Salt Tolerant Gardening

Salt Tolerant Plants

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful array of plants that can take any gardening condition you have. As gardeners we have certain conditions we have to fulfill or gardens we want to do. No matter what the condition or specific 

Bottlebrush

garden we want to design Mother Nature has got you covered. You want to attract wildlife to your garden such as hummingbirds, butterflies, or birds Mother Nature has you covered. You have other climatic conditions such as plants that tolerate drought, or salt, or both. She has you covered and the really neat aspect to Mother Nature is that most of the time the plants will fill more than one category you are trying to design for such as designing a butterfly garden. A few butterfly plants will also attract hummingbirds, too.

Gardening along ocean front property or near the ocean can be very challenging, but also very rewarding. To do this all the gardener needs to do is select plants that can tolerate sea-side conditions and tolerate saline conditions.

Frangipani

The benefits of gardening are: Plants clean the air by removing pollutants and providing us with fresh air; Plants provide oxygen; Plants cool the streets and the 

Geiger Tree

cities; Plants encourage people to healthy lifestyles such as walking, jogging, biking, or going to parks; Plants raise property values; Plants provide food for humans, birds, and wildlife; Plants heal. Studies show people heal faster with green ambience outside their windows.

Salt tolerance or saline conditions describes whether or not a plant can withstand saline conditions, salt spray, or both. Salt tolerant plants are exposed to salt spray, windy conditions, saline soils and water.There are three general conditions: 1)"Yes" indicates plants can withstand saline conditions, salt spray, salt drift, exposed coastal areas, and areas with saline irrigation water; 2)"Moderate" indicates the plant can withstand some saline conditions but should be protected from direct salt spray; and 3)"No" indicates the plant should be well-protected from saline conditions and salt spray.

Established is a plant growing in the garden for a year or more. Plants need to be established in the garden before any additional care is needed. The gardener would follow traditional rules of gardening seaside as to gardening away from the ocean and salt spray. Watering Guidelines: water newly transplanted plants 3 times a week in the spring and summer months; during the fall and winter months 2 times a week for a year.

Lignum Vitae

Let’s explore salt tolerant plants. To help in the design process the plants being discussed are divided into trees, palms, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and vines.

Highly Salt tolerant Trees 

Aleppo Pine: Pinus halepensis - Height: 30-60’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Bottle Brush: Callistemon lanceolatus – Height: 20-25’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Buttonwood: Conocarpus erectus – Height: 25-30’. Width: 25-30’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Devilwood: Osmanthus americanus – Height: 15-25’. Width: 10-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Frangipani – Plumeria spp. - Height: 20-25’. Width: 15-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Deciduous.

Geiger Tree: Cordia sebestena – Height: 25-30’. Width: 20-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.  

Japanese Black Pine: Pinus thunbergii – Height: 20-60’. Width: 12-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Lignum Vitae: Guaiacum sanctum - Height: 25-30’. Width: 20-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Live Oak: Quercus virginiana – Height: 40-60’. Width: 60-80’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Mahogany: Swietenia mahagoni - Height: 40-60’. Width: 40-60’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Ochrosia: Ochrosia elliptica - Height: 20-25’. Width: 15-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.
 

Ochrosia

Red Bay: Persea borbonia – Height: 30-50’. Width: 30-50’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Sand Pine: Pinus clausa – Height: 25-40’. Width: 15-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Wax Myrtle: Morella cerifera (Myrica cerifera) – Height: 10-20’. Width:10-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Yaupon: Ilex vomitoria - Height: 15-20’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Highly Salt tolerant Palms

Blue Latan Palm: Latania loddigesii – Height: 30-35’. Width: 15’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Bottle Palm: Hyophorbe lagenicaulis – Height: 12-15’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Canary Island Date Palm: Phoenix canariensis – Height: 40-60’. Width: 30-40’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Coconut Palm: Cocos nucifera – Height: 60-80’. Width: 25-35’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.  

