Rabbits can browse garden plants, but begonias are not uniformly a favorite food. Iowa State Extension lists wax begonia among annuals seldom damaged by rabbits. That is a relative resistance rating, not a promise for every begonia or hungry rabbit. Confirm the damage before blaming rabbits.
Identify the begonia and the damage
Iowa State’s susceptibility list specifically names wax begonia, Begonia semperflorens-cultorum. Begonias include many other species and hybrids, so do not extend one listing into a claim that every type is rabbit-proof.
Look for clipped shoots, tracks, droppings or an animal actually feeding. Holes inside leaves may have another cause. Take photographs of fresh damage and compare several plants before choosing a control method. A clean cut is a clue, not conclusive identification.
Protect a vulnerable planting with a barrier
For a bed repeatedly browsed by rabbits, use a supported fine-mesh fence secured at ground level. Inspect corners, gates and uneven soil for gaps. Keep foliage far enough from the mesh that it cannot easily be reached through it.
Iowa State’s protection guide recommends fencing as the most effective approach. A deer fence with large openings may still admit rabbits, so assess the actual barrier rather than assuming one animal-control measure excludes all others.
Use plant selection as a supporting measure
Relative resistance may help when choosing replacements, but it does not replace protection where browsing is persistent. A ring of another shrub or scented plant does not establish a reliable exclusion zone. Check whether a proposed replacement fits the light, soil and climate as well as the browsing problem.
For containers, move the plant only to a stable position with suitable light and watering access. A low stand is not automatically inaccessible. Watch whether damage stops after protection and whether healthy shoots continue to develop.
Garden browsing is not a pet-feeding recommendation
Do not offer ornamental begonias to a pet rabbit based on what a wild animal may nibble. The ASPCA begonia listing discusses toxicity for listed animal species, but it is not a rabbit-specific safe-dose guide. Avoid claiming a particular kidney effect in rabbits without suitable evidence.
If a pet rabbit eats an unfamiliar ornamental plant, contact a veterinarian promptly with the plant identity, amount and timing. Do not wait for a list of symptoms or attempt a home remedy. Keep garden protection and pet dietary advice separate.
Help the plant recover
Remove broken material carefully and maintain appropriate moisture and drainage. Extra fertilizer will not replace missing leaves overnight. If browsing continues, improve exclusion before replacing plants. The separate rabbit damage to dahlias guide covers a different planting and its vulnerable new shoots.
