By Kristina Howley for Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs
Sharing space with wildlife is a necessity, and frequently a purpose, of a garden. Observing little animals is magical until you see them munching on your favorite flowers. Although rabbits are small, they can do a lot of damage! If you want a few plants that will remain unharmed by these tenacious chewers, get inspired by the rabbit resistant shrubs below.
1. Boxwood
Provide year round color as edging, low hedging, or in groups in the border with this little evergreen. Quite low maintenance, leave unpruned or shape as you’d like.
Known for producing abundant blooms, butterfly bushes come in a variety of sizes. You can use those with large habits at the back of the border to soften the foundation or as a specimen. Use dwarf options at the front of the border to attract pollinators and provide a lovely fragrance. Needs yearly pruning.
Fill vertical space with flowers! Clematis are well known for happily growing where space is tight at ground level, but abundant upwards. Fences, trellises, mailboxes. Maintenance depends on type.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
2-4′ tall and 2-4′ wide
USDA zones 2-7
5. Deutzia
A plant spring and fall lovers can agree upon. A flush of bell-shaped blooms greets us early in the season and the foliage flushes into autumn color toward the end of the year. They typically have low growing habits, perfect for the front of the border or planted en masse. Trim if desired.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
1-2′ tall and 1-2′ wide
USDA zones 5-8
6. Red-Twig Dogwood
Landscapes that need color and structure benefit from this strictly upright habit. It looks lovely planted in drifts and within the border to soften foundations. Doesn’t need constant maintenance, rejuvenation prune every so often.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
4-5′ tall and 6′ wide
USDA zones 2-7
7. Elderberry
These large-habit shrubs are packed with interest. Finely dissected foliage, fluffy flat flowers, and resulting berries if planted with a cross-pollinator. Best used as a specimen, showy hedge, or as a group in a large border. Quite low maintenance, leave unpruned to enjoy its whimsical habit and multiple points of interest.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
6-10′ tall and 6-10′ wide
USDA zones 4-7
8. Euonymus
A very effective groundcover. Only plant it in a spot where it can’t grow over a favored low-growing plant. Very low maintenance, cut back when necessary or desired.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
1.5-2′ tall and 1.5-2′ wide
USDA zones 5-8
9. Lilac
A classic, and yet still wildly popular, shrub, that you might be delighted to hear doesn’t interest rabbits in the least. With a range of mature sizes, you can use this plant in an array of landscape roles – dwarf habits for the middle of the border and large plants as specimens or hedges. Relatively low maintenance if planted in an area with good airflow to prevent the easy contraction of disease.
Favored for its overwhelming spring fragrance and classic white blooms. It has a useful mid-size habit, not small but not gigantic. It fills the middle of the border or acts as a manageable hedge. Quite low maintenance and doesn’t need pruning.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
4′ tall and 4′ wide
USDA zones 4-8
11. St. John’s Wort
A native, abundantly blooming shrub for the middle or front of the border. Pruning is not regularly required, but periodic rejuvenation pruning is helpful.
Tons of long, thin stems comprise this wind-responsive, upright shrub. Pea-like flowers line the branches in springtime. These shrubs are best used to fill in the middle of the border. Benefits from periodic rejuvenation pruning.
An extraordinary shrub for problematic places. Its generally low growing habit brings constant evergreen color to the middle or front of the border. Has a lightly suckering habit, so it fills in shady spots easily.
Viburnums are mainly known for fabulous flowers and the resulting berries. They generally have mid-size or large habits, which are great for filling in the border, acting as hedging, or standing out as a specimen. Quite low maintenance, leave unpruned to enjoy its multiple points of interest.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
6-12′ tall and 3-4′ wide
USDA zones 7-10
15. Weigela
This classic landscape staple has an irregular bushy habit and blooms heavily in the springtime. Habits vary in size and can be used in a variety of landscape roles, filling up the border or neatly planted at the front. Quite low maintenance and does not need pruning to flourish.
full to part sun (6+ hours of exposure and a minimum of 4 hours)
1.5-3′ tall and 2-3′ wide
USDA zones 4-8
16. Yew
A fixture in landscapes for decades, this evergreen shrub acts as a border filler or hedging. Requires very little care, but can be trimmed or shaped as desired.
If you’re wondering whether your plants are being damaged by deer or rabbits, check out this video. Of course you could replace severely damaged plants, but you could also make a plan to help current plants. You can protect them with mesh until they mature to a size that rabbits won’t bother, spray a deterrent, or plant undesirable plants in the area to dissuade them from chewing.
When spring plantings start looking tired it’s time to spruce up your landscape with fresh varieties that can handle the heat. To learn more click here for an interesting, insightful article.
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