Coconut Palm

Key Thatch Palm: Leucothrinax morrisii (Thrinax morrisii) – Height: 15-25’. Width: 8-10’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Sabal Palm, Cabbage Palm: Sabal palmetto – Height: 40-60’. Width: 15-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Saw Palmetto: Serenoa repens - Height: 8-10’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Silver Palm: Coccothrinax argentata – Height: 15-20’. Width: 15-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Washington Palm: Washingtonia robusta – Height: 80-100’. Width: 25-35’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Highly Salt tolerant Shrubs

Century Plant: Agave Americana – Height: 5-7’. Width: 8-12’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Cocoplum: Chrysobalanus icaco – Height: To 15’. Width: 5-7’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Dwarf Myrtle: Myrtus communis – Height: 8-10’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Dwarf Oleander: Nerium oleander ‘Petite Salmon’ – Height: 4-5’. Width: 3-5’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.  

Dwarf Oleander

Dwarf Pittosporum: Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler's Dwarf’- Height: 3-4’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Dwarf Rosemary, Prostrate Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’) – Height: 2’. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly: Ilex vomitoria ‘Schellings Dwarf’- Height: 2-4’. Width: 3-5’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen. Varieties: Nana and Bordeaux are included.

Ebbingei's Silverberry: Elaeagnus X ebbingei – Height: 10-15’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Fruitland Elaeagnus: Elaeagnus pungens ‘Fruitlandii’ - Height: 10-15’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Indian Hawthorn: Rhaphiolepis indica – Height: 3-4’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Indian Hawthorn

Inkberry: Scaevola plumieri – Height: 4-6’. Width: 4-8’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Japanese Pittosporum: Pittosporum tobira – Height: 8-10’. Width: 6-8’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Lantana: Lantana camara – Height: 3-6’. Width: 4-6’. Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen to deciduous depending on zone.

Natal Plum: Carissa macrocarpa – Height: To 10’. Width: 5-7’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Oleander: Nerium oleander – Height: To 20’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis) – Height: 3-6’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Spanish Bayonet: Yucca aloifolia – Height: To 15’. Width: 4-8’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Spanish Bayon

Variegated Pittosporum: Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegatum’ – Height: 4-6’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Highly Salt tolerant Perennials

Baby Sun Rose: Aptenia cordifolia (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) - Height: 6”. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Beach Sunflower: Helianthus debilis – Height: 12-24”. Width: 24-36”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Blue Daze: Evolvulus glomeratus – Height: 10-12”. Width: 12-18”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Day Lily: Hemerocallis sp. – Height: 1-4’. Width: 15-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Gaillardia, Indian Blanket: Gaillardia pulchella – Height: 12-18”. Width: 12-18”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Gazania Daisy: Gazania rigens var. leucolaena – Height: 12-18”. Width: 12”. Light Requirements: Full sun. 

Gazania Daisy

Golden Shrub Daisy: Euryops pectinatus ‘Viridis’ – Height: 4-6’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Lance-leaved Coreopsis: Coreopsis lanceolata – Height: 18-36”. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Madagascar Periwinkle: Catharanthus roseus – Height: 10-12”. Width: 10-12”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Periwinkle

Portulaca, Moss Rose: Portulaca grandiflora – Height: 4-6”. Width: 12”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Sea Oxeye Daisy: Borrichia frutescens - Height: 2-4’. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Silver Sea Oxeye Daisy: Borrichia arborescens – Height: 2-4’. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Highly Salt tolerant Groundcovers

Blue Pacific Shore Juniper: Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’ – Height: 12-18”. Width: 3-4’. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Creeping Lily Turf: Liriope spicata – Height: 12”. Width: 12-18”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Creeping Lily Turf

Dwarf Rosemary, Prostrate Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’) – Height: 12-18”. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Mondo Grass, Monkey Grass: Ophiopogon japonicus – Height: 12”. Width: 12-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine: Trachelospermum jasminoides – Height: Variable. Width: 24-36”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Trailing Lantana: Lantana montevidensis – Height: 12-24”. Width: 24-36”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Highly Salt tolerant Vines

Bougainvillea: Bougainvillea spectabilis – Height: Variable. Width: 36-48”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Cape Honeysuckle: Tecoma capensis (Tecomaria capensis) – Height: To 20’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun.  

Cape Honeysuckle

Palay Rubber Vine: Cryptostegia grandiflora – Height: To 20’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Flame Vine: Pyrostegia venusta (P. ignea) - Height: To 20’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Flowering Jasmine: Chrysojasminum floridum (Jasminum floridum) Height: 5’. Width: 3-5’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.

