Pest-free, Rabbit/Deer resistant Perennials

I planted a butterfly/hummingbird/bee garden several years ago and have enjoyed it so much! The Yarrows, Buddleias, Salvias, Sweetbay Magnolias, Daylilies, Goldsturm Rudbeckia, Shasta Daisy 'Becky'and Sedum have done well. However, the Asclepias Butterfly Weed is covered in yellow aphids and the mess they leave. Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' has been decimated by Flea Beetles. The Agastache 'Tutti-Frutti' has about fizzled to nothing. Coreopsis 'Jethro Tull' totally died.

Can you all share what plants have been pest-free and hardy for you? Also, I'm aiming for a garden that will not require much supplemental water. here ins central Mississippi, our summers in recent years have been very hot (90's - 100), nights quite warm (80's), high humidity, and not nearly enough rain (actually, weeks or drought, a good rain, and then more weeks of drought).

Thanks for good advice about perennials bloomers and flowers that grow quickly from seed! (The picture below is from October 2010 -- The garden does not look too well this year.)

This message was edited Sep 3, 2011 8:58 PM

Pretty!

Doesn't lantana grow there? That's one that the deer and rabbits usually don't get too bad. Sometimes they'll eat the flowers off.

You might try natives of those same flowers, rather than named cultivars. Sometimes when they breed them up for color or another visual feature, they lose some hardiness. A monarda might be good. Blazing star.

Thanks for the suggestions. Lantana has not done too well for me but I received a couple of small starts of Bee Balm this year and am hoping it will amount to something next year.. I tihnk it would look quite nice in the garden and I understand it is a favorite of the wildlife. Is it pest-free for you?

I think Bee Balm's biggest issue is powdery mildew. Other than that you don't get any pests, at least I haven't. Just make sure you don't water the foliage. Use a soaker hose because they don't tolerate drought. Unless you have the Monarda fistulosa, that one does much better for me than the M. didymas. I have tons of purple coneflowers and the butterflies love those. I think I've seen every type of large butterfly on it at one time or another. They are pest free and do fine without extra water. I have seen a cotton tail in my yard a few times but haven't found any damage on my plants. I grow everything from roses to daylilies and all sorts of wildflowers. Check out my garden diary for ideas. Usually if something doesn't do well I make note of it.

Meridith,

I enjoyed purusing your diaries! Nice garden! I'll be sure to get some purple coneflowers -- may even go look for some for sale today! Thank you!

This message was edited Sep 5, 2011 8:27 AM

Thank you! And you are welcome :)