Caths Garden Plants – Information compiled March 2024 researched from a variety of sources including research done by RHS reviewing RHS member’s experiences.

Natural  remedies to try to deter rabbits from eating plants already planted in your garden. We have no experience ourselves in using these remedies. However some of these remedies will not withstand rainy weather see NB. It is also best to alternate the use of these remedies regularly so that the rabbits don’t get used to any scent or flavour.

• Rabbits don’t like strong tastes/smells. Spraying hot pepper sauce around the plants in your garden that are most susceptible to being eaten.

• Sprinkling red pepper, garlic or onion powder around the plants.

• Spraying water mixed with citrus juice around – equal part water to juice. This remedy is also said to keep slugs, ants, aphids & whiteflies away.

• NB. If the powders are mixed with a little oil & dribbled around this helps to stop the mixture being blown or washed away.

• If you own a dog some people suggest that scattering dog’s hair around also has a deterrent effect.

• Planting these plants around the shrub/flowers border can also help to deter rabbits – marigolds, onions, garlic, ginger & mint.

• Rabbits will investigate recent plantings & soft growth in spring even if these plants aren’t normally susceptible to damage at other times. Try putting protective netting around until these plants are more established. Hellebores, Sunflowers & Buddleia davidii are particularly vulnerable.

Bulbs/corms resistant to rabbit damage.

Allium, Chionodoxa, Colchicum (Autumn crocus), hardy Cyclamen, Eranthis hyemalis (Aconite), Fritillaria, Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop), Hyacinoides non-scripta  (English Bluebell), Leucojum, Muscari (Grape hyacinth), Narcissus, Tulips.

Perennials & grasses less susceptible to damage.

             A - Acanthus, Aconitum, Agapanthus, Ajuga reptans, Alchemilla mollis, Alstroemaria,          Anemone x hybrida & hupehensis varieties, Aquilegia, Aster novae-angliae & novi-belgii varieties, Astilbe.

B – Bergenia, Brunnera macrophylla,.

C – Convallaria majalis, Corydalis, Crocosmia.

D – Dahlia, Digitalis

E, F, G– Echinops, Epimedium, Eremurus, Eryngium, Erythronium dens-canis, Eupatoruim, Euphorbia, Gentiana asclepiadea.

H, I – Helenium, Helianthus, Helleborus (not niger), Hemerocallis, Hesperantha coccinea, Heuchera, Hosta, Iris, Kniphofia, Lamium, Lavender, Linum perenne (flax), Lupin, Lychnis, Lysimachia clethroides.

M, N, P, R – Miscanthus sinensis varieties, Myosotis (Forgrt-me-not), Nepeta, Paeonia, Papaver, Penstemon, Polemonium, Polyganatum, Polygonum, Primula vulgaris. Pulmonaria, Rhubarb, Rudbeckia.

S, T, V – Salvia, Schizostylis, Sedum spectabile, Trillium grandiflora, Trollius europaeus, Verbena, Verbascum, Viola odorata.

More rabbit resistant shrubs.

Arbutus, Aucuba, Berberis, Azalea, Buddleia ,Ceanothus, Chimonanthus praecox, Choisya, Cornus, Daphne, Deutzia, Eleagnus, Escallonia, Euonymus, Fatsia, Fuchsia magellanica, Hippophae rhaminoides, Hydrangea, Hypericum, Ilex, Kalmia, Laurel, Lonicera, Olearia, Philadelphus, Ligustrum (Privet), Rhododendron, Rhus, Ribes, Rosemary, Pieris, Sambucus, Skimmia japonica types, Spiraea, Syringa, Taxus, Viburnum opulus & tinus varieties, Weigelia.

Rabbit resistant climbers.  Clematis, Lonicera.                                   Cath Sanderson