pests diseases
Rabbit proof plants — 15 species rabbits avoid + fencing
Fifteen rabbit-resistant plants (lavender, sage, foxglove, lamb ear, hydrangea) plus 30cm-above 30cm-below hardware-cloth fencing — with ASPCA pet flags.
Rabbit proof plants — 15 species rabbits avoid + fencing
Rabbits hit gardens differently to deer. They graze low to the ground, target tender new growth and vegetable seedlings, and a single doe with a litter can hollow out a row of lettuces in a week. The good news: most rabbits are wary of scent, texture and toxicity, and a properly built hardware-cloth fence keeps them out completely. This guide covers 15 well-tested rabbit-resistant plants for US and UK gardens, the fencing detail that actually works, and the pet-safety notes that matter when several reliable rabbit-deterrent plants are also toxic to dogs and cats.
Try Growli: Photograph a chewed seedling and Growli will tell you whether it was rabbits, voles, slugs or deer based on the bite pattern and trail signs, then suggest fixes from this guide.
Why rabbits skip certain plants
Rabbits feed mostly on tender grasses, broadleaf weeds, vegetable seedlings and the soft growth of young trees and shrubs. They have strong scent receptors and quickly learn which plants taste bitter or upset them. Four traits keep a plant off the rabbit menu:
- Strong scent — herbs, alliums, aromatic Mediterranean shrubs.
- Toxic compounds — foxglove, larkspur, monkshood, daffodils.
- Hairy, prickly or bitter leaves — lamb's ear, yarrow, sea holly.
- Tough or leathery mature foliage — boxwood, euonymus, established hydrangea wood.
The catch: a starving rabbit in late winter will chew bark off young apple trees and strip lavender hedges. Plant choice gets you 70% of the way; fencing covers the rest.
Pet safety boilerplate: Several rabbit-resistant plants below are toxic to dogs and cats per the ASPCA. Every species carries a pet-safety flag. If a pet ingests any flagged plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
15 rabbit resistant plants
Strongly scented herbs and alliums
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Strong camphor-floral oils repel rabbits reliably. USDA zones 5–9; common across UK gardens. Pet safety: mildly toxic to cats and dogs in large amounts per ASPCA; usually self-limiting.
2. Sage (Salvia officinalis, ornamental salvias)
Pungent aromatic leaves rabbits avoid. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA.
3. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Tough culinary herb rabbits ignore. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA in occasional contact.
4. Garlic and onion family (Allium species)
The sulphur compounds in alliums repel rabbits. Ornamental Allium giganteum, garlic and chives all work. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — all alliums damage red blood cells. Plant where pets cannot dig bulbs.
5. Catmint (Nepeta species)
Strong aromatic foliage rabbits avoid; also draws pollinators. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA.
6. Russian sage (Salvia yangii)
Silver aromatic foliage rabbits skip. Drought-tolerant. Pet safety: generally regarded non-toxic; not on the ASPCA toxic list.
Toxic ornamentals rabbits avoid (pet-toxic too)
7. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Cardiac glycosides keep rabbits away. Pet safety: HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — contains digitoxin. Do not plant where pets or children can reach.
8. Larkspur (Delphinium species, Consolida)
Toxic alkaloids deter rabbits. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs, cats and horses per ASPCA — contains diterpenoid alkaloids.
9. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Slightly bitter; rabbits usually skip it. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA.
10. Daffodils (Narcissus species)
Lycorine alkaloid keeps rabbits and voles away from bulbs. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs, cats and horses per ASPCA — bulbs are the most concentrated source.
Hairy, bitter or tough foliage
11. Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)
Fuzzy silvery leaves are unpalatable to rabbits. Pet safety: non-toxic per ASPCA.
12. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Bitter aromatic foliage rabbits avoid. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — causes vomiting, increased urination, drooling.
13. Peony (Paeonia species)
Established peonies are rarely browsed. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — contains paeonol, causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
14. Columbine (Aquilegia species)
Cottage-garden classic rabbits generally skip after the first sniff. Pet safety: seeds and roots are mildly toxic; not a major ASPCA concern in passing contact, but discourage chewing.
Mature shrubs
15. Euonymus and hydrangea
Euonymus is a tough evergreen shrub rabbits leave alone once mature. Pet safety: mildly toxic to dogs and cats per ASPCA in some species — causes GI upset.
Hydrangea is mostly ignored once the woody base has hardened off. Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — contains cyanogenic glycosides in leaves and flower buds.
What rabbits love (protect or avoid in rabbit country)
- Lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, brassicas (all vegetables, basically)
- Strawberries and tender berry canes
- New shoots of apple, plum and cherry trees in winter
- Tulips, crocus, hostas
- Young rose canes
If you grow any of these, the only reliable defence is fencing.
How to build a rabbit-proof fence (30 above, 30 below)
This is the only reliable physical barrier against cottontail and European rabbits. The detail matters:
- Material: galvanised hardware cloth (US) or galvanised welded wire mesh (UK), 25 mm (1 inch) mesh or smaller. Chicken wire is too flimsy and rusts quickly.
- Height: 90 cm (36 inches) above ground.
- Bury: dig a trench 30 cm deep along the fence line and bend the bottom of the mesh outward into the trench in an L-shape to block tunnelling.
- Gates: must close tightly with no gap larger than 25 mm.
- Posts: untreated timber or galvanised steel every 1.5–2 metres.
For raised vegetable beds, an L-shape mesh skirt running 30 cm out from the bed plus a 90 cm vertical mesh wall is enough.
