Ivy-like plants that are less prone to spider mites. Hmmm. Well, Senecio macroglossus (cape ivy) looks very much like English ivy (Hedera helix), and isn't particularly attractive to mites, but it has a whole set of other problems that don't make it significantly easier, and it's not all that widely available. Hedera canariensis (Algerian ivy) looks like a very big version of H. helix. It's not as attractive to mites, but you still have to watch carefully for them (I recently lost my plant to mites because I didn't notice quickly enough what was going on.): once they get going, the population explodes like it would for H. helix. I'm not hugely familiar with Ficus pumila (creeping fig), but I've seen some varieties of it that had a similarly-sized leaf: the effect from a distance is kinda the same. There's also a (smaller-leaved) version with white around the leaf edges, but I think that may be the only variegation option. I'm under the impression that they're fairly easy plants, and while mites are possible, they should be more easily controlled. I have not yet tested this by trying to grow it personally. Plectranthus nummularius (Swedish ivy) trails, though it doesn't much resemble English ivy otherwise. It's good about bugs: I've had one for a while that has never had any problems, even when other plants in the vicinity did. Pilea nummularifolia is another trailer that looks even less like Hedera helix than Plectranthus nummularius does. Nice plant, though. I'm actually getting to be pretty fond of mine. Don't really know on the bug situation, but again, no problems for mine so far. Cissus rhombifolia (grape ivy, oakleaf ivy) vines and trails. Doesn't look much like English ivy, and it is supposed to have some issues with mites, but it exists, and I've had mine over a year and it's been very civilized. Zebrina pendula (wandering Jew) and Tradescantia pallida (purple heart) are pretty pest-free in my experience, though they get leggy quickly and also bear no resemblance whatsoever to English ivy except for trailing. Epipremnum aureum (pothos) is almost too obvious to be worth mentioning. Ditto Philodendron hederaceum (heart-leaf philodendron) and the other climbing Philodendrons. Philodendron hederaceum in particular is underrated, in my opinion, because it will tolerate a lot of abuse, and so the plants everybody always sees are plants that have been through a lot of abuse, which makes them not look so great. A well-grown P. hederaceum is a thing of beauty. All three are decent if not spectacular when it comes to bugs. Hoya carnosa, again, doesn't look like English ivy, and some people have trouble with them, but mine have been great so far, and are very easy-maintenance. Spider mites aren't a problem with Hoya spp. so much, but mealybugs can be huge, so it's important to pick your plant out very carefully. But mealybugs aside, you could do worse. This wasn't an exhaustive list, but, you know, we could be here all day. I hope there's something in there that's useful to you.

The best way to control mosquitoes isn't with plants (sorry). You do it simply by making your yard as inhospitable a place for mosquitoes as possible. Think of your yard like a war front where the mosquitoes are enemy invaders. As Supreme Yard Commander you have many tools at your disposal to defend your territory from these blood-sucking monsters hell-bent on making sure you can't enjoy your yard... 1) Chemical weapons (mosquito traps). 2) Biological weapons (predators). 3) Destructive force (smack!). In my own experience on this war front I've found the following strategies to be most effective at very little cost (and they're also very environmentally friendly =): A) The enemy of your enemy is your friend. Invite bats, amphibians, and reptiles over for an extended stay in your yard by giving them plenty of places to live and hide from their own predators... * Make a log pile (or two, or three!) * Instead of throwing out old fencing or wood scraps, lean some of it against the new fencing or against a tree. * Put up a bat house. * Keep your local bird population fat & happy so they don't resort to eating your precious lizards: Plant Wax Myrtle in your yard (Myrtle berries are like crack to birds. Note: This is also a good way to keep birds off of your fruit trees and berry shrubs =). I personally believe this is why all the fruit and berries at the Jacksonville Zoo are all but untouched by the birds all year long: They have Wax Myrtle *everywhere* and I always see a bird or two feasting on the berries. B) Get rid of standing water. Anything that can hold rain and sprinkler water must be removed or remediated (put them somewherre they won't get wet). C) Don't use any chemicals on your lawn or garden that are known to cause problems for amphibians. This one is hard--you'll have to check up on each and every chemical you're using to make sure that it isn't known to cause things like gender changes in frogs (and fish). Some weed killers are really bad for this. Remember: Anything that can mess up the ecosystem in your nearby waterways is likely to create mosquito problems. Mosquito larvae are just peachy growing up in polluted waterways. Their predators on the other hand... not so much. -Riskable "There's a difference between making a change and making a difference."

