“Where did all my flowers go?!”

I’ve asked myself this question more than once, and usually, the answer can be summed up with one word -> rabbits!

These creatures are adorable but voracious, and some of their favorite foods are the flowers we work so hard on in our gardens. If you want to plant flowers that rabbits don’t love eating, keep reading!

21 rabbit-resistant plants You can Grow In Idaho:

Please keep in mind that it’s possible that rabbits will much on these plants to try them. But, in our experience, they don’t go crazy with the plants listed below.

#1. Allium

Allium spp.

If you’re a plant enthusiast or gardener, you may be familiar with Alliums. They’re a genus of plants that include tasty vegetables like onions, chives, garlic, leeks, chives, and shallots.

While we humans enjoy the intense flavors these plants bring to our meals, most rabbits find them unpalatable and leave them alone. For that reason, they are one of the most popular rabbit-resistant plants in Idaho! Alliums may be best known for their flavors, but various ornamental cultivars are also available.

Ornamental alliums have tall stalks with large globe-shaped blooms.

While these ornamental cultivars won’t help in the kitchen, they make a statement in the garden! Like their culinary counterparts, ornamental alliums are generally safe from hungry rabbits. You can find them in shades of purple, green, and white.

#2. Catmint

Nepeta cataria

This plant is rabbit-resistant in two ways.

First, rabbits (and deer) are put off by its fragrance, which is spicy and minty. Second, cats are attracted to it, so rabbits will avoid the area if a feline is lurking around!

You may be more familiar with this fragrant plant’s other name, catnip. It’s estimated that about 2/3 of all cats are attracted to it. Many of the other plants in the mint family are rabbit-resistant, too. If this one isn’t for you, try planting lemon balm, peppermint, oregano, or thyme.

In addition to its pleasant aroma, Catmint is also beautiful! Butterflies will find it particularly attractive. It’s a short-lived perennial that produces spikes of fragrant pink or white flowers featuring tiny purple spots.

You can also use catmint in herbal tea. Herbalists attribute the plant with mild relaxing and sedative properties.

#3. Daffodil

Narcissus spp.

Not many people know that these iconic spring flowers are rabbit-resistant! Daffodils are beautiful to look at, but they contain a bitter, toxic substance called Lycorine that renders them inedible to rabbits, deer, and rodents.

Orchardists sometimes plant them around fruit trees to deter rodents from damaging the trees’ roots.

Thankfully, these cute flowers are beginner gardener-friendly. They’re easily planted by the bulb in the fall. Mix them into other beds or create mass plantings for a bigger impact.

If you like daffodils, you’ll have many to choose from. There are 36 species of daffodils and over 26,000 cultivated varieties! Some cultivars will even spread naturally, giving you more garden for less effort.

#4. Salvia

Salvia spp.

Salvias are lovely perennials that bloom from summer to fall.

They are rabbit-resistant, and their pungent odor is believed to help deter garden pests. While deer, rabbits, and other grazers tend to avoid salvia, pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies adore their tubular flowers.

You may also hear salvia called sage. One salvia species is the common sage (Salvia officinalis), which can be grown for culinary use. Other species tend to be primarily ornamental.

The flowers grow from the end of the plant in groups of densely packed spikes. You can find salvia in various colors, including red, white, purple, pink, and blue. The seeds they form after flowering also make an excellent snack for songbirds.

Salvia thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s a budget-friendly choice because it may self-seed, and you can divide older salvia plants to increase your plantings.

#5. Milkweed

Asclepias spp.

Milkweeds generally aren’t a favorite for grazing animals like rabbits and deer, but they are a critical plant for certain species like Monarch Butterflies.

Monarch caterpillars feed on the plant’s leaves, while adult butterflies feed on the nectar.

While we usually spot these plants growing in the wild, we can help support Monarchs and other pollinators by adding them to our flower gardens or fields. There are many milkweed species to choose from, and these easy-to-grow perennials are virtually maintenance-free once established.

You may think milkweed flowers aren’t that exciting, but you’d be wrong! Depending on the species, they may have dusty pink, blue, orange, purple, reddish, or green blooms.

You can grow milkweed by sowing seed in the fall or early spring. Their exact needs depend on the species. Some, like Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), prefer dry, sandy conditions, while others, like Fewflower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata), prefer seasonally wet soils.

#6. Larkspurs

Delphinium spp.

Larkspurs are an easy choice for anyone who struggles with deer, rabbits, and other garden visitors. These rabbit-resistant flowers contain alkaloids that render them toxic to wildlife, livestock, and humans alike. However, pollinators aren’t bothered by these compounds.

Larkspur’s name comes from its oddly shaped flowers. Their long, claw-like blooms resemble the talons of a meadowlark in shades of blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, or white.

Larkspurs thrive in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. They make stunning cut-flower arrangements or tall, vibrant backdrops for flower beds.

#7. Ferns

Rabbit-resistant ferns may seem dull, but these lush beauties have a lot going for them.

