flowers that rabbits won't eat??

looking for some ideas for an area of our property where rabbits are living (dogs don't have access so can't count on them) - are there some plants that they will avoid?

It seems that every one of these manages to avoid rabbit teeth around the Valley:

•Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
•Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
•Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
•Frost asters (don't know the current name for these)

These are all big and common, but apparently not on the bunny buffet.

Rabbit seem to hate mint, chives, thyme... most herbs, actually... so interplanting them with your other flowers might make your garden less attractive. One year, they didnt' even find a row of snow peas because it was surrounded by spearmint! And if you can give them an area with clover to munch, they seem to prefer that.

Yes, I know that many mints get out of hand in the ground... but 'Kentucky Colonel' spearmint seems to play well with others, and you also have the option of putting potted mints around, or sinking pots of mint into your beds -- just be sure to "police" them for runners that go over the edge of the pot and take root!

I have a family of rabbits living in my herb garden and was wondering why nothing I can find is being eaten. critterologist just gave a good explanation, they don't like the herbs. I have plenty of kale, parsley, swiss chard, and strawberries growing among the thyme, mint,chives, basil, and garlic. BTW this garden is next to a side door and driveway and the rabbits have no problems with people or dogs walking by. They do bolt if I accidentally water them with the hose in their hiding place. Maybe the herbs disguise their smell? Is that possible?

Maybe try some ferns in that area. I've never noticed rabbit nibbles on my ferns. Everything else seems to be fair game.

Hi
May be too late for you to check this post. I live in Hillsborough. The rabbits are hungry this year. No touching my verbena, lavendar, lantana, zinnia, geranium, gallardia (? spelling) (although I killed them!!) boltonia, baptisia, delphenium, (did get my milkweed and coneflowers and coral bells and sunflower) No touching the fern and no touching the shasta daisy. No touching the amsonia, or agastache.

Hello from Minnesota! I've noticed that when I buy plants that deer don't care for, the rabbits usually don't either... course hungry critters will eat most anything. Was surprised to read that the rabbits had gotten missingrosie's milkweed as most animals won't touch it -- which is why the monarch butterflies love it so. Heh, if a rabbit ate your milkweed, bet he had a powerful tummy ache after. Also agree with critterologist to plant some clover. The rabbits love it and it fixes nitrogen in your soil.

(waving back at you from Illinois) Hello there up in MN jcpaul! I give up on thumpers and bambis, they seem to sample everything around here other than ferns for some reason. I hope all the bambis and thumpers get horrible indigestion followed by gas cramps for everything they've eaten over here.

Hi
Well I 'assumed' it was the rabbits...the tops were clean not shredded like a deer leftover. Maybe it was possum or squirrel... on the milkweed. But got it they did. Not supposed to eat purple coneflower also, but the rabbits got that to...or a possum or squirrel - sure wasn't a deer. They left the lantana alone and the geranium and even with all this junky drought and late season both are glorious. Geum left alone also and boltonia and cleome are doing great too all in flower.

My vote is for indigestion for everything eating our plants before they get a chance to establish goshdarnitall!

Sometimes I feel like weeping. It looks like somebody plowed overnight with the voles (I think it is just one busy one) but ... I can't fence for the deer (too expensive and no way to do the driveway. The deer are waiting on the drive every morning for me to leave -- I am waiting for them to wave...or even better -- to offer a cup of java as I pass by..SOMETHING to make it up to me! I celebrate poisonous things! If I hear it is poison ..I am soooo happy. I go in search of ninebark this weekend!

I've had muddy hoof prints up to my front doors from a doe and her fawn. They sampled the plants in the courtyard literally outside my front door. I often look out my windows and find deer by my front door. Not much you can do other than to wave because they certainly do come right back after the activity level around the home is back within their comfort zone. I do my best to place plants in tubes or chicken wire in an attempt to give them a breather to establish themselves before they are reduced to nubs but I can't tube everything. Poisons aren't for me. They're a horrible death for an animal just out there trying to survive but I do support hunters whole heartedly.

I dont' think missingrosie was advocating poisoning the deer, just planting things that would give them a tummy ache if sampled...

Thanks critter. I read she was going to look for Physocarpus opulifolius right after she posted she celebrated poisonous things and started thinking to myself that plant definitely is not bambi or thumper resistant so maybe she was going to put out poisons to be able to plant one? Although not for me, poisons seem to be the way some people go. What do I know, I refuse to even poison a rat.

None of us want to poison anything, but we sure feel like it after seeing our gardens ravaged by critters!!!
I live adjacent to a stae forest, where deer hunting (ugh!) is seasonal. Guess where Bambi & friends seek refuge? My house! Luckily, my hostas & other perennials have died back by then, but that hasn't stopped them from eating the Azalea & rhodos.