What can I plant that is deer resistant? This list of deer resistant plants was compiled from Gardenweb postings and other sources. As you can see from the follow-up postings at the bottom of the list, RESISTANT is the key word. Deer can be quite the gourmets and yours may still be partial to some of the plants on this list. Deer that are hungry enough will eat everything bare from the ground up into the trees as high as they can reach. Many of the plants on this list are poisonous or medicinal. If a plant smells bad to you when you crush the leaf or stem, it probably smells just as bad to the deer. (P.S. Don't forget that rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs and other animals might be just as destructive as deer in your garden.) ANNUALS A Agastache foeniculum -- Anise Hyssop A Ageratum houstonianum -- Blue Floss Flower A Alternanthera ficoidea -- Josephs Coat A Angelonia angustifolia -- Angelonia A Antirrhinum majus -- Snapdragon A Asperula orientalis -- Annual Woodruff A Bidens ferulifolia -- Bidens A Brachycome iberidifolia -- Swan River Daisy A Calendula sp. -- Pot Marigold A Calibrachoa Hybrid -- Million Bells A Capsicum annuum -- Ornamental pepper A Catharanthus roseus -- Madagascar Vinca A Clarkia hybridus -- Four O'Clocks A Cleome hasslerana -- Spider Flower A Cleome serrulata - Bee plant A Coleus - A Coreopsis sp. -- Coreopsis A Cosmos bipinnatus -- Cosmos A Delphinium ajacis - Larkspur (annual Delphinium) A Felicia echinata -- Blue Marguerite A Gomphrena globosa -- Globe Amaranth A Gypsophila repens -- Baby's Breath A Helianthus annuus -- Common Sunflower A Helichrysum bracteatum -- Straw Flower A Hunnemania fumariifolia -- Mexican Tulip Poppy A Hypoestes phyllostachya -- Polka-Dot Plant A Impatiens balsama -- Balsam impatien A Ipomoea sp. -- Morning Glory A Lobularia maritima -- Sweet Alyssum A Matthiola incana -- Stock A Melampodium paludosum -- Butter Daisy A Nemesia strumosa -- Carnival Flower A Nicotiana alata -- Tobacco Flower A Nigella damascena -- Love-In-A-Mist A Oxypetalum caeruleum -- Southern Star A Papaver nudicaule -- Iceland Poppy A Papaver Rhoeas -- Corn Poppy A Papaver somniferum -- Opium Poppy A Phlox drummondii -- Annual Phlox A Polygonum capitatum -- Pinkhead Knotweed A Ricinus communis -- Castor Bean A Ruellia brittoniana A Ruellia nudiflora -- Wild Petunia A Senecio cineraria -- Dusty Miller A Tagetes erecta -- African Marigold A Tagetes lemmonii -- Copper Canyon Daisy A Tagetes lucida - Mexican Marigold A Tagetes patula -- French Marigold A Tagetes signata -- Signet Marigold A Tithonia diversifolia -- Mexican sunflower A Verbena bonariensis -- Verbena A Verbena rigida -- Verbena Vervain A Vinca rosea -- Madagascar periwinkle A Xeranthemum annuum -- Immortelle A Zinnia acerosa -- Native Zinnia A Zinnia angustifolia -- Star Zinnia A Zinnia grandiflora A Zinnia haageana -- Mexican Zinnia A Zinnia linearis -- Narrowleaf Zinnia BIENNIALS - may sometimes perennialize or reseed B Alcea rosea -- Hollyhock B Daucus carota - Queen Anne's Lace B Digitalis purpurea -- Foxglove B Digitalis sp. -- Perennial Foxglove B Myosotis sylvatica -- Forget-Me-Not FERNS F Adiantum pedatum -- Maiden Hair Fern F Cyrtomium falicatum -- Holly Fern F Dryopteris sp. -- Wood Fern F Matteuccia pennsylvanica -- Ostrich Fern F Woodwardia sp. -- Chain Fern GRASSES - perennial and annual G Acorus calamus -- Gardener's Grass G Andropogon gerardi -- Big Bluestem Grass G Bouteloua curtipendula -- Sideoats Grama Grass G Chasmanthium latifolium -- Inland Seaoats Grass G Festuca ovina 'glauca' -- Blue Fescue Grass G Lipidium montanum -- Western Peppergrass G Miscanthus sp. -- Ornamental Grass G Pennisetum orientale -- Fountain Grass G Pennisetum sp. -- Annual Fountain Grass G Schizachryium scoparium -- Little Bluestem Grass G Stipa tenuissima -- Feathergrass HERB - Annual HA Basil HA Borago officinalis -- Borage HA Chamomile HA