19 Perennials Rabbits Hate

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Rabbit resistance depends on how hungry the rabbits are.

[@mbtvalli]

Just like deer.

[@juliehorney995]

Yup.

[@annemurphy9339]

I’ve learned to hate those furry little menaces: their favorite flowers are all of my favorite flowers. I can’t have any violas or pansies because they eat them to the ground.

[@cherylchamberlin3875]

Wonderful. Love your info.😊

[@terribishop5313]

Absolutely we have feral that also dig up all our beds. They ate my Russian sage and my lavender and my sedum down to the roots.

[@maddart4445]

Garden Sanity what a great name for a channel.

[@101Makeadifference]

First time to see your channel. You are an exceptional presenter. Appreciate your knowledge, expertise & advice. Can’t wait eview more.

[@GardenSanity]

Why thank you so much -- and welcome to Garden Sanity! 😊 I hope you'll stick around and jump into the comments again with any questions or tips to share! 🌸🌿💜

[@Danielle-zq7kb]

One year a rabbit family living under my bushes ate all of my black-eyed Susan’s. Year after year they bloomed beautifully!

[@GardenSanity]

As you know from the video Danielle -- I can totally relate! This year, mine are already starting to bloom (way too early) and so far the rabbits have ignored them which has shocked me! 🙃🙂

[@mariebridges2219]

Thank you, Laura, for this excellent video.🤗🤗 I JUST "found" you!!! And, as a gardener for 60 years, I thoroughly appreciate your clarity and no-nonsense way of presenting this virtually inexhaustible subject. What a JOY❣❣ to watch, while gaining pertinent information without unnecessary "fillers"! Blessings, fellow gardener.

[@GardenSanity]

Nice to meet you Marie! And thank you for your feedback! 😊And as a gardener for just over 30 years, I salute you and hope I can enjoy another 30-plus years too, because there's nothing like gardening! (And yes, I'm not a fan of the unncecessary "fillers" in videos either!) 😉

[@WoodlandT]

This year the rabbits decided to decimate my many echinacea, which I feel very cross about. I talked to my neighbor about it. She’s been gardening here for decades. She told me the rabbits stopped eating her garden plants when she started seeding clover into her lawn. The rabbits prefer the clover and don’t bother with her other plants anymore. I will definitely be trying this in my lawn

[@GardenSanity]

I've heard of this, that planting clover will entice the rabbits to eat it instead other plants. It's a great suggestion and I hope it works for you like it has for your neighbor! (I don't have any lawn, so I can't try it, but I've heard gardeners mention doing this.) Thanks for sharing!

[@nangel270]

I enjoyed your presentation. Knowledgable, direct, and to the point.

[@GardenSanity]

Why thank you! Those are wonderful words and I appreciate your feedback very much! 😊

[@juliajohnson1423]

I planted Crimson Scabious, It is easy to grow and fast growing and somewhat pretty. Turns out the rabbits love it and pass up all my other flowers to dine on the scabious. I keep a patch of it just for the rabbits and they have been leaving my other plants alone!

[@GardenSanity]

Well that's an interesting solution Julia! I'm writing that one down to keep in mind on my never-ending plant list! Thanks for sharing this idea!😀

[@lorib5323]

You made it a "trap crop". Nothing wrong with that. Gardeners use it all the time. I plan on doing it for my deer. I will plant a garden for them in the back corner of my lot. That will be my "test garden" to see what deer like or don't like before I buy a whole lot.

[@lorib5323]

UPDATE: I planted 20 different lavender, 3 bee balm, 7 mountain mint, 12 rosemary all around the edge of my property. Some of the young deer came over to smell, but 2 weeks later, to bites! Yay!!!

[@susanblouin]

Thank you so much for this information. I have so many rabbits running around in my yard and was looking for this kind of info to defeat them. Also, I’m 71 and prefer perennials so there is less work year to year. Much appreciated. 👍🏼❤️

[@cynthiahill3426]

Have you ever had fried rabbit?? Delicious

[@fayewike7363]

Enjoyed the video immensely! Knowledge mixed with humor; great combination! Can you tell us what are those shrubs behind you?

[@GardenSanity]

Why thank you Faye -- I appreciate your feedback very much! 😊 The shrubs are Red Tip Photinias that we let grow into trees. We absolutely love them, and every year there's at least two birds nests in them! 🐦🌳

[@fayewike7363]

@GardenSanity -Aaaahh! It's funny how the mind works. All the time I was watching the video, I was thinking: this woman seems like a next-door neighbor in my backyard. It was the Red Tips! We moved to NC in the 90's, the house on a lake, sloped yard with deck the length of the house. It's the 1st time I'd ever experienced red tips! They surrounded that deck! Thank you for bringing up a wonderful memory!

[@maureenmckenna5220]

Grew serendipity allium last year with great success, in that no rabbits touched them, and I live in the Grand Central Station of rabbits.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Maureen! Yes, mine weren't touched either, although some gardeners here in the comments didn't have our luck unfortunately. Oh -- and I thought that I lived in the Grand Central Station of Rabbits! 🤣🐇🐇🐇

[@lisacanaday7887]

Thanks for this information. My rabbits can’t read that they don’t love yarrow, but to my delight they left foxtail lily alone.

[@richwilson9517]

Thanks! terrific. just found this today wanting info on dafodils, but rabbits, grrrr. thanks again. rw

[@colsen4616]

It makes a difference when the rabbits ate plants to the ground. My liatris and coreopsis got eaten to the ground one year early in the season. I put wire cloches over what remained, they grew back fine and stayed that way. The following year I cloched them as soon as I saw them emerging. My cloches are fairly small so the plants weren’t very big when I removed them. The plants didn’t get touched the rest of the season.

[@GardenSanity]

That's such a great solution, and one that I use too! 👍Rabbits love munching on fresh young growth, and bunnies don't know any better when they are first foraging around and learning what to eat. I'm using a cloche on my black eyed susans for the young growth and am hopeful this works...along with my usual rabbit repellent granules and sprays!

