Do Rabbits Eat Zinnias

If you’ve found your vibrant zinnias looking more like a salad bar than a flower bed, you’re likely asking a very specific question: do rabbits eat zinnias? The short, unfortunate answer is yes, rabbits absolutely do eat zinnias. These cheerful blooms are often on the menu for our furry, hopped neighbors, who see them as a tender and tasty treat. Let’s look at why rabbits target these plants and, most importantly, how you can protect your garden’s color.

Rabbits are opportunistic feeders. In the wild and in our gardens, they eat a wide variety of plants to get the nutrients they need. Young, tender growth is especially appealing, and zinnia seedlings, fresh stems, and new leaves fit the bill perfectly. While not every rabbit will devour every zinnia variety with equal gusto, no zinnia is completely safe. The risk is highest in early spring when other food sources are scarce, but summer and fall blooms aren’t immune either.

Why Rabbits Target Your Zinnias

Understanding a rabbit’s motivation is the first step to stopping them. It’s not personal—it’s about survival and convenience.

Tenderness: Zinnia stems and young leaves are soft and easy to chew, unlike tougher, woody plants.
Water Content: They provide moisture, which is helpful for rabbits, especially in drier periods.
Accessibility: Zinnias are often planted in open, sunny beds that are easy for rabbits to access and quick to retreat from.
Lack of Strong Deterrents: Most zinnias lack the strong scents, fuzzy leaves, or bitter sap that naturally repels rabbits from some other plants.

Signs Rabbits Are Eating Your Zinnias

Before you can fix the problem, you need to confirm the culprit. Deer, groundhogs, and insects can also cause damage, but rabbit evidence is distinctive.

Clean-Cut Damage: Rabbits have sharp incisors that leave a neat, angled cut on stems, almost like they were snipped with shears. Deer, in contrast, tear plants, leaving ragged edges.
Low-Level Feeding: Damage typically occurs within the first two to three feet of the ground. They rarely reach higher.
Pellet Droppings: Look for small, round, pea-sized droppings scattered near the damaged plants.
Footprints: In soft soil, you might see the distinctive track of four toes on the front feet and five on the larger hind feet.

Immediate Actions to Save Your Plants

If you see active damage, don’t panic. You can take steps right now to halt the feasting and give your zinnias a chance to recover.

Apply a Repellent Spray: Choose a commercial or homemade repellent with ingredients like garlic, eggs, or capsaicin (hot pepper). Spray it directly on the leaves and stems, and reapply after rain.
Create a Physical Barrier: Temporarily surround individual plants or beds with chicken wire or hardware cloth. It doesn’t have to be pretty—just effective for a few days.
Add Distracting Planting: If you have clover or lettuce elsewhere, letting it grow might distract rabbits from your prized flowers.

Long-Term Strategies for a Rabbit-Resistant Garden

To protect your garden season after season, you’ll need a more permanent plan. A combination of methods always works best.

Fencing: The Most Effective Solution

A proper fence is the only guaranteed way to keep rabbits out. Because they can burrow and squeeze through small gaps, specifics matter.

Material: Use 1-inch or smaller mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth.
Height: At least 2 feet tall is recommended, as rabbits aren’t great climbers.
Depth: Bury the bottom edge 3-6 inches underground, or bend the bottom outward (like an L-shape) and secure it to the ground to prevent digging.
Support: Use sturdy stakes to hold the fencing taut.

Choosing Less-Palatable Plants

While hungry rabbits will eat almost anything, they tend to avoid certain types of plants. Interplanting these with your zinnias can offer some protection.

Strong-Scented Herbs: Lavender, sage, oregano, and mint.
Plants with Fuzzy Leaves: Lamb’s ear or dusty miller.
Plants with Thick/Milky Sap: Milkweed or poppies.
Ornamental Grasses: Their sharp edges are unappealing.

Remember, this is a deterrent, not a forcefield. A desperate rabbit may still sample these, but they’re less likely to be a first choice.

Natural and Homemade Repellents

Repellents work by taste or smell, creating an unpleasant experience for the rabbit. You must rotate them, as rabbits can become accustomed to a single type.

