Top 18 Rabbit-Resistant Flowering Plants

Here in North Texas, the mix of urban and suburban terrain is just enough to give us a good mix of wildlife, even within the city limits. If you’re an avid gardener, chances are you are no stranger to the imposition of opossums, snakes, and even the occasional rabbit in your yard.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 18 best flowering plants for North Texas yards, that effectively repel rabbits.

Marigolds

Marigolds are celebrated for their long blooming season, which lasts through the summer and into the fall. True to their name, marigold blossoms come in various metallic hues of brass, gold, and copper. While there are over 50 species, the most common in our region are French, American, and signet marigolds.

Magnolias

Magnolias are flowering trees that produce light pink flowers in early spring. They blossoms actually emerge before the foliage, creating a giant bouquet of color amidst otherwise bare branches. Magnolias can be propagated as large shrubs or as small trees, and they grow both as deciduous plants and evergreens, depending on the region.

Periwinkle

Periwinkle is an evergreen flowering plant comprised of 12 different species. It’s commonly known for its light bluish-purple flowers that creep along the ground, making the plant a popular ground cover for garden areas. Periwinkle thrives in a variety of climates, and typically blooms in spring and summer.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis comes in a variety of cultivars, many of which reach a height of about 2 feet with dense, bushy foliage. Their flowers resemble daisies, and they range from light yellow to deep yellow with orange centers. Coreopsis is drought-tolerant and does well in full sun.

Geraniums

Geraniums are well-loved for their large blossoms and their relative independence. These flowers are actually popular in cemeteries of all places, largely due to the fact that the require very little care in order to stay healthy. Geraniums thrive in both planters and garden beds.

Lavender

Lavender is part of the mint family, boasting flavorful leaves that are good for tea, and those famous fragrant purple flowers. It’s actually a woody plant with sturdy stems that are often cut back each year to propagate further growth. Lavender grows as an evergreen in some climates, and typically blooms in the late spring.

Yarrow

Yarrow is a perennial plant that comes in a variety of colors. Its tiny clusters of flowers attract butterflies and other pollenators to your garden, yet it’s also known to be pest-resistant. Yarrow is a robust grower that often needs to be kept in enclosed spaces so it doesn’t take over adjacent plant life.

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are celebrated for their unique blossoms that can be squeezed at the tip to open, like a dragon’s mouth. There, you’ll find markings that resemble teeth and a forked tongue! They come in a vast array of colors, typically blooming in cooler weather, and tend to attract friendly bumblebees.

Hawthorn

Hawthorns are actually flowering trees that grow up to 35 feet in height. A relative to both roses and apples, they bear fragrant blossoms with small berries that attract a variety of birds. The flowers bloom in clusters, with leaves that turn from deep green to red and orange as the seasons change.

Juniper

Junipers are evergreen plants that can be cultivated either as trees or shrubs. They are well known for their fragrant berries, used to spice food and add a pleasant scent to candles and bath products. Junipers are coniferous, belonging to the cypress family, and they typically bloom in autumn.

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is a hardy flowering plant that spreads easily. While not considered invasive, its low, creeping stolons make for a beautiful ground cover. Sweet alyssum is really popular in Texas due to its hardiness, variety, and extensive blooming pattern.

Holly

Hollies are actually a fairly large variety of plants, which means you can choose a type whose growth pattern and shade tolerance are well-suited for your landscape. While they prefer acidic soil, they’re hardy enough to thrive in our clay-rich North Texas soil with adequate fertilizer. Most varieties produce deep green leaves with the famous non-edible red berries.

Daffodils

Daffodils are classed as flowering bulbs, and they actually include over 50 different species. As with many bulb plants, they will continue to bloom year after year, almost indefinitely. This makes them a fantastic addition to established homes where a permanent garden has been cultivated.

Wax Begonias

Wax begonias are making a return in popularity, due to their hardiness and rich color. Happy both in warm and cool climates, begonias create green or reddish-bronze foliage and produce white, pink, or red flowers. They are both deer- and rabbit-resistant, and grow up to 18 inches high.

Irises

Irises are a bulb flower, meaning that they will continue to rebloom in your garden year after year. They are well-loved for their dense foliage and robust blossoms of purple, blue, and yellow. Irises do well in full sun and need very little water in order to thrive.

Columbine

Columbine is classed as a perennial, known for its drought resistance and clover-like foliage. The flowers come in several colors and resemble a bonnet, giving the plant its nickname- “granny’s bonnet.” Because they adapt easily to dry climates, they do really well in rock gardens.

Lantana

Lantanas resemble vines due to their growth pattern, which makes them popular as hanging plants, However, they are considered evergreen shrubs. They give off a lightly pungent citrus aroma, and their small bunches of flowers come in a broad variety of colors.

Salvia/Sage

Salvia is better known as sage, the popular culinary herb. Scarlet sage is the most popular variety, prized for its dark red foliage. Salvia is a flowering plant in the mint family that does well in a variety of climates.