[@dianeosgood6594]

​@@GardenSanity Yes! I put wire tomatoes cage wrapped with plastic netting around my clematis now. The baby bunnies will eat them to the ground even my big Jackmani clematis which is supposed to be poisonous to them. They eat two younger ones down to root ball and killed them. I have hosta I have to sprinkle garlic and hot pepper on to keep them from eating all the tender new growth. They killed several by eating to the ground over and over.

[@GardenSanity]

@@dianeosgood6594 Thanks for the tip Diane -- sounds like a good solution for your clematis! (And yes, it kills me when the bunnies eat plants that are supposedly poisonous to them.) It's funny when we think of "low-maintenance" plants -- because if rabbits like them, they become high-maintenance plants super fast!

[@helenpetersen7174]

This was very informative, thank you. I agree it's hard to not want everything for our gardens. I lived in zone 8b for a while, and I MISSED all the multitudes of plants/flowers/trees and shrubs I was used to in zone 5. So, now I am in zone 4b and make do but my garden is growing bigger and bigger the goal is to get rid of as much lawn mowing as possible. lol

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Helen! I used to live in New England for many years, and now am down here in southern New Jersey -- so I know what you're describing with changing zones. I love that we got rid of our own lawn, and highly recommend it. (Lawn mowing is something we don't miss at all!) Even if someone wants green underfoot, there are so many pretty groundcovers that can provide that green look. I'm trying to plant more and more evergreen plants -- or plants that keep their color or texture -- so that I have plenty of green in Winter, since there's no green lawn. 🙂

[@bluegirl4079]

My first experience this season...seeing very young bunnies munching on my glorious, rich, velvety magenta petunias! So...note to self, rabbits like petunias. I think I will plant them in pots and see if that keeps those little rascals out. I truly enjoyed listening to your video. I'm trying to plant as many perennials as possible, but those annuals can pack such a punch for spring through fall blooming in my area. I have peonies, Cat's Pajamas (love), lots of hostas, coral bells, phlox, daisies, and guara. The white guara are stunning this spring. I will let you know as the season progresses.

[@edithengel2284]

At least where I live, pots are not enough--the bunnies stretch up and pull the stems down--even occasionally the pots on the back porch where there are a lot of steps to climb.

[@bookmagicroe9553]

Rabbits ate my green beans to the ground. They found the tiniest hole in the mesh fence. We have a lot of deer here, and my asian lilies got the buds eaten off. I have the perennial geraniums and Lady's Mantle and the deer and rabbits leave it alone. I'm presently learning more about the various types of Hostas. Some get munched on , other types never get touched. I have a 45 year old Bittersweet bush. The deer eat it voraciously in the winter, the leaves, berries, stems. But the plant thrives - it's like the deer give it a good haircut, and it bounces back every year. I just discovered your show - it's great to connect to a fellow plant lover!

[@michelletetreault9428]

Thank you for so many great things to try. We have quite a few rabbits around, and some that devoured my roses, and so many of my other plants. 😊

[@GardenSanity]

Rabbits are the worst Michelle -- so I'm glad to offer suggestions that will hopefully work. This year my roses weren't touched during the Winter -- usually they gnaw at the bottom canes (stems). Hoping the rabbit repellents are partly responsible! 🤞🙂

[@nixlapi]

Thank you for this list - I always wondered why the neighborhood rabbits only visit in winter for my leftover kale and don't bother my garden much the rest of the year - most of my perennials are on this list!

[@GardenSanity]

Wow Nicole - well done! That’s fantastic! 🌸 This is such a goal of mine, so I hope I can say the same thing as you over time - not that I’m removing any of the other plants, but at least I’ll have a fighting chance! 👍😀

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

I live in the Mojave. We moved here in 2019. I did research before planting, because wild donkeys and horses also show up.

[@joyceschneider8377]

Just found you, loved your list of what the rabbits don't eat. I am finding our neighborhood is overrun with rabbits BUT Proven Winners Supertunias, minivista, Salvia - Hot lips they stay away from.....I just caught them eating my daylilies UGH! and my black eyed susans. But I will try some on your list. Thank you. Oh and coleus they seem to leave alone. zone 8 Thank you again.

[@sandygar100]

I have begonias and the rabbits leave them alone. Thank you, you have given me several new ideas that I didn't know about😃

[@BlizzardStripe]

Thank you so much for the video, although I don’t have a rabbit problem in my garden but a baby groundhog problem. I did a little research on what groundhogs don’t like to eat and it looked like they don’t like the same kinds of plants rabbits don’t. I like your Chanel and will be subscribing to it.

[@LT-uk6wg]

Stumbled on and I love this video. Wonder if you'd consider coming for a private planting session.

[@AnneMackechnie]

You're adorable!!! I never had a rabbit until this past two weeks. They ate my black eyed susans to the nub - my begonias, my lemon coral sedum and of course the deer ate my gorgeous hostas. So maddening!

[@Angie-ci1lp]

Thank you! Sharing zones along with the names 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Great video

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Angie! Knowing the zones for each plant is just one less step you have to do to look up the info, right? 👍 I don’t always list the zones in every video when I put plant names on the screen, such as in my garden tour videos, but I try to list them whenever talking about specific plants. Thanks for your feedback about this! 💚🙂

[@JulesUS8386]

Everything growing in my yard, rabbits Love! 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

[@GardenSanity]

Sounds like you need some rabbit repellents? Maybe? But I know how frustrating it can be -- especially when they eat things they aren't supposed to like.

[@JulesUS8386]

@@GardenSanity nahh they are cute. I don’t use poison.

[@GardenSanity]

@@JulesUS8386 The repellents I use aren't poison, as I couldn't do that to rabbits either. They just literally "repel" the rabbits away because of the scent used.

[@timb7775]

Dilute hot sauce in water and spray the plants. Won't harm the animals, just makes the flowers not so tasty. Has no effect on the flowers.

[@terrychamberlin941]

Also just found your channel and you are like the gardening girlfriend I wish I lived next door to. I too deal with rabbit pressure in my 9b garden and have learned there are plants that I need to grow in tall pots if I want them in my garden such as cone flower, agastache and Shasta Daisy. Luckily I grow a lot of the flowers you mention and my passion plants are salvias, penstemons, true geraniums and any plant in the mint family. Can’t wait to check out your other videos!

