Coltsfoot was recommended to me as an herb that my house rabbits can eat.
Googling it produces a wide variety of results.
Of course, since it's a common name, Plantfiles has several possibilities as well, although none of them look like the various flowers in the Google results.
I'm looking for the latin name to be sure I get the RIGHT one and don't poison any bunnies!
Anybody well versed?
Here's a picture I THINK is what I'm supposed to look for, sans the latin name, of course....
Tussilage farfara is the latin name for coltfoot, although I've not yet grown it. I have fed comfrey (symphytum officinale) to rabbits and cows, which is a very easy herb to grow. They seemed to like it. Or plant a succession of lettuces, which can be ornamental as well, especially some of the frilly ones.
Thanks!
I think it's really interesting that they can have bee balm and echinacea.
The comfry surprises me, because it can make humans sick.
Here's the whole new list I just got:
Garden Herbs, Flowers, and Weeds that Bunnies Can Eat
Herbs (often powerful tastes so may take some getting used to)
Basil
Coriander
Dill
Mint (peppermint)
Parsley
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Calendula
Borage
Coltsfoot
Comfrey
Lavender
Chamomile
Flowers and Berries
Any kind of rose (leaves, stalks, and flower)
Strawberries
Raspberries (leaves, stalks, and berries – excellent astringent properties)
Yarrow
Nasturtium (leaves and flowers)
Weeds
Chickweed (in small amounts as this is a diuretic)
Clover (leaves and flowers)
Dandelion (in small amounts as this is a diuretic)
Mallow
Nettle (the type with the white flowers)
Plantain
Do you know what she means by "mallow"? That's a pretty wide category!
Good list. My granddaughter has a rabbit who lives in a large ground level cage in her side yard. I think next year we will have a project to dig a small garden around the cage and plant some bunny-friendly flowers. Perhaps borage and calendulas, which will both self-seed, with a comfrey in the back corner on one side; and nasturtiums on the other side. All easy plants for a 12 year old to care for.
We cross posted. I'm guessing any of the mallows would be fine. You're right, there are a lot of them.
The people in my house rabbit club would recommend keeping your bunny inside. They say that rabbits can be frightened to death by raccoons, dogs, etc. that might come into the yard.
My girls live in an ex-pen in an alcove in the living room for now, but I hope to custom build a 2-story house for them to fit in that alcove. They'll still have the ex-pen to spread out in on the floor level.
I LOVE the bunny garden idea though! It would be cool to take bun outside to it when (s)he can be attended.
Hey bonehead -
Love the user name, by the way.
You've got some great pictures posted on the pages for some of the plants on my list! I'm sitting here researching them all and running into your pics all over the place!
Thanks, nilly.
