Animal Resistant Plants
Top 10 Rabbit and Deer-Resistant Plants and Shrubs
Gardening tips by Sunrise Inc.
It doesn’t matter how well-maintained your garden is if deer, rabbits and other small critters won’t leave it alone. If you have a deer or rabbit problem, you might want to check out our top 10 critter-resistant plants and shrubs guide below. There are also products that can discourage critters from eating your plants, nibbling at your trees, and destroying your shrubs—check out Sunrise Inc. for suggestions of top quality greenhouse retailers:)
Keep in mind that the diets of deer and rabbits can change depending on season and availability of food. It’s hard to predict what they will eat, but the plants below are a few of the greenery that we have found to be undesirable to them.
- Veronica – best known by its purple color and spiky, spiraling head, Veronica is a flower that will stay in bloom all summer long.
- Daylily – Daylilies vary by color and form, and they are perennial plants. The name Hemerocallis (daylily’s genus name) comes from the Greek words “day” and “beautiful”.
- Ferns – Surprisingly, rabbits don’t tend to like ferns. Ferns grow best in shady, wet woodland areas.
- Sage – also called salvia, sage is a perennial and evergreen shrub. Throughout history, the common name “sage” has been used to categorize many different plants that have nothing in common.
- Foxglove – this plant is best known for its unique bell-shaped form and pison. Although this plant is deer-resistant, it has been known to attract bees and hummingbirds. Most animals will not eat it because it’s highly toxic. It is not recommended to grow this plant near children, elderly, or pets; and it is not recommended to keep it inside the home.
- Lavender – this plant is usually grown for its ornamental look and culinary purposes. Oils are often times extracted from lavender and used for sale.
- Allium – this plant isn’t very well known, but it takes the form of a spiked flower – and it is extremely deer, rabbit, and squirrel-resistant.
- Butterfly bush – also known as Buddleja, this plant will attract butterflies but keep critters at bay.
- Holly – holly best known around Christmas time, and is usually left alone due to its poisonous properties.
- Lamb’s Ear – this unique-looking plant is ornamental in most gardens and is very easy to grow. Animals tend to dislike lamb’s ears.
