Featured Plants : Deer Resistant

Emerald Carousel Barberry Bushes - Great Fall Color!

patti-nhn — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:32:00 GMT

Doesn't the name Emerald Carousel make you think of a fair and lots of fun? Carousels are also very colorful as these bushes are. What a great way to add color to your landscape as well as with their arching branches that add another dimension to the bush. With their round shape and growing from 4 to 5 feet tall and spreading from 4 to 5 feet, they make wonderful hedges, can be used as a barrier plant or border as well as decorative on their own or planted with a couple others to fill a bare area.

Their flowers grow in clusters with yellow flowers that show off in the spring. It will also provide bright red berries which also attracts birds and butterflies as well as other wildlife. In the fall it provides red and purple fall color. Carousel requires full sun for the best foliage although it can tolerate light shade. It is drought and pollution tolerant, no serious insect or disease problems and is deer resistant. This bush also is very adaptable to soil and can grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil. Wet and poorly drained soils will cause it to perform poorly. It can grow from zone 4 to zone 7 making it a hardy plant. With all the color and hardiness, this is a great bush for long lasting enjoyment and memories of Carousels.

For A Variegated Foliage Plant This Vinca Vine Fits The Bill

patti-nhn — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:23:00 GMT

The Periwinkle Variegated Vinca Vine will add lots of interest to your garden or patio with its green leaves with white edges. It is a great filler for hanging baskets and great contrast against the bright colors of flowers. This vine has a trailing habit and will not climb surfaces but can be strung on fences, wires or even used as a ground cover. They do require full sun and are very low maintenance. Another plus is that they are deer resistant.

The mature height of this vine is 3 to 6 inches and they will spread from 6 to 12 inches. They are hardy from zone 3 to zone 11. They are an annual in zones 3 to 8 and in zones 9 to 11 they can be a perennial. This would be a great choice for an interesting vine than is very versatile and hardy.

If You Like Daisies The Toucan Tango Would Be A Great Choice

patti-nhn — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:00:00 GMT

The Toucan Tango Daisy has a beautiful lavender flower with a chartreuse eye. Quite a charmer! It is great in containers, rock gardens, pots and window boxes. Birds, butterflies and bees are attracted to these colorful blooms. Another plus is that they are deer resistant. Their leaves are dark green and when bruised will be aromatic.

The Toucan Tango Daisy will mature from 6 to 12 inches in height and spread to about 12 to 15 inches. It has a mounding form and requires full sun. You will need to deadhead for more blooming. This daisy is hardy from zones 3 to 11. In zones 3-8 it is an annual, zones 9 to 11 it can be a perennial. This would be a colorful addition with other flowers nearby.

Molimba Pink Daisies Have Mounds Of Pink Blooms!

patti-nhn — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:20:00 GMT

The Daisy Molimba Pink really shows off with its mounds of pink blooms. It is a Proven Winners variety that works well in your landscape or even planted in containers. The flowers will continue their show long into the summer. You will want to deadhead these for additional blooming. They make great cut flowers.

The Daisy Molimba Pink matures from 14 to 24 inches tall and spreads from 10 to 12 inches wide. It requires full sun and grows upright. It is adaptable to soil types but does prefer light soil that has adequate lime. Butterflies are attracted to this plant as well as bees and birds. They are deer resistant, moderately frost tolerant as well as drought tolerant. They have a mounded form and can grow from zone 3 to zone 11 and will be an annual in zones 3 to 8 and can be a perennial in zones 9 to 11. Try this out for a very hardy plant.

The Periwinkle Vinca Vine Is Finely Variegated

patti-nhn — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:25:00 GMT

The Periwinkle Vinca Vine has variegated leaves that are green with white edging. This vine is a trailing vine and will not climb surfaces although you can grow over wires or other such things. It also is great for ground cover. The vine needs little care and is "deer resistant". They will grow from 3 to 6 inches tall and spread from 6 to 12 inches wide.

The Periwinkle Variegated is a moderate grower, it does need full sun. It is hardy from zones 3 to 11. In zones 3 to 8 it is an annual only, in zones 9 to 11 it can be a perennial. This vine is very attractive and works well to fill in baskets by itself or as a filler with other plants. Using flowering plants along with this variegated leaf vines are very attractive and add additional interest.