[@GardenSanity]

Wow, thanks Terry! 😊That's how I like to film my videos -- as if I'm just talking one-on-one with someone, versus an audience. I've done the "tall pots" solution too. I used to be able to grow so many gorgeous varieties of coneflowers in the ground -- and -- the rabbits would leave them alone. Somewhere along the way, they changed their minds. 😂 I haven't tried penstemons yet, but if I find a good spot I definitely want to. 💙😀

[@krissto22]

Yep, they did a good job on my Black-eyed Susan too. Tried garlic, pepper, urine and nothing works. The only one they didn’t devour were my hydrangeas. I think I have candytuft and you’re right, they don’t touch it. They even pick on my hostas too🙉. Thanks for your video👍 I will try your suggestions so wish me luck😉

[@lindauhl3326]

I smiled when I came across your channel. I live in Zone 9A in the Gulf Coast of Florida. " Miss Bunny" is a Marsh rabbit that only nests in my yard. My neighbors tease me all the time. But I have found the one plant she won't eat is Angelonia. I am an avid butterfly/pollinator gardener that uses pots for everything else.

[@GardenSanity]

Miss Bunny obviously loves how pretty your flowers are, Linda! 😃 Hooray for Miss Bunny leaving your Angelonia alone -- and thanks for sharing! Just yesterday morning, casually walking by a spot I just checked the day before to make sure there's no rabbit nests, there was a new rabbit nest started. Luckily there were no babies in it, so I covered it up and sprinkled repellents and will now see how determined the rabbit is! We get at least one nest every Spring...but I'm hoping for the best! Why are they so cute??? 😖😂

[@catherinejones6537]

Hi. I’m glad I found ur channel. I move To a new area. I took all my plants with me and planted them. I never had a problem with rabbits, but here there are hundreds of rabbits and they ate everything specially my coneflowers.

[@GardenSanity]

Oh Catherine, there's nothing worse than enjoying your garden in one location, then dealing with critters you never had to deal with before in your new location. ☹ I'm so sorry you're dealing with rabbits -- they are voracious eaters! I hope some of these plant solutions help -- but make sure to also watch my video about rabbit repellants to try as those may also help you. Rabbits are the worst!😵‍💫🐰

[@elizabethescher5445]

I just discovered your videos and love them. I will add one thing about catmint... some cats love it and will eat the plants to the ground. I got around this by surrounding the plant with large river rocks to protect the roots. The plants seemed to enjoy the rocks and soon draped over them, flowering prettily.

[@GardenSanity]

Such a great tip for protecting the roots, Elizabeth! 👍Thank you for sharing it! And yes, I've heard some gardeners mention neighborhood cats visiting to roll around in their catmint and eat it too. 🙃🙂

[@lizetteolsen3218]

Interesting perspective. I think it just depends on the hare. I have black-eyed susans jumping out of everywhere and the rabbits ignore. Same with the catmint. Problem for me with the catmint--it attracts every cat in the neighborhood--even the feral cat colony. I think there is a special cat sign, 'visit this place'. I suspect that when other neighbors have proper food gardens, that is where the rabbits go. They seem to just hang out in my yard for water and rest.

[@livenhfree]

Very informative, thank you. BTW, I have Catmint Walker's Low. Really spreads and gets big. Can overtake. I have to cut them back twice a year (Southern NH).

[@jerrycallender9927]

Greetings from Tucson, Arizona. I raised Helleborus for 20 or so years in my Virginia Beach garden, and had 'bout 50 varieties. As you're new to Helleborus, PLEASE do NOT disturb the surrounding area and do NOT 'dead head'. The flowers produce seed which are distributed around the plant by the leaves, as the seeds fall. The seeds will germinate the following Spring, and when they reach their 2nd year they'll be strong enough for transplanting, and you'll begin a never-ending supply of plants to share.

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you so much Jerry for this advice! 👍 I really appreciate it. I never dead head the flowers -- only the dead, brown leaves. Did you leave the brown leaves on too?What's really interesting is that I still yet -- in mid-June -- have flowers that haven't fully dried up on my Candy Love Hellerbores. I am thrilled about it! Have you ever had them bloom that far into June? Also -- I'm curious if you had any favorite varieties? I bet they were beautiful! 😃

[@jerrycallender9927]

@@GardenSanity My gardening philosophy was, 'if it falls from above it stays', and being surrounded by 100' Poplars there was a lot falling, which creates the most wonderful soil. When the flowers are fading just finger rake whatever leaves are around the plant so the seeds have dirt on which to fall. In the Spring I'd cut out the dried up leaves, and then begin removing the 2-3 year old seedlings for potting. BLUE LADY' was my first and favorite. Wish I could send photos...I had blooms as did you in mid-January, in the snow, and thru May. As the blooms fade they take on a parchment tone and texture, then the seed pods form - normally 3 - pushing the flowers away, then the pods mature, open and drop seeds..

[@GardenSanity]

@@jerrycallender9927 Wow, the Blue Lady sounds lovely -- and I just looked up some images via Google -- so pretty! (But if you'd like to send photos you can send them to me: [e-mail] I think all three of my varieties so far are sterile, so no seedlings for me just yet. I'll have to add a variety that will seed around once I find the perfect spot to allow them to do so. (Although yes I could pot them up too.) Thanks for sharing what you did with your Hellebores -- this really helps! 👍

[@jerrycallender9927]

@@GardenSanity You won't see any seedlings for mebbe 2 years..I don't think I can send more than 4 photos at a time, and I'll start sending today.

[@GardenSanity]

@@jerrycallender9927 The 3 varieties I've planted so far are all sterile varieties, so no seedlings for me. But if I find the perfect spot, I think I'll grow some that will provide me with seedlings over the years! (Just adding it to my never-ending list of things I'd like to do!)

[@maureenmckenna5220]

Just found your channel, at the perfect time, as spring is right around the corner here in Virginia. Your suggestions are great, as I seem to have the perfect rabbit environment, and they seem here to stay. We do have hawks around, but the rabbits have the solution, which is reproducing often and young. You made many suggestions which fit my bill perfectly, rabbit resistant and dry conditions. Love that you get right to the point, without the needless chatter. Will be a fan for sure.