Hot Pepper Spray: Steep 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper in a quart of hot water. Add a few drops of dish soap to help it stick, let it cool, and spray.
Garlic and Onion Spray: Blend a few cloves and bulbs with water, strain, and spray the mixture on plants.
Predator Scents: Commercially available granules or sprays that mimic fox or coyote urine can create a fear response. Reapply frequently.

Encouraging Natural Rabbit Predators

Creating a balanced ecosystem in your yard can provide passive control. This method requires a tolerant view of other wildlife.

Allow a resident hawk or owl to perch by not trimming every tall tree.
Leave a brush pile in a corner to attract fox or snakes, which prey on rabbits.
If you have an outdoor cat, its mere presence can deter rabbits from settling in.

What to Do With Severely Damaged Zinnias

If your zinnias have been heavily nibbled, they may still recover. They are relatively resilient annuals.

Assess the Crown: If the main stem is completely severed at the base, the plant is likely a loss. If some stem and leaves remain, there’s hope.
Clean Cut: Use clean pruners to trim any ragged ends of partially eaten stems back to a leaf node.
Water and Feed: Give the plant a good drink and a light dose of balanced fertilizer to encourage new growth.
Protect Immediately: As the plant tries to regrow its tender new shoots will be especially tempting, so apply your chosen protection method right away.

Rabbit-Resistant Zinnia Varieties to Consider

While no zinnia is rabbit-proof, some gardeners report that varieties with certain traits suffer less damage. It’s worth experimenting with these.

Taller Varieties: Giants like ‘Benary’s Giant’ or ‘State Fair’ grow quickly out of the easiest reach.
Varieties with Denser Petals: Some think double-flowered or cactus-flowered types are slightly less appealing, perhaps due to texture.
Focus on Prevention Anyway: Even with these varieties, always start with protective measures—don’t rely on the plant’s genetics alone.

Common Mistakes in Rabbit Control

Even well-intentioned gardeners can make errors that reduce there effectiveness of their efforts.

Using Fencing with Too-Large Mesh: Baby rabbits can squeeze through openings larger than 1 inch.
Not Reapplying Repellents: Rain, sun, and time degrade sprays. A weekly schedule is a good starting point.
Leaving Gaps in Barriers: A fence is useless if a gate is left open or if there’s a gap under a deck they can use.
Starting Too Late: Implement protections as soon as you plant seedlings, not after you see damage.

FAQ: Your Rabbit and Zinnia Questions Answered

Do wild rabbits and pet rabbits eat the same plants?

Generally, yes. Their dietary preferences are instinctual. However, a pet rabbit’s diet is controlled, while a wild rabbit will eat whatever is available and safe, which often includes your garden.

Will rabbits eat zinnias if other food is available?

They might, but they are less likely to. Rabbits prefer the path of least resistance. If lush clover or grass is abundant in an open field, they may leave your fenced or protected garden alone.

Are there any flowers rabbits never eat?

No plant is 100% safe from a starving rabbit, but they consistently avoid plants like marigolds, snapdragons, alyssum, and catmint due to their strong scents or textures.

Do coffee grounds repel rabbits?

This is a common garden myth. While coffee grounds might have a slight effect due to smell, it’s not reliable or strong enough for consistent protection. It’s better to use proven methods.

Will a scarecrow or pinwheels keep rabbits away?

Rabbits are very smart and will quickly realize that a stationary scarecrow poses no threat. Moving pinwheels or reflective tape might startle them for a day or two, but they soon habituate. These are short-term solutions at best.

Is it harmful to rabbits if they eat zinnias treated with repellent?

Most commercial and homemade taste-based repellents are designed to be unpleasant but not harmful. They cause a temporary burning sensation or bad taste. Always follow the product label instructions carefully to ensure safety for wildlife, pets, and plants.

Creating a Peaceful Coexistence

The goal isn’t necessarily to eradicate rabbits from your entire property—that’s often impossible. The goal is to protect your specific investment: your zinnia garden. By understanding their behavior and implementing a layered defense, you can enjoy both the sight of colorful blooms and the occasional glimpse of wildlife at a respectful distance. Consistency is your greatest tool. Start early, be thorough, and don’t give up after one method seems to fail. Your beautiful, blooming zinnias are worth the effort.