Deer Proof Perennial and Shrub Bed Review #1
This is the first in a series about my ‘deer proof’ perennial and shrub border. I use that phrase ‘deer proof’ lightly, because no plant is truly deer proof. That caveat follows all who put plants in the ground because if hungry enough, deer will eat just about anything!
****However, I have found that deer do not touch spirea at all ****
First family of plants represented here: Spirea. The smaller plants in the front of the beds are Spirea japonica cultivars that are sterile.
Be warned that some cultivars are invasive in the mid-Atlantic area and North Carolina. As a garden designer who seeks to be ecologically friendly I recommend you see the link for the NC Invasive Plant Council to learn more about why we need to take care in selecting plants for our landscapes. I use natives when I can, and work with homeowners to create a practical and attractive landscape.
Three great qualities of these two cultivars along with being ‘deer proof’:
1- Early to emerge in the spring with bright beautiful red foliage for one and yellow foliage, for the other
2- Drought proof
3- Long blooming
Proven Winners created these spirea and touts all their plants in the ‘Doozie’ series to be seedless and hence not invasive. ‘Double Play Doozie’ has plentiful pink blooms and green foliage while ‘Double Play Candy Corn’ has yellow & orange foliage with pink flowers. The brightness of the plant is a wonderful highlight against the darker greens of other foliage and turf.
Additional great qualities are:
1- Dwarf plants which reach 2-3’ height and width. Slow growing and small stature makes them low maintenance
2 - Rebloom all summer. A shearing of dead blooms brings on another vibrant show of the pink flowers.
3-They make a cute, mounded shape that is perfect for the front of the bed
The larger plant in the corner, Spirea x vanhouttei, is a hybrid in the rose family, known for its spring blooms covering long arching branches. It can get 5’-8’ H and as wide which makes a nice border or marks a corner nicely. Spirea pruniflolia, similar, also goes by the name bridal wreath spirea though is an entirely different plant. Both are available in the trade though you are more likely to find vanhouttei. It makes a beautiful cut flower though it lasts only a few days indoors. The tiny blossoms may end up covering all your surfaces making it the ‘glitter’ of flower drop.
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