[@GardenSanity]

So glad you found my channel Maureen! ❤ (And yes, I'm not a fan of needless chatter either -- and my life isn't that interesting anyway!)🤣 We have several hawks always flying overhead too, and I told my husband I want to install several hawk perches for them. Can you imagine? 🤣 It would never work. But hawks supposedly have fantastic eyesight, so no idea why they aren't seeing them. As an aside, a hawk flew right past my head while I was gardening last year, and it was very startling to say the least!.

[@sandygar100]

Great video! Rabbits were eating my petunias and the garden center told me to spray them with liquid fence for deer and rabbits. They didn't come back all season and I sprayed the petunias again this year before the rabbits found them

[@Rosie-nt6pr]

Shasta daisies in my garden have been invisible to deer and rabbits as have the dwarf butterfly bushes I planted at the same time. Everything else (and there’s been a lot) has been breakfast, lunch or dinner to some hungry mammal. Off the top of my head: guara, stonecrop, coleus, and coreopsis. Going in hard with a bunch of Rozanne this spring. I actually think I’ve been too hesitant. I think the idea is to drown the perennial bed in known deterrents as a base, and then add things you hope will make it in smaller quantities as “pops” of color. That’s my plan this spring anyway!

[@JohnandNancyTselepis]

Hello 🌷 Switched out gradually to plants that are bunny resistant,plus we had some already proven,just by happenstance ! No more problems. Happy.happy. Thks.so much for the added advice/experience. Love your channel. 🌈

[@smb123211]

I have virtually every one of these and they still get to my other plants - bell peppers, sun flowers (!!), cosmos, snapdragon, etc. I guess they have to eat too!

[@mary-annloxhay3232]

Hello Laura, Thank you for your very informative enjoyable video. I grow Calendulas in my garden to keep the rabbits out. Especially my vegetable garden. And when planting spring bulbs especially tulips. Rabbits don't like the strong odor that Calandula give off. All the best. Mary-Ann. New Zealand

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Mary-Ann! And thank you for the great suggestion to grow Calendulas. 👍 I've never tried it, but have added it to my never-ending plant list. I don't grow Tulips because the rabbits just mow them down every year. They will nibble on at least one of my Daffodil stems every year, quickly learning it's not for them, so my Daffodils are safe. 😂 I appreciate your suggestion so much! (And I hope I get to visit New Zealand some day, it seems like a beautiful place to live!)

[@roxannefritz9062]

You provided a very good list. I would also add bleeding heart, iris, peony, daffodil, brunnera, turtlehead, ligularia, salvia, Montrose white calaminta, tiarella, and ferns. I have tried and failed with a lot of different deer and rabbit resistant plants, but these make it.

[@DaisyMaeMoses]

Yes, that is pretty much my list too. The rabbits ate my yarrow to stubs this year. Yarrow is supposed to be one of the perennials rabbits do not like.

[@GardenSanity]

This is a great list Roxanne, and yes -- perhaps I need to do a "part 2" of this list because there were just too many to include and I had to make a cutoff somewhere. 😂 Daffodils work wonderfully for me, and I'm adding bleeding heart and brunnera this year. Tiarella has been eaten by rabbits as I've unfortunately heard from many gardeners, but it's good to hear rabbits are leaving yours alone! Thanks for your list!💓

[@GardenSanity]

@@DaisyMaeMoses Thanks for sharing this Cheryl. I'm about to plant some Yarrow this year -- already have them -- and several gardeners here in the comments have also mentioned rabbits eating their Yarrow. And so...I guess this will be another experiment for me. I appreciate your comment!

[@ambermarie1382]

Yay!! I finally got two peony bushes in my yard and I came here to see if the rabbits will eat them or not. I would be really upset. They live under my deck

[@oldude960]

we planted hellabores on my grand mothers grave that was in a old very shaded section of the cemetary and after 3 years OMG they are big and beautyful i really recomend for ful shade

[@EriciaVivianMoore]

You are so sweet and precious, Thank u so much for all your knowledge, it is well appreciated!

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome! 😊 And thank you for your feedback! 💓

[@cherylbreedlove6211]

The rabbits destroyed my yarrow as well as just about everything else. I’m in Central Texas and we have been going through a bad drought and I attribute the drought as part of the reason the rabbits ate every single thing since everything else in their natural habitat was pretty much dead. Enjoyed the video as it seems there is a lot of talk on deer resistant plants and not many on rabbit resistant plants.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Cheryl, I'm sorry the rabbits devoured your Yarrow -- but appreciate your sharing that here. Always good info to know, as rabbits will indeed eat just about anything when food is scarce. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that A) the drought improves and B) there are some rabbit resistant plants that can work for you. It's a horrible feeling when rabbits ruin our gardens and that's what I went through two years ago, when it seemed like every single rabbit on the planet was in my garden feasting. 😐💛

[@DaisyMaeMoses]

I set Havahart traps and caught a bunch of them this year. I plan to have the traps set out year round.

[@edithengel2284]

I am so sorry; now you've got heat too. Hang in there.

[@GardenSanity]

@@DaisyMaeMoses Make sure you release the rabbits far away from your neighborhood, into the woods or giant field if possible. If releasing into a public space, make sure to triple-check you're not violating any town ordinances for wildlife -- wouldn't want you getting a ticket or fine! 💛

[@WokelandDefector]

I just feed the bunnies fancy bunny food and they leave most, if not all, of my plants alone. I do get a lot of damage to some of my hostas but I think that is mostly the many deer in my area. But I don’t care. I love all of the animals and enjoy seeing them in my yard and helping them out a bit. ♥️🦌🐇

[@GardenSanity]

Well that's an interesting solution and it sounds like it's working well for you! (Yes, deer love hosta. It's often called Deer Candy because they will devour them.)

[@endlessvoyageca7518]

Rabbits have eaten my Monarda - bee balm down to a 1/2 inch stem for the past 3 years and I think I have finally given up. They also did a number on my hellebores last year and the year before but not down to the ground.

