Rabbit-resistant plants

Plants rabbits usually leave alone: for the front of the border, where rabbits do their damage.

Rabbits eat from the ground up, so unlike deer their damage is to the front of the border and to young shoots in spring. They are fondest of tender, smooth new growth, and of anything just planted, which is why a plant they ignore once grown can vanish the week it goes in.

The plants below are listed by NC State as rabbit resistant. Many of them are the same aromatic and furry plants deer avoid. A low fence of chicken wire, buried a few inches, is still the only sure answer for a vegetable patch, but a border of these mostly looks after itself.

252 plants: 174 perennials, 23 ferns, 13 bulbs, 5 grasses and 37 shrubs.

The dozen to start with

Lamb's ear

12 in · grown for its leaves

Soft, fuzzy silver leaves make it a favourite for edging and for softening bolder colours around it.
Calla lily

2½ ft · mid May to mid July

Pure white, funnel-shaped flowers of great elegance, each wrapped around a yellow spike, above glossy, arrow-shaped leaves.
Lilyturf

16 in · early August to mid September

Evergreen clumps of dark, strap-shaped, grassy leaves, with spikes of violet flowers like grape hyacinths in late summer, followed by black berries.
Foxglove

4 ft · early June to mid July

Tall spires of spotted, bell-shaped flowers bring height to part-shade beds in early summer.
Bleeding heart

2½ ft · early May to early June

An old-fashioned favourite with arching stems of heart-shaped flowers in late spring.
Lady fern

2½ ft · grown for its leaves

The classic lacy fern: light green, finely cut, arching fronds that keep unfurling all summer.
Christmas fern

20 in · grown for its leaves

The most useful native fern: leathery, dark green fronds that stay green through winter, in a tidy clump that never spreads.
Hyacinth

10 in · mid April to early May

Dense, waxy spikes of intensely fragrant flowers in blue, purple, pink, white or soft yellow, in mid-spring.
Common boxwood

10 ft · grown for its leaves

The classic boxwood of old gardens: a large, billowing, dark evergreen that can be clipped into hedges and shapes or left to grow into a small tree over many decades.
Autumn fern

22 in · grown for its leaves

New fronds unfurl coppery red in spring and mature to glossy, dark green.
Common lilac

11½ ft · early May to late May · host plant

The lilac of old farmyards: large, heavily scented flower trusses in lilac, purple, white or pink in mid-spring, on a tall, suckering shrub that can live for a century.
Japanese holly fern

24 in · grown for its leaves

Thick, glossy, dark green fronds with large, pointed leaflets like holly leaves.

A bed planned only from these plants

The planner was given only the plants on this page that suit zone 6 and full sun, and designed this 16 × 8 ft (4.9 × 2.4 m) bed from them when the page was made.

A 16 × 8 ft (4.9 × 2.4 m) bed at eye level in late June: Common thyme, Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun', Sneezeweed, Feather reed grass 'Avalanche', Inkberry 'Gem Box', Siberian iris 'Caesar's Brother', Speedwell 'Royal Candles', Lamb's ear, Ornamental onion 'Purple Sensation', Jonquil, Checkered lily. — A 16 × 8 ft (4.9 × 2.4 m) cottage garden in zone 6, full sun, seen from the path in late June.

From above, to scale. Each circle is one plant, as wide as the room it needs.

The plants

1 Common thyme × 13, lavender
2 Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun' × 7, red
3 Sneezeweed × 4, yellow
4 Feather reed grass 'Avalanche' × 3, tan
5 Inkberry 'Gem Box' × 1, dark green leaves
6 Siberian iris 'Caesar's Brother' × 3, purple
7 Speedwell 'Royal Candles' × 12, blue
8 Lamb's ear × 3, silver leaves
9 Ornamental onion 'Purple Sensation' × 6, purple
10 Jonquil × 10, yellow
11 Checkered lily × 12, white

Planned as a cottage garden: 39 of the 46 plants (85%), bulbs aside, stand alone or in groups of no more than five, small enough for the kinds to mingle. The most in flower at one time is 5 kinds, in late June. Cool colours (lavender, purple and blue) with red and yellow as the warm notes, and tan and white to calm things between them.

The planner's own design check: 10 Excellent, 7 Good. It flags one thing to watch: Nothing on this plan is highly poisonous or an aggressive spreader.

Open this bed in the planner Change its size, the sun or the style, move plants about, or swap one for another.

