Bayberry isn’t a fussy plant to grow as long as you give it full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant and doesn’t need much fertilizer because it’s a nitrogen fixer. But the shrubs do spread by root suckering, so remove these if you don’t want them invading nearby garden areas.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Flower Color Varieties: Yellowish, insignificantLight: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Dry to moist, well-drainedMature Size: 5 to 10 feet tall, similar spreadDeer Resistant: Yes
There are different species, and they don’t all have the same requirements. Monarda didyma is moisture-loving and needs damp soil. Consequently, depending on your climate, plan on providing it with 1 inch of water weekly; never let its soil dry out entirely. By contrast, Monarda fistula is more tolerant of dry conditions.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9Flower Color Varieties: Red, purple, pink, white, lavenderLight: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Rich, moistMature Size: 10 to 48 inches tall, 10 to 36 inches wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Don’t worry if the stems die back to ground level over winter if you’re growing it in the northern part of its hardiness range. Bluebeard is often classified as a sub-shrub for precisely this reason. If your bluebeard doesn’t suffer from winter die-back, it will flower best if you cut it back by half in early spring. Otherwise, this drought-tolerant plant isn’t fussy to grow, as long as you give it full sun and good drainage.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Flower Color Varieties: Dark blue, light blueLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drainedMature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Catmint isn’t fussy to grow. Just give this drought-tolerant perennial good drainage and sufficient sun. Most of its maintenance comes in the form of cutting. In spring, prune off dead branches left over from last season. Then shear back the bigger varieties after the initial bloom to promote re-blooming. Thereafter, deadhead the flowers whenever they fade. Such a regimen will give you blooms into the fall.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Flower Color Varieties: BlueLight: Full sun to partial sunSoil Needs: Dry to moist, well-drainedMature Size: Varies by cultivarDeer Resistant: Yes
But they’re used in different ways in landscaping. Whereas catmint is ornamental, catnip is weedy. But this weedy nature makes it even easier to grow than catmint. Catnip takes more shade than catmint.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Dry to moist, well-drainedMature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Creeping thyme is an ideal perennial ground cover in fragrance gardens. When you step on it, aroma is released into the air. It also has attractive flowers. Creeping thyme is easy to grow and thrives in poor soils. Just give it full sun and good drainage; it’s susceptible to root rot in soggy soil. It becomes woody as it ages and when woody stems begin to predominate, growth will decline. Either remove and replace the plants or prune them back to rejuvenate them.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9Flower Color Varieties: White, pink, lavenderLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, sandyMature Size: 2 to 6 inches tall, 6 to 18 inches wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Hemlock is best grown in cool, moist, well-drained ground. Because it has shallow roots, protect it from strong winds. Plant hemlock trees 30 to 40 feet apart.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7Flower Color Varieties: Not grown for flowersLight: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 70 feet tall, 25 to 35 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Lantana grows as a shrub in warm climates, where it’s perennial. Northerners treat it as an annual, often growing it in hanging pots during the summer. Its needs vary according to whether you’re growing it in the ground in the South or in a pot in the North. Lantana growing in the ground doesn’t need much fertilizing (once in early spring). But pot-grown lantana should get 20-20-20 fertilizer monthly. Lantana needs one inch of water weekly; never let it dry out completely. The sandier the soil, the more you’ll need to water it in hot weather. While lantana can survive a light frost, it dies when temperatures go below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7a to 11aFlower Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, blue, white, pink, mixedLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 6 feet tall and wide in warm climatesDeer Resistant: Yes
Despite its common name, “English” lavender is a Mediterranean herb, so install it in sandy soil that drains very sharply. A damp soil filled with humus frequently leads to root rot; it likes soil that’s poor and dry. Water new plants every other day for their first week to get them established. Thereafter, they’re drought-tolerant; excess watering only inhibits their ability to bloom. Water mature plants only before the ground totally dries out, until flower buds form. Then water every few days to ensure a good harvest.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8Flower Color Varieties: Purple, lavender, violet-blue, white, pinkLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, infertileMature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Drought-tolerant, it’s useful in xeriscaping. It’s a minimal-fuss plant; just give it full sun and good drainage.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3a to 9bFlower Color Varieties: LavenderLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 4 to 5 feet tall, 3 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Sweet woodruff is easy to grow, readily adapting to different soil and moisture conditions. One of its few drawbacks is that it’s too easy to grow: It spreads so easily that it can be thuggish, so you may have to pull up volunteers occasionally to keep it under control. Alternatively, if you water it sparingly, it won’t spread as quickly.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Partial sun to shadeSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 6 to 12 inches tall, 9 to 18 inches wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Harder to control than sweet woodruff, don’t plant tansy in areas where it’s considered invasive. Even in places where it’s not technically invasive, tansy can quickly take over an area, so most of your work will come in the form of restricting tansy’s spread.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 2 to 5 feet tall, 12 to 18 inches wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Grow Tricolor in full sun and well-drained soil. Mix compost into the ground annually to fertilize. The purple in the variegated foliage depends on full sun. Give it well-drained soil, otherwise it may rot. Drought-tolerant once established, don’t let the soil dry out when the plant is young.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9Flower Color Varieties: Not grown for its flowersLight: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 1 to 1 1/2 feet, with a similar spreadDeer Resistant: Yes
Silver Mound is easy to grow. Just give it full sun and good drainage. It tolerates drought, road salt, and poor soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Flower Color Varieties: Yellow (but wormwood is not grown for its flowers)Light: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide (Silver Mound)Deer Resistant: Yes
Yarrow is easy to grow and spreads when grown in full sun. Before planting yarrow, consider whether its spreading is acceptable. It must be staked in some cases to avoid having its stems flop over in high winds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9Flower Color Varieties: Purple, white, yellow, pink, orange, red, bi-coloredLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drainedMature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wideDeer Resistant: Ye