 

Sun Loving Caladiums

Sun Tolerant Caladiums

Spring is coming soon, Thursday, March 19 2020 and as the weather warms and soil temperature rise, we need to survey our garden. Very soon we will be back in our 

White Wing Caladium

gardens again. To tell you the truth I can’t wait any longer. We have been teased by Mother Nature this year with one or two weeks of warm weather days only for her to change her mind and bring back cooler weather days. Mother Nature says “no not yet, it’s too early”. I go to garden centers tempted to purchase, but I know better. There are some items that can be purchased now and planted later once the soil warms and that is spring bulbs or tubers. There are numerous spring bulbs or tubers to plant in the spring, but there is one that has been under-utilized in the garden or containers and that is Caladiums.

Caladiums can be planted in shade or sun depending on the variety. They are planted for their dramatic tropical foliage and versatility. Their heart-shaped leaves and colorful foliage will brighten the shadiest or sunniest areas of the garden. There are numerous color combinations of white, red, and pink. If that hasn’t enticed you to try caladiums this year, caladiums are on the easy-care plant list.

There are two types of classification for Caladiums: fancy-leaved and strap or lance-leaved varieties. Varieties range in heights from 12’’ – 30’’. Fancy-leaved varieties have much larger foliage whereas strap or lanced-leaved varieties have slender leaves, thicker foliage, and compact habit of growth. Caladiums do have an inflorescence (flower), but it is considered not showy. The flower like bud is called a spathe, which is a modified leaf that is not showy considered to other plants, which have a showy spathe, for example Spathiphyllum plant. There is still some disagreement as to trim the spathe or not. I personally trim the spathe back when they appear to promote more foliage.

Caladium tubers are graded by size #1, #2, #3. #1 tubers are larger with more growth points or eyes. The more growth points, the more foliage. When purchasing your tubers, I recommend #1. The tubers should be plump and firm, not soft or shriveled.

Caladiums can be planted in sun or shade depending on variety. Planting sun-loving caladiums in western exposures will require more water during July and August. They are winter hardy in zones 9-11. In zones 3-8 caladiums are treated as an annual.

Caladiums can be planted March-July or when the soil temperature is 65 degrees or above, which usually is after all danger of frost in your area. Plant the tubers 1-1½’’ deep and space 12’’ apart. Add bone meal to the planting hole. Place the caladium tuber smooth side down, with the points up. Fertilize monthly with a 6-6-6. Mulch after planting. Listed below are sun-loving varieties to try this spring.