[@GardenSanity]

Oh no! So sorry this happened to you -- I'm especially surprised about the Hellebores. 🙁 Have you tried any rabbit repellents? I'm hoping those might help. 🤞

[@StormWarningMom]

Just the video I needed! I live in zone 8b in the pacific northwest, and I have one big bunny who's been mowing my yard all winter (lol), and lately discovered that he really likes my tulips that were planted here by the previous owner. Thankfully I have some tulips planted in containers that he can't get to so I should get some blooms this year.

[@leaper2294]

For three years I had rabbits birthing under my porch and my dogs going nuts over the kits. This spring I happened to replant my garden with most of the flowers mentioned here and voilá, no babies! Coincidence? I think not.🐰

[@GardenSanity]

Wow!!! 😀This is fantastic! I'm hoping I have a similar outcome this year, as I add more of these to my gardens too. I know several gardeners in the comments here haven't had perfect luck with some of these perennials. I'm so happy to hear this, however! Always love a success story overcoming the rabbits! ❤👏

[@margaretmarshall3645]

I’m in So Cal high desert zone 8b. The rabbits occasionally give a little nibble, but mostly leave my Euryops (Dahlberg Daisies), Osteospermum (African daisies) and Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) alone. Also rosemary and lavender.

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Texas Sage, Texas mountain laurel and mint (spearmint etc) work also. I live in the Mojave also. The donkeys and horses don't bother them either. I have so much rosemary (planted by the previous owner) that I prune in the spring, then put the branches on a tarp until they dry. Once dry, I put another tarp on the pile and do a happy dance on it to separate the leaves from the branches. Then, I use all the dried leaves as mulch for my veggies.

[@edithengel2284]

@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 Must smell awesome!!

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

@@edithengel2284 Yeah, like an Italian restaurant.

[@GardenSanity]

A little nibble sounds doable, like you can live with it. I would be fine with that too Margaret!. 👍This Summer -- even though the rabbits were around much less -- I still think they are plotting a return! 😮😅

[@LittleIowa]

Between the deer and the groundhog in my yard I have gotten to the point where I spray once a week. And had no problems last year in my hosta beds.

[@GardenSanity]

That’s great to hear, Cathy! 🙂 My parents deal with deer and a groundhog as well, and regular spraying works great for them too - especially with hosta which can be like candy for deer! 🍭🦌

[@catherinejones6537]

Please tell me what Your spaying

[@GardenSanity]

@@catherinejones6537 Hi Catherine -- look for my video here on my channel about the best rabbit repellants to use -- there's lots of good suggestions in there for you to try! I hope this helps you!

[@therestlessgardener9287]

I have more issues with deer, but your plant list of resistant plants is the same for both. And I have to agree...they don't read lists!! Beautiful gardens! 😍

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you! 😊 I’m fortunate not to have deer - however I completely sympathize with you, as my parents have deer regularly coming through their property. It’s not fun! And yes, if only they could read! Or at least be afraid of us, but no they are quite content to share our gardens, aren’t they? 🙃🙂

[@therestlessgardener9287]

@@GardenSanity Yes, unfortunately! I have taken to putting ugly green nets over my smaller needled and broadleaf evergreens in winter because nothing else works....the things we do for our gardens!

[@GardenSanity]

@@therestlessgardener9287 You’re right - the things we do! And I know I’d be using that same netting if I had to deal with deer, especially in Winter. Hope the netting works for you!

[@EileenCasciari]

I have lots of rabbits and found luck with Shasta daisies, amsonia, brunnera and solomon seal.

[@GardenSanity]

All great perennial choices! I haven't tried solomon seal, but if I had room I would definitely grow it -- such a beautiful plant! 😀

[@susanschellberg4509]

I've used many of these with success from rabbits and deer, especially lavender. Tried agastache, last year, to replace asters that rabbits devoured. It was beautiful, bloomed prolifically until frost and rabbits ignored. For the last few years they have been devouring my sedum which had been in the garden at least 20 years. Mixing containers through my beds, with plants they do eat, keeps them out of reach and adds different levels.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for sharing this Susan! 🙂 I’m going to try Agastache for the first time this year, so I’m looking forward to the (hopefully) long-blooming flowers as well as no rabbits bothering them! I’ve always wanted to plant Asters, but I know they wouldn’t stand a chance, unfortunately. That’s interesting about your Sedum - I’ve heard that from other gardeners as well. It sounds similar to my Black Eyed Susans which were never touched by rabbits for over a decade until just a few years ago. I was shocked! I love your idea about using containers in garden beds to keep plants out of reach of those bunnies. I definitely need to do this. I bet it looks lovely keeping things at different heights too! Thank you for the great suggestion! 😀👍

[@edithengel2284]

@@GardenSanity I had lovely asters for years, until they were demolished by bunnies starting about three years ago. I miss them.

[@florence290]

Very informative video. I’ve watched your video before, today I bought plants that, if I had gone through your video I would have a better choice. Thank you!

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Florence! I hope the rabbits leave your pretty plants alone this season! 😀🌸

[@peggymalabuyoc9150]

Just found your channel and I loved this video! So enjoyable to watch! Many thanks for the tips and information you shared. Your planting beds/garden look beautiful. Take care! 👌🪴🥰

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you so much Peggy -- I really appreciate your feedback! 😀🧡🌺

[@deejustdee4752]

Can you do a video on potted plants. Which ones work best in shade. I have a sunscreen on my back patio and I'd like to grow some potted plants that do well.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Dee! I don't really have potted plants in general. Usually just a few outdoors "if" I can't figure out where to plant something in the ground. I think once I have everything "in" the ground and am finally (hah!) satisfied, then I may move on to potted plants. If you use the KZbin search bar and type in various searches like "potted plants for patio" or "potted plants for shade" and so on, you should be able to find some great videos from other gardeners. I hope so! Thanks anyway for asking! 🪴🙂

[@deejustdee4752]

@@GardenSanity OK, Thanks.

[@veronicacarmody115]

I have several agastache, the hummingbirds love them. They do great in Colorado with the dry heat! They have a scent to the leaves that smells like Double Bubble bubble gum.

