level. Choose between chicken wire and hardware cloth based on the protection needed: chicken wire can serve as a practical low fence, while the smaller openings of hardware cloth provide a stronger barrier for vulnerable plantings.
Check That Rabbits Are the Problem
UMN Extension describes rabbit damage as clean, angled cuts, seedlings clipped at ground level, and pea-sized droppings. Deer damage is more likely to include torn leaves, ripped stems, hoof prints, and browsing higher on plants. Identifying the animal matters: a low rabbit fence will not solve a deer problem.
Plant Safety and Containment
Plant resistance and plant safety are different questions. Lily of the valley has documented toxic characteristics and may pose problems for pets. Check reliable local guidance before planting toxic or potentially spreading plants where children or animals may come into contact with them. Do not assume that a plant avoided by rabbits is safe for people or pets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What flowers are rabbit-resistant?
Flowers listed by extension sources as rabbit-resistant or less appealing include blanket flower, butterfly weed, lavender, catmint, yarrow, black-eyed Susan, ornamental onion, salvia, marigold, coreopsis, verbena, daffodil, peony, snapdragon, bleeding heart, coral bells, lily of the valley, iris, and bee balm. Rabbits may still eat them, especially when hungry or when plants are young.
What flowers do rabbits hate?
There is no reliable list of flowers that rabbits always hate. Aromatic, prickly, tough-leaved, toxic, or milky-sap plants may be less appealing, but hungry rabbits can eat plants they usually avoid.
Will rabbits eat lavender?
Lavender is often considered less appealing because of its aromatic foliage, and Penn State Extension lists it among rabbit-resistant plants. That does not mean it is rabbit-proof; local pressure and plant age can affect browsing.
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Are marigolds rabbit-resistant?
Marigolds may be less appealing to rabbits. UMN Extension notes that the odor of marigold foliage is often avoided by deer and rabbits, but this is not a guarantee that rabbits will leave them alone.
How do I keep rabbits out of my flower garden?
Start with plants suited to the site, protect newly transplanted flowers, and use a barrier if browsing continues. Penn State Extension recommends a 2-foot chicken-wire fence with the bottom tight to the ground or buried a few inches; inspect it for gaps regularly.
Do I need hardware cloth for rabbits?
Not in every situation. Penn State Extension recommends chicken wire for a low fence and 1/4-inch hardware cloth for more intensive protection around landscape plants and young trees. Hardware cloth can be a stronger choice for high-pressure areas or valuable plants.
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What is the best rabbit-proof garden fence?
No fence or plant choice should be presented as a universal guarantee. For rabbit exclusion, Penn State Extension recommends a 2-foot chicken-wire fence with the bottom tight to the ground or buried a few inches; it also recommends 1/4-inch hardware cloth for more intensive protection. Check the bottom edge for gaps.
How can I tell if rabbits are eating my flowers?
UMN Extension identifies clean, angled cuts, seedlings clipped at ground level, and pea-sized droppings as signs of rabbits. Torn leaves, ripped stems, hoof prints, and higher browsing are more consistent with deer damage.
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