Aaron: Height: 20 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped leaves with a white center that flows white veins of the leaf ending with marginal, medium green edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Brandywine: Height: 18 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped leaves with deep wine-red center, red veins, with dark green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Carolyn Whorton: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped leaves, light pink center, red veins, mottling green through out the leaves, ending with a medium green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Fannie Munson: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped translucent leaves, deep pink to red mid-veins with light green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Fiesta: Height: 12 inches. Width: 12 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Color: Large heart-shaped, white center, deep pink to red central veining. The wide red to pink veins, bright white background, ending with green pin-striping along the borders of the leaves make a Fiesta to your garden. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Fire Chief: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large to medium heart-shaped leaves, deep pink to red background with medium green mottled through out the leaves. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Flamingo: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large to medium heart-shaped leaves, hot pink to candy pink background with wide emerald green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Florida Fantasy: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large to medium heart-shaped leaves, snow white background, deep red mid-veins, with green spidery veins ending with small green edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Florida Sweetheart: Height: 12 inches. Width: 12-15 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Lance, ruffled shaped leaves of rosy pink with deeper rose veining through-out the leaf ending thin green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Freida Hemple: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy-leaf, deep red background, red veins, ending with wavy, green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Frog In A Blender: Height: 18-22 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy-leaf, wildly random, artfully splotched variegation from gorgeous lime to deep forest green. Frog In A Blender makes a perfect combination with all caladium varieties and combination planters. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Garden White: Height: 24-36 inches. Width: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large creamy white fancy leaf, green vein netting ending to a dark green margin. Garden White pairs beautifully with deeper red or pink caladium varieties. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Gingerland: Height: 12-15 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap-leaf leaves, creamy white background with red to pink flecks ending with a rich, dark green margin. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Lance Whorton: Height: 12-18 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap-leaf leaves, crimson background, main and mid-veins, flecks of white throughout ending with a slightly wavy, rich green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Miss Muffet: Height: 12 inches. Width: 12-14 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap-leaf chartreuse leaves, pink to deep red freckles, white mid-veins, ending with ruffled edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Moonlight: Height: 18-22 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Bright, pure white heart-shaped leaves, pale green spidery veins throughout, ending with a thin green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Pearl Blush: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap/lance leaves that open pink that turn white as they mature, pink mid-veins, ending with emerald green wavy edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Pink Gem: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 12-15 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Bright, rosy pink strap/lance leaves, freckles of white, crimson veining, ending with a green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Pink Symphony: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 12-15 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Translucent pink strap/lance leaves, green mid-veins ending with wavy edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Postman Joyner: Height: 22-24 inches. Width: 20-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large, deep, ruby red heart-shaped leaves, prominent red mid-veins ending with a deep emerald green border. This variety has deepest of all the reds. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Red Flash: Height: 20 inches. Width: 18-20 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large, deep, ruby red heart-shaped leaves, red veins, pink and white speckles, dark green background and borders. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Red Frill: Height: 14-16 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large, deep red strap/lance leaves, wavy dark green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Red Ruffles: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 8-10 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Compact deep red, strap/lance leaves with wavy green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Rosebud: Height: 18 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color:  Fancy, candy pink center and mid-veins leaves, intertwined with frosty green and white background ending with a bright green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Royal Flush: Height: 16-20 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Deep red medium to large fancy leaves, red veins ending with a green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Spring Fling: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 16-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large hot pink fancy leaves with dark green to black veins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Strawberry Star: Height: 16-18 inches. Width: 12-14 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Medium to large white fancy leaves sporting light green mid-veins and green spider veins with red-pinky freckles. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Tapestry: Height: 16-20 inches. Width: 7-9 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Fancy deep moss green heart-shaped leaves with crimson mid-veins with creamy to white freckles. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

White Christmas: Height: 14-16 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy leaf with dark moss green mid-veins and margins with a white background. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

White Queen: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy leaf white sporting green margins, red to pink mid-veins and green spider veins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

White Wing: Height: 8-14 inches. Width: 10-12 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Compact strap/lance leaf of creamy white with green margins touched with rose-red at the top of the leaves. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Listed below are a few websites that offer caladium bulbs for purchase.

CaladiumWorld

HappinessFarms

ClassicCaladiums

Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.

86 Deer Resistant Plants

Deer Resistant Plants

As gardeners we would envision our garden as the prettiest on the street, but nature sometimes intervenes with bugs and deer. Deer have been a major nuisance this year to gardeners and these creatures can destroy a plant or plants overnight. Unfortunately, there is not a plant that is 100 percent deer proof, because if the deer are hungry enough they will eat just about any plant. Deer do not like foliage that is rough in texture, pubescent foliage, lemony or scented foliage. The plants listed below has one or all of the foliage characteristics, and to combat the deer, I would like to suggest using the plants listed below in beds and borders, but also use a deer repellent on your property line. Some of the plants listed have a * image, that means some deer sometimes have a little nibble. Plants listed with a spp. ending represents all varieties in that genus.

Anemones, Windflowers - Anemone spp. Type: Perennial corms. Zones: 4–9. Height: 4–36 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 6–12 inches apart depending on variety. Light: Full to partial shade. Uses: Cut flowers, containers, beds and borders, fragrant flowers.

Anise Hyssop - Agastache spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, fragrant flowers, 

Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop

attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden.









Aster – Aster spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-5 feet. Spacing: 15 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, mass plantings, cut flowers, attract butterflies.
Avens, Grecian Rose - Geum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-7. Height: 10-24 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, fresh cut flowers.

Azalea - Rhododendron spp. Type: Shrub. Zones: 4-9. Height: Varies from 2-20 feet

Azalea - Rhododendron sp.

depending on variety and cultivar. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Specimen shrub, hedge shrub, smaller varieties can be used in borders, nectar plant for butterflies.