All 252 plants

Show all 252, by where they go in a bed

Front of a bed 102

American alumroot 12 in · grown for its leaves
Barrenwort 'Frohnleiten' 12 in · mid April to mid May
Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun' 12 in · mid June to early October
Blanket flower 'Goblin' 14 in · mid June to early October
Blanket flower 'Mesa Yellow' 18 in · mid June to early October
Bloody cranesbill 12 in · late May to late July
Bloody cranesbill 'Max Frei' 8 in · late May to early August
Broad beech fern 18 in · grown for its leaves
Brunnera 'Alexander's Great' 16 in · late April to late May
Brunnera 'Looking Glass' 14 in · late April to late May
Bugleweed 6 in · early May to late May
Bugleweed 'Black Scallop' 6 in · early May to late May
Bugleweed 'Burgundy Glow' 6 in · early May to late May
Bugleweed 'Catlin's Giant' 8 in · early May to late May
Candytuft 10 in · mid April to late May
Carpathian bellflower 10 in · late June to late August
Carpathian bellflower 'Blue Clips' 8 in · late June to late August
Checkered lily 12 in · mid April to early May
Cheddar pinks 'Bath's Pink' 10 in · mid May to late June
Cheddar pinks 'Firewitch' 8 in · mid May to late June
Cheddar pinks 'Tiny Rubies' 4 in · late May to late June
Chinese delphinium 'Blue Butterfly' 16 in · late June to late August
Chinese wild ginger 8 in · grown for its leaves
Christmas rose 12 in · late February to early April
Christmas rose 'Jacob' 10 in · late November to late December
Clustered bellflower 18 in · early June to early July
Common thyme 10 in · late May to late June
Coral bells 'Firefly' 10 in · late May to late July
Coral bells 'Green Spice' 10 in · grown for its leaves
Cottage pinks 12 in · late May to late June
Cottage pinks 'Mrs Sinkins' 12 in · early June to early July
Creeping lilyturf 12 in · grown for its leaves
Creeping phlox 'Sherwood Purple' 8 in · early May to late May
Creeping thyme 3 in · early June to mid July
Creeping woodland phlox 8 in · late April to late May
Cushion spurge 'Bonfire' 16 in · late April to late May
Deer fern 16 in · grown for its leaves
Dutchman's breeches 8 in · mid April to early May
Dwarf Solomon's seal 8 in · early May to early June
Eastern prickly pear 10 in · mid June to early July
Fringed bleeding heart 16 in · early May to late August
Golden garlic 12 in · late May to late June
Golden oregano 12 in · grown for its leaves
Goldmoss stonecrop 3 in · late May to late June
Hardy cyclamen 5 in · late August to mid October
Hyacinth 10 in · mid April to early May
Hyacinth 'Delft Blue' 10 in · mid April to early May
Japanese aster 'Blue Star' 18 in · late June to mid September
Japanese beech fern 18 in · grown for its leaves
Japanese pachysandra 8 in · grown for its leaves
Japanese painted fern 18 in · grown for its leaves
Jonquil 12 in · mid April to early May
Korean rock fern 14 in · grown for its leaves
Lady's mantle 18 in · late May to early July
Lamb's ear 12 in · grown for its leaves
Lamb's ear 'Big Ears' 12 in · grown for its leaves
Lamb's ear 'Silver Carpet' 6 in · grown for its leaves
Lemon thyme 10 in · mid June to mid July
Lily of the valley 8 in · early May to late May
Lilyturf 16 in · early August to mid September
Maiden pinks 8 in · early June to mid July
Mayapple 16 in · grown for its leaves
Meadow saffron 6 in · mid September to mid October
Mondo grass 8 in · grown for its leaves
October daphne 8 in · mid September to late October
Ornamental oregano 'Herrenhausen' 20 in · mid July to mid September
Pink lily of the valley 8 in · early May to late May
Red creeping thyme 2 in · early June to mid July
Rock cress 8 in · mid April to early May
Rock polypody 8 in · grown for its leaves
Scarlet coral bells 18 in · late May to late July
Sea holly 'Blue Hobbit' 12 in · late June to late August
Sedum 'Angelina' 5 in · grown for its leaves
Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' 4 in · late June to early August
Sedum 'John Creech' 2 in · grown for its leaves
Sedum 'Purple Emperor' 18 in · early August to mid September
Sedum 'Tricolor' 4 in · late June to late July
Shasta daisy 'Banana Cream' 18 in · late June to late August
Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' 18 in · mid August to late September
Showy stonecrop 'Neon' 20 in · late August to early October
Siberian bugloss 16 in · late April to late May
Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost' 16 in · late April to late May
Speedwell 'Red Fox' 14 in · late June to mid August
Speedwell 'Royal Candles' 16 in · late June to late August
Spike speedwell 18 in · late June to early August
Spring snowflake 10 in · early March to late March
Squirrel corn 8 in · mid April to early May
Stemless gentian 4 in · early May to early June
Stokes' aster 18 in · late June to mid August
Striped bloody cranesbill 6 in · late May to late August
Sweet violet 6 in · late March to early May · host plant
Sweet William 18 in · late May to late June
Threadleaf coreopsis 'Moonbeam' 18 in · late June to early September
Threadleaf coreopsis 'Zagreb' 16 in · late June to late August
Turkestan onion 10 in · mid May to early June
Variegated lilyturf 14 in · early August to mid September
Wall germander 12 in · late June to early August
White stonecrop 'Coral Carpet' 3 in · mid June to mid July
Wild geranium 'Espresso' 16 in · early May to early June
Willowleaf cotoneaster 'Scarlet Leader' 24 in · late May to mid June
Wood sage 'East Friesland' 18 in · late May to late July
Woolly yarrow 8 in · late May to early July

