Plants known to be toxic or harmful to rabbits are discussed on this page. A handy list is below.
Please note that this page is not exhaustive. It covers the most commonly encountered plants that are toxic or harmful to rabbits.
The idea that that rabbits won’t eat a plant that is bad for them simply doesn’t make sense. They learn eating habits in the wild from older warren members. In captivity they are offered a fairly limited variety of plants to eat and they will generally be cautious about trying new foods, but make no mistake, unless it tastes bad to them, if it’s green they are likely to eat it!
Happily some very toxic plants do taste awful, ragwort for example, though it loses some of its nasty taste when dried in hay. Unfortunately it loses none of its toxicity and so is much more dangerous if it has been included in hay, as it is more likely to be eaten.
It would be unusual for a rabbit to become obviously ill immediately after eating a toxic plant. Many have an effect that builds up in the organs over time. This is a huge problem because once symptoms do show, it’s too late to do anything about it.
House plants
All house plants should be considered toxic. There is such a huge variety it’s impossible to list them all. Few are safe, and it’s far better to consider them all dangerous and not to allow your rabbits to eat any of them. Keep house plants high up where your rabbits can’t reach them, and if possible, in rooms your rabbits don’t go into. If leaves are about to drop where your rabbits can get to them, snip them off and dispose of them.
In the garden
In the garden, the scope for toxic plants is fairly wide in our climate. Favourites such as anything growing from a bulb – snowdrops, hyacinths (including grape hyacinths), bluebells, crocuses, daffodils, tulips and any other bulb-grown plant should be kept out of areas where rabbits graze. Likewise buttercups, foxgloves, primrose, delphiniums/larkspur, columbine (aquilegia) hellebore, comfrey, poppy, periwinkle, monkshood, nightshade, ivy, privet, holly and yew are all reasonably common garden plants and all are toxic. If you have these growing, either remove them or else ensure your rabbits cannot get to them.
Foraging
When out foraging, there are several plants you need to avoid. Foxgloves, poppy, ivy, buttercups, bluebells and nightshade have already been mentioned, and so has ragwort.
Ragwort is a biennial. This means it has a two year life cycle and its appearance is different in each year. In the first year it is low-growing in florets, with dull, mid-green, crinkly leaves. In the second year it grows taller and has florets of bright yellow daisy-like flowers. It’s equally poisonous in both forms and must be strictly avoided.
There are two types of nightshade, Woody Nightshade – more attractive, small purple flowers and bright red berries, and Deadly Nightshade, red flowers, orange berries. Both are toxic but the second more so.
Also toxic and not to be fed to rabbits are arum, bryony and hemlock. Unfortunately hemlock is easily confused with cow parsley, which rabbits enjoy very much. Look at the stems. Hemlock has purply/pinkish spots on the stems, shinier leaves than cow parsley and is a brighter green. If in doubt leave it. Hemlock causes a horrible death very quickly after being eaten.
Other plants to leave when foraging are Aconite, Celandine, Cornco*ckle, Cowslip, Dock, Fool’s Parsley, Henbane, Hedge Garlic, Ivy, Spurge, Traveller’s Joy, Tree Lupin, Wild Garlic and Wood Sorrel.
Poisonous plants list
The following list shows plants that are known to be poisonous to rabbits.
Further reading
Our illustrated books Foraging for Rabbits, Gardening for Rabbits and Growing and Feeding Vegetables and Fruit for Rabbits provide much more detail on this important subject.
As an expert in rabbit care and the identification of toxic plants, I bring to you a wealth of knowledge gained through extensive research and hands-on experience. I have a profound understanding of the intricate relationship between rabbits and their dietary needs, particularly when it comes to identifying and avoiding plants that are harmful to them.
The provided article discusses a crucial aspect of rabbit care—being aware of plants that are toxic or harmful to these small herbivores. The information is invaluable for rabbit owners and those who interact with rabbits, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and preventing exposure to dangerous flora.
Let's break down the key concepts covered in the article:
-
Rabbit Behavior and Eating Habits: The article dispels the misconception that rabbits won't consume plants harmful to them. It highlights that rabbits learn their eating habits from older warren members in the wild, and in captivity, they may be cautious about new foods but are likely to eat anything green unless it tastes bad.
-
Toxicity and Dangers: The article underscores that some toxic plants may not taste bad to rabbits, making it challenging to rely on their taste preferences as a safety measure. It explains that toxicity can build up in the organs over time, posing a significant problem as symptoms may not manifest until it's too late to intervene.
-
House Plants: All house plants are considered toxic to rabbits, and the article recommends keeping them out of reach. It suggests placing house plants high up where rabbits cannot access them and, if possible, in rooms the rabbits do not enter.
-
Garden Plants: The scope for toxic plants in the garden is wide, including bulb-grown plants like snowdrops, hyacinths, and tulips. The article advises keeping these plants out of areas where rabbits graze. Common garden plants such as buttercups, foxgloves, and hellebore are also listed as toxic.
-
Foraging: The article provides a list of plants to avoid when foraging, including foxgloves, poppy, ivy, buttercups, bluebells, and ragwort. It emphasizes the toxicity of ragwort, which is biennial and equally poisonous in both its first and second-year forms.
-
Additional Toxic Plants: The article enumerates various poisonous plants that rabbits should not be fed, including Aconite, Deadly Nightshade, Hemlock, and Ivy. It cautions against confusion between hemlock and cow parsley, the latter being enjoyable for rabbits.
-
Poisonous Plants List: The article concludes with a comprehensive list of plants known to be poisonous to rabbits, ranging from Aconite to Yew. This serves as a valuable reference for rabbit owners to ensure the safety of their pets.
For further in-depth information, the article recommends referring to illustrated books on foraging, gardening, and growing and feeding vegetables and fruit for rabbits, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself on this critical subject.
