Rabbits like lobelia about as much as deer do, that is to say, not a lot. If rabbits are hungry enough, they might come and nibble on your rabbit-resistant plants, especially during breeding season —which, if you think about it, is pretty much year-round for those fluffy mammals.
Do Rabbits eat lobelia cardinal flowers?
Cardinal flower (Lobelia) is a large genus of perennials, aquatics, shrubs and annual plants, many with a natural resistant to rabbits. Some species of rabbit-resistant cardinal flowers -- such as Lobelia cardinalis -- tolerate overly wet, soggy soils and can handle poorly drained areas where other annuals cannot grow.
Can rabbits eat lilies and other flowers?
Unfortunately, there are plenty of other popular flowers and plants that are toxic for rabbits, including lilies and rhododendron. With this in mind, it’s essential to know exactly what flowers are growing in your yard before letting your bunny loose in your garden. Why Do Rabbits Chew Flowers?
Why do Bunnies eat flowers?
Well, your bunny’s teeth grow continuously throughout the course of his life. Chewing helps trim the teeth down and maintain proper dental health, so it’s a necessary and very satisfying behavior for your pet. And eating flowers can also be quite a rewarding pastime for your furry friend.
Do Rabbits eat dahlias?
Rabbits have no interest in my allysum or strawflowers, but they adore my dahlias and gerber daisies. I just ripped up some dead dahlias Sunday and replaced with marked-down torenia. No more dahlias for me, this is my second failed attempt. :-
What animal eats lobelia?
Slugs. Or snails. Or maybe magpies, which love bright colors – though not usually to eat.
Is Lobelia toxic to rabbits?
Because lobelias are poisonous (except the bedding Lobelia erinus). They might not be deadly to rabbits. But they will cause several problems, including: depression.
What flowers do rabbits avoid eating?
20 Flowers and Plants Rabbits HateSweet Alyssum. Lobularia maritima bears clusters of tiny white, lavender, violet or pink flowers in spring. ... Lantana. Sun-loving lantana bears flower clusters that look like brightly-colored confetti. ... Cleome. ... Pot Marigold. ... Geraniums. ... Wax Begonia. ... Strawflower. ... Snapdragon.More items...
Are lobelia flowers deer resistant?
Deer resistant. Great Blue Lobelia (also called Blue Cardinal Flower) is a tough, hardy perennial with large leaves and gorgeous, light blue blooms.
Are lobelia deer and rabbit resistant?
Tall, saturated color for moist areas in sun or shade The tall spires of color add great interest to the garden when most big blooms have finished for the season, and are lovely in a vase. Deer resistant.
What plant is poisonous to rabbits?
In the garden Likewise buttercups, foxgloves, primrose, delphiniums/larkspur, columbine (aquilegia) hellebore, comfrey, poppy, periwinkle, monkshood, nightshade, ivy, privet, holly and yew are all reasonably common garden plants and all are toxic.
Do coffee grounds repel rabbits?
Coffee is an environmentally friendly way to repel unwanted insects and animals in the garden. The smell of the coffee repels snails, slugs and ants. You may also have success using coffee grounds to repel mammals, including cats, rabbits and deer.
What is a natural rabbit repellent?
Natural Rabbit Repellent Ideas Tabasco sauce, dish detergent, crushed garlic, and water. Crushed black pepper, sliced chili, raw egg, and water. Chili powder, fresh eggs, milk, and water.
Are marigolds rabbit resistant?
Marigolds do not repel rabbits, deer, or other animals. In fact, rabbits occasionally browse heavily on marigolds. Erecting a chicken wire or hardware cloth fence around the vegetable garden is the best way to keep rabbits out of the garden.
Will deer eat Lobelia cardinalis?
You will enjoy this species' long blooming period that can occur from late summer to early fall, and lasts about 1 ½ months. Lobelia cardinalis is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. It is moderately deer resistant.
Is trailing lobelia deer resistant?
Some annual lobelia varieties have a more trailing habit than others. Use them to cascade over the edge of containers or hanging baskets. Slightly more upright forms of annual lobelia make excellent filler plants mixed with other summer bloomers. Annual lobelia attracts butterflies and is relatively deer resistant.
Are petunias deer and rabbit resistant?
Unfortunately, petunias are not deer resistant. As with any other succulent, deer will spot your petunias and immediately choose to devour them.
How to keep bunnies from eating flowers?
If you want to prevent your bunny or wild rabbits from eating your flowers, there are a few different strategies to try. One is to plant your garden with varieties commonly classed as being rabbit-repellent; however, these won’t necessarily repel all wild rabbits.
What flowers are poisonous to rabbits?
Some of the flowers rabbits should never eat include: Azaleas. Bluebells.
Why do bunnies chew flowers?
Well, your bunny’s teeth grow continuously throughout the course of his life. Chewing helps trim the teeth down and maintain proper dental health, so it’s a necessary and very satisfying behavior for your pet. And eating flowers can also be quite a rewarding pastime for your furry friend. There are plenty of common flowers ...
What plants are toxic to rabbits?