Middle of a bed 86

Adam's needle 3 ft · late June to mid July · host plant
Anise hyssop 3 ft · early July to early September
Aromatic aster 'October Skies' 20 in · mid September to late October
Aromatic aster 'Raydon's Favorite' 3 ft · mid September to early November
Astilbe 'Bridal Veil' 2½ ft · late June to mid July
Astilbe 'Deutschland' 20 in · late May to late June
Astilbe 'Fanal' 24 in · mid June to mid July
Autumn fern 22 in · grown for its leaves
Autumn fern 'Brilliance' 22 in · grown for its leaves
Bee balm 3 ft · early July to early August · host plant
Bee balm 'Purple Rooster' 3 ft · late June to mid August · host plant
Blanket flower 'Burgundy' 24 in · mid June to mid September
Bleeding heart 2½ ft · early May to early June
Bleeding heart 'Gold Heart' 2½ ft · early May to early June
Braun's holly fern 24 in · grown for its leaves
Butterfly weed 24 in · late June to early August · host plant
Calla lily 2½ ft · mid May to mid July
Cast iron plant 24 in · grown for its leaves
Christmas fern 20 in · grown for its leaves
Corsican hellebore 2½ ft · late February to late April
Cranberry cotoneaster 3 ft · late May to early June
Culinary sage 24 in · early June to early July
Doll's eyes 2½ ft · early May to late May
Dwarf English boxwood 2½ ft · grown for its leaves
Eastern bee balm 20 in · early May to mid June
False sunflower 'Summer Sun' 3½ ft · late June to early September
Flowering spurge 2½ ft · early July to late August
Fortune's holly fern 20 in · grown for its leaves
Foxglove 'Dalmatian Purple' 3½ ft · late May to mid July
Fragrant sumac 'Gro-Low' 24 in · mid April to early May
Garlic chives 20 in · late August to mid September
Globe thistle 'Veitch's Blue' 3 ft · early July to late August
Golden columbine 3 ft · late May to mid July
Gooseneck loosestrife 3 ft · early July to mid August
Hairy alumroot 'Autumn Bride' 24 in · late August to early October
Hay-scented fern 24 in · grown for its leaves
Inkberry 'Gem Box' 2½ ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
Ironweed 'Iron Butterfly' 2½ ft · late August to early October
Japanese holly fern 24 in · grown for its leaves
Lady fern 2½ ft · grown for its leaves
Lady fern 'Lady in Red' 2½ ft · grown for its leaves
Male fern 3 ft · grown for its leaves
Marginal wood fern 24 in · grown for its leaves
Meadow sage 24 in · late May to mid July
Meadow sage 'Caradonna' 24 in · late May to mid July
Mountain fleece 'Golden Arrow' 2½ ft · mid July to early October
Oregano 20 in · early July to late August
Oriental fountain grass 'Karley Rose' 3 ft · late June to early October
Oriental poppy 2½ ft · late May to late June
Oriental poppy 'Patty's Plum' 2½ ft · late May to late June
Ornamental onion 'Purple Sensation' 2½ ft · late May to early June
Peach-leaved bellflower 2½ ft · mid June to mid July
Pearly everlasting 24 in · late July to early September
Red baneberry 24 in · early May to late May
Rockspray cotoneaster 2½ ft · late May to early June
Russian sage 'Little Spire' 2½ ft · mid July to mid September
Salvia 'May Night' 24 in · late May to mid July
Sea holly 3 ft · early July to mid August
Shasta daisy 'Crazy Daisy' 2 ft · late June to late August
Shrubby cinquefoil 3 ft · early June to mid September
Shrubby cinquefoil 'Abbotswood' 2½ ft · early June to mid September
Shrubby cinquefoil 'Goldfinger' 3 ft · early June to mid September
Siberian iris 2½ ft · late May to late June
Siberian iris 'Caesar's Brother' 3½ ft · late May to late June
Soft shield fern 2½ ft · grown for its leaves
Solitary clematis 24 in · mid June to early August
Southern shield fern 3 ft · grown for its leaves
Southernwood 3½ ft · grown for its leaves
Spanish lavender 24 in · early May to late June
Spotted bee balm 24 in · mid July to early September · host plant
Stinking hellebore 24 in · late February to mid April
Surprise lily 24 in · early August to late August
Tassel fern 20 in · grown for its leaves
Tufted hair grass 3 ft · late June to late August
Tufted hair grass 'Goldtau' 24 in · mid June to late August
Victorian lady fern 2½ ft · grown for its leaves
Virginia bluebells 20 in · mid April to early May
White bleeding heart 2½ ft · early May to early June
White sage 'Silver King' 3 ft · grown for its leaves
White sage 'Valerie Finnis' 24 in · grown for its leaves
Wild geranium 20 in · early May to late May
Wood spurge 20 in · late April to late May
Yarrow 24 in · mid June to late August
Yarrow 'Cerise Queen' 24 in · mid June to late August
Yarrow 'Paprika' 24 in · mid June to late August
Yucca 'Color Guard' 2½ ft · late June to mid July · host plant

