[Arid_gardener] Rabbits Eating Flowers

[Carolyn Hills]

Hi Bernadeen --

The only solution I know of (short of a fence) to keep rabbits from eating
your flowers is to plant things they don't like to eat. Many herb plants
have very attractive flowers and the rabbits don't like to eat them.
Consider planting rosemary, catmint, sunflowers, thymes, vincas, pineapple
sage, Russian sage, Mexican bush sage, scented geraniums, passion flower,
California poppies, breadseed poppies, cilantro/coriander, dittany of Crete,
Jerusalem artichoke, caper, scarlet flax, evening primrose, hollyhocks,
lavenders, coreopsis, daturas, and basils. All of these herbs have beautiful
flowers, and the rabbits in my yard don't eat them!

The Arizona Herb Association maintains a large herb garden at the Maricopa
County Cooperative Extension office, 4341 E. Broadway in Phoenix. Drop by
that garden any time for a free tour. All of the plants have signs with both
common and botanical names. The Interpretive Trail at the Extension Office
also contains a large rose garden, a seasonal wildflower garden, a bulb
garden, a tropical garden, a vegetable garden, and a large collection of
desert adapted plants. All of these plants are not protected in any way from
the local rabbit community, so you can get a great idea of what plants the
rabbits don't bother.

Hope this helps.

Carolyn Hills
Master Gardener Volunteer

----- Original Message -----
From: <bwright at rossmar.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 10:49 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Bernadeen Wright
> 85283
> bwright at rossmar.com
>
> I manage a community in the Ahawatukee foothills. The landscaper is having
a very frustrating time keeping rabbits from eating flowers. He has tried
chemicals, but has been unsuccessful. What if anything can be done to
prevent rabbits from eating flowers?
>
> Thanks
>
> Bernadeen Wright
> 480-551-4226
>
>
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