Plants called Rabbit has ideas for a themed planting design for Chinese New Year 2023 and beyond. Indeed the plants don’t have to be for Chinese New Year, it could just be that you’re fond of rabbits. And as some of the plant suggestions need to be houseplants in the United Kingdom, you could have a themed design even if you don’t have an outside garden!
A List of Flowers and Plants called Rabbit
Well there’s actually two lists, as I’ve put the houseplants together at the end. There are also a couple of plants which can be both house plants and outdoor plants over the summer. I’ve put those in with house plants rather than with the outdoor plants and flowers. Each list is alphabetical. And to be really helpful for when you’re looking to buy the plants for yourself, each section has the plant list by common name, followed by a plant list by Botanical name.
Then we look at the plants individually, with a few tips or planting suggestions. This isn’t an overall definitive list and if you know of other plants, house plants and flowers called bunny or rabbit, I’d love to hear from you.
Outdoor Plants and Flowers called Rabbit
There are an amazing number of plants called rabbit when you start looking! Although most of these names are common or nicknames rather than an ‘official’ cultivar or varietal name.
Common name
- ‘Bunny bloom’ Larkspur
- ‘Burgundy Bunny’, Pennisetum Alopecuroides
- ‘Little Bunny’, Pennisetum Alopecuroides
- ‘Bunny Ears’ Pansy, ‘Bunny Ears’ Viola
- Bunny rabbit plant, bunny mouth Antirrhinum majus
- Bunny’s Tail Grass, Lagurus ovatus
- ‘Gold Bunny’ Rose
- Rabbit ear Iris, Water Iris, Iris laevigata
- Rabbit ears, lambs ears, Stachys byzantina
- Rabbit Foot Clover, hare’s foot clover, Trifolium arvense
- Rabbit’s ear Lavender, Lavandula stoechas, French Lavender
and not forgetting Rabbit tobacco, Lavandula angustifolia, English Lavender (and see note below)
Botanical name
- Antirrhinum majus, bunny rabbit plant, bunny mouth
- Consolida ambigua, Larkspur ‘Bunny bloom’
- Iris laevigata, Rabbit-Ear Iris, Water Iris
- Lagurus ovatus, Bunny’s tail grass
- Lavandula angustifolia, English Lavender, Rabbit tobacco
- Lavandula stoechas, French Lavender, Rabbit’s ear Lavender
- Pennisetum Alopecuroides ‘Burgundy Bunny’
- Pennisetum Alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’
- Rosa ‘Gold Bunny’
- Stachys byzantina rabbit ears, lambs ears
- Trifolium arvense, Rabbit foot Clover, hare’s foot clover
- Viola x wittrockiana ‘Bunny Ears’, ‘Bunny Ears’ Viola, ‘Bunny Ears’ Pansy
And now for the individual plants…
‘Bunny bloom’ Larkspur, Consolida ambigua
Larkspur is a reliable self-seeding garden annual with flowerheads that have the same shape as a rabbit’s head and ears. This is more noticeable in bi-colour flowers but you can still see it in the single colour blooms. You may be able to find specific Larkspur plants called ‘Pink bunny bloom’ and ‘Blue bunny bloom’, but all the flowers look like a rabbits head so its not critical.
‘Little Bunny’, Fountain grass, Pennisetum Alopecuroides
Fountain grass is so-called as the leaves spray out in the arching manner of a water fountain. The two plants called rabbit we’re looking at here are both dwarf types, suitable for containers or the front of the border. Pennisetum ‘Little Bunny’ and Pennisetum ‘Burgundy Bunny’ are not dissimilar as the latter is a sport of ‘Little Bunny’. It has lovely leaf colour, which deepens as the season progresses. These are drought tolerant plants once established.
‘Bunny Ears’ Pansy, Viola x wittrockiana
This Viola has the classic pansy face beneath unusually long ‘rabbit ear’ top petals. Always good as bedding and basket plants, Viola have scented flowers from late winter to mid spring. The flowers are edible too, add them to salads or use in cake making.
Bunny rabbit plant, Antirrhinum majus
Like me you may know this popular cottage garden plant as ‘snapdragons’, but another common name for Antirrhinum is ‘bunny rabbits’ or ‘bunny mouth’. Whichever name you call it by, that mechanism for the flower opening not only entices in the bumble bee, but closes around it, ensuring a good coating of pollen. The taller forms are suitable for cutting as flowers for the house.
Bunny’s Tail Grass, Lagurus ovatus
One of my favourite smaller ornamental grasses, Lagurus ovatus is also known as hare’s tail grass and Turk’s head grass. An annual and easily sown from seed, it makes a pretty contrast to vibrant flowers such as Zinnia and Dahlias. It’s another good plant for the cutting garden too. Sow directly into the soil from May or inside from February (and I have my seeds ready and waiting). This is probably one of the easiest of the plants called rabbit to recognise as earning its common name.
‘Gold Bunny’ Rose
A Floribunda rose, ‘Gold Bunny’ has a light scent and repeat flowers from late spring to autumn. At no more than a metre in height, it can add a splash of sunshine to small gardens whatever the summer weather! There’s also a climbing version. Both types are known as ‘gold badge ‘ in the USA.
Rabbit ear Iris, Water Iris, Iris laevigata
The purple flowered Rabbit ear Iris has blooms that look as you’d expect like the ears of a bunny. Preferring shallower water at pond edges or in bog gardens, this Japanese Iris should be hardy across mush of the UK. A variegated leaf form, with white markings can also be found. (This one is on my list for the new garden).
