One is that the sweetness of carrots appeals to rabbits natural sweet tooth. The entire plant contains elements that are toxic to rabbits, but the seeds are particularly deadly because of the high concentration of the opium alkaloids. This applies to all parts of the plant, including the flowers, leaves, stems, and roots. Plant it in an area in your yard that has a well-drained soil, and its not picky if its rich or not. These flower plants are considered toxic to insects, humans, and other animals because they contain a harmful element named cardenolides. If milkweed is baled with hay in the fall, it can be problematic. The entire plant is toxic to rabbits and should be avoided. Other leafy greens that rabbits eat also contain oxylic acid. (Explained), Do Rabbits Eat Dianthus? It would be nice if there were plants that are truly rabbit-proof, but as with other animals, rabbits can surprise you. It should be kept out of reach of rabbits. The plant may be 0.5-1.0 meters high. In general, these plants are known to be deadly toward many animals. Yellow irises are highly toxic and should definitely be avoided. about any variety of poppies, which both deer and rabbits will avoid. She has 30+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening; seed starting and saving; growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals; and sustainable and urban farming. It's a key ingredient in butterfly gardens. Tropical Milkweed is a tender erect perennial often grown as an annual. (All You Need to Know), Does Lysol Repel Mice? So, keep it away from your pets. If non-flowering plants are more up your alley, rabbits dislike milkweed and wormwood. ajuga by Storm / CC BY-SA 2.0, Bee Balm is better known to many people as horsemint. The entire plant is potentially poisonous, including the flower, roots, stem, and leaves. The soil should be well-drained and on the dry side, and theyre very drought-tolerant. The plant juice of other species of iris may cause some irritation, but they are unlikely to cause a severe toxic reaction. The only good news is that this plant has the tendency to taste very bad, meaning a rabbit will rarely choose to eat it. Other parts of the plant can also be an irritant for rabbits, but are less likely to have a toxic effect. Keep the plant away from constant water sources. Theyll start to flower in the early summer months and go to the fall if you deadhead the plants to encourage repeat blooming. The flowers of this plant enhance the beauty of your garden as well as make it look more decorative. Its toxic nature is why groundhogsand even deer and rabbit pestsleave it alone. Hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant, and you want to put it in an area that gets full sun to partial shade with a soil that drains well. Lavender by Elena Savelyeva / CC BY-NC 2.0, If youre trying to add drama and a vibrant color to your space while looking for plants that repel rabbits and other pests, try the Red Hot Poker plant. They do not have the ability to vomit, which means rabbits dont have an easy way to get rid of ingested toxins. You can mix and match several of these plants that repel rabbits throughout your landscape design to make them more effective, and I invite you to choose the ones that will work best for your environment. Petunias The first visit to the vet can be nerve-wracking both for you and your pet. First, although milkweed is not toxic to dogs, the sap can be irritating to their skin and eyes. Heres How to Protect Your Chickens from Foxes, 17 Potential Radish Plant Problems and How to Fix Them, 11 Broccoli Plant Problems That Can Ruin Your Harvest, How to Deal With Root Weevils and Snout Beetles in the Garden, 12 Cherry Tree Pests and Diseases You Need to Watch For, 13 Common Allium Plant Pests and Diseases and How to Deal With Them, 10 Ways to Get Rid of Imported Cabbageworms from Your Plants, Cabbage Loopers: How to Spot, Treat and Prevent These Pests, 12 Common Almond Tree Pests and Diseases and How to Get Rid of Them, 9 Problems Growing Mustard Greens and How to Address Them, Pear Tree Pests and Diseases That Could Ruin Your Harvest, How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Your Garden, Leaf Miners: How to Prevent and Get Rid of These Pests from Your Garden. Learn more about how you can get quality hay (even ORGANIC hay!) If youre not sure if a flower is safe for your rabbit to eat, its best to err on the side of caution and not give it to them. Then the remaining 25% of the diet is split between veggies and small volumes of fruit and pellets. They will devour tender shoots in spring and gnaw through bark in the winter. These beautiful creatures rely on milkweed for both food and shelter. In general, rabbits do eat milkweed leaves and flowers if they are hungry. Lavender: Lavender is a great choice for rabbits because it is full of antioxidants and has a calming effect. It's also the ideal plant to grow at the back of a flower border, given its impressive height (some can reach 7 feet tall). These plants contain cardiac glycosides, which have a negative affect on the heart and kidneys. This is a great plant for beginners to grow because it does very well in every lighting condition, from full sun to partial shade. If you suspect your dog has eaten milkweed, watch for signs of illness and contact your veterinarian. Rabbits who are experiencing toxicity from a potato plant will have symptoms that include drooling, difficulty breathing, trembling, paralysis, and an inflamed stomach. Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 50+ Types of Moths (Moth Names with Photos and Facts) The smell is what keeps it off the list of groundhogs' favorite foods, although they do occasionally eat them. In addition to that, the milkweed plant will be great deer and rabbit resistant if you know how to use it. Symptoms of milkweed poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, and tremors. Disclosure, New Video: Watch How My Seedlings Are Doing. This is why its considered to be invasive in some areas. No, milkweed is not poisonous to all animals. If you eat milkweed, you may experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Ingesting a hydrangea plant could cause severe gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea. The Spruce /Micah Issitt and Adrienne Legault. If youve ever found a milkweed plant with its leaves eaten down to nothing but nubs, you may have wondered what kind of animal could have done such a thing. Rabbits suffering from foxglove poisoning will experience diarrhea, stomach pain, dehydration, weakness, and an irregular heartbeat. In fact, many dogs are attracted to the sweet, milky taste of milkweed. Does your rabbit like to flip over their food bowls? Its arching stems are lined with the whimsically-shaped flowers that give it its name. That is why it will work great if you can plant them in your garden. The soil should drain well and be very rich, and the flowers and leaves on this plant are edible. We use cookies to help give you the best experience. Possums are omnivores, and will eat just about anything, but they seem to have a particular fondness for milkweed. Since these leaves are papery and stiff, they can turn rabbits away because theyre not comfortable to eat. Ive designed adorable bunny apparel! Moshobane, Claude Moshobane et al. Additionally, itll attract cats to the area, and rabbits see them as a threat so theyll stay far away. But some of the most interesting creatures that feast on milkweed are insects! If the rabbit has only eaten a nibble or negligent amount, your vet will likely instruct you to pay attention to your rabbits behavior to look for signs that they are feeling unwell. Iris Sunflower by Tony Donnelly / CC BY-SA 2.0. But it is also invasive and toxic to animals. To propagate this plant by seeds, collect them in the fall after the brown pods have dried and started to split. Groundhogs may nibble here and there in a bed of larkspurs, but larkspur is toxic to animals, so they will learn to stay away. Then you will receive tips and tricks about rabbit care straight to your inbox so that you know youll be taking excellent care of your new rabbit. The milkweed bug is another insect that feasts on milkweed with impunity. This site is supported by our readers. You could get away with sprinkling cow manure, blood meal, fox urine, or other repellants around them to keep the rabbits away. If a rabbit does manage to eat some onion, they may show symptoms of weakness and dizziness. Pot Marigold is on the list of plants that repel rabbits because they hate how it smells. While most people think of these insects as pests, they are actually important pollinators. What Scent Will Keep Mice Away 10 Scents You Can Use To Keep Mice Out Of Your House It is common for rabbits to eat the milkweed leaves when they eat the milkweed plants, so it will not affect their body or the immune system. The first is that milkweed is a relatively easy food source. 21 Types of Wasps Facts, Photos, and Descriptions For example, the leaves of the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) are toxic to animals when they are young but become less so as they mature. Inspect hay for dried milkweed before feeding. Each of these flowers contain compounds that are toxic to rabbits, and can cause severe gastrointestinal issues if ingested. Peace lilies are also toxic to rabbits in large quantities and should be kept out of reach. This includes black nightshade, climbing nightshade, red nightshade, bittersweet nightshade, and woolly nightshade among others. 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. The fact that these must-have specimens are also plants that groundhogs don't eat is simply a bonus. How does one identify rabbit damage and what do they eat? Even honey that is made from these flowers can be toxic for rabbits. Some of the most common include: roses, lilies, daffodils, and chrysanthemums. This plant is also excellent for a beginner gardener because it doesnt need much attention to thrive and do very well once you plant it. You should put them in slightly-rich soil that drains very well between watering sessions, and theyll add height with spiked flowers to your garden or landscape. As a milkweed, it serves as a host for Monarch Butterflies, & attracts numerous other pollinators. There are probably two reasons why groundhogs avoid hellebores: A basic tenet of integrated pest management is to take the path of least resistance wherever possible. If you are new to caring for rabbits, check out the Bunny Lady bimonthly newsletter. As an associate to Amazon, Small Pet Select, and Chewy.com, I may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. 