“Are there any plants rabbits won’t eat?”
That’s a question we hear a lot at the nursery, and the answer is YES! There are plenty of plants rabbits tend to avoid and this Shades of Green Shopping Guide lists 50 of them - and these are just the perennials, plants that come back each year. We'll be making separate Shopping Guides for rabbit resistant annuals and shrubs.
If you’re losing plants to rabbits, the culprit is most likely the Eastern Cottontail - Sylvilagus floridanus. They are the most common rabbit species in North America, and the most prolific of rabbits in Texas.
How prolific? They can begin reproducing as early as two months old and generally have three to four litters a year, but they can have up to six or seven!
They tend to be 15 inches long and weigh 2.5 pounds. They’re active year-round and usually stay close to their original homes, which can be costly if their home is your yard.
Collin County and North Texas have experienced a tremendous amount of growth over the last 20 years. All those new homes, businesses and roads have pushed the rabbits’ natural predators – namely, coyotes and bobcats – out of the area while the cottontails remain. The combination of fewer predators and their predilection to bred like rabbits leaves a lot of bunnies looking for food.
With their natural habits gone to make way for humans, their only choice is to use your landscape as their salad bar! So, what can you plant that they won’t eat? Rabbits tend to avoid plants whose leaves are aromatic, fuzzy, prickly or leathery. All the plants on this list have one of those traits and some have 2 or more.
That said, we want to stress that this is a list of rabbit RESISTANT plants, not rabbit proof!
If they are hungry enough, they might eat plants they’d otherwise avoid. For a third of the plants on this list, we’ve had customers swear rabbits ate them. Maybe they did. But in general, these are the perennials least likely to be eaten by rabbits in North Texas.
As a reminder, perennials are plants that – while they may “die back” or go dormant in winter – return year after year.
The list is alphabetical by the name most commonly used in these parts, but the Latin is provided for each one to avoid any confusion.
Click here for a downloadable PDF, or scroll to the bottom for video.
50 Rabbit Resistant Perennials for North Texas:
Ajuga / Bugleweed - Ajuga Reptans
• Evergreen, blooming groundcover that spreads quickly by runners
• Prefers moist conditions
• Colorful foliage
• Great in shady spots. Plant in full to part shade.
• Size varies by cultivar but averages 3-6 inches tall x 12-18 inches wide
• Hardy in Zone 4-10
Arkansas Bluestar - Amsonia hubrichtii
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-9
• 2-3 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full to part sun
• Clusters of sky-blue star-shaped flowers from mid-spring to early summer
• Feathery, deep green, thread-leaf foliage turns a bright, rich yellow in fall
Artemisia / Wormwood - Artemisia spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 5-9
• Grows 2-3 feet tall x 2 feet wide
• Plant in full sun or part sun
• Shrub-like growth, trim to shape
• Outstanding foliage accent with flowering perennials & ornamental grasses
• Drought tolerant
Aromatic Aster / Fall Aster - Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Aster oblongifolius
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• Grows 1-3 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun. Heat tolerant.
• Blooms late summer to fall
• Fall nectar source for butterflies
• Can become top heavy. Prune in June for fuller, studier look in fall.
• Hardy in Zones 3-8
Click here to see our video about Fall Aster.
New England Aster - Aster novae-angliae
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 3-8
• Grows 2-3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
• Plant in full sun or part sun in well-drained soil
• Purple blooms atop dark green foliage from late summer through mid-fall
• A great nectar source for pollinators
Autumn Fern - Dryopteris erythrosora
• Evergreen perennial – Zone 5-8
• 12-15 inches tall x 24 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in shade to part shade (no afternoon sun)
• Fronds are reddish when unfurling, later turning deep green
• Drought tolerant and hardy
Autumn Sage - Salvia greggii
• Native Texas deciduous perennial
• 2-3 feet tall & wide – Zone 7-10
• Plant in full to part sun
• Masses of small flowers in red, white, salmon, or pink from late spring to frost
• One of the most hardy salvias
• Heat & drought tolerant
• Attracts hummingbirds & butterflies
• Also called Cherry Sage
Azure Sage - Salvia azurea 'Grandiflora'
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• 2-3 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil
• Large, blue, tubular flowers bloom late summer until frost
• Attracts hummingbirds & butterflies
• Tolerates heat, humidity & drought
• Hardy in Zone 4-9
Barrenwort - Epimedium 'Domino'
• Evergreen perennial – Zone 5-8
• 18-24 inches tall x 24-36 inches wide
• Plant in full to part shade
• Airy-looking flowers with white spurs & pink centers bloom mid to late spring
• Long, spiny, evergreen leaves are splashed with bronze
• Grows well under large trees
Beard Tongue - Penstemon spp.
