Wild rabbits may be cute, but they are notorious for raiding gardens. If you’re sick of the local wildlife damaging your yard, you may want to consider planting a new set of flowers that they won’t be attracted to. Plant any of the bunny-resistant gardening options below.

Gardening Guide to Rabbit-Resistant Plants

1. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum, or Lobularia maritima, has colorful clusters of small white, lavender, pink, or violet flowers. It thrives between full sun and partial shade. It’s is a terrific gardening option for beginners since the plant is tough; it can tolerate heat and drought conditions. Its dense carpet will bloom year-round in warm climates or during spring and summer in cooler climates.

2. Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bushes earn their name because they’ll attract butterflies to your garden. This woody plant dies back to the ground, then sends out new shoots each spring. Throughout the summer, the bush has colorful honey-scented flower panicles, which are bunches of branches and flowers clustered around each other. It thrives in full sun.

3. Snapdragons

Snapdragons, or antirrhinum, have a bitter taste that deters rabbits and deer. They do well in full sun and rich soil. They are frost-tolerant and bloom throughout cool weather. These bright flowers come in every hue, and start their bloom at the bottom of the stock and work their way up.

4. Pot Marigold

English marigolds, or calendula officinalis, are bright orange and yellow in color. They start their bloom in early summer until the first frost of the year. This flower has a strong smell and bitter taste that rabbits don’t like. This annual flower is good for containers or garden beds.

John Relles at The Gardener will help you design a rabbit-resistant landscape in Columbia, MO. He offers a full range of gardening services including adding retaining walls, water features, and fences that can keep wildlife out of your yard. Contact them online or at (573) 446-0802 to schedule a free, no-obligation landscaping analysis.