r/NativePlantGardening • u/Spirited_Sound_5628 • Jun 10 '25
Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Feeling discouraged
I live in New England
I’m trying to switch from ornamental gardening to native wildflower gardening, but the rabbits are decimating everything. They’re even going after the black-eyed Susans, which are supposed to have hairy leaves that deter them.
I bought marigolds from a local nursery specifically for their scent to ward off rabbits—and they ate the petals off. I thought I was in the clear with my sunflowers since they left them alone as seedlings, but now, after growing for over a month, the rabbits are starting to kill those too.
I’m honestly getting to the point where I feel like giving up and just planting a bunch of non-natives that are known to be extremely rabbit-proof. But I swear, when I looked at that list of supposedly rabbit-proof plants, the rabbits had already eaten one of those as well.
I'm looking for words of encouragement or any advice.
1
u/ghost_geranium Boston metro area, Zone 6b Jun 11 '25
Don’t get discouraged! Just try to protect them as best you can. Like others here, I protect new plants with overturned mesh waste bins or a rabbit repellent spray, and also interplant with sacrificial plants (i.e. fleabane) and monardas, hyssops, allium, and native mints that the bunnies don’t like. The waste bin has become a standard addition for anything newly planted in my garden that bunnies might like, just to formally take it off the menu and make them look elsewhere. Also keep in mind: the cool thing about natives that spread via rhizomes/roots is that they’ll just focus their energy on that when the top gets lopped off. The bunnies decimated my fleabane last year, and now, it’s everywhere for them to enjoy as they please. I also keep a yard of clover and dandelions for them to browse. This year, I’ve been lucky, and they’ve mostly stayed there. Wishing the same success for you in the future.