Rabbits are a serious problem in many rural gardens and in some urban ones as well.

The only way of stopping them eating your plants is to have a rabbit-resistant fence round your entire garden. A trench 1 foot deep (300mm) and 1 foot across should be dug out along the outside of the proposed fence. 0.9 metre wide with 13mm mesh galvanized wire net should be placed down the vertical 1 foot trench side where the fence posts are located and also laid 1 foot across the bottom of the trench away from your garden before the remaining 300mm is attached to the posts above the ground level. The trench should then be refilled either with the earth that came out of it or with Type I Roadstone and compacted. Another roll of 0.9 metre wide with 13mm mesh galvanized wire net should then be attached to the fence posts and overlap the first one by 6" (150mm). To make sure that they do not jump over the resulting fence, put barbed wire or razor wire on the top of the fence.

A rabbit tends to eat the bark of trees/shrubs close to the ground. If it succeeds in eating a strip of bark and the cambium layer underneath all the way round the main trunk, then the tree/shrub above will die. Late Winter/Spring is the time when the young are being produced and mum wants some extra material to help her!!!

Humane traps are available but gardeners have reported that the following plants do show some resistance, especially when mature.

The rabbit-resistant plant list is sorted in the following table under the following height of plant range:-

Below 2 feet in height
Between 2 and 6 feet in height
Above 6 feet in height
* in the Height column indicates no entry in Plant Name pages

 

The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) has existed since 1996 and is the combined effort of the Rabbit Welfare Association and its charity partner, the Rabbit Welfare Fund, working to improve the lives of domestic rabbits across the UK through education and communication by making people realise that rabbits are intelligent creatures that need space, exercise, companionship and stimulation and are not to be bought on a whim.

Sadly, despite being the third most popular pets in Britain, rabbits are still one of the most neglected domestic animals.

A huge proportion of rabbits live out their days in a small hutch with little or no exercise, or are unwanted and discarded onto rescue centres that are already bursting at the seams. Most cases of cruelty and neglect towards rabbits are out of ignorance; people often don't realise they are doing anything wrong because they haven’t done enough research into rabbit care and wellbeing before choosing to buy a pet rabbit.

As well as being an animal welfare agency, the RWAF also offers members the support needed to give their rabbits the best lives possible and have a huge wealth of experience to share with you.

Other plants relatively resistant to rabbits and rabbit proof plant.

Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'
Ajuga reptans 'Catlins Giant'
Ajuga reptans 'Rainbow'
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla erythropoda
Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle)
Anemone blanda 'Atrocaerulea'
Anemone coronaria
Aquilegia alpina (Columbine)
Aster (See Plant Name A page)
Astilbe (See Plant Name A page)
Azalea (See Plant Name A page)
Berberis (See Plant Name B page)
Bergenia (See Plant Name B page)
Brunnera macrophylla 'Dawson's White'
Campanula (See Plant Name C page)
Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-Summer)
Chionodoxa (Glory-of-the-Snow)
Chrysanthemum parthenium (Feverfew)
Clematis (See Plant Name C page)
Colchicum (Autumn Crocus)
Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-Valley)
(See Plant Name C page)
Cotoneaster (See Plant Name C page)
Cyclamen (See Plant Name C page)
Dahlia
Daphne (See Plant Name D page)
Eranthis
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite)
Erica (Heather) (See Plant Name E page)
Euonymus (See Plant Name E page)
Euphorbia (Spurge) (See Plant Name E page)
Fuchsia 'Tom Thumb'
Galanthus
Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)
Gaultheria procumbens
Geraniums (Cranesbill) (See Plant Name G page)
Glaucium flavum (Yellow Horned Poppy)
Helianthemum (Rock Rose) (See Plant Name H page)
Helichrysum italicum subsp. serotinum
Helleborus (See Plant Name H page)
Hemerocallis 'Mini Pearl'
Hepatica nobilis
Heuchera (See Plant Name H page)
Hosta (See Plant Name H page)
Hyacinthoides (See Plant Name H page)
Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)
Hypericum (See Plant Name H page)
Impatiens
Kniphofia (See Plant Name K page)
Lamium (See Plant Name L page)
Leucojum (Snowflake)
Liriope muscari
Meconopsis quintuplinervia
Mimulus (See Plant Name M page)
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Myosotis (Forget-me-not)
Narcissus (Daffodil/Narcissus)
Nepeta (Catmint) (See Plant Name N page)
Omphalodes cappadocica
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Osteospermum jucundum
Oxalis (See Plant Name O page)
Papaver nudicaule (Iceland Poppy)
Phlox stolonifera
Phormium tenax 'Bronze Baby'
Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder)
Polygonum affine 'Donald Lowndes'
Potentilla (See Plant Name P page)
Potentilla fruticosa 'Manchu'
Primula veris (Cowslip)
Primulas (See Plant Name P page)
Pulmonaria (See Plant Name P page)
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'
Ruscus hypoglossum
Santolina chamaecyparissus (Cotton Lavender)
Saxifraga x urbium (London Pride)
Scabiosa graminifolia
Spiraea (See Plant Name S page)
Strawberries
Symphytum (See Plant Name S page)
Tagetes (Marigold)
Thymus (Thyme) (See Plant Name T page)
Trillium (Wood Lily) (See Plant Name T page)
Tritonia
Trollius (Globe Flower)
Tulipa (Tulip)
Verbascum dumulosum
Verbena 'Sissinghurst'
Vinca (See Plant Name V page)
Yucca flaccida (See Plant Name XYZ page)

