Do Rabbits Eat Nasturtiums

Yes, rabbits eat nasturtiums, including their leaves and flowers, so these plants should not be considered rabbit-resistant. Garden nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are among the annuals moderately to severely damaged by rabbits, according to Iowa State University Extension. Whether you grow them for color or edible garnishes, the best approach is to identify what is eating them and protect them with a physical barrier.

Why Nasturtiums Are Not Rabbit-Resistant

A nasturtium border needs protection rather than serving as a barrier that protects neighboring plants.

Nasturtiums have a peppery flavor. Companion planting and physical protection serve different purposes.

Rabbit feeding habits also change with the local rabbit population, the availability of other food, and growing conditions. Nasturtiums left untouched in one garden, or during one season, may be eaten in another.

Rabbits often avoid strongly aromatic plants or plants with densely hairy leaves, but “less likely to be eaten” does not mean “rabbit-proof.”

How to Recognize Rabbit Damage on Nasturtiums

Missing flowers alone do not identify the culprit. Before changing your planting or buying a deterrent, look for a combination of signs:

• Neatly clipped stems: Rabbit feeding often leaves clean cuts at roughly a 45-degree angle, rather than shredded stem ends.
• Damage within reach: Browsing is usually concentrated low on the plant, sometimes reaching about 1 to 2 feet above the ground.
• Missing leaves, flowers, or entire shoots: Rabbits may remove substantial pieces rather than leaving scattered holes.
• Round droppings nearby: Pea-sized pellets around the bed support the diagnosis, although they do not prove which plant was eaten.

Slugs and snails more often leave irregular holes, sometimes with slime trails. Leaf-feeding insects can leave holes within leaves or chew their margins while leaving the shoots standing. Deer often leave rougher, torn stem ends.

If the damage is ambiguous, direct observation or a garden camera is more useful than assuming every missing flower was eaten by a rabbit.

How to Protect Nasturtiums From Rabbits

Excluding rabbits is the most effective way to prevent browsing. Choose a barrier suited to the planting setup.

Planting Situation	Suitable Protection	Detail That Matters
Nasturtiums growing throughout a bed	Fine-mesh perimeter fence	Enclose the bed completely, including its entrance
A few seedlings or individual plants	Rigid wire cages or mesh cloches	Allow room for growth without foliage pressing against the mesh
Nasturtiums in containers	A cage secured to the container or a protected enclosure	Include trailing stems, which may remain within reach

Step 1: Install the Barrier

1. Mark the area you need to protect, allowing space for spreading or trailing growth.
2. For a garden bed, install fine-mesh fencing 24 to 30 inches tall. Use closely spaced mesh rather than decorative fencing with large openings.
3. Position the barrier outside the foliage. For an individual cage, leave enough room to water and tend the plant without removing its protection.

A pot or raised bed is not automatically safe. What matters is whether a rabbit can reach the foliage, including stems hanging over an edge.

Step 2: Secure the Bottom and Entrance

1. Bury the fence mesh at least 6 inches below the soil surface to discourage rabbits from digging underneath.
2. Secure individual cages so they cannot be pushed aside. On containers, fasten the enclosure to the pot or a stable supporting frame.
3. Close gaps beneath gates and along uneven ground. Check corners, joins, and places where the mesh lifts away from the soil.

Step 3: Contain Trailing Growth and Close the Enclosure

1. Guide trailing stems back inside the protected area, using a support where needed.
2. Check that the enclosure is stable and that cut wire ends do not project into places where you will reach.
3. Make sure no rabbit is inside, then close and secure the gate or cage opening.

Scent and taste repellents are better treated as backup measures than as the main defense. Products based on garlic, capsaicin, predator odors, or putrescent eggs can give inconsistent results, and their coverage may need renewing after rain or snow.

If you harvest nasturtiums for the kitchen, use a repellent only when its label permits that use on the edible crop. A product intended for ornamental flowers is not automatically suitable for leaves or blossoms you plan to eat.

Nasturtiums and Pet Rabbits

Nasturtium leaves and flowers can be offered to pet rabbits as part of a varied diet, but they should not replace the rabbit’s main food. Grass hay should remain the foundation of the diet.

Use correctly identified nasturtium plants that have not received treatments unsuitable for rabbit consumption. Rinse the leaves and flowers, introduce unfamiliar greens gradually, and watch for changes in appetite or droppings. Avoid florist flowers and decorative arrangements whose identity or treatment history is uncertain.

Keep two separate questions in mind: whether a plant is suitable for a pet to eat, and whether you want the pet to destroy it. An edible nasturtium still needs protection if you want to keep its flowers.

Likewise, a plant described as rabbit-resistant is not necessarily safe for a pet. Some plants are avoided because they contain harmful compounds.

How to Check That Protection Is Working

Old bite marks will remain after you install a barrier. Judge success by what happens to the remaining healthy shoots and new growth.

Take a photo of the damaged plant so you can distinguish old injury from fresh browsing. Then look for:

• New leaves and shoot tips remaining intact.
• Flowers developing without being clipped off.
• No fresh rabbit droppings inside the enclosure.

If neatly clipped shoots continue to appear inside the barrier, inspect the gate, buried edge, and mesh joins for an entry point. If the shoots remain intact but holes continue appearing in the leaves, reconsider insects or slugs rather than adding more rabbit deterrent.

Keep the enclosure in place while the plants remain accessible. As nasturtiums spread, move new trailing growth into the protected area before it becomes an easy meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Any Flowers That Rabbits Won’t Eat?

No flower is guaranteed to remain untouched by rabbits. Rabbits often avoid strongly aromatic plants or plants with densely hairy leaves, but “less likely to be eaten” does not mean “rabbit-proof.” Flowers that rabbits are less likely to eat may help reduce garden damage, but they are not automatically safe foods for pet rabbits.

What Plants Do Rabbits Eat the Most?

There is no universal favorite, but nasturtiums, garden verbena, garden phlox, lettuce, and beets are vulnerable garden plants. All fall within moderately to severely damaged categories. Which plants receive the most attention in your yard depends partly on what else is available to eat.

What Flowers Are Toxic to Rabbits?

Daffodils and foxgloves are examples of flowers that are toxic to rabbits. Do not assume that a plant is safe because it grows beside edible flowers or because wild rabbits sometimes enter the bed. If a pet rabbit eats a potentially poisonous plant, contact a veterinarian promptly and keep a photo or sample for identification.

Do rabbits eat nasturtiums?

Yes, rabbits may feed on nasturtiums. Nasturtiums are listed among annuals that can receive moderate to severe rabbit damage, so protect them rather than relying on them to deter browsing.

What do rabbits typically eat in a garden?

Garden rabbits are herbivores that mainly eat grasses, herbs, and other plant material. They may also browse leafy greens, flowers, and vegetables, with their choices depending on what is available.

Do rabbits eat zinnias?

Yes, rabbits can eat zinnias. Zinnias are included among annual flowers classified as moderately to severely damaged by rabbits, so they may need protection where rabbits visit the garden.