Balloon Flower - Platycodon grandiflorus. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-36 inches depending on 

Balloon Flower - Platycodon grandiflorus

cultivar. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Border, rock garden, cut flower, containers.






Basil – Ocimum basilicum. Type: Annual. Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-2 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Leaves are used in cooking,

Basil - Ocimum basilicum

pesto sauces, Italian dishes, butterfly nectar plant, mosquito repellant plant.

Bear’s Breeches - Acanthus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-11. Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Specimen plant, cut flowers, dramatic foliage.

Beardtongue – Penstemon spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Mixed perennial garden, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Bee Balm – Monarda didyma. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-4 feet, but can reach to 6 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Bee Balms - Monardia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 1-4 feet, but can reach to 6 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attract butterflies and hummingbirds, containers, beds and borders, cut flowers.

Big-leaf Periwinkle - Vinca major. Type: Ground cover. Zones: 5-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Excellent ground cover for retaining walls or hillsides.

Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 18-30 

Rudbeckia fulgida - Black-Eyed Susan

inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds and borders, containers, attract birds and butterflies.













Blanket Flower - Gaillardia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, containers, cut flowers, attracts butterflies.  

Blanket Flower - Gaillardia X grandiflora

Bleeding Heart – Dicentra spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Borders, containers, cut flowers.

Blue Mist Shrub, Bluebeard - Caryopteris spp. Type: Deciduous shrub. Zones: 5-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts butterflies, borders, fragrant flowers.

Butterfly Bush - Buddleia davidii. Type: Deciduous shrub. Zones: 5-10. Height: From 3-6 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts

Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush

butterflies and hummingbirds, fragrant flowers, specimen shrub.

Butterfly Weed, Milkweed - Asclepias spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-11. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and food plant for the Monarch butterfly, cut flowers, borders, wildflower gardens, containers.

Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa

Canna Lily – Canna X generalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 7-11. Height: 4-6 feet.

Canna X generalis - Garden Canna

Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Plant in masses with bananas and gingers for a touch of the tropics, containers, cut flower, and wetlands or boggy areas.

Catmint – Nepeta X faassenii. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 2-3 feet.

Catmint - Nepeta faassenii

Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, front borders, your cat will love it.











Catmints/Catnips - Nepeta spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18  

Catnip - Nepeta cataria

inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, front borders, your cat will love it.

Clematis – Clematis spp. Type: Perennial vine. Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-10 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun and keep the roots in the shade. Uses: Trellises, arbors, mailboxes.

Columbine – Aquilegia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart.

Columbine - Aquilegia cv. Cardinal

Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Woodland gardens, cut flowers, beds and borders, containers, butterfly and hummingbird attractants.

Common Periwinkle, Dwarf Periwinkle - Vinca minor. Type: Evergreen ground cover. Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-6 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to 

Dwarf Periwinkle - Vinca minor

shade. Uses: Ground cover for erosion control, hillsides, retaining walls, slopes.

Coneflower – Echinacea spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 2-10. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 15-20 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Borders, 

Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower

containers, cut flowers, attracts birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Coppertip, Falling Stars - Crocosmia spp. Type: Perennial bulb. Zones: 6-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Cut flowers, borders, attracts hummingbirds.

Coralbells – Heuchera spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: up to 36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, containers, borders, drought and heat tolerant.

Daffodils – Narcissus spp. Type: Perennial bulb. Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-24 inches. 

Narcissus sp. - Daffodil

Spacing: 4-6 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: borders, naturalizing, forcing, cut flowers.





Dahlias – Dahlia spp. Type: Perennial

Dahlia - Dahlia hortensis

tubers. Zones: 7-10. Height: up to 6 feet. Spacing: 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Cut flowers, containers, mass plantings.

Daylily – Hemerocallis spp. Type: Deciduous perennial. 

Day Lily - Hemerocallis cv. Stella de Oro

Zones: 2-10. Height: To 36 inches. Spacing: 15-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, erosion control, slopes, mass palntings.

Dianthus cv. Floral Lace Violet - Pinks

Dianthus, Pinks – Dianthus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 14-18 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. 