0.5 x 2
0.5 x 2
0.5 x 2
0.3 x 1.5
0.6 x 0.6
1.7 x 1.7
0.5 x 0.5
1.25 x 0.5
1.5 x 1
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.
.
.
.
1.5 x 2
.
0.25 x 2
*
1.5 x 1*
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*
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.
.
.
*
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*
0.2 x 0.25
.
.
1.7 x 1.7
*
0.3 x 0.3
0.3 x 1
.
*
.
0.5 x 0.5
.
1.3 x 1.3
*
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.
.
*
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*
.
.
*
1 x 1.5
1.5 x 1
.
*
*
*
.
0.8 x 1.3
0.75 x 1
1 x 2
.
*
0.5 x 1
1.5 x 1.5
*
0.4 x 0.5
.
1 x 2.5
*
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.
0.5 x 1
1.5 x 3
1.7 x 3
1 x indefinite
0.8 x 1
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*
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*
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*
*
*
0.8 x 1.3
0.7 x 3
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.

Acanthus mollis (Bear's Breeches)
Aconitum 'Newry Blue' (Monkshood)
Aconitum x cammarum 'Bressingham Spire'
Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearl Everlasting)
Anemone x hybrida
Aster (See Plant Name A page)
Astilbe (See Plant Name A page)
Aucuba japonica (See Plant Name A page)
Azalea (See Plant Name A page)
Berberis (See Plant Name B page)
Betula (See Plant Name B page)
Borago officinalis (Borage)
Buxus spp (Box)(See range in Plant Name B page)
Campanula (Bellflower)(See Plant Name C page)
Cardiocrinum cordatum,giganteum and
var. yunnanense varieties
Ceanothus (See Plant Name C page)
Chelidonium majus 'Flore Pleno' (Greater Celandine)
Cistus (Rock Rose)(See Plant Name C page)
Clematis (See Plant Name C page)
Corydalis nobilis
Cotoneaster (See Plant Name C page)
Crocosmia (Monbretia)(See Plant Name C page)
Cynoglossum nervosum (Himalayan hound's tongue)
Dahlia
Daphne (See Plant Name D page)
Daphne mezereum
Delphinium 'Blue Jay'
Digitalis laevigata
Doronicum (Leopard's bane) (See Plant Name D page)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Erica (Heather) (See Plant Name E page)
Eryngium (Sea Holly) (See Plant Name E page)
Euonymus (See Plant Name E page)
Euphorbia (Spurge) (See Plant Name E page)
Fritillaria imperialis
Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple'
Geraniums (Cranesbill) (See Plant Name G page)
Hedera (Ivy) (See Plant Name H page)
Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed)
Helianthus (Sunflower) (See Plant Name H page)
Helichrysum splendidum
Helleborus (See Plant Name H page)
Hemerocallis (Day Lily) (See Plant Name H page)
Hesperis matronalis (Sweet Rocket)
Heuchera 'Green Ivory'
Hosta (See Plant Name H page)
Hydrangea (See Plant Name H page)
Hypericum (See Plant Name H page)
Impatiens
Iris (See Plant Name I page)
Iris foetidissima (Stinking Iris)
Kniphofia (See Plant Name K page)
Lamium galeobdolon (Yellow Archangel)
Lavatera (See Plant Name L page)
Leucojum (Snowflake)
Lonicera (Honeysuckle) (See Plant Name L page)
Lunaria rediviva (Perennial Honesty)
Lupinus (Lupin) (See Plant Name L page)
Lychnis chalcedonica (Jerusalem Cross, Maltese Cross)
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape) (See Plant Name M page)
Malva moschata (Mallow)
Meconopsis paniculata
Mimulus ringens
Mirabilis jalapa (Four O'Clock Flower, Marvel of Peru)
Nicotiana alata (Tobacco Plant)
Olearia (See Plant Name O page)
Paeonia (See Plant Name P page)
Papaver orientale (Poppy)
Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine'
Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave'
Polygonatum (See Plant Name P page)
Potentilla (See Plant Name P page)
Potentilla fruticosa (See Plant Name P page)
Primulas (See Plant Name P page)
Ranunculus (See Plant Name R page)
Rhododendron (See Plant Name R page)
Ribes (See Plant Name R page)
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Aureus'
Ruscus hypophyllum
Ruscus aculeatus (Butchers Broom)
Ruta (Rue) (See Plant Name R page)
Salvia x superba (Sage)
Santolina (See Plant Name S page)
Skimmia (See Plant Name S page)
Solidago (Golden Rod)
Spiraea (See Plant Name S page)
Symphoricarpus albus var. laevigatus(Snowberry)
Thalictrum (Meadow Rue)
Tritonia
Trollius (Globe Flower)
Verbascum (See Plant Name V page)
Viburnum (See Plant Name V page)
Viburnum opulus 'Compactum' (Guelder Rose)
Yucca flaccida 'Ivory'

