PLANTS WITH RESISTANCE
"Wildlife will eat any plant material if no other food is available."

Not just in New Mexico - Minnesota Master Gardeners:
"Unlike deer, which might feed in a back yard but not the front, rabbits aren't shy. Foundation plantings seemed to fare no better than garden beds away from buildings. In fact, in Mahtomedi, rabbits have been jumping up onto a deck to get at plants in containers. And what has tempted them to risk venture so close to humans?? The taste treat of choice was Hare Grass or Bunny Tails (Lagarus ovatus)."

Colorado:
Parker: Recommended List of Deer & Rabbit Resistant Plants

"The following list represents plants that deer and rabbits usually will not eat. As these animals cannot read, and don’t know any better, sometimes they just can’t resist sampling a different “flavor” from your garden. There is no guarantee that one of these plants won’t end up on the menu, but these tend to be the ones that have successfully survived, while others have become dinner."

Oregon: Deer-resistant Ornamental Plants

DON'T FENCE ME IN
From Backyard Living Magazine:

"Fences are the only certain solution for deer. Just how much fence you need depends on the hunger factor. Determined deer can jump an 8-foot tall fence without breaking a sweat. But around smaller garden areas, a 4- to 6-foot-tall fence will send deer to easier feeding grounds. Some home owners have succeeded by fencing off only the one or two sides of their property where deer enter. The most common deer fencing is tough plastic mesh that can be attached to trees or posts.

A short fence 4 feet tall will keep gophers, rabbits and most rodents out of your garden. These critters don’t climb very well, but they dig like a backhoe. The key is to start with a trench that lets you extend your fence 6 to 18 inches underground. Pressure-treated 2x4s set at least 12 inches deep make sturdy posts.

Since rodents will chew right through wood or plastic, metal mesh is the best fence material. Hardware cloth with 1/2-inch openings will keep out everything but tiny mice. Chicken wire costs half as much, but has openings that will let small gophers or baby animals through. Any tactic that keeps rabbits or gophers from nibbling may help deter squirrels, too. But you’ll need to expand your prevention methods because squirrels can climb or jump just about anywhere."

PLAT DE JOUR
"If your resident rabbits are hungry enough, they’ll eat just about anything. If possible, protect all new plants with chicken wire initially. Also, use the largest plants you can afford (ie: 5 gallons instead of 1 gallons)"

Young rabbits investigate by nibbling most plants. They soon learn which plants are tasty and which ones to leave alone. In general rabbits dislike very aromatic plants, plants that ooze caustic milky sap, prickly plants, plants with spines, or plants with tough leathery leaves.

Some plants function as "natural pest repellents," at least in terms of saving their own hides. Many of the same plants that are rabbit-resistant are also avoided by deer. In the case of some of these plants, it's easy to see why: although natural, they're poisonous (yes, to humans, too). For this reason, deer and rabbits will generally leave alone foxglove (Digitalis) and monkshood (Aconitum), for example.

In the case of other "natural pest repellents," rabbits avoid them not because they're poisonous, but because they don't smell good -- to rabbits, at least. Aromatic herbs such as lavender (Lavendula) may send humans scurrying for their potpourri supplies, but they send rabbits just plain scurrying! And if you aren't keen on spreading your cat's litter around the yard as a repellent, at least plant some catmint, or "catnip" (Nepeta) for puss. Rabbits don't like the smell of catnip. Nor will they like the smell of a garden frequented by a catnip-craving cat.

"No plant is said to be really rabbit proof."

Visit www.santafebotanicalgarden.org to learn more about how Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates and preserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of the region.