Unfortunately, there are plenty of other popular flowers and plants that are toxic for rabbits, including lilies and rhododendron. With this in mind, it’s essential to know exactly what flowers are growing in your yard before letting your bunny loose in your garden.
Can bunnies eat marigolds?
Pot marigolds are considered safe for bunnies to eat, so it’s OK for your bunny to munch on these vibrantly colored flowers. However, some sources list French and African marigolds as unsafe for bunnies, so it’s best to steer clear of these varieties.
How to keep pets out of flower garden?
If there are particular flowers in your garden you don’t want your pet to get to, build a fence to keep them out. Alternatively, supervise them closely whenever they’re allowed out to explore, and redirect them towards safer chewing options if they start targeting your much-loved flowers.
Can rabbits eat roses?
Bunnies can eat rose petals and all parts of the rose bush, so if you’ve got a rose garden you’d like to keep pristine, keep your rabbit well away from it.
What plants do rabbits like?
Shrubs and Trees. Rabbits prefer tender woody plants with thin bark, so new plants and shoots are at the most risk. 1 If you have a shrub they keep gnawing on, trying using a rabbit repellent. (Remember, you'll need to reapply after rain and according to directions on the container.) Apples /crabapples ( Malus spp.)
How do you know if a rabbit is eating your plants?
They will devour tender shoots in spring and gnaw through bark in the winter. You can tell when rabbits, not deer, have been chewing on your plants because rabbits make clean, 45-degree cuts in young stems and can reach only approximately 3 feet high. Deer can damage plants 6 feet high, and they tear plants when eating so that the stems and leaves are ragged, not cleanly cut like rabbit damage.
How many incisors do rabbits have?
But rabbits have two pairs of both upper and lower incisors, while rodents have only one set. (Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents.) It would be nice if there were plants that are truly rabbit-proof, but as with other animals, rabbits can surprise you.
What plants are not a good place to put rabbits?
Rabbit-Resistant Plants. It should be no surprise that plants with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and black-eyed Susan are less popular with rabbits. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. Rabbits grazing in your flower beds will simply eat around the less enticing plants.
What vegetables are most susceptible to a symbiotic relationship with a symbiotic relationship?
Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits. Tender, young leaves are the most susceptible, although they will sample many plants in the vegetable garden: Beans. Beets. Broccoli. Carrots (particularly the tops) Lettuce. Parsley. Peas (especially the leaves and tendrils)
Do rabbits eat anything?
They do have their favorite foods and those they tend to avoid, but when food is scarce, they will eat just about anything. If you are interested in how to deter rabbits, there are ways to control and deter rabbits from overrunning your garden.
Can deer damage plants?
Deer can damage plants 6 feet high, and they tear plants when eating so that the stems and leaves are ragged, not cleanly cut like rabbit damage. Rabbits have large incisors, similar to squirrels and mice. But rabbits have two pairs of both upper and lower incisors, while rodents have only one set. (Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents.)
What do rabbits eat?
So basically, rabbits eat whatever they want. One yard they eat one thing and leave other things alone. Next yard, they eat what they didn't eat in the other yard.
What to plant in grass to keep rabbits away?
Planting clover in your grass will give rabbits something to munch on besides your flowers. They prefer the clover. Cayenne pepper will keep most critters away including cats. Once they get a mouthful of the hot stuff they don't come back.
Why do rabbits come up on my deck?
The rabbits come up on the railing of my deck to eat from the rail planters and the other plants (on plant stands!) on my deck. Stargazer lillies chewed to the ground before they are an inch high. Nothing "cute" about bunnies, they are destructive, filthy animals.
How many times has Tithonia been eaten?
Tithonia has been eaten back to nubs 4 times...that's with chicken wire 3 feet high secured around huge, deep tub container.
Does liquid fence work for rabbits?
Same goes for the ferns, you snooze, you lose. Slow growers will not be allowed to bloom unless you block it off right away somehow. Liquid Fence absolutely does not work for my rabbits. I tested it by spraying it on a few plants.
Do rabbits like geraniums?
As mentioned above, they don't seem to like geraniums too much, but I've caught them nibbling it. I recently planted day lilies, and so far, the rabbits haven't touched them. Note that day lilies may be toxic to rabbits. If a plant is toxic, rabbits usually won't come back after the first few tastings.
What plants are rabbit resistant?
Cardinal flower (Lobelia) is a large genus of perennials, aquatics, shrubs and annual plants, many with a natural resistant to rabbits. Some species of rabbit-resistant cardinal flowers -- such as Lobelia cardinalis -- tolerate overly wet, soggy soils and can handle poorly drained areas where other annuals cannot grow. The brightly colored, tubular flowers protrude up from the bright green foliage. Cardinal flowers grow in partial shade to full sun. Catmint (Nepeta), an annual herb in the mint family, produces fragrant leaves and tubular blooms in partially shaded areas but also grows in full sun. Some species of catmint attract cats and insects. Wax begonia (Semperflorens cultorum) can be grown as an annual flower in partially shaded areas. This rabbit-resistant plant has deep green, waxy foliage and clusters of stunning flowers that bloom throughout the season.