[@timb7775]

Bunnies are eating my wildflowers and flowers off my wave pentunias so just started spraying everything with diluted hot sauce. Only the 3rd day but they do seem to be staying away from them, can see new flowers blooming already. I usually didnt have a problem until I sprayed weed killer on the lawn and got rid of all the clover. I would plant a patch of clover but I dont want to encourage them to even come on the property. Maybe ill spread some clovers seeds in the neighbors yards at night, probably the best thing to do so the bunnies go over there instead.

[@GardenSanity]

I can't recommend planting clover in your neighbor's yard 🤣but I completely understand you wanting the rabbits to go elsewhere! I hope the diluted hot sauce continues to work. If it doesn't, I have a separate video (the link is above in the description box) on the best rabbit repellents you can try.

[@EdinaCloud]

V helpful as 2 rabbits have just moved in to our rural spot in the U.K. and it’s simultaneously reassuring as I have many of the lovely plants you’ve mentioned in my own flower beds which are some of my absolute favourites. Many thanks. 🤞

[@sjordan7085]

Well, you could consider planting cilantro, my rescued rabbits love it, along with an abundance of 'volunteer' dandelions LOL. I love rabbits, especially the wild ones that come into my garden along with deer. They are welcome to help themselves anytime, if they eat what I plant, I just plant more. They were here first and are certainly a lot less trouble than many humans I know!

[@donnacrawford3667]

I just found your channel. Thank you so much for your clear and concise explanations. Wonderful!!

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Donna! And thank you for the feedback -- it's much appreciated! Hope you'll stick around! 🙂🌸🌿

[@diannmurphy5325]

Brunnera has beautiful foliage and tiny blue flowers in spring, the rabbits haven’t touched mine. The leaves are a little fuzzy too.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Diann for suggesting Brunnera. 👍 I think the foliage is beautiful as well, and definitely want to add it once I find a suitable spot with not so much blazing hot sun. Good to know the rabbits have left yours alone! Do you have yours in full or partial sun or shade?

[@diannmurphy5325]

They get some morning sun and then shade. I think if it wasn’t in hot afternoon sun it would be ok. Maybe try it in a container in different spots to see how it does and then transplant it. There are so many beautiful varieties!!

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Diann, I always find it so helpful to hear from fellow gardeners how their plants are sited, versus just relying on plant descriptions. That’s a great idea to try it in a container first, and I just mentioned that to another gardener that I was thinking of utilizing more containers this year. It’s definitely on my list - now just to narrow down which variety! 😀

[@diannmurphy5325]

I just came across your channel and really enjoy your videos!

[@GardenSanity]

@@diannmurphy5325 Thank you so much, Diann! I really appreciate it, and your feedback about plants too! 🌸🪴😊

[@loricawley54]

Hey, Laura! Good to see u again! Fortunately, I have no deer or rabbit pressure, just squirrels. I have added some of the globe type alliums for the first time in my garden and some tulips which I covered with hardware cloth to keep the squirrels away. However, being in Tx, zone 8a, where the sun is absolutely blistering, it’s an experiment. I chilled them in the fridge tho for 13 weeks so we shall see what happens. I have zero shade right now bc we pulled out the diseased big trees and planted new young trees. I’d love to get some hellebores, but going to have to wait a few yrs (a lot of yrs 😜) for some shade lol. Can’t wait to see the new additions in ur garden! 🥰

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Lori - likewise! 😊 You’re fortunate with no deer or rabbits - but squirrels can be just as much of a nuisance! (I’ve got them too, but can so far handle their antics.) Fingers crossed for your alliums and tulips - I hope you have a beautiful display this Spring! Re: the Hellebores, that was me years ago waiting for some shade with our young trees too. Before you know it, the welcome shade will be there for you! 🌳🌷

[@DaisyMaeMoses]

I have squirrels too. I used to hate them, but this year I have a plague of rabbits. I will take squirrels over rabbits any day!

[@loricawley54]

@cherylweiner1375 U could try building cages out of the hardware cloth (metal wire stronger than chicken wire with smaller holes) to put around ur plants to keep the rabbits out.

[@marcelacecil3036]

Hellebores are all over my yard, zone 9. You are right that rabbits won’t eat them. I have lots of colors, yellow, pink, fuchsia, chocolate brown and all shades in between. My complaint is that once you plant them, they self seed very easily, hence all the colors I have, despite only planting a pink shade. My biggest complaint is that apparently they are a host plant for white fly. 😢

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Marcela -- yes, I've heard that too: the self-seeding can be bothersome. I've planted only sterile varieties, meaning they don't set or drop seed, so I'm fortunate not to deal with seedlings which often times don't bloom like the parent plant. I haven't noticed any white fly issues on mine. I do know that Hellebores can be hit with the Hellebore Aphid, but again I haven't personally had that issue. Spray some neem oil around the base of the plants, but try to avoid the flowers so the bees can enjoy them!

[@terishows2927]

I’m in IL and the rabbits decimated my (2) full size globe hinoki cypress bushes and the past two years has gnawed at my allium. The only time I’ve been able to have a nice garden was about 3-4 years ago when the coyote population was high in my town. My little dog seems to enjoy catching them when he can.

[@tammynelson9568]

I have many many rabbits and deer. I have learned by trial and error of what they won’t eat. I have learned if they are hungry enough they will eat anything. I also wish they could read, it would save us so much money. 😅. I appreciate your video and tips. ❤

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Tammy! You are so right that it comes down to trial and error -- which is also exactly what the deer and rabbits are doing too, when they sample all the plants we have. 🙃🙂 A few years ago was the worst for rabbit damage, and last year was a bit better. I haven't seen them for awhile...and I know they are plotting their next move...silently waiting to move back in. So my "Keep Out" signs still don't work. 😂 Let's hope these creatures can find some food elsewhere this Spring and Summer! 😀♥

[@tammynelson9568]

@@GardenSanity Agreed 100%. 😅

[@kodak_jack]

We had no sooner planted geraniums to keep critters out of our flower beds and a female rabbit showed up and dug up a nice area for her to sit in!!!

[@karenwagner6880]

Both rabbits and deer aren’t bothering my bleeding hearts - and they’re just lovely.

