What Plants Do Wild Rabbits Eat – A Gardener’S Survival Guide To

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping into your garden on a sunny morning, only to find your prize-winning petunias nibbled to the nub and your lettuce patch looking like a tiny, furry lawnmower paid a visit. It’s a moment every gardener has faced, and trust me, the frustration is real.

But before you declare war on every fluffy-tailed visitor, I want to promise you something: you can create a thriving, beautiful garden that coexists peacefully with local wildlife. The secret isn’t about building a fortress; it’s about understanding your uninvited guests.

In this complete guide, we’re going to pull back the curtain on what plants do wild rabbits eat. We’ll explore their five-star menu, learn how to spot the tell-tale signs of their handiwork, and most importantly, I’ll share my best-kept secrets for designing a gorgeous, rabbit-resistant garden. Let’s get your garden back to growing for you.

Understanding the Rabbit Buffet: Why Your Garden is So Tempting

Before we can outsmart them, we have to think like them. Wild rabbits are herbivores, which means their entire diet is plant-based. They are also “browsers,” meaning they nibble on a wide variety of plants rather than grazing on just one type of grass.

Think of your garden as the ultimate all-you-can-eat buffet. It’s filled with tender, young, and nutrient-rich shoots that are far more delicious than the tough, woody plants in the wild. Rabbits have an incredible sense of smell and are drawn to the fresh, succulent growth that we gardeners work so hard to cultivate.

Their preferences also change with the seasons. In spring and summer, they feast on soft greens, flowers, and vegetables. In the harshness of winter, when food is scarce, they’ll turn to chewing the bark off young trees and shrubs. Understanding this is the first step in our sustainable what plants do wild rabbits eat strategy.

The Rabbit’s Five-Star Menu: What Plants Do Wild Rabbits Eat Most?

So, what exactly is on their favorites list? While a very hungry rabbit will try almost anything, they definitely have their preferences. Knowing what they love most helps you decide which plants need the most protection. This section is your ultimate what plants do wild rabbits eat guide.

Favorite Vegetables and Herbs

If you have a vegetable patch, you’re likely already familiar with their tastes. Rabbits adore the tender leaves of young vegetable plants. It’s one of the most common problems with what plants do wild rabbits eat that gardeners face.

  • Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and beet greens are at the top of the list.
  • Legumes: Young bean and pea plants are incredibly vulnerable. Rabbits will often eat the entire seedling right down to the ground.
  • Cruciferous Veggies: Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage seedlings are a delicacy.
  • Root Vegetable Tops: They love to nibble the feathery green tops of carrots, beets, and radishes.
  • Herbs: While they avoid many pungent herbs, they have a soft spot for parsley, cilantro, and dill.

Beloved Flowers and Perennials

It can be heartbreaking to see your beautiful blooms become a rabbit’s lunch. They are particularly drawn to certain flowers, especially those with soft stems and petals.

  • Spring Bulbs: Tulips and crocuses are like candy to rabbits in early spring. They’ll often eat the entire flower and sometimes even dig up the bulbs.
  • Annuals: Pansies, petunias, impatiens, and marigolds (the less fragrant varieties) are frequently targeted.
  • Perennials: Black-eyed Susans, hostas, daylilies, and asters are common victims in the perennial garden.
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Tempting Trees and Shrubs

Don’t assume your woody plants are safe! Young, newly planted trees and shrubs with thin, tender bark are especially at risk, particularly during the winter months.

  • Young Fruit Trees: Apple, pear, and plum trees are prime targets.
  • Flowering Shrubs: Roses, hydrangeas, and lilac bushes can all suffer from rabbit damage.
  • Evergreens: In winter, they may gnaw on the lower branches of arborvitae and junipers.

Signs of a Rabbit Visitor: How to Know Who’s Dining in Your Garden

Sometimes, the damage happens overnight, and you’re left wondering who the culprit was. Was it a deer? A groundhog? Or our fluffy-tailed friend? Luckily, rabbits leave behind some very specific clues.

The Clean-Cut Evidence

This is the number one sign. Rabbits have sharp incisors that create a perfectly clean, 45-degree angle cut on stems and twigs. It looks like a tiny pair of pruners came through your garden. Deer, on the other hand, lack upper incisors and will tear and rip at plants, leaving a ragged, frayed edge.

Droppings and Tracks

Another dead giveaway is their droppings. Rabbits leave behind small, round, pea-sized pellets, often in small piles. You’ll find them scattered along their favorite pathways and near the plants they’ve been munching on.

In soft soil or snow, you can also spot their tracks. They have large back feet and smaller front feet, creating a distinctive pattern where the two small front prints are followed by two larger, parallel back prints.