5 x 3
5 x 1
3 x 1
2 x 2
4 x indefinite
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.
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.
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2 x 1.5
.
.
.
*
.
2 x 0.7*
.
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2 x 1.5
.
.
2 x 2*
*
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4 x 3
5 x 1
3 x 1.5
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*
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5 x 1
5 x 2.5
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*
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4 x 4
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.
3 x 1.5
2.5 x 2.5
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.
.
*
.
2 x 0.5
.
2 x indefinite
.
*
.
2.5 x 1
.
*
.
6 x 2
3 x 1
*
*
5 x 1
.
2 x 2.5
2.5 x 5
3 x 3
.
.
.
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.
.
.
5 x 5
2 x 3
2.5 x 2.5
.
*
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.
*
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*
*
*
*
*
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.
5 x 5
2 x 2.5
.

Alcea rosea (Hollyhock)
Alnus cordata (Italian Alder)
Alnus viridis (Green Alder)
Araucaria araucana (Monkey Puzzle Tree)
Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree)
Azalea (See Plant Name A page)
Berberis (Barberry) (See Plant Name B page)
Betula (Birch)(See Plant Name B page)
Buddleia davidii(See Plant Name B page)
Buddleia globosa
Buddleia officinalis
Ceanothus (See Plant Name C page)
Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange Blossom)
Clematis (See Plant Name C page)
Cotoneaster (See Plant Name C page)
Crocosmia (Monbretia)(See Plant Name C page)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Eleagnus (See Plant Name E page)
Erica (Heather) (See Plant Name E page)
Eucalyptus (Gum Tree) (See Plant Name E page)
Euonymus (See Plant Name E page)
Hedera (Ivy) (See Plant Name H page)
Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)
Hydrangea anomala ssp. Petiolaris
Impatiens
Kalmia latifolia (Calico Bush)
Laburnum
Laurus nobilis (Sweet Bay, Bay Laurel)
Lonicera (Honeysuckle) (See Plant Name L page)
Olearia macrodonta (Daisy Bush)
Onopordon nervosum
Paeonia (Peony) (See Plant Name P page)
Philadelphus (See Plant Name P page)
Phormium tenax 'Purpureum'
Phytolacca americana (Red-ink Plant)
Pinus nigra (Black Pine)
Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn, Sloe)
Rhododendron
Sambucus (See Plant Name S page)
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) (See Plant Name S page)
Viburnum (See Plant Name V page)
Viburnum tinus (See Plant Name V page)
 

7 x 2
80 x 20
10 x 6
60 x 25
25 x 25
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15 x 15
8 x 8
.
8 x 8
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*
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*
50 x 20
*
10 x 10
*
40 x 30
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20 x 15
9 x 3
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7 x 3
*
*
*
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The Monroe County Alliance for Wildlife Protection Guide to DEER PROOFING YOUR GARDEN in 5 Easy Steps provides practical deterrent procedures.

The Deer Repellent Organic Garden by keeping deer off your plants by growing this offensive to the deer mix.

Lists of Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals and Biennials that white-tailed:-

• deer generally prefer to eat
• deer sometimes eat and
• deer generally dislike.

Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage by John W. Lett of the Cooperative Extension Service University of Maryland, USA.