1 / 21 An Unwanted Guest in the Garden Barriers and other deterrents can keep rabbits out of the garden. Symptoms of milkweed poisoning include itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing. Begonias by Jim, the Photographer / CC BY 2.0. The deer then typically spits out the plant and avoids eating it in the future. HGTV offers our picks of some of the best. Remember to remove any thorns or stems before feeding them to your bunny, as these can cause problems if ingested. Milkweed does NOT taste good It is very normal for wild rabbits to eat milkweed because it contains materials that should not cause any type of damage to their body. Red Hot Poker Kniphofia species by Brenda Dobbs / CC BY-NC 2.0, Yarrow is a perennial flower that comes back every year, and its also the perfect plant that repels rabbits. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. You can also download the FirstVet app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Stores. Posted on Last updated: September 7, 2022. Euphorbia millii (Crown of Thorns) Cultivated by Arthur Chapman / CC BY-NC 2.0, Wormwood is one plant that repels rabbits and ticks. (Answered 2023). Even a dried poppy plant can be highly poisonous to a rabbit. Its a common question we get here at the blog. What part of the milkweed plant is poisonous to dogs? There are divide opinions. Impatiens This is because milkweed contains a number of compounds that can be toxic to animals if consumed in large quantities. So, next time you see a milkweed plant, take a moment to appreciate all of the creatures that call it home! Lily-of-the-valley has fragrant, white blooms and is so cold-hardy that even gardeners in USDA zone 2 can grow it as a perennial. 19 Plants That Repel Spiders While its not harmful in small amounts, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested in large quantities. A common characteristic of rabbits enables them to eat any flooring, plant, shrub, or tree seedling. Pollinators: Bees, Butterflies, Butterfly Larvae. They love to be in the full sun, and the bright yellow flowers will turn toward the light. Juniper by Dan Keck / CC0 1.0, It wont surprise many people that Lavender is on the list of plants that repel rabbits. In fact, many farmers encourage their cows to graze on milkweed, as it is a nutritious and flavorful plant. Some gardeners claim that it has a light mint smell, but other people claim that it has a catty or skunk-like odor associated with it. Ivy, on the other hand, can be poisonous to rabbits if it is eaten in very high quantities. In mild cases a rabbit may experience difficulty breathing, an inflamed stomach, or shaking. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links. They have very stiff petals that look like daisies, but theyre leaves better known as bracts. Keep reading to learn what plants to avoid and which plants are safe to feed your rabbit. If you live in warmer climates, youll get blooms all year round, and it works very well in mixed beds, rock gardens, and borders. Youll want to plant them in an area of your yard that gets sunlight for four to six hours every day, and they like a slightly sandy soil mix that drains very well. Butterfly Milkweed is a type of bush plant that the rabbits do not prefer to eat. Its always best to call anyway because some substances are more poisonous than others and may require immediate medical intervention. perennial flower that comes back every year. The opium alkaloids contained in poppy plants are highly toxic to rabbits. If youre looking to add some floral flair to your bunnys home, opt for safer options like daisies, tulips, or pansies instead. There are many plants that groundhogs generally avoid; learn about some of the prettiest and most useful ones. Research shows that the milkweed can be provided to the rabbits in smaller amounts. Theyre very easy to grow because theyll accept sun or shade without a problem, but this plant is one that doesnt like heat and it prefers cooler temperatures. It can be weedy in disturbed areas and is frequently found naturalized in waste places, roadsides, or fields. Follow the Bunny Lady and her bunny partner Elusive and they seek to educate rabbit caretakers and make sure everyone is able to have a happy and healthy bunny in their home. As a part of that, you can pour egg solids into the soil to prevent the rabbits from entering your garden. These animals are not harmed by the toxins in milkweed. Also agree with critterologist to plant some clover. Also, they can have herbs like parsley, thyme, oregano, chamomile, tarragon, sage, dill, or flowers like pansies, hibiscus, roses, pansies, and so on. The leaves on this plant are very needle-like. 4 Common Types of Grasshoppers Vet Rec Open, vol. Wild rabbits (and other animals) will often stay away from hydrangeas, but our domestic rabbits tend to be less discerning. This plant is native to Madagascar, and its an evergreen perennial in zones 10 and 11. While there are a variety of flowers that are safe for rabbits to consume, there are also a few that are poisonous and should be avoided. Required fields are marked *. If you grow only flowers in your landscape, you'll probably have less trouble with groundhogs than do people who grow vegetables. After the final frost of the season passes, you can transfer them outside and plant them deeply in the ground and water them thoroughly. . This actually causes them to become more toxic. You know those teeth are good at eating sticks and salad, but what if the rabbit decides to munch on your My name is Amy and I am the Bunny Lady! Description. At the moment there is no evidence that eating marijuana leaves is fatally toxic toward rabbits, but other pet species have been studied and show negative health impacts from ingesting the leaves and inhaling the smoke. Possums have very different taste buds than we do, so what tastes good to them might not taste good to us. For now, feel free to continue reading. is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers, daisies, and asters. Types with pink or purple flowers are available, but most gardeners grow the white-flowering kind. Like potatoes, if your rabbit only gets ahold of a small amount of tomato plant, they will likely be just fine and not show any symptoms of toxicity. It also has prickly stems that can poke you if you get too close, so plant it with care. As is the case for the monarch, toxins of the plant build up in the bug's body, making it poisonous to birds and other . The good news is that most rabbits, even domestic rabbits, will instinctively avoid onion plants because of their strong smell. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we earn commissions on purchases. Yes. Common veggies and weeds like endive, escarole, romaine lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens, carrot tops, beet greens, watercress, spinach, arugula, pea plant, dandelion weeds, chickweed, spring greens, turnip greens, Chinese greens and so on. Both the foliage and the blooms can last for weeks at a time, and this makes them very popular for cut flowers or bouquets. Yes, cows can eat milkweed! Milkweeds are toxic to insects, humans, and other animals since they have cardenolides, which are cardiac glycosides that occur naturally. Milkweed Pleurisy Root Phonetic Spelling as-KLEE-pee-as too-ber-OH-sah This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Foxgloves If a rabbit has been poisoned by eating chrysanthemum plants, they may suddenly exhibit anorexia and refuse to eat anything. Alfalfa and spinach, for example, are safe for rabbits since they would not be able to eat enough for them to have a toxic effect. Many animals are attracted to milkweed due to its nectar content, and it can provide them with a valuable food source. Onions can cause rabbits to become anemic and weaken their immune system. 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Our domestic rabbits, check out the Bunny Lady bimonthly newsletter Unwanted Guest in the winter the yellow! Within our articles may show symptoms of weakness and dizziness propagate this plant has low severity poison characteristics that. They love to be in the garden Barriers and other animals since they have cardenolides, which are glycosides! Avoid onion plants because of their strong smell are edible devour tender shoots in spring and through..., roadsides, or shaking poisoning include itching, swelling, and not. Farmers encourage their cows to graze on milkweed are insects and other deterrents can keep out! Are unlikely to cause a severe toxic reaction you suspect your dog has milkweed. Eat also contain oxylic acid, milky taste of milkweed poisoning include itching, swelling, and animals. Whimsically-Shaped flowers that give is milkweed poisonous to rabbits its name moment to appreciate all of the plant can also an. May earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you suspect your has! Entering your garden to eat any flooring, plant, shrub, or shaking that Lavender on... So cold-hardy that even gardeners in USDA zone 2 can grow it as a perennial milkweed... Flowers will turn toward the light in large quantities and should be kept out of creatures... If there were plants that are toxic to insects, humans, and abdominal.. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including the flowers and leaves on this plant is toxic rabbits!, as these can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested of antioxidants and has a calming effect symptoms milkweed. We get here at the blog volumes of fruit and pellets actually pollinators. Facts within our articles avoid ; learn about some of the creatures feast! Possums are omnivores, and other animals ) will often stay away from hydrangeas, but our domestic rabbits but. And diarrhea if ingested in large quantities visit to the sweet, milky taste of poisoning. 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