Rabbits have a large appetite and never fail to find your favorite garden plant the one that they consider the most delectable. The eastern cottontail is approximately 15 to 19 inches long weighing two to four pounds. Males and females are about the same size appearing gray or brownish with a short tail and big ears. Their life expectancy is only 12 to 15 months but they have an extremely high reproductive potential reaching up to four litters per year, with the first appearing in March. The gestation period is 29 days and there are usually six young per litter. Cottontails like to concentrate in brushy fence rows, brush or junk piles, upland thickets, and the edges of fields or nicely landscaped backyards where food and cover are desirable.
In urban areas, there are high rabbit populations, and they will easily fill any empty habitat created when other rabbits are removed. In spring and fall, rabbits use grass or weed shelters called a “form” to create a nest-like cavity on the surface of the ground for protection and raising their young. The rabbit’s population levels are directly linked to the availability of good habitat. Rabbits spend their entire lives in an area covering less than 10 acres. Cottontails will munch on a wide range of vegetation especially in the spring when young, succulent plants are just coming up. Don’t use mothballs. The chemicals they contain are toxic to your garden and the ground water and are attractive to dogs and children and will result in poisoning if consumed or licked.
Use a combination of tricks to help keep rabbits out of your garden. These should be applied before damage occurs and after a rain, heavy dew, or new plant growth. Human hair clippings from your local barber shop are free and do a good job of discouraging rabbits from eating your plants. Spread the hair around the base of the plants and partially tuck under mulched areas. Dried blood is a great organic fertilizer for the garden and will keep rabbits and deer away. Sprinkle some on the surface around all the plants and repeat after a heavy rain. Irish Spring soap shavings placed in a little draw string bag and placed through out the garden will help to keep the rabbits and the deer away.
The best way to keep rabbits out of the garden is to start early in the year using the things they don’t like and being consistent throughout the growing season. This will let them know early on that they are not welcome to dine on your plants. They will move on to the neighbors yard who doesn’t have all these handy tricks for keeping rabbits out of the garden.
Below is a list of plants that rabbits like to feed on. They are grouped with the most desirable first, down to the “not so special tasting” category last. The amounts of feeding on any varieties of plants will change with fluctuations in population, food sources, and environmental factors.
Heavily Damaged
Woody Plants:
Amelanchier (Serviceberry)
Berberis ‘Crimson Pygmy’ (Barberry)
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese Floweringquince)
Chaenomeles speciosa (Common Floweringquince)
Crataegus species (Hawthorn)
Deutzia species (Deutzia)
Euonymus alata (Winged Euonymus)
Fothergilla species (Fothergilla)
Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel)
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Prunus bessyi (Sand Cherry)
Prunus x cistena (Purpleleaf Sand Cherry)
Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ (Lilac)
Viburnum carlesii (Koreanspice Viburnum)
Viburnum x juddii (Judd Viburnum)
Viburnum plicatum (Doublefile Viburnum)
Climbing Vines:
Clematis species (Clematis)
Ipomoea purpurea (Morning Glory)
Fruits:
Actinidea arguta (Kiwi)
Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
Pyrus species (Pear)
Rubus species (Blackberry & Raspberry)
Perennials:
Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair Fern)
Anemone x hybrida (Japanese Anenome)
Astrantia major (Great Masterwort)
Campanula species (Bellflower)
Felicia amelloides (Marguerite Daisy)
Gypsophila paniculata (Baby’s Breath)
Hosta species (Plantain Lily)
Paeonia suffruticosa (Tree Peony)
Papaver nudicaule (Iceland Poppy)
Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)
Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox)
Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Shell Pink’ (Balloon Flower)
Verbena rigida (Vervain)
Annuals:
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Celosia argenta cristata (Cockscomb)
Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor’s Button)
Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos)
Gazania rigens (Gazania)
Impatiens wallerana (Impatiens)
Petunia x hybrida (Petunia)
Portulaca grandiflora (Rose Moss)
Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
Tropaeolum (Nasturtium)
Verbena x hybrida (Garden Verbena)
Zinnia elegans (Zinnas)
Bulbs:
Lilium species (Hardy and Asiatic)
Tulipa hybrids (Tulip)
Vegetables:
Beta vulgaris (Beets)
Beta vulgaris cicla (Swiss Chard)
Brassica oleracea italica (Broccoli)
Capsicum frutescens (Peppers)
Lactuca sativa (Lettuce)
Phaseolus vulgaris (Beans)
Pisum sativum (Peas)
Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
Moderate Damage
Woody Plants:
Cotinus coggygria (Smoke Bush)
Rosa species (Rose)
Fruits:
Rubus species (Raspberry & Blackberry)
Perennials:
Dianthus plumarius (Pinks)
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Hosta species (Plantain Lily)
Annuals:
Petunia x hybrida (Petunia)
Tagetes erecta (Marigold)
Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflowers)
Bulbs:
Gladiolus x hortulanus (Gladiola)
Muscari botryoides (Grape Hyacinths)
Vegetables:
Cucumis sativus (Cucumbers)
Capsicum frutescens (Peppers)
Not So Special Tasting
These plants are good ones to plant, rabbits don’t usually bother them.