[@marialicemorgan19]

Just discovered you channel. Thanks for this info. Struggle with rabbits groundhogs and deer. They don’t eat my irises or peonies.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Marialice -- the struggle is real, as they say! 😬 My parents now have all three as well. The groundhog is especially troublesome. We think he has built an underground city spanning several yards! Glad they are leaving your irises and peonies alone! 🤞

[@lindamyers953]

Just found and subscribed! I live on the west coast on an island in the Puget Sound! Most of the plants you mentioned will do well here. We have herds of deer and hordes of rabbits so gardening can be a challenge. One plant I've found that neither species like is alyssum. Small plants may be uprooted, but get spit out without being damaged. Come to think of it, neither both any of my different cultivars of poppies. I'll be binge watching your other informative videos!😎

[@rameyzamora1018]

The best rabbit deterrent I've found is containers on relatively high walls. I make walls from various cement blocks which, when covered with blooming container plants, are highly serviceable. I also enjoy hand watering all my containers with a watering "can." Just lets me bond & talk with the plants every day. For me gardening is a form of worship & plants themselves are friends.

[@frankn4576]

I live up north, Canada, zone 3. My go-to perennials are Bee Balm, Peony, Yarrow, Joe Pye weed, Lily of the Valley and Lungwort. But it all depends on the rabbit.....or Deer. Cheers

[@bullobca]

We have a huge problem with rabbits in our yard here in Ontario Canada. They will eat literally anything. I think especially the young ones, they don't know what they like yet so they sample it all! This year we haven't had as bad a time and I realized a neighbour's new tomcat is patrolling the yard and he may be keeping them away. Thanks for the list, I'll look into giving some a try. Cheers from Canada (sorry for the smoke..)

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

Those are some gangsta bunnies you have there! 😂😂😂 they show up every year. I put food hoping they will stay away from the plants but in Wisconsin with -20, they have nothing to eat yet lol. thank you for your wonderful video 🌸🌸🌸

[@GardenSanity]

Well Chris, you're lucky -- and the bunnies aren't -- that your garden restaurant is closed! 🤣🐰

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

@@GardenSanity unless they like bird food!!!! The deer love it and stay away from the plants…… gotta feed the whole wild life hood here 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@GardenSanity]

Super impressed the deer leave your plants alone! You may need to patent your system for turning them onto bird food! 😀 I’m imagining you leaving out 50-pound sacks of bird seed at a time! 😂🤣

[@chrismarchetti-olson6632]

@@GardenSanity 🤣🤣🤣 that’s exactly it!!! I leave quite a bit and these poor creatures are so hungry they would probably eat any plant that is visible. But they are a bit greedy because they also go in the heated birdbath and drink half the water too 🤣🤣🤣! Maybe I should invite them in to see if they’d like to watch some tv too!! 😂😂😂 I’m dying!!!! But as soon as spring comes ( late May early June here in Siberia aka Wisconsin lol) I double up on the deer spray concentrate and they can go eat other peoples plants now that I got them all nice and chubby!!! 😂😂

[@GardenSanity]

OMG i’m dying laughing! 🤣😂🤣🦌 In the Summer, there will be a news story on TV about strange deer eating out of everyone’s bird feeders and nobody understands why. You’ll see this on TV and just sink down into your couch cushions a bit realizing what you started. 😂🤣😂

[@KunyongPlantito0824]

Thank you for sharing your video, gery informative ❤❤❤

[@GardenSanity]

My pleasure!

[@kathryngalajda3553]

I too have had my nepeta destroyed by bunnies. My best so far are Penstemon, grasses like japanese forest and imperata red baron, peony, salvia, poppies, ajuga, delphiniums, coreopsis and echinacea surprisingly. I also have a acanthus (bear’s breeches) they never touch but now I want to get rid of it and it’s proving to be VERY difficult. Bergenia is another good perennial that is evergreen spring flowering and not very well known and they have never touched it.

[@susieeguez2148]

Can you do a video regarding how to get rid of voles and if there are certain plants voles don't like? I'm new to your videos and am enjoying them. Thanks!

[@camperjack2620]

Great video!

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you!

[@chancellorism]

I plant for my rabbits bc it feeds the food chain and I love watching them along with the birds of pray that come 😊

[@terribishop5313]

Excellent video I know youve put a ton of work and money into beating the rabbits. Much appreciated

[@allisonpouncey4770]

What is the name of the trees/shrub behind you? Very pretty, great privacy screen.

[@karenakers4638]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Your very informative and charming.❤

[@rosablooms]

I very much appreciated this video. I’ve had such bad luck with rabbits and I’m having to redesign everything.

[@GardenSanity]

Glad I could help! And I know what you’re going through because since the rabbits, I’ve had to rethink everything too. Definitely challenging but doable. 🙂

[@Janpre2001]

I am in NJ also - just north of Princeton in South Brunswick. Rabbits eat my hostas every year. I've tried using the Liquid Fence. It only kept me away due to the smell. The don't bother my black eyed susans nor my lambs ear or sedums (I have several varieties). It seems mostly my hostas and only the tender green ones. The more waxy leaves the do not touch. I love rabbits but they are killing my hosta garden again. In the fall/winter I have the squirrels who keep stealing all my bulbs. Fall of 2022 I planted a few dozen bulbs of different varieties of plants - some of which you mentioned. Nothing came up in the spring except for 4 Alliums. Later that spring I was cleaning out a garden that had stepping stones in it. I had to dig out the stones as they were getting lopsided. Under two of the stones I found about 12 bulbs that the squirrels must have dug up from my garden across the yard and put them under the stones for safe keeping. Unfortunately they were a bit slimy so I figured they'd never grow but for the fun of it, I planted t hem in a pot. Within a week they were dug up and stolen again! I wonder where they put them this time! I will try and incorporate some of the plants you suggested but if they are bulbs, I don't hold out much hope that they will survive the squirrels. Years ago had about 250 tulip, daffs and gladiola bulbs and withing one winter they stole them all. I had actually given up on bulbs until the ones I planted in 2022.