• Herbaceous perennial hardy in Zone 7-11
• Grows 1-3 feet tall & wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full sun to part shade
• Bell-shaped flowers in spring
• Does best in moist soil
• 'Brazos' is a Native Texas variety
Bee Balm - Monarda didyma
Bee Balm / Wild Bergamont - Monarda fistulosa
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-9
• 2-6 feet tall & wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full to part sun
• Fragrant, colorful blooms in summer
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
• Prefers consistent soil moisture (don't let soil dry out completely between waterings)
Black-Eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta
• Native Texas herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial
• 2-3 feet tall x 1-2 feet wide
• Plant in full sun. Hardy in Zone 3-8.
• Blooms summer through fall
• Attracts butterflies and birds
• Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' is also called Black-Eyed Susan, but it is NOT rabbit resistant!
Blackfoot Daisy - Melampodium leucanthum
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• Hardy in Zone 5-11
• Grows 6-12 inches tall x 24 inches wide
• Plant in full sun. Loves hot, dry conditions
• DOES NOT like wet feet!
• Extreme heat and drought tolerance
• Masses of honey-scented, small, white blooms with yellow centers spring through fall
Blanket Flower - Gaillardia spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-10
• 8-18 inches tall x 12-18 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil
• Red and/or yellow flowers bloom summer to fall
• Attracts butterflies
• Drought tolerant
• Several species are native to Texas
Blue Fescue - Festuca glauca
• Evergreen ornamental grass – Zone 4-9
• 12-18 tall x 18-24 wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full to part shade
• Grassy leaves emerge grayish green in spring, turning steel blue in color the rest of the year. Tan seed heads are carried on spikes from mid-summer to late fall.
• A hardy, low maintenance ornamental grass
Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• Grows 2 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil
• Larval host for Queen, Grey Hairstreak & Monarch butterflies
• Orange blooms in summer
• Also known as Butterfly Milkweed
• Hardy in Zone 3-9
• All Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are rabbit resistant
Click here to see our video about Butterfly Weed.
Candytuft - Iberis spp.
• Evergreen perennial – Zone 4-9
• 6-12 inches tall x 8-18 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full to part sun
• Pure white flowers bloom in early-mid spring and attract butterflies
• Evergreen foliage
• Needs well-drained soil
• New hybrids have blooms in pink and lavender
Catmint - Nepeta spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 3-8
• Averages 18-24 inches tall & wide (varies by cultivar)
• Plant in full sun
• Prefers well-drained soil
• Blooms mid-spring to fall
• Attracts bees & butterflies
Click here to see our video about Catmint.
Columbine - Aquilegia spp.
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial (Aquilegia canadensis & Aquilegia chrysantha hinckleyana 'Texas Gold')
• 12-24 inches tall x 16-20 inches wide
• Plant in partial sun to part shade
• Distinctively shaped flowers bloom late spring to early summer & attract hummingbirds
• Hardy in Zone 3-9 (varies by cultivar)
Copper Canyon Daisy - Tagetes lemmonii
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 8-11
• 3 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun
• Golden yellow flowers bloom late summer through fall
• Aromatic / pungent leaves
• Very drought-tolerant
• Best in well-drained soil. Does not like wet feet.
Creeping Gray Germander - Teucrium aroanium
• Evergreen perennial – Zone 5-10
• 2-4 inches tall x 18-24 inches wide
• Plant in full sun or part sun
• Drought tolerant
• Gray foliage with fragrant, rosy-violet blooms spring through fall
• Great choice for xeriscaping or rock gardens
Daylilies - Hemerocallis spp.
• Herbaceous/Evergreen perennial – Zone 3-9
• 12-30 inches tall x 18-24 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Beautiful blooms last one day
• Some cultivars are repeat bloomers
• Plant in full sun or part sun
• Typically blooms May-June
• Fast growing & low maintenance
Datura / Angel Trumpet - Datura wrightii
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial hardy in Zone 2-10
• Grows 4-5 feet tall x 5-6 feet wide
• Plant in full sun to part shade
• Beautiful fragrant white flowers bloom until frost
• A dramatic night bloomer, all parts of the plant are toxic
Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum / Lamium spp.