Creating a Rabbit-Resistant Garden: Plants They Typically Ignore

Now for the good news! You don’t have to give up on gardening. The most effective long-term solution is to fill your garden with plants that rabbits naturally dislike. This is where we get into the best what plants do wild rabbits eat tips. Generally, rabbits avoid plants that are:

  • Highly Aromatic: Strong scents can overwhelm their sensitive noses.
  • Fuzzy or Prickly: They dislike the texture of fuzzy or spiny leaves.
  • Toxic or Bitter: Many plants have natural defenses that make them unpalatable.

Pungent and Aromatic Plants

These plants are beautiful to us but offensive to rabbits. Planting them around the borders of your garden can sometimes help deter visitors.

  • Perennials: Lavender, Russian Sage, Salvia, Yarrow, and Catmint.
  • Herbs: Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Mint, and Sage. A quick tip: Be sure to plant mint in a container, as it can spread aggressively!
  • Annuals: Scented Marigolds, Ageratum, and Lantana.

Fuzzy or Prickly Textures

These plants are physically unpleasant for rabbits to eat. Don’t worry—they are perfect for beginners and add wonderful texture to any garden design.

  • Perennials: Lamb’s Ear (a classic!), Poppies, Coneflowers, and Globe Thistle.
  • Shrubs: Juniper and Barberry have sharp foliage that rabbits avoid.

Plants with Tough Foliage or Toxicity

Many common garden plants are either too tough for rabbits to chew or contain compounds that are mildly toxic and taste bad to them.

  • Perennials: Peonies, Irises, Daylilies (though they sometimes nibble the flowers), Bleeding Hearts, and Foxglove.
  • Bulbs: Daffodils, Allium, and Hyacinths are excellent choices for a rabbit-proof spring display.

Eco-Friendly Rabbit Deterrents: Best Practices for Humane Protection

Sometimes, even a rabbit-resistant garden needs a little extra help, especially when you’re trying to protect your vegetable patch. Here are some of the most effective and eco-friendly what plants do wild rabbits eat best practices to keep your harvest safe.

Fencing: Your First Line of Defense

Without a doubt, the most reliable way to protect a specific area, like a vegetable garden, is with a fence. But not just any fence will do.

  1. Choose the Right Material: Use a sturdy chicken wire or hardware cloth with openings no larger than 1 inch.
  2. Get the Height Right: The fence should be at least 2 feet high to prevent them from jumping over it. For very determined rabbits, 3 feet is even better.
  3. Go Underground: This is the step most people miss! Rabbits are excellent diggers. You must bury the bottom of the fence at least 6 inches deep or bend it outwards into an L-shape along the ground to stop them from tunneling under.
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Strategic Planting and Companion Plants

Use your knowledge of what rabbits dislike to your advantage. Plant a border of smelly plants like lavender, marigolds, or alliums around your more vulnerable lettuces or beans. This can sometimes be enough to confuse their sense of smell and encourage them to move on.

Natural Repellents

There are many commercial and DIY repellents available. The key to success with any repellent is consistent reapplication, especially after it rains. Look for products containing ingredients like rotten eggs or capsaicin (the compound that makes chili peppers hot), as these are often the most effective.

You can also try sprinkling cayenne pepper or garlic powder around the base of your plants. While not a foolproof solution, it can be a helpful part of a larger deterrent strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Plants Wild Rabbits Eat

Will rabbits eat my tomato plants?

Generally, rabbits avoid the tomato plant itself, as it’s part of the nightshade family and the leaves are mildly toxic. However, a young, tender tomato seedling might get nibbled out of curiosity, and a very hungry rabbit might try the leaves if nothing else is available. They almost never eat the fruit.

Do coffee grounds or human hair really deter rabbits?

These are common home remedies you’ll see online. The idea is that the strong scent deters them. While some gardeners swear by it, the results are highly inconsistent. These methods lose their potency quickly and need to be reapplied constantly, especially after watering or rain. It’s better to rely on more proven methods like fencing and planting resistant varieties.

Is it okay to leave out food for wild rabbits to keep them away from my garden?

While it might seem like a kind solution, it’s not a recommended practice. Feeding wild animals can lead to several problems: it can make them dependent on humans, attract larger predators to your yard, and often encourages them to have larger litters, ultimately increasing the rabbit population in your area. This is a key part of any good what plants do wild rabbits eat care guide for your local ecosystem.

What time of day are rabbits most active?

Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they are most active during the low-light hours of dawn and dusk. If you suspect you have a rabbit problem, this is the best time to quietly observe your garden from a window to confirm your suspicions.

Your Garden Can Thrive!

Living with wildlife is one of the joys and challenges of gardening. Seeing your hard work vanish overnight is disheartening, but it doesn’t have to be a recurring battle. By understanding what plants wild rabbits eat, recognizing their habits, and making smart, strategic choices, you can create a garden that is both stunningly beautiful and resilient.

Remember to focus on what you can grow, celebrate the tough and aromatic plants that thrive in your yard, and protect the precious few that need a little extra help. A thoughtful gardener is a successful gardener.

Now go forth and grow with confidence. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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