Yes. Rabbits can eat impatiens and leave clipped stems or missing flowers and leaves. Common bedding impatiens, Impatiens walleriana, appear on Iowa State Extension’s list of annuals moderately to severely damaged by rabbits. Do not rely on a supposed bitter taste to protect a planting.
Is a rabbit responsible?
Look at the whole plant and the ground around it. Missing shoots with relatively clean cuts, nearby pellets or tracks, and repeated browsing along the edge of a bed support a rabbit diagnosis. University of Minnesota’s impatiens diagnostic guide includes rabbits among causes of chewed foliage and notes that damage can appear suddenly.
Timing alone is not proof. Ragged holes, slime trails, insects on leaf undersides or stems collapsing without being eaten point to other possibilities. Photograph fresh damage and compare neighboring plants. If the evidence is unclear, ask a local Extension office for identification before applying a treatment.
Fence the planting, including its lowest edge
A supported wire barrier is generally more dependable than scents. Use mesh small enough to exclude young rabbits and close gaps at the soil, gates and corners. Allow space between the mesh and foliage, and enough working room to water and maintain the bed. A rabbit can still reach leaves pushed against an otherwise sound barrier.
For a compact border, protect the whole group rather than wrapping each stem. Inspect after rain, digging or garden maintenance. For pots, a stable elevated location may help, but nearby steps, shelves or low walls can provide access. Avoid an unstable arrangement that makes the plants difficult to water safely.
What about repellent plants and sprays?
No companion flower makes impatiens rabbit-proof. A plant that is less often browsed in one yard may still be eaten when food is scarce. Choose other species for their growing conditions and appearance, while treating resistance lists as probabilities rather than guarantees.
If using a commercial rabbit repellent, check that its label permits use on the intended plants and site. Follow reapplication directions, especially as new leaves develop. Keep ornamental-use treatments away from edible crops unless those crops are explicitly allowed. Homemade hot-pepper or detergent sprays can injure tender foliage and are not a dependable long-term plan.
After the impatiens have been eaten
Protect surviving growth first. Trim broken pieces, check that stems remain healthy and keep soil appropriately moist without leaving it waterlogged. A plant with viable buds may regrow, but badly stripped plants may not produce the display you wanted before the season ends. Replace them only after addressing access.
Do not treat animal browsing as evidence that a plant is safe or poisonous to pets. Wild rabbits do not reliably avoid every harmful plant, and this article is not a pet-feeding guide. The practical gardening conclusion is simpler: impatiens are vulnerable, and exclusion is the first measure to consider.