Dianthus X allwoodii cv. Old Spice - 

Old Spice Dianthus

Uses: Attracts butterflies, cut flowers, borders, edgers, fragrant flowers.

Dill - Anethum graveolens. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 18 – 36 inches. Space: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Yellow blossoms in summer, seed heads can be harvested. The seeds can be crushed and used in cooking. The leaves can be used fresh in potato, tuna, and chicken salads; fresh chicken and fish dishes. Uses: Attracts butterflies and a larval food plant for butterflies. (Plant enough for you and the butterflies!).

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus spp. Cadaga Tree - Eucalyptus torelliana. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-11. Height: To 80 feet. Spacing: 20-30 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden. Mindanao Gum Tree - Eucalyptus deglupta. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-11, has been reported to withstand temperatures in the low 20’s. Height: To 225 feet. Spacing: 30 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden. Red-Flowering Gum Tree - Eucalyptus ficifolia.  

Eucalyptus ficifolia - Red-Flowering Gum

Type: Tree. Zones: 8-10. Height: 25-30 feet. Spacing: 20-25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: After establishment in the landscape the tree is very drought tolerant, the leaves are fragrant, attracts wildlife to the garden, very showy red flowers in spring and summer. Silver Dollar Tree - Eucalyptus cinerea. Type: Tree. Zones: 8-11. Height: To 20 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, the foliage is used in fresh cut flower arrangements as greens, and dried floral arrangements.

Evening Primrose – Oenothera spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: To 4 feet, depending on species. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, flowers open in the evening.

False Indigo, Wild Indigo, Baptisia - Baptisia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: To 5 feet, depending on species. Spacing: 12-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cut flower, dried flower, drought tolerant, attracts butterflies.

False Spirea – Astilbe spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Edger, foreground plant, cut flower, dried flower, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Floss Flower, Ageratum* - Ageratum houstonianum. Type: Annual. Zones: All except very cold areas.  Height: 6-12 inches. Spacing: 6-8 inches apart. Light: Full sun to 

Floss Flower - Ageratum houstonianum

partial shade. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant.










Flowering Onions - Allium spp. Type: Perennial bulb. Zones: 3-9. Height: 1-4 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 2-5 inches apart, depending on variety.

Allium schoenoprasum - Chives

Light: Full sun. Uses: Accent, mixed border, drought tolerant, nectar plant for butterflies.

Fountain Grasses – Pennisetum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-11. Height: 1-5 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial  

Fountain Grass - Pennisetum setaceum

shade. Uses: Borders, edgers, specimen, containers.







Foxglove – Digitalis spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-8. Height: 36-48 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Flowering perennial in back of the landscape bed.  

Yellow Foxglove - Digitalis grandiflora

Fritillaria – Fritillaria spp. Type: Bulb. Zones: 3-9. Height: 8-40 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Mid spring bloomer for perennial gardens.

Geranium or Scented Geranium – Pelargonium spp. Type: Annual, perennial in zone 9 and 10. Zones: All. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Teas, sachets, jellies, potpourris, vinegars, and desserts. 

Heartleaf Brunnera – Brunnera macrophylla. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-8. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds, borders, ground cover, containers.

Holly Fern, Shield Fern, Sword Fern – Polystichum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 12-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 9-12 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Borders, erosion control, slopes.

Iris* - Iris spp. Type: Perennial bulb or rhizome, depending on variety. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-48 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 8-10 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Perennial beds and borders, cut flowers.

Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 4-6 feet. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Containers, privacy, beds and borders, butterfly attractant, drought tolerant.

Lamb’s Ear - Stachys byzantine. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 10-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, containers, drought

Lamb's Ear - Stachys byzantina 

cv. Silver Carpet

tolerant, rock garden.

Lantana – Lantana camara, L. montevidensis. Lantana - Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 7-11. Height: 4 – 5’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant. Trailing Lantana - Lantana montevidensis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-10. Height: 18 – 24”. Spacing: 3 – 4’ apart, can spread to 5’. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.

Lantana - Lantana camara cv. Miss Huff

Larkspur – Consolida spp. (A), Delphinium spp. (P). Type: Annual or perennial. Zones: All. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Wild flower gardens, bed and borders, fresh cut flowers, dried flowers.   