• Semi-evergreen perennial groundcover
• 8-12 inches tall x 1-2 feet wide
• Plant in part sun to full shade
• Variegated heart-shaped leaves & pink flowers brighten shaded areas from spring to midsummer
• Needs water 2-3 times per week until established, then it is drought tolerant
• Hardy in Zone 3-8
Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea
• A biennial that grows 3-4 feet tall x 24-30 inches wide
• Hardy in Zone 4-8
• Plant in full sun to part shade
• Blooms mid to late spring. Foliage remains green in winter.
• Attracts bees, butterflies & hummingbirds
• CAUTION: Toxic if eaten. All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous!
Hummingbird Mint / Anise Hyssop - Agastache foeniculum
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 6-10
• Grows 2-3 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun
• Prefers well-drained soil
• Blooms early summer to fall
• Tubular flowers attract hummingbirds & butterflies
Iris - Iris spp.
• Evergreen, Semi-evergreen, or Herbaceous perennial
• Grows 1-4 feet tall x 1-2 feet wide depending on species & cultivar
• Plant in full sun. Hardy in Zone 3-11 depending on species.
• Bloom color varies by cultivar
• Blooms from mid to late spring to early summer
• Spreads by rhizomes & will form large clump over time
Ironweed - Vernonia spp.
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• Grows 4 to 4.5 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun
• Blooms late summer to early fall
• Many species of Ironweed (Vernonia) are native to Texas.
• Hardy in Zone 4-9
Lamb’s Ear - Stachys byzantine ‘Helen Von Stein’
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-9
• 12-24 inches tall x 24-36 inches wide
• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil
• Appreciates some afternoon shade
• Unique silver foliage with velvety texture and sparse lilac flowers
• Drought tolerant
Texas Lantana - Lantana horrida / Lantana urticoides
• Native Texas deciduous perennial hardy in Zone 8-11
• Grows 3-6 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun
• Red, orange, yellow blooms all summer
• Very heat & drought tolerant
• Attracts butterflies, bees, & birds
• Purple Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) is another rabbit resistant perennial variety for North Texas
Click here to see our video about Texas Lantana.
Lavender - Lavandula spp.
• Evergreen perennial in Zone 4-10 (varies by cultivar & species)
• Grows 1-3 feet tall and wide depending on variety.
• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, with moderate watering.
• Fragrant, lavender colored blooms in summer attract bees.
• Typically heat, drought & cold tolerant
Lavender Cotton - Green: Santolina rosmarinifolia, Santolina virens / Gray: Santolina chamaecyparissus
• Evergreen perennial – Zone 6-9
• 1-2 feet tall x 1-4 feet wide (depending on species)
• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil
• Solitary yellow cotton ball-like flowers bloom on 6" tall stalks during the late spring and summer
• Established plants thrive with little to no supplemental irrigation
Lenten Rose - Helleborus orientalis & Helleborus hybrids
• Evergreen perennial – Zone 6-9
• 12-18 inches tall x 15-24 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in part shade to full shade
• Large, cup-shaped, rose-like, usually nodding flowers bloom from late fall to early spring
• All parts of plant are poisonous to humans if ingested!
Liriope - Liriope spp.
• Pronounced "lir-RYE-oh-pee"
• Grass-like, evergreen groundcover with lavender flower spikes
• Hardy in Zone 6-11
• Plant in full sun to full shade
• Grows up to 1-2 feet tall & wide depending on cultivar
Maiden Grass - Miscanthus spp.
• Perennial, ornamental grass with clumping habit
• White plumes in late summer, early fall
• Plant in full sun
• Drought tolerant & fast growing
• Grows anywhere from 3-7 feet tall x 4-5 feet wide depending on variety
• Adagio & Zebra grass are common cultivars
Meadow Sage / Woodland Sage - Salvia nemorosa
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-8
• 10-24 inches tall x 1-2 feet wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full to part sun
• Grows in round, bushy clumps of deep green, aromatic leaves with dense spikes of flowers that bloom late spring to fall in purples, blues, and pinks (depending on cultivar).
• Bumbleberry, Caradonna, Marcus, Marvel Sky Blue, and Pink Profusion are among many popular varieties.
