Keep Out, Bunny! A Guide to Rabbit-Proof Plants

Let’s face it—rabbits may look cute and cuddly, but in the garden, they’re downright destructive. One minute you’re admiring your blooming perennials, and the next, Peter Cottontail and his buddies have chewed your plants down to nubs. 

In Georgina’s Zone 5, rabbits are a common backyard visitor, especially in spring and early summer when young bunnies are looking for food. But don’t give up on gardening just yet—there are plenty of rabbit-proof plants that will help you protect your beds without building a full-on fortress.

Let’s dig into why rabbits avoid certain plants, which ones they’ll usually leave alone, and how to design a rabbit-resistant garden that’s still full of colour, fragrance, and texture.

 

Why Do Rabbits Avoid Some Plants?

Rabbits are picky eaters—sort of. They’ll happily munch on your favourite hostas or tulips, but there are certain plants they tend to avoid because of:

• Strong Scents: Herbs like lavender, sage, and rosemary have strong essential oils that rabbits find unappetizing.
• Bitter or Toxic Tastes: Plants like foxglove and delphinium contain compounds that are mildly toxic or bitter to rabbits.
• Fuzzy or Prickly Leaves: Yarrow and lamb’s ear have textures that rabbits don’t enjoy chewing.
• Thick or Woody Growth: Woody shrubs like boxwood or lilac aren’t as easy to nibble on as soft-stemmed perennials.
• Toxicity: Some plants, like yew and foxglove, are toxic to rabbits and most other animals. 

While no plant is completely rabbit-proof (hungry rabbits will try almost anything), the following list includes top rabbit-resistant plants for Georgina's gardens, based on scent, taste, texture, and toxicity.

Top Rabbit-Resistant Plants for Zone 5

Herbs & Edibles

These plants do double duty—they’re great for cooking and help deter rabbits.

• Lavender – Strongly scented and beautiful, lavender is one of the best rabbit-repelling perennials.
• Sage – Another powerhouse herb with a scent and texture rabbits dislike.
• Rosemary – Woody, fragrant, and unappealing to bunnies.
• Catnip – Rabbits avoid it, but your cats might move in.
• Onion & Allium – The entire onion family is pungent and distasteful to rabbits.
• Tomatoes – Rabbits usually don’t like the taste or smell of tomato plants.
• Peppers – Whether sweet or spicy, most pepper plants are left alone.
• Marigolds – These classic annuals do more than just brighten up your garden. Their strong scent keeps rabbits (and some insects) away, especially around vegetable beds. 

Tip: Interplant your veggies with strong-scented herbs and marigolds to help protect your food crops.

 

Perennials Rabbits Dislike

• Yarrow (Achillea) – Ferny leaves and strong scent make this a rabbit deterrent.
• Foxglove (Digitalis) – Toxic to rabbits and humans alike, but absolutely beautiful.
• Astilbe – Rabbits tend to leave these feathery shade-lovers alone.
• Anemone – Their taste and smell are not rabbit-approved.
• Delphinium – Tall, stately, and usually avoided thanks to toxicity.
• Ferns – Rabbits rarely touch ferns, especially native varieties.
• Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) – Fuzzy, low-growing leaves are unappealing.
• Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) – Rabbits generally stay away from these ground-hugging bloomers.
• Perennial Salvia – The scent and slightly fuzzy leaves help keep rabbits at bay.

 

Shrubs & Vines That Are Less Appealing to Rabbits

• Boxwood – Evergreen and tough as nails, this classic hedge plant is typically rabbit-resistant.
• Clematis – Vining and beautiful, clematis isn’t a bunny’s first choice.
• Dogwood – Many native dogwoods are rabbit-resistant once established.
• Elderberry (Sambucus) – Woody and aromatic, it’s not high on the rabbit menu.
• Euonymus – Tough, leathery leaves are usually avoided.
• Lilac – Woody stems and fragrant blooms = rabbit deterrent.
• Mock Orange – This fragrant shrub is often skipped by rabbits.
• Weigela – A blooming beauty that tends to stay untouched.
• Yew (Taxus) – Toxic to rabbits and deer, yew is one of the most resistant evergreens out there.

How to Design a Rabbit-Proof Garden in Zone 5

So now you’ve got your plant list—but how do you put it all together in a way that actually works?

Here are some smart design tips for a rabbit-resistant garden that still looks amazing:

1. Plant in Layers 

Use a tiered approach—taller woody shrubs like lilac, dogwood, and weigela at the back, mid-height perennials like astilbe and hardy geranium in the middle, and low-growing herbs like lavender and catnip at the front. This not only looks great but creates a barrier of smells and textures rabbits don’t like.

2. Create a Scent Wall

Interplant strong-smelling herbs like rosemary, sage, and alliums—and don’t forget marigolds! Rabbits sniff out their meals, and this wall of fragrance confuses and deters them.

 3. Use Containers Strategically

If you’ve got a bunny problem but love your annuals and veggies, grow them in elevated containers or raised beds. Surround these with rabbit-resistant plants like catnip, marigolds, and yarrow to create a living barrier.

4. Avoid Bunny Favourites in Open Spaces

Tulips, hostas, pansies, beans, and lettuce? Delicious to rabbits. If you must grow them, place them closer to the house, in fenced-in areas, or intermix them with rabbit-repellent plants.

5. Don’t Forget Mulch and Borders

Use wood mulch and clearly defined borders to make the area less appealing. Rabbits love messy hiding spots, so a clean, well-maintained garden gives them fewer places to hang out.

6. Install Physical Barriers (Optional but Effective)

Use chicken wire or hardware cloth around vegetable beds, especially in spring when rabbits are most active. Bury the fencing at least 6 inches deep to prevent digging.

 

Bonus Tip: Rotate, Observe, Adjust

If you notice rabbits still chewing on something you thought they didn’t like, don’t panic. Young plants are often more tender and tempting, even if mature versions are rabbit-proof. Try rotating plants, using deterrent sprays, or temporarily fencing off new additions until they toughen up.

 

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, gardening in Georgina’s Zone 5 means dealing with a few hungry critters now and then—but you don’t have to hand over your yard to the rabbits. By choosing the right plants and using a few clever design tricks, you can enjoy a beautiful, blooming garden and keep those floppy-eared freeloaders out of your petunias. 

So go ahead—plant those salvia, tuck in some lavender, and let the foxglove bloom. The rabbits can find dinner elsewhere.

Happy gardening!