How About A Chillin' Limeade Vine To Change Things Up A Bit?

patti-nhn — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:13:00 GMT

The Sweet Potato Vine Chillin Limeade is a wonderful addition to your garden. The chartreuse foliage that is also heart shaped is a change from the same old vines. The flowers are pretty large and look very similar to morning glories, however, the foliage can hide it somewhat. The Chillin Limeade does produce sweet potatoes that are edible but are not as flavorful as the ones grown as fruit crops. They are ornamental as well.

This Chilline Limeade Sweet Potato Vine will mature from 12 to 14 inches tall and spread about 30 to 36 inches tall. They have a trailing habit which makes them nice for containers and hanging baskets. The Limeade is vigorous so in the garden you will want to plant next to other vigorous plants so they will not overtake the less vigorous plants. They can be overwintered by bringing pots indoors to a very sunny place. This sweet potato vine is hardy from zones 3 to 11 and is an annual in zones 3 to 8 only and can be a perennial in zones 9 to 11. It is widely adaptable from full sun to full shade. It is a fast grower and has a light lime green foliage. This is a great plant also for being deer resistant and heat tolerant.

Green Envy Coneflower Will Be The Envy Of All Your Neighbors

patti-nhn — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:58:00 GMT

The Green Envy Coneflower Echinacea purpurea 'green envy' is a highly coveted Coneflower hybrid. The flower heads are daisy like in their appearance and the petals boast a lime green coloring and in the centers they go to a rosey pink color. The center of the flower is in the shape of a cone and is a lime to dark green color. The flowers are long lasting and are often used in cut flower arrangements. The flowers will bloom from July to September. The habit of the plant is upright and spreading.

If you enjoy butterflies, this Green Envy Coneflower will attract them. It is best to plant them in full sun and well drained normal, sandy or clay soils. They are hardy from zone 3 to zone 9. They can grow from 30-36 inches tall to 18-24 inches wide. They are fast growing plants so would fill in quickly for you. It would be an ornamental and attractive plant for your garden.

Flowering Chinese Redbud Wears A Dense Coat Of Flowers

patti-nhn — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:05:00 GMT

The Avondale Chinese Redbud Cercis chinensis 'Avondale' is best known for its dense coat of rose to purple colored flowers. They begin showing off their beautiful color in the spring. The Avondale can grow to 15 feet tall and grows best in zones 6 to 9. It produces green glossy leaves that are a lovely heart shape. The leaves will turn a bronze to burgundy and then a yellow color in the fall.

This is a wonderful small accent tree among your landscaping. The color is also quite showy. The Avondale Chinese Redbud is also deer and drought resistant and prefers a sandy soil. It is hardy from zone 4 to zone 10. Flowering Redbud trees are one of the most popular trees for landscaping and adding that extra "something".

Mango Meadowbrite Coneflower

patti-nhn — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:19:00 GMT

Doesn't the name Mango Meadowbrite bring up colorful images? I know it does for me. The Mango Meadowbrite Coneflower Echinacea hybrid 'CBG Cone3' has been released as the second Coneflower from the Chicago Botanic Garden breeding program. If you are familiar with the Orange Meadowbrite Coneflower, it is very similar to it but does not have the red pigment so it has the look of a fresh ripe mango fruit which is a very deep yellow.

Coneflowers are known to bloom all sumer long and the Mango Meadowbrite is no exception. This is one of the most fragrant of the coneflowers. It is recommended for growing from zone 4 to zone 9. They are very hardy plants and are great grown in bunches or on their own. They tend to grow to about 18 to 24 inches tall and definitely add some pizzazz to your garden.

Shadblow Serviceberry Fruits And Fall Color

patti-nhn — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:19:00 GMT

The Shadblow Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis is a large Serviceberry shrub that will grow 20 to 25 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide. It produces a reddish purple edible fruit that is mainly used for jams or jellies but can be used in any fruit based recipe. Before the fruit, it will produce snowy white flowers and the foliage is a dark green color which turns gold in the fall. The branches grow in an upright fashion that gives it a uniform look.

The Shadblow does require full sun but is widely adaptable for soil. It is considered a deer resistant shrub. There are no guarantees that deer won't persist if hungry enough, but, in general they will keep their distance. The birds will like the fruit as well so if you want to preserve it for yourself you will want to harvest it before the birds get to it. This is a great overall shrub for your yard.

Elton Knight Coneflower Is Truly A Knight In Shining Armor

patti-nhn — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

For a compact perennial, this is the perfect Coneflower for you. The Elton Knight Coneflower 'Echinacea purpura 'Elton Knight' is a very bushy plant that can hold up to just about anything. It has flowers covering each stem which makes it stand out from most coneflowers that have only one flower per stem. The stems stand very upright like soldiers, they won't droop on you. The flowers are a wonderful pink hue with brownish centers.

