Outside Plants That Are Good for Indoor Rabbits to Eat

Indoor rabbits, or house rabbits, will nibble on just about any plant, not to mention extension cords and carpet. That's why you need to make sure you do not have any poisonous plants within their reach. This will apply to many houseplants. An easy rule of thumb is, if the plant is not edible for humans, then assume it's not edible for rabbits. Exceptions, though, will occur. For instance, rabbits can digest grass and bark while we cannot, and though we can eat rhubarb, rabbits should not. Certainly, there are many outside plants that indoor rabbits can eat.

  1. Out in Your Own Backyard

    • Pick dandelions, both the leaves and the flowers, for your pet bunny. Make sure these weeds have been allowed to grow free of pesticides. The flowers, while fresh and yellow, have a sweet, almost butter-like smell and rabbits really enjoy them. Pick the leaves that are tender and soft. Likewise, your indoor rabbit will love outdoor grass. Most rabbits prefer tender, young grass blades, but many like the big, thick ones, such as from the Dallas grass weed or St. Augustine. Indoor rabbits also love clover, which often grows wild outside. Also give small twigs from apple or pear trees (again pesticide free) to your indoor rabbits. They will chew on and eat some of the bark. The chewing is also good for their teeth.

    Grow Your Rabbit a Garden

    • Many herbs are easy to grow and indoor rabbits will love this fresh food from the outdoors. Plant your pet bunny a garden of basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, green peppers, carrots (rabbits especially love the green tops), radishes and beets (both for the tops), kale, spinach, broccoli (for the leaves and stems), celery, oregano (rabbits will eat the slender bark-like stems as well as leaves), and most any type of sprout.

      Rabbits also love grape leaves and raspberry leaves. You can also grow lettuce, such as romaine. Do not feed your rabbits iceberg lettuce or any light colored lettuce. You can grow and feed them radicchio, endive and escarole. Many greens, such as collard greens and mustard greens are also good for gardens and for rabbits.

      Feed your rabbit only small amounts of kale, spinach and broccoli, as these are high in calcium and can cause crystals in their urine. As well, you can easily grow wheat grass indoors.