5. Black-Eyed Susan
This cottage backyard favourite is one flowering perennial that marauding rabbits will cross over.
Plus, it offers these interesting daisy-type golden or deep purple flowers in common soil.
It can want full solar and gained’t develop effectively in containers, so plan to plant it in raised beds or within the floor.
Black-Eyed Susan
In any other case, black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are low upkeep and can tolerate drought. They’re hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
You’ll find black-eyed Susan seeds in packets of assorted sizes out there at Eden Brothers.
Study extra about rising black-eyed Susans on this information.
6. Catmint
Catnip’s extra subdued cousin catmint (Nepeta cataria) grows in common soil and produces subtly scented gray-green leaves adopted by blue, pink, or white blooms.
They’ll maintain coming all through the summer time for those who lower it again mid-season.
This easygoing plant will develop in full solar to half shade and nearly any sort of well-draining soil. Common is ok!
Catmint
This perennial will get a couple of foot tall and is hardy in Zones 3-9.
Catmint seeds can be found from Eden Brothers in varied packet sizes.
Learn extra about rising catmint right here.
7. Chives
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are members of the onion household that features garlic, leeks, and spring onions.
These are a secret weapon towards bunnies who’re treating your backyard like their private salad bowl.
Like the decorative Alliums described above, chives make a superb flower backyard addition, too, since they boast lovely gentle purple flowering pom-poms late within the season.
They’re additionally tasty perennials. That is most likely the one pure, non-toxic pest deterrent that tastes nice as a topping on baked potatoes or baked into cheddar biscuits.
Frequent Chives
They develop greatest in fertile well-draining soil and full solar, although they’ll additionally persevere partly shade. They usually’ll normally make a comeback for those who allow them to reseed.
You’ll find frequent chive seeds (A. schoenoprasum) in varied packet sizes out there at Eden Brothers.
Try our information to study extra about rising chives.
8. Foxglove
You’ll be depriving sure hopping pests of dinner, however you gained’t be lacking out on drama or magnificence if you develop these showy 18-inch-and-up spikes of pink, rose, white, and yellow flowers.
They’ll begin busting out throughout in June and proceed the present via late summer time.
It was once that each one foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) have been biennials, so that they didn’t bloom till the second yr after planting. Now, some new varieties have been bred to flower in yr one.
All sorts of foxgloves are pretty simple to develop if in case you have moist, well-drained soil. Bear in mind to maintain them well-watered throughout dry spells.
They like half solar however are additionally a strong alternative as a perennial for the shade backyard.
Foxglove ‘Arctic Fox’
Most significantly, don’t plant foxglove anyplace younger youngsters will encounter them. They’re toxic!
Foxgloves are hardy in Zones 4 to 10.
You’ll find ‘Arctic Fox’ vegetation out there at Burpee or for combined colour seeds bred to bloom the primary yr, attempt ‘Cunning,’ additionally from Burpee.
Learn extra about rising foxglove right here.
9. Hardy Geranium
Right here’s one other flowering plant that deters nibblers with its scent.
Hardy geraniums, aka cranesbills (Geranium spp.), are to not be confused with these annual purple geraniums which might be really a detailed relative, identified botanically as Pelargonium.
Completely different styles of hardy geraniums bloom in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white.
They produce mounds of darkish inexperienced foliage and vibrant coloured, five-petaled flowers. The leaves act as a deterrent with their refined lemony scent.
They’re an awesome alternative for native plant gardens, and areas with gentle shade or full morning solar.
‘Rozanne’ Hardy Geranium
One of many many causes I like hardy geraniums is you could readily develop extra by rooting cuttings in water.
You’ll be rewarded with a long-lasting perennial that blooms from late spring to early fall.
Hardy geranium cultivars like ‘Rozanne’ can be found in #1 containers from Nature Hills Nursery.
Study extra about cultivating and propagating cranesbill geraniums in our rising information.
10. Oregano
The tasty herb with its tiny pink or white flowers is a culinary delight, simply to not rabbits.