Back of a bed 64

Alpine currant 5 ft · grown for its leaves
American beautyberry 6 ft · late June to late July
Bee balm 'Jacob Cline' 4 ft · late June to mid August · host plant
Black hollyhock 6 ft · late June to late August
Blue false indigo 4 ft · late May to mid June · host plant
Boneset 4 ft · early August to mid September
Box honeysuckle 'Baggesen's Gold' 4 ft · grown for its leaves
Bugbane 'Brunette' 5 ft · early September to early October
Bugbane 'Hillside Black Beauty' 5 ft · late August to early October
Christmas box 4 ft · early January to early March
Clary sage 3½ ft · late June to early August
Common boxwood 10 ft · grown for its leaves
Common lilac 11½ ft · early May to late May · host plant
Delphinium 5 ft · late June to mid July
Dwarf arctic willow 4 ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
Dwarf blue spruce 4 ft · grown for its leaves
Dwarf Japanese yew 4 ft · grown for its leaves
Dwarf white pine 5 ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
False sunflower 4 ft · late June to early September
False sunflower 'Summer Nights' 3½ ft · late June to early September
Feather reed grass 'Avalanche' 5 ft · mid June to early October
Fernleaf yarrow 'Cloth of Gold' 4½ ft · late June to late August
Flame azalea 8 ft · mid May to mid June
Foxglove 4 ft · early June to mid July
Fragrant sumac 5 ft · mid April to late April
Giant allium 5 ft · early June to late June
Globe thistle 3½ ft · mid July to mid August
Goat's beard 5 ft · early June to late June · host plant
Golden lace 5 ft · late July to mid September
Ground clematis 'Purpurea' 5 ft · early June to mid July
Hollyhock 6 ft · early July to late August
Inkberry 6½ ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
Inkberry 'Shamrock' 4 ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
Interrupted fern 3½ ft · grown for its leaves
Joe Pye weed 'Gateway' 6 ft · late July to mid September
Korean feather reed grass 4 ft · late August to mid October
Laceleaf Japanese maple 'Crimson Queen' 8 ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
Laceleaf Japanese maple 'Viridis' 8 ft · grown for its leaves · host plant
Lilac 'Beauty of Moscow' 11½ ft · mid May to late May · host plant
Lilac 'Sensation' 10 ft · mid May to late May · host plant
Littleleaf boxwood 'Winter Gem' 4 ft · grown for its leaves
Mahonia 'Charity' 10 ft · early November to late December
Maltese cross 3½ ft · mid June to mid July
Mediterranean spurge 4 ft · late March to late May
Mexican bush sage 4 ft · early September to early November
Mexican orange blossom 6 ft · early May to late May
Oriental poppy 'Beauty of Livermere' 3½ ft · late May to late June
Rattlesnake master 4 ft · mid July to late August · host plant
Red hot poker 3½ ft · late June to early August
Royal azalea 6½ ft · early May to late May
Russian sage 4 ft · mid July to mid September
Siberian dogwood 6½ ft · late May to early June
Sneezeweed 4 ft · early August to late September
Spiny bear's breeches 4 ft · mid June to late July
Spotted Joe-Pye weed 5½ ft · mid July to early September
Swamp azalea 6½ ft · late June to mid July
Swamp milkweed 4 ft · early July to early August · host plant
Swamp milkweed 'Ice Ballet' 3½ ft · early July to mid August · host plant
Tall larkspur 5 ft · mid July to late August
Tall verbena 5 ft · late June to mid October
Tatarian dogwood 'Ivory Halo' 6 ft · grown for its leaves
Variegated red twig dogwood 6½ ft · grown for its leaves
Wallich's wood fern 3½ ft · grown for its leaves
Wild bergamot 3½ ft · early July to late August