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Permalink Reply by Nick Steele on June 22, 2011 at 5:47

If they're hungry enough, rabbits will eat anything!   But have a look here for the RHS's words of advice :

 

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=209

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Permalink Reply by Ian Howes on June 22, 2011 at 7:55

I work on a large garden which is under constent threat from rabbits, any new planting has to be protected by a ring of wire fencing.  Last summer while mowing the grass area I noticed a single foxglove growing, the rabbits ignored this and it flowered, there are now a quite a few foxglove seedlings growing in the same area.

 

Ian

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on June 22, 2011 at 8:40

Hi Helen

Here's a list of previous discussions on LJN about rabbit proof planting.

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Permalink Reply by laara copley-smith on June 22, 2011 at 11:01

somewhere there is a thread when I asked for advice earlier this year when designing for a rabbit garden ,

not certain where it is !

Plants I used which generally seem suitable :

Box

Sarcococca species

Skimmia

prunus lusitanica

Pittosporum ( not Tobira as they love this )

Hydragngea species

Senecio

Fushia

Spirea

Sambucus

Acuba salicifolia

rosemarinus

salvia officinalis

lavandula they like sometimes , yet it is on some `safe `lists

philidelphus

choiysa

viburnum tinus

leucothoe

cornus

All trees had tree guards

 

Phlomis

digitalis

sanguisorba

iris

nepeta

helleboris

geranium

hemerocaulis.

ferns

 

at the last thread on this we did say we planned to sort out an available list ....I guess this will happen when time allows.

Cornus

 

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Permalink Reply by Helen Thomas on June 22, 2011 at 21:59

Thanks to everyone - this is a great help!

Helen

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Russell on June 23, 2011 at 7:54

Penstemons Cistus and euphorbias are always good - I find that some plants get left alone once they are established, so I net them off for a season until the rabbits lose interest.  We have even netted off whole borders and once the plants have grown up it looks fine. 

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Permalink Reply by Bigyin on June 25, 2011 at 12:25

Oleander, Pittosporum.

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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by Kerrie John-The garden design Co on June 25, 2011 at 18:37

Hi Helen

I posted a list of plants a year or so ago which were rabbit and deer unfriendly.   It too took me ages to amass but with the input from the fantastic knowledge base on LJN and a little research at the RHS I was confident that the plants I supplied and planted would flourish.  

 

Rabbits and all wildlife will try ANYTHING if they are hungry enough so nothing is 'proof'  but rule of thumb:

Basically anything with fragrant oils contained in the leaves such as lavender, cistus and santolina etc are a real turn off to bunnies.  

Simples!

 

Pic shows the planting two years on in a 35 acre estate which is the capital of rabbit city and deer heaven.

Attachments:

• conservatory planting two years on 1 copy.jpg, 177 KB

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Permalink Reply by Helen Thomas on June 26, 2011 at 0:44

Lovely photo Kerrie - great to see it has worked out well for your clients and thanks for sharing all your hours of research, it's much appreciated! I will be following all this advice and hoping that my planting will survive as beautifully as yours.

Helen

Kerrie John-The garden design Co said:

Hi Helen

I posted a list of plants a year or so ago which were rabbit and deer unfriendly.   It too took me ages to amass but with the input from the fantastic knowledge base on LJN and a little research at the RHS I was confident that the plants I supplied and planted would flourish.  

 

Rabbits and all wildlife will try ANYTHING if they are hungry enough so nothing is 'proof'  but rule of thumb:

Basically anything with fragrant oils contained in the leaves such as lavender, cistus and santolina etc are a real turn off to bunnies.  

Simples!

 

Pic shows the planting two years on in a 35 acre estate which is the capital of rabbit city and deer heaven.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Anthony on June 28, 2011 at 11:24

Jane Anthony of The Art of Gardens                                                                                                           I have also had to plant a huge garden over run with rabbits and deer, very difficult! I've found that, added to the lists above, you should be able to plant leucanthemum, agapanthus, acanthus,  sedum, and gaura. I have had success with all! I've found that if you want a very Mediterranean effect it is a perfect pallete !

Helen Thomas said:

Lovely photo Kerrie - great to see it has worked out well for your clients and thanks for sharing all your hours of research, it's much appreciated! I will be following all this advice and hoping that my planting will survive as beautifully as yours.

Helen

Kerrie John-The garden design Co said:

Hi Helen

I posted a list of plants a year or so ago which were rabbit and deer unfriendly.   It too took me ages to amass but with the input from the fantastic knowledge base on LJN and a little research at the RHS I was confident that the plants I supplied and planted would flourish.  

 

Rabbits and all wildlife will try ANYTHING if they are hungry enough so nothing is 'proof'  but rule of thumb:

Basically anything with fragrant oils contained in the leaves such as lavender, cistus and santolina etc are a real turn off to bunnies.  

Simples!

 

Pic shows the planting two years on in a 35 acre estate which is the capital of rabbit city and deer heaven.

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Permalink Reply by Bigyin on July 30, 2011 at 21:40

Bought some Duranta today  Anybody know how they fare with our furry friends ?

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Permalink Reply by Ayegardening Ltd - Aye and Susan on July 30, 2011 at 22:34

Oh my life!! This just about sums up my life! We have two beautiful rabbits - Amy and Sabere. They eat ANYTHING!!!! Just when i think i have found a plant they don't eat- they go and eat it!! sometimes they nibble at the stems of plants - sometimes leaves- sometimes flowers!
We gave them a way of coming out their hutch themselves but after one day in the garden - lots of things had been nibbled. If they come in our house they nibble the carpet too! So now we just let them out every evening- when we can keep an eye on them.
Over time we have found out they don't eat our tomato leaves or potato leaves. They don't eat the rhododenrons, lavender or hyrdrageas, thorny roses or laurel.

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