What plants would be safe from the perils of ravenous rabbits?
QI have a problem with rabbits eating the plants placed around a loved one’s grave. What can I grow there that is ‘rabbit-proof’?
Major PI Laughton, Petworth, West Sussex
ASadly, there are no such things as completely rabbit-proof plants as these animals tend to be inquisitive and will try anything new on the patch. The only sure way of preventing them is protecting the plants with rabbit wire, but that is not an attractive proposition.
However, the RHS does have primroses on its list of rabbit-resistant plants, so that would definitely be something you could plant that would look pretty. There might be some damage to new growth, but once the plants are established I suspect you will hardly notice it.
They don’t list erigeron, but I have gardened in places where rabbits also live and the erigeron is so prolific I don’t think you’d have a problem.
The RHS also lists the following plants (as well as begonia, cyclamen and hellebore) as being rabbit-resistant:
■ Japanese anemone, carnations, aquilegia, Michaelmas daisy, snapdragon, forget-me-not, California poppy, foxgloves, tulips, lily of the valley, snowdrops and violets.