Ferns grow well in the shade, require almost no maintenance, and last many years. They’re a wonderful way to add texture to the garden and bring a rich, jungle-like feel.

Some species, like the Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), are evergreen. Others, like lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), are deciduous and drop their leaves in the fall.

Ferns are easy to grow. As they mature, you can divide them and create borders for pathways and beds. Just remember they don’t like full sun, so choose an area with plenty of shade.

#8. Ornamental Grasses

There’s a rabbit-resistant ornamental grass to fit every gardener’s needs.

From tall and airy to low and mounding, ornamental grass cultivars are a perfect way to add texture and interest to any space without struggling with rabbits or deer.

Taller varieties make excellent backdrops and privacy screens, while smaller varieties can be used to add texture to flower beds and container gardeners.

You can also add a pop of color with cultivars! Look for varieties like Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Purpureum’), which retains a deep shade of burgundy all season, or the prairie native Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), which turns shades of orange, red, and purple in the fall.

#9. Wild Ginger

Asarum spp.

“Wild Ginger” is a blanket name for 60-70 woodland perennials in the Asarum genus. These beautiful, rabbit-resistant plants make excellent ground covers in shady areas in Idaho.

These interesting little flowers are usually pollinated when ants and other small insects crawl into them.

The pendulous flowers often go unnoticed because they hang down under the plant. Depending on the species, wild ginger may have heart-shaped, triangular, or rounded leaves. Some species are entirely green, while others have silver patterns. In mild climates, they’re often evergreen.

While they have an aroma similar to the familiar culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale), you can’t eat wild ginger. It contains toxic compounds and is only for ornamental use.

Wild ginger is easy to grow from seed or rhizome divisions. It does best in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.

#10. Sedum

Sedum spp. and Hylotelephium spp.

There are few rabbit-resistant plants as easy to grow in Idaho as sedum.

The group of plants generally called sedums or stonecrops by gardeners actually encompasses two plant genera. They’re all perennials with fleshy stems and succulent leaves that grow in similar conditions.

The Sedum genus includes low-growing succulents that creep along the ground. These sedums are ideal for rock gardens, stone walls, and ground cover along pathways.

Plants from the Hylotelephium genus grow in taller, upright clumps, but gardeners still refer to these plants as sedum. They produce large flowerheads with crowded masses of tiny reddish-pink flowers.

Both types of sedum thrive in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, especially in warm climates. They enjoy well-drained soil and will thrive even in poor, sandy conditions.

#11. Tomatoes

Solanum lycopersicum

Rabbits aren’t fussy eaters and enjoy most common vegetable plants. However, there is one rabbit-resistant crop for your vegetable patch: tomatoes.

Tomatoes are ideal crops for beginner and experienced gardeners.

They’re easy to grow from seed or transplants.

There are many tomato cultivars available to suit everyone’s tastes and growing space. For snacking and salads, try small cherry or grape tomatoes. Alternatively, you can plant big beefsteaks for the ultimate sandwich. Plum or Roma tomatoes are ideal for making your favorite sauce, salsa, and soup recipes.

Tomatoes thrive in well-drained, moist, fertile soil in full sun. You can grow these veggies in your garden, containers, or greenhouses.

#12. Columbine

Aquilegia spp.

Columbine is known for its delicate appearance and drought tolerance, but it deserves recognition for being incredibly rabbit-resistant.

It has attractive clover-like leaves and unique flowers with talon-like petals, which give the plant its Latin name, which comes from the word “aquila,” meaning eagle.

You can find Columbines with white, cream, yellow, red, purplish, or blue flowers.

There are many species of columbine native to Idaho. 🙂

Growing native columbine species helps support pollinator species like hummingbirds, bees, and hawk moths. Some columbine species are specially adapted to specific pollinators. For example, hawk moths will always visit Sierra Columbine (Aquilegia pubescens) when given the option.

Columbine is generally easy to grow and has low maintenance. It’s a hardy perennial with the tendency to self-seed. It does best in well-drained, fertile soil and enjoys full sun in cool climates and dappled shade in hot climates.

#13. Verbena

Verbena spp.

Verbenas are cheerful, long-blooming, rabbit-resistant plants in Idaho.

You can use verbena in mass plantings, butterfly gardens, hanging baskets, or borders.

Verbenas’ citrusy fragrance and small, rough leaves protect them from browsers like rabbits and deer. They produce abundant open clusters of white, pink, purple, red, or blue flowers.

These flowers are great for butterfly gardens and support species like pipevine swallowtails, hummingbird hawk-moths, and chocolate albatrosses.

In most areas, they’re grown as annuals, but they’re well worth the effort. These low-maintenance flowers are drought tolerant and do well in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, average soil.

#14. Foxgloves

Digitalis spp.

Foxgloves have a unique, alluring beauty, but beware, all parts of foxglove plants are toxic to rabbits, deer, and other mammals, including humans.

Foxglove’s toxicity contributed to its reputation for being associated with faeries and witches.

Some believe their name comes from “folk’s glove,” as faeries were sometimes called “the folk.” However, in Norwegian folklore, faeries taught foxes to ring the “bells” or flowers of foxglove to warn others of hunters.