Chinese Delphinium - Delphinium grandiflorum 

cv. Dwarf Blue Butterfly

Lavender – Lavandula spp. Lavandula angustifolia. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 18-24”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds, flowers can be dried or fresh cut, in potpourris, and sachets, in containers.

Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: All leaves can be used in potpourris, flavor hot and iced teas, and used as a substitute for lemon peel in cooking. As a mosquito repellent toss a few stems on the grill to get rid of mosquitoes in the area.

Lenten Rose, Christmas Rose, Hellebore - Helleborus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 14-24 inches. Spacing: 12-22 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds, cut flowers, companion plants with ferns, hostas, heucheras in mixed bed.

Lungwort - Pulmonaria spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Beds and borders, ground cover, drought tolerant, companion plants with ferns, bleeding hearts, hostas.

Marigolds – Tagetes spp. Mexican Marigold Mint - Tagetes lucida. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-10. Height: 24-30”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade.

Mexican Marigold Mint - 

Tagetes lucida

Uses: Butterfly nectar and larval food plant, Mosquito repellent plant, fresh flowers are used in salads; leaves are used as a substitute for French tarragon.

Mints – Mentha spp. Pennyroyal – Mentha pulegium. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing: 12 – 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Purple flowers in late summer through fall. Uses: A groundcover, nectar plant for butterflies, the leaves are used in the flavoring for fish dishes, and grows well in a hanging basket.

Peppermint - Mentha piperita. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 24-36”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used fresh in hot and iced teas, butterfly nectar and larval food plant. Spearmint – Mentha spicata. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 24-36”. Spacing: 36-48 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used fresh in hot and iced teas, Butterfly Nectar and Larval Food Plant.

Miscanthus Grasses – Miscanthus spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 5-6 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Shrub, privacy hedge, specimen plant, cut or dried flowers.

Muhly Grasses - Muhlenbergia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-9. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 3 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Bed and borders, containers.

Mums - Chrysanthemum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Containers, mass plantings, cut flowers.

Oregano – Origanum spp. Greek Oregano - Origanum vulgare subsp. Hirtum. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in Italian dishes, pizza, shellfish, egg dishes, beef, pork, and poultry dishes. Italian Oregano – Origanum vulgare. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 8 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in Italian dishes, pizza, shellfish, egg dishes, beef, pork, and poultry dishes. Sweet Marjoram - Origanum majorana. Type: Perennial. Zones: 9-11, treated as an annual outside zone 9. Height: 12 to 18 inches. Spacing: 9 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in eggs, meats, rice, pastas, soups, vegetables.

Peony – Paeonia spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-7. Height: 12-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 18-36 inches apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Back of the border bed, cut flowers.   

Paeonia sp. - Peony

Petunia – Petunia X hybrid 'Purple Wave'. Type: Annual. Zones: All except very cold areas.  Height: 4 – 6”. Spacing: For a thick coverage, 12 – 15” apart, 3’

Petunia - Petunia cv. Purple Wave

apart for regular coverage, plants will spread 3 – 5’. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant, border, edger, or in hanging baskets.










Phlox – Phlox spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 2-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: bed and borders, ground cover, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  

Phlox sp. - Creeping Phlox

Poppies – Papaver spp. Type: Annual. Zones: 2-11. Height: 1-4 feet. Spacing: 6-

Field Poppy - Papaver rhoeas

12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders, containers.



Prostrate Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostratus’. Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet 

Prostrate Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus cv. Prostratus

apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, mosquito repellent plant, and drought tolerant plant.








Rosemary – Salvia rosmarinus. Type: Perennial shrub. Zones: 8-11. Height: 4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves

Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus

are used in lamb and fish dishes, drought tolerant plant, and butterfly nectar plant.



Russian Sage - Perovskia atriplicifolia. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 24-36

Russian Sage - Perovskia atriplicifolia

inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, bed and borders, cut flowers, butterfly attractant.










Salvia and Sages - Salvia spp. Autumn Sage - Salvia greggii 'Maraschino'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 7-10.  Height: 3’ – 4’. Spacing: 18” – 24” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly and hummingbird attractant, accent, cut flower, herb and perennial garden.