The Elton Knight would look great in the garden as they add a lot of color. They are often used as cut flowers in vases. The plant will bloom from May to November so is very long-lasting. It outlasts most blooming plants. These also look nice in containers along your patio or front porch.

Daylily - Gentle Shepard

patti-nhn — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:17:00 GMT

Doesn't Gentle Shepard sound like a welcoming flower? The Gentle Shepard Hemerocallis 'Gentle Shepard' shows it's creamy white flowers for a long time from May into July. Each individual flower lasts about a day but it sets on many blooms so that when one flower fades the plant will be in continuous bloom. It is considered a Daylily which is the name for the plants whose blooms come and go daily. The plants stretch up to 12-24 inches tall and spread out 24-36 inches. They are widely adaptable to soil type and moisture. They can take full sun to partial sun but tend to flower best in full sun.

Gentle Shepard Daylilies are great for holding soil on banks and in great bunches or small individual plants lining your yard. Their creamy white color also shows off from the deep green foliage. Daylilies can hold up to just about any weather. They are perennials so will come back year after year. Maintenance is slim to none, they take care of themselves pretty well. The deer and pests seem to keep away from them pretty well but the butterflies tend to take a liking to them with their bright blooms.

If you can't tell already, I especially like them on hillsides, they do double duty there and are a beautiful sight. Bordered with annuals like petunias the contrast is stunning. Try these out on their own or with some other annual or perennial plants and create your own special flower garden.

Redstone Dogwood - A Great Accent Tree

patti-nhn — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:19:00 GMT

The Redstone Dogwood 'Coronus Mas "Redstone" is a small tree approximately 20-25 foot tall at maturity and it will spread out to about 15-20 feet. This makes it very attractive as an accent tree in your landscape. It displays beauty year round. In the early spring it has abundant yellow flowers, which appear before most other flowering trees. It then displays in the summer its red fruits which are very pretty and are attractive to birds if you happen to like bird watching. The fall color is a reddish purple. In the winter the bark of the tree has a somewhat mottled look to it so you can have interest all season!

The Redstone Dogwood which has also been called at Redstone Cornelian Cherry Dogwood has a nicely rounded form making it easy to fit into a small area. It is considered a "deer resistant" tree. This is one of the best Dogwoods available for it's versatility. It is also hardy to zones 4-8, prefers full to partial sunlight and moist-well drained soils.

Brookside Geranium - Stunning Fall Color

patti-nhn — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:52:00 GMT

I love fall for the wonderful display that many plants provide. Their leaves sway in the breeze in the most wonderful yellows, reds, oranges, purples and many additional hues between. This would be a great time to plant containerized plants for next years fall foliage.

The Brookside Geranium is versatile as it gives you lots of color as a border plant, potted in containers or anywhere you want some added color. The foliage is a dark green and sometimes described as lacy. It flowers from June till August with beautiful sapphire blue flowers that have white eyes. In the fall, the leaves turn reddish/orange.

It grows to about 18 inches tall and it will spread out to 23-27 inches wide. It has a mounding form and prefers moist well-drained soil in partial sun and is drought tolerant. They are low maintenance and deer resistant. If you like butterflies, they will certainly be attracted to this Geranium. It is recommended to cut the foliage back in late summer to insure new fall growth. This is a perennial plant so it will come back year after year and is hardy to zones 4-8.

Mother of Thyme is a Versatile Evergreen

patti-nhn — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:58:00 GMT

The Mother of Thyme Thymus serpyllum is a beautiful plant. It has so many possibilities in your garden for year round interest. It is a mounding 8 inch tall plant that spreads 12-24 inches. It makes a fantastic ground cover, border plant for your garden or along your driveway as well as in rock gardens and along hillsides. Being an evergreen you will have deep green foliage and pink flowers that bloom in the summer and are aromatic.

It is said that Thyme was used by the ancient Greek athletes who rubbed it on their arms for energy. It also has been said to have antiseptic properties and was used to clean wounds in World War I. Thyme can also be harvested as a perennial herb for cooking.

Mother of Thyme grows from zones 4-9 in normal to sandy soil and full sun. You will want to prune back the branches in the spring as that will encourage growth. You will want to pinch back the growing shoots regularly to prevent the plant from becoming woody. With it's versatility and good looks, Thyme would be a great plant to add to your landscaping.