Historically, herbalists and doctors have also used the plant for more benign purposes. Foxglove was one of the first known heart stimulants for treating edema.

In the wild, foxgloves are typically found growing in the forest. In your garden, they will prefer habitats that mimic their natural conditions. They’re ideal for beds that receive dappled shade and thrive in moist loam.

#15. Peony

Paeonia spp.

These long-lived perennials are both stunning and rabbit-resistant. They produce large, fragrant blooms year after year.

Peonies may last for generations; some plants have been known to live for over a century!

They vary widely in size, shape, color, and fragrance, so you’ll have plenty to choose from. The plants are generally bushy or shrub-like with glossy green leaves.

Peonies make excellent borders, garden features, or additions to cut flower gardens. Unlike many flowers, peonies are best planted in the fall. You can grow peonies from seeds or by purchasing roots. The roots generally allow you to get flowers faster.

They generally do best in full sun, though partial shade can be helpful in the deep south. They thrive in neutral, well-drained, fertile soil.

#16. Monkshood

Aconitum spp.

Monkshood is a tall, herbaceous, rabbit-resistant perennial.

Its deeply lobed foliage and yellow, blue, purple, white, and pink flowers offer a lot to love.

Monkshood is also known by a host of other names. It’s sometimes called wolfsbane, leopard’s bane, aconite, devil’s helmet, or blue rocket. Some etymologists believe that the names wolfsbane and leopard’s bane indicate that the Greeks used the plant’s juice to poison arrows and bait.

Today, we can appreciate the plant for its beauty. Monkshood does best in moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil. It will grow in full sun or partial shade.

#17. Geraniums

Geranium spp.

Geraniums are a rabbit-resistant garden classic.

There are many species in the Geranium genus. However, most gardeners opt for low-growing hardy or cranesbill geraniums, which are hardy perennial flowers.

Their creeping, carpet-like growth pattern makes them a great choice for rock gardens and ground covers in perennial beds. Depending on the species, you can enjoy geranium blooms in various colors, including pink, purple, blue, and white. They may bloom in spring, summer, or fall.

Geraniums generally do best in moist, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. For the best flowering, plant your geraniums in full sun. Generally, it is best to purchase potted geraniums from a nursery or get a division from a friend. Plants grown from seed may take several years to flower.

#18. Ornamental Evergreens

Add texture and height to your garden year-round with rabbit-resistant evergreen plants.

Depending on your taste and space, there are many evergreen species to choose from. Popular options include juniper, cypress, arbovitae, cedar, spruce, fir, holly, boxwood, and yew.

While rabbits usually ignore these evergreens, they will help draw some wildlife to your garden. Songbirds often enjoy perching and nesting in the sheltered spaces these evergreens provide.

Dwarf varieties of many of your favorite evergreens are available for small spaces. You can also prune many ornamental evergreens to fit your space and style. Some, like the Hinoki Cypress, make excellent topiaries. Alternatively, look for weeping varieties like Green Arrow Weeping Alaska Cedar, whose draping branches add beauty and whimsy to even small spaces.

Ornamental evergreens thrive in a wide range of growing conditions. Research the ideal species for your garden depending on what soil, light, and moisture you can provide.

#19. Goldenrod

Solidago spp.

Adorn your garden with the bright yellow spikes of this rabbit-resistant plant.

Goldenrod is a cheerful, native plant and an excellent choice for pollinator plants and wildlife habitats.

Goldenrod is perennial, so you’ll only need to plant it once. It thrives in sunny areas and will tolerate average or even poor soil.

You can grow goldenrod from divisions or seeds. When growing from seed, goldenrod must go through a 60-day cold period to germinate, so it’s best to sow it in the fall.

#20. Rhododendron

Rhododendron spp.

Rhododendrons’ deep, glossy green leaves and showy blooms make them an excellent plant for adding color to a shady area. It’s easy to find a rhododendron to suit your taste, too.

There are over 1,000 species of this rabbit-resistant plant.

Rhododendrons may be deciduous or evergreen with large or small leaves. Some have fragrant flowers, while others do not. The flowers may be tube, bell, or funnel-shaped and come in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, purple, or white.

While there is an incredible range of rhododendrons, most enjoy a few key features. Plant your rhododendron somewhere with acidic, moist soil and dappled shade.

#21. Peppers

Capsicum spp.

Peppers are a good rabbit-resistant plant for vegetable gardeners in Idaho.

They’re generally easy to grow, especially in warm climates. You can grow sweet peppers, hot peppers, or spice peppers for drying and making seasoning.

They’re good for you, too. One ripe bell pepper has about twice the vitamin C as an orange!

Pepper plants can be found in the spring at your local garden center or you can start your own indoors from seed. After the danger of frost has passed, plant your peppers in a sunny location with moist, fertile soil.

Learn more about other plants in Idaho:

What questions do you have about rabbit-resistant plants in Idaho?

What’s your favorite one? Leave a comment below!