No - I wouldn't poison the deer or any animal. (OK..OK...I have been known to feed DH a thick fat steak and buttery potatoes when he aggravates me....I even let him have seconds...he is so surprised....;0) but then I get conflicted.... will he think that 'usually off limits meal" is a REWARD (???) and aggravate me some more??

I looked it up really well and Ninebark seems to do well in deer country. I checked all out. I guess there are cases where even the deer will browse what they ususally don't but I read pages on it and all seems well and it is generally a shrub that just keeps on going!

Ouch, feeding unhealthy heart foods to one's husband could result in negative attention seeking behaviors. Best to let him know up front why he's getting the treat. Me, when I get aggravated I take my husband's credit card and go shopping. There were a few times I'm sure he almost had a heart attack when he opened his statement. See, there's always more than one way to get your point across. Hope I've been able to share a really nice tip with you of how to let one's husband know beyond a shadow of a doubt that one is beyond aggravated!

It's an excellent choice. It's a host species to butterflies as well as a source of high-energy for birds that love the berries. Plant it but try to plant a few because they make a really nice graceful hedge. Now, I need to tell you that half of mine got browsed down to nubs but that still leaves the other half that are still standing. Here's another one for you to consider- Corylus americana. It fruits in record time and the nuts are gobbled up by lots of critters.

Thank you. I will save this info and also be on the lookout once I make sure it will do well here in the piedmont.

You are right about the food... I am ashamed... I shouldn't have done it ..... both our solutions are passive aggressive but mine definitely more likely to backfire with the reinforcement of negative behaviors....but on the other hand.... any bills I create via a wild credit shopping day, become my bills too.......whereas if I 'do in' his lipids.... it's strictly his lipids.... so, maybe I'll stick to the food and save my credit. Maybe as I serve the heart attack on the plate, I will just exclaim "Here - enjoy! "I hope it kills you!!" (snort) (He really is a peach 99.9% of the time......maybe I should just withold his saw palmetto for punishment.."

Yes, please do save the information on how to use a husband's credit card. It's so nice to share these handy dandy tips with others.

See, now I feed my husband well. He does bring in the money that I like to spend. I do like to make my point though when I'm really irked. This has been going on for over 20 years. Even when I worked I would use his credit card or check book when I was in a really foul mood over something he did. And mine is about 99.9% peach too but there are days that the .01 rears its ugly head.

E -
.01 rears its ugly head -- HA you got that right --it is a horned demon. I have been married 35 years - soon to be 36. Saw Palmetto keeps the prostate a good size... so the bladder empties in a timely manner as it once did in olden days without any herbal remedies. Like I said lots of ways to make a point. Once I quit working....then...I may hit the credit cards. My husband's cholesterol is like a 20 year old. His BP is low. His weight is perfect. Basically, he is in tip top shape thanks to my ministrations (we have 4 years to go on mortgage..so this important). Naturally when evil rears its ugly head in me...I do battle with what I know works. But, no kidding -- this guy is super great. Like I said ...I should be ashamed (and forgiven for the occasional lapse in judgement.) But, I am not sticking to the topic at hand..critters of the wild...and I waste everyone's time... so off I go to search out Corylus Americana (hmmmm.....wonder what will happen if it is accidently ingested.......)

Woman after my own heart!

There is a really beautiful ninebark out now called coppertina. I really wish I had that one but I don't have anywhere to put it. The one ninebark I have now isn't even in a good spot cause my dad keeps thinking it is a tree. lol. I have to keep reminding him it isn't.

Only thing I've had to completely stop planting is asters. My yard seems to be in the middle of a deer trail or two, and every time I have planted asters, the deer come by and nibble off every flower on all the plants. But that's the only major problem I've had. My neighbor has had more of a problem with rabbits as they decided to make the area under his front porch their home. This spring, he was energetic about getting rid of all his dandilions so the rabbits began eating his flowers instead. He wasn't pleased, to put it mildly. Me, I let my dandilions grow in the backyard and the rabbits eat 'em all up. Am taking a healthy dislike to voles, however. Was happy this spring to notice garter snakes in my yard as they like voles for dinner.

I didn't see that this was mentioned - I use a foul-smelling spray product on everything outside the deer fence. Liquid Fence is the product name. The odor is terrible but fades within a few hours. I spray two or three times a season and NOBODY eats where I have sprayed. http://www.liquidfence.com/

Thanks o_sybil - I will give it a go

Make sure you wear gloves and spray down wind!

Yeah, with my track record I will knock myself out and the critters will become carnivores (grin) (but either way....the shrubs will be safe!)

you could also try bottled fox urine. I have used it in the past around vegie gardens and the bunnies and squirrels stayed away. most garden centers should sell it.