What are the flowers that attract butterflies?
A Mexico native annual, floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum) has clusters of fluffy bluish flowers that appear in spring and continue blooming until frost. These showy blooms attract butterflies to the area. Floss flower is resistant to rabbits and grows up to 2 1/2 feet tall in full sun or partial shade. A common annual plant, pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) is resistant to rabbits and produces cheery yellow to orange flowers. The lance-shaped leaves are aromatic and both they and the flowers are edible. Pot marigold grows to only about 1 to 2 feet tall and attracts butterflies. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus and cvs.) are annual plants grown for their large, brightly colored flower heads filled with edible seeds. The flower heads appear atop tall stalks that can reach heights of 10 to 15 feet. Sunflowers are rabbit-resistant and attract birds that feed on the plant’s seeds.
What plants are drought tolerant?
Zonal geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) is a drought-tolerant, rabbit-resistant tender perennial that grows as an annual where it's not hardy. These geraniums form a shrub mound with heights of 1 to 3 feet in full sun to partial shade. Long stalks are topped with clusters of pink, white, red, orange or purple blooms. Blooming from June until frost, vinca (Catharanthus roseus) is a drought- and dry-soil-tolerant plant that also is resistant to rabbits. The compact vinca flower reaches heights of only 1/2 to 1 foot tall and produces rosy pink blooms. Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana), a tropical rabbit-resistant annual, tolerates drought and dry soil. It reaches heights of about 3 to 6 feet, producing white, purple or pink spider-like blooms with protruding stamens. These sweet, fragrant flowers attract many beneficial insects.
What does spider flower smell like?
Some people think that spider flowers smell a bit like a skunk.
Can rabbits damage annuals?
Annuals Damaged by Rabbits. Just as rabbits will steer clear of some flowers, they love other species. Planting those varieties will lure them to your garden, so you may want to reconsider these annuals if rabbits are a pest.
Can rabbits eat cottontails?
Mister Cottontail may appear cute and fluffy, but he can cause severe damage to your garden by feasting on the annual flowers. No annual is completely rabbit-proof because rabbits will feed on plants they once ignored if their food source becomes scarce. However, several species of annual plants are typically resistant to rabbits, which will pass up the flowers for a more tasty choice.
Do rabbits like marigolds?
Rabbits often damage African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), but they don't really like pot marigolds (Calendula officinalis), according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. While they're considered edible, the flowers and leaves of pot marigolds have a bitter flavor, which may deter rabbits.
What plants discourage rabbits from eating?
Try the plants in borders, rock gardens and mixed beds. Cleome. Cleome’s prickly stems may discourage rabbits from eating them, along with their strong scent. Some gardeners say the plants smell pleasantly minty, while others complain of a skunk-like or catty odor.
Why do rabbits avoid flowers?
Rabbits probably avoid them because they’re stiff and papery. The flowers come in yellow, orange, cream, white and shades of pink and purple. They do better in rocky or sandy soils than in fertile, rich ground. Give the plants full sun and excellent drainage. Vinca.
What plants deter rabbits?
Geraniums. Geraniums are thought to deter rabbits with their pungent smell, although gardeners enjoy varieties with a citrus, rose or other appealing fragrance. Zonal geraniums are bushy plants that typically bear soft, rounded leaves marked with a dark band.
When do rabbits like marigolds?
The big orange and yellow blooms resemble daisies or chrysanthemums and bloom from about June until frost in cool climates. (If your summers are hot, grow French marigolds instead for a longer bloom period.) Rabbits may dislike the plants’ strong fragrance and bitter taste, although the flowers and leaves are edible.
Do rabbits like lantana?
Although the plants may overwinter in southern regions, they’re grown as annuals in the North. Some gardeners say rabbits love to dine on their lantana, but others report that they avoid the plants because of the leaves' pungent aroma.
Do hummingbirds like tubular flowers?
Butterflies and hummingbirds, on the other hand, love the tubular flowers. Sweet Alyssum. Lobularia maritima bears clusters of tiny white, lavender, violet or pink flowers in spring. Grow it in full sun to part shade, in almost any type of soil; it’s both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant.
Can rabbits eat wax begonias?
Wax Begonia. Begonias are yet another annual that some rabbits avoid, while others seem to enjoy snacking on them. If you want to experiment in an area where rabbits are a problem, avoid planting an entire row or bed of them. Combine them with other plants instead, and watch to see what happens.
PLANTING & LOBELIA CARE
How to plant: Lobelia plant performs best with full sun to partial shade and rich, well-draining soil. Choose a site that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sun. Follow these steps and space garden lobelia plants 6-18 inches apart, depending on the variety.
HOW TO USE LOBELIA IN YOUR LANDSCAPE
The nonstop bloom, beautiful flower colors and ability to thrive in full sun or partial shade makes lobelia a versatile addition to any landscape. Here are just a few ideas on how to use lobelia in your yard:
COMPANION PLANTS
Plant lobelia alongside other plants with similar cultural needs of full sun to partial shade, rich soil and good drainage.
