Flowers & Plants That Rabbits Won't Eat

Rabbits, squirrels and deer often make a buffet out of vegetable gardens with a dessert of flower beds. Rabbits can be dissuaded from feasting on the fruits of your labor by a few strategically placed plants that rabbits do not eat.

Mexican Marigolds

Mexican marigolds are an especially pungent form of marigold that is effective in keeping a number of pests out of the garden, including deer, bugs and rabbits. In addition, marigolds are beneficial as a companion plant to tomatoes. According to Martha Stewart's Home and Garden website, Mexican marigolds prefer full sun and will produce blooms summer through fall.

Onions and Garlic

According to Medi-rabbit, a rabbit medicine resource, rabbits experience a violent allergic reaction to both onions and garlic. Most rabbits know to stay away from the planst. However, to those that do not, after one bite the little critter will not come back for more.

Dusty Miller

Dusty miller has a thick and fuzzy texture that has been shown to disagree with a rabbit's pallet. This annual will not deter the little critters as will pungent marigolds and garlic, but it is one of the few annuals that rabbits and other common garden pests won't bother.

Geranium

Geraniums are another pungent flower that smells strong enough to deter rabbits. There are a number of scented geranium varieties that were cultivated to give off a citrus, apple, rose or mint smells. There is also a citronella scented geranium. Like their common smelling counterparts scented geraniums prefer full sun and dry soil. However, the scented varieties often have smaller flowers and leaves.

Ageratum

Ageratum has a furry textured top that, like the Dusty Miller, does not appeal to rabbits. In addition, when the tufts of these flowering annuals get wet, it has a tendency to rot quickly, making the plant equally unappetizing. Ageratum prefers full sun and should be sheltered from the rain. Because of their compact size, they are great additions to rock gardens or containers.