A perennial, oregano (Origanum vulgare) grows in common soil and tolerates drought and warmth. It can want full solar to do its greatest. This summer time favourite is hardy in Zones 5 to 10.
Plant oregano alongside the bottom and save Thumper and Bugs’ favorites – like tender younger petunias – for planting in raised beds or hanging baskets.
Greek Oregano
Greek oregano seeds can be found in varied packet sizes from True Leaf Market.
Try our Greek oregano rising information right here.
11. Salvia
Our cute hopping buddies have a tendency to depart this cheerful flowering plant alone, perhaps due to its scent.
Salvia is a genus within the mint (Lamiaceae) household, so its aroma will most likely be simply high quality for you.
It’s a helpful choice for those who stay the place it’s sizzling or dry however nonetheless need sensible colour. In colder climes, salvia can be identified for its chill tolerance.
And also you’re sure to search out not less than one selection that fits you. Salvia might be perennial or annual, and a few varieties are semi-woody sub-shrubs or floor covers.
In case you’ve already planted your backyard, yow will discover complementary salvia varieties in colours like purple, purple, and blue that develop from one to 5 toes tall, relying in your choice.
Salvia ‘Crimson Sizzling Sally II’
‘Crimson Sizzling Sally II’ salvia seeds can be found from True Leaf Market in quite a lot of packet sizes.
Check out our rising information for the A to Z steps of rising this rabbit-resistant magnificence.
12. Yarrow
This cottage backyard, dried-flower, and bouquet favourite can be the rabbit’s least favourite. A win-win!
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a drought resistant perennial that requires full solar and well-drained soil, and it grows greatest in Zones 3 to 9.
It’s reliable, long-blooming, and out there in shades of pink, salmon, orange, purple, white, and yellow, no matter you want.
A. millefolium ‘Gold’ Yarrow
Gold yarrow seeds can be found by the packet or in bulk from Eden Brothers.
Discover detailed details about rising yarrow in our information.
And revel within the potentialities from our checklist of hardy yarrow cultivars to develop. How about neon yellow?
13. Zinnia
These brilliant, cheery annuals are simple to develop in full solar. They arrive in quite a lot of sizes, from dwarf miniatures to people who develop 4 or 5 toes tall.
They usually supply loads of colour choices, from a reasonably pastel pink to neon inexperienced.
My favorites are cactus zinnias (Zinnia elegans), that are mammoth and arty. After they’re flowering, I wish to maintain a single bloom in a bud vase on my toilet vainness.
Z. elegans Tremendous Cactus Combine
To me, they appear like brightly coloured mini haystacks. Immediate cheer!
Tremendous Cactus large combine is on the market from Eden Brothers, in a number of packet sizes.
Study extra about rising zinnia flowers right here.
Hop On Down the Path, Nibbling Bunnies!
Bear in mind, there’s all the time a slight threat that rabbits will discover some flowering plant in your backyard to be to their style.
For one factor, they’re continuously on the run from predators, so after they pause to eat, they’re happiest to get concentrated vitamin from these closely fertilized bedding vegetation you’ve simply bought and planted.
Additionally they just like the tender sprouts of your perennials or flowering greens. In case you’re capable of maintain them away with fences or different boundaries whereas your vegetation are small and interesting, that’s a superb technique.
Even be further cautious and shield younger vegetation, woody shrubs, and even the timber which have scrumptious new development, throughout instances when wild meals isn’t out there for no matter purpose.
Fortunately, a mixture of all these methods can normally make it doable to reduce or eradicate harm from these cute little creatures.
I’ve discovered that gardeners and even researchers in several areas have completely different concepts as to which flowering vegetation are rabbit-resistant. So make sure to experiment for those who’re having hassle.
Tell us within the feedback under for those who’ve hit on a flower that appears impervious to furry little marauders with huge ears, quivering whiskers, and vast eyes!
And if all this data about selecting flowering vegetation has you in backyard planning mode, learn these different useful guides subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially printed July 17, 2020. Final up to date Could 30, 2026. Product images by way of Burpee, Eden Brothers, Nature Hills Nursery, and True Leaf Market. Uncredited images: Shutterstock.