Woody Plants:
Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)
Aesculus glabra (Buckeye)
Budddleia davidii (Butterfly-bush)
Buxus species (Boxwood)
Cornus alba (Tatarian Dogwood)
Cotoneaster species (Cotoneaster)
Ilex glabra compacta (Dwarf Inkberry)
Juglans cinera (Butternut )
Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel)
Liquidamber straciflua (Sweet Gum)
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree)
Potentilla fruticosa (Bush Cinquefoil)
Rhododendron P.J.M. Hybrids (Rhododendron)
Rhododendron species (Azaleas)
Rhus species (Sumac)
Taxus species (Yew)
Fruits:
Ribes species (Currant & Gooseberry)
Vitis species (Grape)
Perennials:
Aconitum napellus (Monkshood)
Adenophora lilifolia (Ladybells)
Ajuga repens (Bugleweed)
Alcea rosea (Hollyhock)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
Aquilegia hybrida (Columbine)
Artemesia species (Wormwood)
Aruncus dioicus (Goat’s Beard)
Asarum europaeum (Wild Ginger)
Astillbe x arendsii (False Spirea)
Baptisia aurestralis (False Indigo)
Bergenia cordifolia (Heartleaf Bergenia)
Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)
Cactus species (Cactus)
Cimicifuga racemosa (Bugbane)
Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-Valley)
Coreopsis grandiflora (Tickseed)
Dendranthema x morifolium (Hardy Chrysanthemum)
Dicentra species (Bleeding Heart)
Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)
Doronicum orientale (Leopardsbane)
Echinops ritro (Small Globe Thistle)
Epimedium x rubrum (Red Barrenwort)
Eupatorium coelestinum (Hardy Ageratum)
Euphorbia species (Euphorbia)
Ferns, except maiden hair
Filipendula ulmaria (Queen of the Meadow)
Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket Flower)
Geranium species (Cranesbill)
Hemerocallis species (Daylily)
Iberis semipervirens (Evergreen Candytuft)
Iris siberica (Siberian Iris)
Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)
Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender)
Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta Daisy)
Liriope spicata (Creeping Lily-Turf)
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
Lysimachia clethroides (Gooseneck Loosestrife)
Malva alcea (Hollyhock Mallow)
Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)
Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)
Myosotis sylvatica (Forget Me Not)
Paeonia hybrids (Peony)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Phlox sublata (Creeping Phlox)
Potentilla verna (Spring Cinquefoil)
Primula x polyantha (Primrose) Pulsatilla vulgaris rubra (Pasque Flower)
Salvia x superba ‘East Friesland’ (Perennial Salvia)
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Sedum)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)
Stokesia laevis (Stokes Aster)
Teucrium chamaedrys (Germander)
Thalictrum rochebrunianum (Meadow Rue)
Tiarella cordifolia (Foam Flower)
Veronica species (Speedwell)
Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle)
Annuals:
Ageratum houstonianum (Mexican Ageratum)
Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum (Wax Begonia)
Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold)
Catharanthus roseus (Vinca)
Cleome hasslerana (Spiderflower)
Mirabilis jalapa (Four O’Clock)
Pelargonium x hortorum (Geranium zonal & bedding)
Bulbs:
Allium giganteum (Persian Onion)
Hyacinth orientalis (Hyacinth)
Narcissus species (Daffodils)
Vegetables:
Allium cepa (Onions)
Allium porrum (Leeks)
Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus)
Cucurbita pepo melopepo (Summer Squash)
Lycopersicum esculentum (Tomato)
Rheum rhaponticum (Rhubarb)
Solanum tuberosum (Potatoes)
Herbs:
Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon)
Marjorana hortensis (Marjoram)
Mentha species (Mint)
Ocimum basilicum (Basil)
Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Petroselinum crispum (Parsley)
Satureia hortensis (Savory)