Mealycup Sage - Salvia farinacea
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• Hardy in Zone 7-10 (varies a bit by cultivar)
• Plant in full sun
• Blue or white blooms spring through fall
• Attracts bees, butterflies & hummingbirds
• Popular varieties include Augusta Duelberg, Henry Duelberg, Mealy Blue, and Victoria Blue
Muhly Grass - Muhlenbergia spp.
• Hardy, low maintenance, clump forming, ornamental grass
• Hardy in Zone 5-11 depending on species / cultivar
• Ranges from 2-4 feet tall x 1-4 feet wide depending on variety
• Plant in full sun. Typically fast growing & drought tolerant.
• Common varieties include: Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa), Lindheimer's Muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri), and Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Ornamental Onion - Allium spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 5-8
• 15-18 inches tall x 12-15 inches wide
• Plant in full sun
• Blooms in summer
• Heat & drought tolerant
• Two-inch, bright rosy-purple globe flower cluster on strong stem, dark green foliage
Periwinkle - Vinca major & minor
Common Periwinkle - Vinca minor:
• Evergreen, shade-loving goundcover with lavender flowers in Spring
• 4-6 inches tall x 3-5 feet wide. Hardy in Zone 4-9.
Greater Periwinkle - Vinca major:
• Evergreen groundcover grows in part sun to part shade
• 6-18 inches tall x 2 feet wide. Hardy in Zone 7-9.
• Pale violet-blue flowers in spring
Peony - Paeonia spp.
• Herbaceous perennial hardy in Zone 4-8
• Old-fashioned garden favorite
• Wonderful long lasting cut flower
• Grows 2-3 feet tall & wide
• Fragrant blooms in pink, purple, red, white or yellow in spring
• Plant in part sun (morning sun with afternoon shade)
Red Hot Poker - Kniphofia spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-9
• 16-36 inches tall x 12-24 inches wide (height & color varies by cultivar)
• Plant in full to part sun
• Needs well-drained soil
• Intense spikes of flowers in summer
• Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds
• Heat & drought tolerant
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
• Fragrant, evergreen perennial shrub hardy in Zone 8-11
• Grows 2-6 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun. Drought tolerant once established.
• Will grow in almost any soil if kept dry
• Aromatic, needle-like leaves are used as culinary herb
• Pale blue summer blooms attract bees & butterflies
Russian Sage - Perovskia atriplicifolia, Salvia yangii
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 5-9
• Grows 3-4 feet tall & wide
• Plant in full sun
• Spikes of lavender-blue flowers in summer
• Silvery gray foliage makes a good contrast against dark evergreens
• Drought tolerant and thrives in heat
Sedge - Carex spp.
• Evergreen, grass-like groundcover with narrow leaves & graceful, weeping habit
• 8-24 inches tall x 12-24 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Best in part sun to full shade
• Hardy in Zone 6-9
Society Garlic - Tulbaghia violacea
• Clump-forming evergreen / herbaceous perennial
• 18-20 inches tall x 15-18 inches wide
• Plant in full sun. Hardy in Zone 7-10.
• Drought tolerant once established
• Garlic scented lavender-purple blooms spring through fall attract pollinators
• Flowers and leaves are edible (mild garlic flavor)
Speedwell / Veronica - Veronica spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-9
• 18-30 inches tall x 18-20 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full to part sun
• Dense, upright, flower spikes bloom from summer to frost
• Attracts pollinators
Spiderwort - Tradescantia spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 4-9
• 12-18 inches tall x 18 inches wide
• Plant in part sun to part shade in average to moist soil
• Grass-like foliage with 3-petaled purple blooms all summer
• Cut back to promote re-bloom.
• There are several Native Texas varieties of Tradescantia
Tickseed / Coreopsis - Coreopsis spp.
• Herbaceous perennial – Zone 3-10
• Size varies by cultivar from 6 to 36 inches tall & wide
• Plant in full sun
• Disease-free, low maintenance, and drought tolerant
• Blooms late spring through summer
• Lanceleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) is a Texas native
Yarrow - Achillea millefolium
• Native Texas herbaceous perennial
• 18-30 inches tall x 18-24 inches wide depending on cultivar
• Plant in full sun
• Summer bloomer
• Prefers well-drained soil
• Attracts bees & butterflies
• Hardy in Zone 3-8
Click here for a downloadable PDF.
Videos
The Shades of Green Show: 25 Rabbit Resistant Perennials for North Texas
The Shades of Green Show: 25 MORE Rabbit Resistant Perennials for North Texas
