Beautiful rabbit-resistant plants for your flower garden

Rabbit-resistant plants for your flower garden

Some perennials and bulbs are more rabbit-resistant than others, but some are actually rabbit-proof. Because, just like people, different rabbits have different favorite foods. And, like people, rabbits will eat anything when they're hungry enough. However, these 19 flowering perennials and bulbs are rarely on the menu, thanks to textures, smells, or other characteristics that rabbits find unappealing.

1. Allium

Alliums are easy-to-grow bulbs that come in a variety of colors, from cute 6-inch-tall rock garden varieties to 6-foot-tall giants. Alliums, or ornamental onions, are rabbit-resistant perennials because of their pungent smell. They are usually planted at the front of garden borders or near delicate lily bulbs to deter critters and provide a whimsical landscape design.

2. Anise Henna

An incredibly hardy North American native, anise henna produces spikes of purple-blue flowers from mid-summer to fall. Both the flowers and leaves smell like aniseed, giving the plant its common name. They are also known to produce nectar that is indispensable to hummingbirds and butterflies, so try creating a beautiful butterfly garden with this plant.

3. Astilbe

A popular plant for shade gardens, the rabbit-resistant plant astilbe sends up pink, white, and red plumes in early summer. Its glossy split foliage adds wonderful texture and color to a small space shade garden. Look for varieties with bronze foliage for added color even after the flowers fade.

4. Baptisia

One of the hardiest plants in the garden, Baptisia violet has spikes of blue, yellow, or white flowers and attracts bees in early summer. This drought-tolerant perennial has blue-green leaves that look stunning until frost. After flowering, clusters of its shiny seed pods dry as they mature, making a distinctive sound in the wind.

5. Bee balm

Rabbits may not like bee balm, but hummingbirds sure do. It is one of the best honey plants for pollination. This easy-to-grow plant produces pink, red, purple, or white flowers from summer to early fall. The flowers are long-lasting and beautiful for cut bouquets.

6. Catmint

Catnip is a perfect companion to hybrid roses with grey-green leaves and blue, purple, pink, or white flowers all summer long. This rabbit-resistant plant tolerates heat and drought well. After this perennial finishes blooming, the plant can be cut back to about a third of its height, and it will bloom again in late summer and early fall.

7. Daffodil

While many spring bulbs are rabbit magnets, daffodils are some bulbs that the pesky creatures avoid. These bulbs bloom in red-orange, orange, yellow, white, coral, and pink colors and offer a variety of flower patterns. By planting early and late-blooming varieties of daffodils, you'll enjoy a full month of blooms in the yard and in spring bouquets.