Salvia greggii - Autumn Sage

Mexican Sage - Salvia leucantha. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-10. Height: 2 – 4’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly attractant, and drought tolerant. Pineapple Sage – Salvia elegans. Type: Perennial. Zones: 8-11.  Height: 3 - 4 feet. Spacing: 3 – 4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms red flowers in spring, summer, and fall. The leaves when crushed smell and taste like fresh pineapple. Uses: The fresh leaves can be used in drinks and salads. The leaves can be used in hot or cold drinks, and the flowers and leaves are used chopped in salads. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. Sage - Salvia officinalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used in stuffing, meat dishes, egg dishes, salads, soups, stews, and vegetables, accent in borders.

Sedge - Carex spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 12-36 inches apart, depending on variety. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds and borders, containers.

Siberian Iris - Iris sibirica. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-36 inches. 

Siberian Iris - Iris sibirica

Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Ponds, streams, or boggy areas, cut flowers.




Snapdragons - Antirrhinum majus. Type: Annual.

Snapdragon - Antirrhinum majus

Zones: All. Height: 6-36 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Cut flowers, beds and borders.









Solomon’s Seal – Polygonatum spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24-48 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Shady gardens.

Spider Flower - Cleome hassleriana. Type: Annual. Zones: 2-11. Height: 3-6 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, large containers, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds to the garden.

Spirea* - Spiraea spp. Type: Deciduous shrub. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Foundation planting, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds.

St. John’s Wort - Hypericum spp. Type: Ground cover. Zones: 5-11. Height: 12-24 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches apart. Light: Partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, mass plantings, edgers, borders.

Swamp Sunflower, Narrow-Leaf Sunflower - Helianthus angustifolius. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-9. Height: To 6 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Wildflower gardens, attracts native butterflies, mixed perennial beds.

Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 

Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare

12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar food plant for butterflies, dried flower.


Thyme – Thymus spp. Lemon Thyme – Thymus x citriodorus. Type: Perennial. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Light purple flowers in summer. Wonderful Lemon scent when leaves are crushed or walked upon. Uses: All leaves have a distinct lemon flavor that can be used in cooking, attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden. 
Summer Thyme – Thymus vulgaris. Type: Perennial. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing: 6 – 12 inches apart.

Silver Thyme - Thymus vulgaris cv. Argenteus

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms lilac to purple flowers in summer. Uses: All leaves are used in cooking. Attracts butterflies to the garden. All thyme plants can be used as an alternative ground cover.




Tickseed - Coreopsis spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: From 6 to 36 inches 

Coreopsis - Coreopsis grandiflora

depending on variety. Spacing: 9-14 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Dwarf variety can be used as borders or ground covers, beds and borders, attracts butterflies, cut flower.

Verbena – Glandularia canadensis ‘Homestead’ – Homestead Purple Verbena. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Ground cover for hills, slopes, retaining walls, rock gardens, attracts butterflies.

Homestead Purple Verbena

Veronica, Speedwell – Veronica spp. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-12 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, borders, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, drought tolerant.







Vinca, Periwinkle - Catharanthus roseus. Type: Perennial/annual. Zones: 9-11, perennial, outside zone 9 treated as annual. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 10-12

Periwinkle - Catharanthus roseus

inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, bed, borders, butterfly attractant.

Whirling Butterflies - Gaura lindheimeri. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 36 inches. Spacing: 18-20 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, beds and borders, attracts butterflies, drought tolerant.






Wormwood – Artemisia spp. Roman Wormwood -

Wormwood - Artemisia pontica

Artemisia pontica. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant, floral arranging, bed and borders. 

Wormwood - Artemisia pontica

Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant. Wormwood - Artemisia 'Powis Castle'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 9-11. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant, foliage used in fresh or dried arrangements.

Yarrow – Achillea millefolium, A. filipendulina. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-9. Height:

Common Yarrow - Achillea millefolium

15-36 inches. Spacing: 12-15 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Cut or dried flowers, butterfly attractant, bed, borders.

Zinnias* - Zinnia spp. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. 

Zinnia elegans - Zinnia

Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut flower, containers, butterfly attractant.

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Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.