[@Ladyloubug9]

I have one garden that is fenced where I plant the ones they love like roses, coneflower, bellflowers, and pansies. ❤

[@GardenSanity]

That IS a fantastic solution Polly! Did you have to bury the fence down into the ground a bit? I know rabbits sometimes like to dig under fences to get into forbidden areas. Thanks for sharing this! 💓

[@Ladyloubug9]

@@GardenSanity No, just a simple fence . I have never had a rabbit dig under probably because of all the clover in my grass?

[@GardenSanity]

@@Ladyloubug9 Thanks for replying Polly. Yes, maybe the clover is enough for them! Such a great idea to enjoy those flowers!

[@DaisyMaeMoses]

This year rabbits ate my yarrow to stubs. I set several Havahart traps baited with lettuce greens and broccoli. I caught quite a few. They were released at a park about two miles from my home.

[@lisabeaver7061]

Where have been all of my gardening life ❤

[@GardenSanity]

😂 I’m glad you found me Lisa! ❤️

[@sueleigh1813]

My rabbits ate those perennial geraniums 😢 I bought a whole bunch and they ate them all so disappointing. It’s such a lovely flower. They haven’t touched my bleeding hearts, columbine, Solomon’s seal, or astilbe so far. Hoping to try a few more on your list this season 🤞

[@michellelim8958]

Thanks for the video! I love the idea about planting the grape sensation blanket flower around brown eyed Susan. Can you recommend where I could buy the seeds online? I haven’t found them yet. Ty!

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Allium reek. When we moved here there were a bunch potted that the previous owners left. I had to get rid of them because the stench made me choke.

[@GardenSanity]

Pardon my delay in responding Rosa Mery -- glad you were able to toss out those Alliums. 👍One plant that I can't stand scent-wise are Lilacs. They are beautiful but the scent is probably how you feel about those Alliums. 🙃🙂

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

I didn't miss much. I grow onions in the veggie, so I don't miss the Alliums. I also live in the Mojave and Alliums aren't very drought friendly anyhow. I know they are beautiful, but I didn't want them. Yeah, I can't stand lilacs or lavender either. My hand soap smells like grapefruit or berry.@@GardenSanity

[@tonyscotchbrook6826]

Peonies, Persicaria and Hemerocalis thrive in the presence of rabbits. On the other hand they seem to love very young Lavender here in the UK.

[@ambermarie1382]

I'm here looking to see if they will eat peonies!! I just put into beautiful ones and I was worrying about this coming spring

[@PI5T0LA]

Nearly 20 years in the business and I've never seen Peonies eaten by rabbits or muntjac, while Tulips and Roses around them are headless!!!

[@ambermarie1382]

@@PI5T0LA yay!!!! I'm so happy to know that. They do tend to leave my roses alone , though!! Thank goodness

[@ambermarie1382]

How about oakleaf hydrangea? I just put one in last fall and I heard someone say they will eat them😭

[@PI5T0LA]

@@ambermarie1382 I think they're pretty safe too, although I only have one in any of my gardens, Hydrangea in general are rabbit proof in my experience.

[@gaillamont9134]

So far rabbits haven’t touched my Foxglove , very pretty plant , just stunning

[@jimrobinson6426]

We have lots of rabbits and I built a fence around my vegetable garden due to their damage, but they don’t damage my flowers very much.

[@lkuypers3680]

Thank you, very informative. We have a ton of bunnies this year in the Seattle area ❤

[@veronicacarmody115]

I put peppermint oil around my plants and it works on deer and rabbits.

[@ambermarie1382]

Great idea!!!

[@skeeterradar]

ive successfully grown all of these perennials in my zone 3 garden, except for the hellebore. i would encourage gardeners in colder zones to experiment with perennials that are supposedly not hardy.

[@GardenSanity]

Wow Rick - you have all of these in your zone 3 garden? That’s wonderful! (Except for Hellebores, which are lovely.) Yes, that’s a great suggestion for gardeners to experiment with plants possibly “not” hardy in their zones. It can be tough sometimes, when budgeting for plants, as the first reaction is to purchase plants that are reliably hardy in one’s zone so that the money is well spent. But yes, a fabulous suggestion - thanks! 🙂

[@MzMiata]

This spring, I ordered a bunch of plants and had them out on the deck before planted them. I went out and twice found a rabbit dining on the same plant. Of course, I freaked out and went to Google to figure out how to repel the rabbits. The big takeaway was plant allium. The joke is that the rabbit was dining on my allium. 😂

[@GardenSanity]

Of course he was dining on your Allium Doesn't it figure? 😑 That's like me planting Daffodils and then there were rabbits actually eating those Daffodils - which should be toxic to them - but they ate them like a gourmet dinner. They will eat anything if they are hungry enough, and if there are way more rabbits in the population than normal. 😫

[@JaxBachtle]

I've grown catmint for 4 years, all along the side of my garage. The only critter that I ever see around them are bees & the occasional kitty. Our neighborhood has a serious infestation of rabbits & squirrels, so I think catmint is a very safe bet. We also have sedums that no pests have ever touched in the 4 years we've had them.

[@GardenSanity]

I can imagine how beautiful the Catmint looks along the side of your garage! 💜 I love Catmint, but unfortunately didn’t have luck with it. But what I did love was that rabbits left it alone! (And yes, squirrels can be just as bothersome!) You’re fortunate that Sedums haven’t been touched. Mine haven’t either - but a few gardeners have let me know that rabbits have eaten theirs. Fingers crossed that ours remains off the rabbit menu! 🤞😀

[@brockreynolds870]

I relocate rabbits all the time, If there is an area in your yard where you can contain them, such as a courtyard or fenced corner, you can dig a hole under the fence, or leave a gate open just enough, and set up the havahart trap on the other side. You might need to use smoe small boards and bricks to block off spots around the side of the trap where they can escape... then if you catch them out in the yard, use a leaf rake, and chase them toward that enclosed area, where there are only 2 routes of escape, to go in the trap, or be confroned by YOU. I trapped 13 rabbits in one season from a customers' yard this way. Thinned out the poulation enough that I have had little problem since.

[@lorismith5369]

Great video! Very informative! New subscriber …. Thank you 🌸

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Lori, and thank you for subscribing! I hope you enjoy my videos and feel free to jump in with any comments or questions! 🌺🏵🙂