Tip: Inspect monthly for new digs along the fence base. A single missed tunnel undoes the whole barrier.
Other deterrents that help
Repellent sprays
Liquid Fence, Bobbex-R and Plantskydd contain putrescent egg, blood and capsaicin. Rotate brands every 4–6 weeks because rabbits habituate. Reapply after rain.
Motion-activated sprinklers
Devices like the ScareCrow work against rabbits as well as deer. Move them every few days.
Tree guards
For young fruit trees, wrap 60 cm spiral plastic guards or hardware cloth cylinders around the trunk in autumn to prevent winter bark stripping.
Habitat management
Clear brush piles, dense shrubbery and tall weeds within 3 metres of the garden — rabbits need cover within sprinting distance of food.
Planting plan for rabbit-pressure gardens
| Layer | Plants |
|---|---|
| Border edge | Lavender, sage, catmint, ornamental alliums |
| Mid border | Russian sage, yarrow, snapdragon, columbine, peony |
| Statement plants | Foxglove, larkspur (away from pets and children) |
| Foundation shrubs | Hydrangea (mature), euonymus, boxwood |
| Vegetable plot | Fenced — no plant alone keeps rabbits out of carrots and lettuce |
Prevention going forward
- Fence vegetable beds. Plant choice alone never protects lettuces, peas or strawberries.
- Layer scent + texture. Plant aromatic herbs around prized ornamentals as a sensory wall.
- Patrol new shoots in spring. Rabbits feed hardest on the softest new growth.
- Wrap young tree trunks in autumn. Winter bark stripping kills more young apple and plum trees than any other rabbit damage type.
- Brief visitors on pet-toxic plants. If foxglove, larkspur, daffodils or alliums are in the border, flag them for dog-owners.
Safety boilerplate: Always read product labels for repellent sprays and follow manufacturer guidance on application, PPE and re-entry. Pesticide and repellent approvals change — confirm via US EPA or UK HSE before use.
Related articles
- Deer resistant plants — 20 picks deer won't touch
- Pet safe houseplants — full ASPCA-checked list
- Companion planting guide
- Garden pest identification — complete guide
- How to grow lettuce
Reviewed and updated by the Growli editorial team. For questions about anything here, open Growli and ask — or email hello@getgrowli.app.
Frequently asked questions
What plants do rabbits hate?
Rabbits avoid plants with strong scents (lavender, sage, oregano, alliums, catmint, Russian sage), toxic alkaloids (foxglove, larkspur, daffodils), and bitter or hairy foliage (lamb's ear, yarrow, peony, columbine). Tough mature shrubs like euonymus and hydrangea are also mostly left alone. No plant is fully rabbit-proof, so combine planting choices with a properly built hardware-cloth fence around vegetable beds.
What is the most rabbit-resistant plant?
Lavender, ornamental alliums and lamb's ear consistently top extension service rankings as plants rabbits rarely touch. Lavender wins for most gardens because it is drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly and easy to grow in US zones 5–9 and across the UK. For shade, hellebore is a strong rabbit-resistant pick. Pair these with hardware-cloth fencing around any vegetable plot — no plant choice alone keeps rabbits out of lettuce.
Do marigolds keep rabbits away?
Marigolds have a mixed track record. The strong scent can deter rabbits in some gardens, but extension service trials rank them as inconsistent. Don't rely on marigolds as a primary rabbit defence. They are better as a companion plant for nematode suppression and aphid trap-cropping. Use stronger rabbit-resistant picks like lavender, alliums and yarrow, plus fencing.
How do I build a rabbit-proof fence?
Use galvanised hardware cloth with 25 mm (1-inch) mesh or smaller. Run it 90 cm (36 inches) above ground, then bend the bottom 30 cm outward into a trench dug along the fence line to block tunnelling. Posts every 1.5–2 metres. Gates must close with no gap larger than 25 mm. Inspect monthly for new digs along the fence base — a single missed tunnel breaks the whole barrier.
Are rabbit-resistant plants safe for pets?
Some are, some aren't. Lavender, sage, oregano, catmint, Russian sage, lamb's ear and snapdragon are generally non-toxic or only mildly toxic per ASPCA. Foxglove, larkspur, daffodils, yarrow, peony, hydrangea and alliums are toxic to dogs and cats. If pets have garden access, check the ASPCA toxic plants database before adding any new species, and flag pet-toxic plants for visitors who bring dogs.
Will rabbits eat lavender?
Rarely. Lavender is one of the most reliable rabbit-resistant perennials because of its strong oils. In a hard winter when food is scarce, rabbits may nibble lavender, but established plants are usually left alone. Choose *Lavandula angustifolia* or hybrid lavenders, grow in full sun on well-drained soil, and prune lightly in late summer to keep the plant compact and aromatic.
How do I protect young trees from rabbits?
Wrap a 60 cm spiral plastic guard or hardware-cloth cylinder around the trunk in autumn before the first frost. The guard must extend high enough that rabbits standing on snow cannot reach exposed bark — usually 60 cm above the soil line is safe except in deep-snow regions where 90 cm is better. Inspect each spring and replace torn guards. Winter bark stripping kills more young apple and plum trees than any other rabbit damage.
What do rabbits eat in the garden?
Rabbits target lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, brassicas, strawberries, tender berry canes, tulips, crocus, hostas, young rose canes and the bark of young fruit trees in winter. They prefer tender new growth, so seedlings and freshly transplanted vegetables suffer worst damage. The only reliable defence for vegetable beds is hardware-cloth fencing 90 cm tall with a 30 cm L-shape buried skirt to block tunnelling.