Rabbit ears, Lambs ears, Stachys lanata
Rabbit ears, Lambs ears, Stachys lanata, syn Stachys byzantina – a very useful evergreen ground cover plant. Texture comes from thick, soft, woolly leaves that look silver grey and almost white woolly stems. And yes, the leaves are probably the most bunny-like and lamb-like of all of our selection! Flowering stems are produced in summer and are loved by pollinating insects. One (minor) downside is that with a lot of rain the leaves quickly blacken and should be removed.
Rabbit Foot Clover, Hare’s foot clover, Trifolium arvense
Trifolium arvense is called Rabbit Foot Clover and Hare’s foot clover is a British native, found on dry grasslands and sandy soils. Pale pink flowers appear from June to September and are covered in soft hairs, giving it the look of a rabbit’s paw, hence the common name. Will grow well on light soils in coastal areas as well as inland.
Rabbit’s ear Lavender, Lavandula stoechas, French Lavender, Spanish Lavender
Rabbit’s ear Lavender, Lavandula stoechas, is sometimes called Butterfly Lavender. And the reason for the two common names lies in the tufts, or bracts that are held above the flowers. These give the effect of rabbit ears or butterfly wings, depending on the size of the tuft.
Not as hardy as English Lavender, its an idea to grow in a pot so you can put it frost free under cover for the winter if you live in cooler areas with a heavy soil. I tend to take cuttings as a safeguard.
Rabbit tobacco
When speaking of Rabbit tobacco, my thoughts turn to the Beatrix Potter tales where Peter Rabbit’s uncle smokes a pipe filled with it. And Peter’s mother –
“sold herbs, and rosemary tea, and rabbit-tobacco (which is what we call lavender).”
Beatrix Potter
This would have been Lavandula angustifolia, English Lavender. Humans could and have smoked Lavender as a nicotine-free herbal alternative, but I’m not suggesting you try it. I know I shall stick to growing Lavender and using it to make shortbread.
But there is also a North American plant which goes by the name of rabbit tobacco. This is Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, which has aromatic leaves which have been used for smoking as well as medicinal purposes in the past.
House plants called Rabbit
Some are easier than others to look after, so you may like to do a bit more research as to whether your house or flat has the right conditions.
Common name
- Bunny Ears Cactus, Opuntia microdasys *
- Bunny Succulent, Monilaria moniliforme
- Rabbit Ears, Orange bird, Hummingbird plant, Ruttya fruticosa
- Rabbit’s Foot Fern, Davallia fejeensis *
- Rabbit’s Foot, Prayer Plant, Maranta Kerchoveana *
Marked * are outside only in summer in sheltered location. Opuntia is the most likely to thrive
Botanical name
- Davallia fejeensis, Rabbit’s Foot Fern
- Maranta Kerchoveana, Prayer Plant, Rabbit’s Foot
- Monilaria moniliforme, Bunny Succulent,
- Opuntia microdasys, Bunny Ears Cactus
- Ruttya fruticosa, Rabbit Ears, Orange bird, Hummingbird plant
And onto
Opuntia microdasys bunny ears cactus
This makes an attractive houseplant with its large rabbit ear-shaped leaves. And if you have a sheltered garden, it can happily live outside over the summer months. As you would with many cacti, grow it a gritty, sandy potting compost mix. I move my cacti to a cooler spot in winter so they can have a rest period, during which time I rarely water them.
Bunny Succulent, Monilaria moniliforme
Bunny succulent – both Monilaria moniliforme and Monilaria obconica have this as their common name. I haven’t grown either myself but have seen it with its bunny ear-like leaves. Slow to grow from seed, seeds are easier to find than plants.
Maranta Kerchoveana, Rabbit’s Foot, Prayer Plant
Maranta Kerchoveana is possibly better known as the prayer plant rather than rabbit’s foot, or rabbit tracks. An easy house plant for a beginner it’s bright green leaves have splashed of darker green that can look like a paw print. It does need a fair amount of watering though so set yourself a reminder if you’re prone to forgetting this task!
Rabbit’s Foot Fern, Davallia Fejeensis
Rabbit’s Foot Fern, Davallia Fejeensis, syn Davallia tyermannii, syn Humata Tyermannii named for the furry rhizomes you can see trailing over the side of the pot. The rhizomes, which are a type of stem, grow along the soil surface. A native of Fiji, it enjoys indirect light and fairly high humidity. But if you can offer these conditions, it’s certainly an unusual house plant to grow.
Rabbit Ears, Ruttya fruticosa
I’ve included Rabbit Ears, Ruttya fruticosa, although I’m not sure how many of us will have room and heat enough for this climbing plant indoors. Also known as orange bird, hummingbird plant and jammy mouth it does have rather glorious dark orange flowers which from the front look a bit like a rabbit head and ears. From a different angle they look like a hummingbird! Ruttya fruticosa is a native of eastern Africa and has been cultivated for the sweet nectar that can be literally sucked from the flower (hence jammy mouth!)
And finally
Did you know there’s a Peter Rabbit garden? It’s part of the World of Beatrix Potter at Bowness on Windermere. Now I haven’t been, so I’m not able to give you the lowdown, but it sounds fun. The traditional varieties of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers are ones which Beatrix Potter would have known and probably grown in her own garden at Hill Top (now managed by the National Trust). This property I have visited and loved. There’s a small cottage garden and a vegetable garden which look very familiar to all of us who know her books and illustrations.
For those who like to know these things: the last Year of the Rabbit was in 2011. In Chinese culture, the sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity.
For further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.
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