Safe Wood and Other Plants for Rabbits

Rabbits need to chew on things regularly to keep their teeth trimmed and healthy. Wood is a popular and natural choice for rabbit owners but not all types of wood are safe, which is something to keep in mind when choosing wood for a rabbit hutch or for rabbit toys.

Plants that many people can find in their backyards can also be good options for rabbits to chew on. Check out this list of woods, vines, and other plant materials that are safe options for pet rabbits.

*This list is for informational purposes only, and the writer cannot be held responsible for any ill effects from consumption.

Safe Woods (and Wood-like Substances) for Rabbits

• alfalfa
• apple (seeds are toxic)
• arbutus
• ash
• aspen
• apricot (only when dried for at least one month)
• bamboo cane
• basil
• blackberry
• blackcurrant
• borage
• carrot (no seeds)
• cat-tail
• chickweed
• chicory (wild)
• cholla
• cilantro
• clover (red and white)
• coconut shell
• common comfrey (dried)
• cottonwood
• crabapple
• dandelion
• dogwood
• grapevine
• hackberry
• hawthorn
• hazelnut
• jewelweed
• kiwi
• kudzu
• lambs-quarters
• lemon balm
• linden
• mallow
• manzanita
• maple (sugar and silver)
• mesquite
• mint (do not give to pregnant or nursing does)
• mulberry (white)
• parsley
• peach (only when dried for at least one month)
• pear (no seeds)
• pecan
• pigweed
• pine - kiln-dried white only
• plantain
• purslane
• poplar
• Queen Anne's lace
• quince
• radish
• raspberry
• redroot pigweed
• rose (any above-ground parts including hips)
• shepherd's purse
• sow thistle (annual, spiny annual, perennial)
• stinging nettle (dried)
• strawberry
• squash
• sunflower
• sweet potato
• sycamore
• willow
• wingstem
• yarrow

Toxic Woods for Rabbits

• abale/esia
• alder
• almond (can produce cyanide)
• apricot (freshly cut branches are toxic)
• balsam fir
• beech
• birch
• black locust
• blackwood
• bogwood
• boxwood
• buddleia
• cashew
• cedar
• cherry
• citrus (all citrus woods including lemon, orange, etc.)
• cocobolo
• cypress/bald cypress
• dahoma
• ebony
• elang/mukulungu
• elder/elderberry
• elm
• eucalyptus
• fig/cape fig
• fir
• goncalo alves
• greenheart
• hemlock
• horse chestnut
• iroko
• juniper
• kapok
• laurel
• magnolia
• mahogany
• mansonia
• maple
• mimosa
• mopane/mopani
• myrtle
• nectarine
• oak/cork
• obeche/abachi
• okuhaba/yungu
• oleander
• olive
• opepe/kussia
• paduak
• pau ferro
• peach (freshly cut branches are toxic)
• peroba rosa
• pine (fresh pine is toxic as are pinecones)
• plum
• plywood
• prune
• purpleheart
• quebracho
• redwood
• rosewood
• satinwood
• sassafras
• sequoia
• snakewood
• spruce
• teak
• walnut
• wenge
• yew
• yunnan
• zebrawood

Other safe options are available in pet stores for rabbits. Woods marketed for chinchillas and other rodents are usually okay to offer to your pet rabbit, but make sure the type of wood is not on the toxic woods list before putting it in your rabbit's cage. The same goes for the material that his hide box and cage are made out of (if they are made of wood). Any items in his cage are fair game for his teeth to nibble on so you want to make sure they are safe!

If you think your rabbit may have eaten a toxic wood, then contact your exotics vet as soon as possible.