Origanum spp. -- Marjoram HA Perilla frutescens -- Beefsteak Plant HERB - Perennial HP Allium schoenoprasum -- Chives HP Artemisia spp. -- Wormwood (or Sage) HP Cichorium intybus - Chicory HP Lavandula spp. -- Lavender HP Mentha spp. - Spearmints, peppermints, etc HP Nepeta spp. -- Catmint HP Rosmarinus officinalis -- Rosemary HP Santolina chamaecyparissus -- Silver Santolina HP Santolina virens -- Green Santolina HP Satureia spp. -- Savory HP Tanacetum vulgare -- Tansy HP Teucrium spp. -- Germander HP Thymus spp. -- Thyme PERENNIALS P Achillea filipendulina -- Fernleaf Yarrow P Achillea millefolium -- Common Yarrow P Aconitum sp. -- Monkshood P Ageratum sp. -- Perennial Ageraturm P Ajuga reptans -- Bugleweed P Alchemilla sp. -- Lady's Mantle P Allium sp. -- Flowering Onion P Alyssum saxatile -- Golden Alyssum P Amsonia illustris -- Showy Blue Star P Amsonia tabernaemontana -- Willow Amsonia P Anagallis monellii -- Pimpernel P Anaphalis triplinervis -- Pearly Everlasting P Anemone sp. -- Windflower P Anthemis tinctoria - Golden Marguerite P Apocynum androsaemilolium -- Dogbane P Aqueligia spp. -- Columbine P Arabis spp. -- Rock Cress P Argemone texana -- White Prickly Poppy P Arisaema spp. -- Jack-in-the-pulpit P Armeria maritima -- Sea Thrift P Artemisia ludoviciana -- White Sage P Asarum canadense -- Native ginger P Asarum europaeum -- European Wild Ginger P Aster spp. P Astilbe spp. P Aubretia sp. -- False Rockcress P Baptisia spp. -- False Indigo P Bergenia sp. -- Pigsqueak P Boltonia P Caltha palustris P Camassia spp. -- Quamash P Campanula carpatica -- Harebell P Campanula media -- Canterbury Bells P Centaurea spp. -- Knapweed P Centranthus ruber -- Jupiter's beard P Cerastium tomentosum -- Snow-In-Summer P Cheiranthus chieranthoides -- Wallflower P Chelidnium majus -- Celandine Poppy P Chelone spp. -- Turtlehead P Chrysanthemum P Chrysanthemum leucanthemum -- Ox-eye Daisy P Cimicifuga spp. -- Bugbane, Cohosh P Clematis recta -- Shrub clematis P Colchicum autumnale -- Autumn Crocus P Convallaria majus -- Lily-Of-The-Valley P Corydalis lutea -- Gold Bleeding Heart P Cynoglossum amabile -- Chinese Forget-Me-Not P Cynoglossum nervosum -- Houndstongue P Delphinium spp. -- Delphinium P Dianthus spp. -- Pinks P Dicentra spp. -- Bleeding Heart P Dictamnus albus -- White Gas Plant P Echinacea spp. - Cone Flowers P Echinops ritro -- Globe Thistle P Epimedium sp. -- Bishop's Hat P Equisetum arvense -- Horsetail P Eranthis hyemalis -- Winter Aconite P Erigeron modestus -- Plains Fleabane P Eupatorium coelestinum -- Mistflower P Eupatorium perforlifum -- Joe-Pye-Weed P Euphorbia marginata -- Snow-On-The-Mountain P Euphorbia spp. -- Spurge P Excium vulgare L. -- Viper's Bugloss P Filapendula spp. -- Meadowsweet P Fritillaria spp. -- Fritillary P Gaillardia pulchella -- Blanket Flower P Galanthus nivalis -- Common Snowdrop P Gaura lindheimeri P Geranium spp. -- Hardy Geraniums P Helenium sp. -- Helen's flower P Helianthus angustifolius -- Swamp Sunflower P Helleborus sp. -- Hellebore P Hepatica sp. -- P Heuchera sp. -- Coral Bells P Heucherella x (Heuchera x Tiarella) P Hyacinthoides sp. -- Spanish Bluebell and English Bluebell P Hyacithus orientalis -- Hyacinth P Hypericum sp. -- St. John's Wort P Inula helenium -- Elecampane P Iris sibirica,ensata -- Iris Japanese,Siberian, possibly beardeds P Lamium maculatum -- Deadnettle P Leucanthemum sp. -- Shasta daisy P Liatris sp. -- Gayfeather P Limonium latifolium -- Sea Lavender P Limonium sinuatum -- Statice P Linaria macroccana -- Toad Flax P Linum -- Flax P Linum sulcatum -- Yellow Prairie Flax P Liriope P Lobelia cardinalis - Red Cardinal Flower P Lobelia erinus -- Lobelia P Lobelia siphilitica - Blue Cardinal Flower P Lupinus sp. -- Lupine, Texas Bluebonnet P Lychnis chalcedonica -- Maltese cross P Lychnis sp. -- Rose Campion P Lycoris sp. -- Resurrection lily or Naked Lady P Macleaya cordata -- Plume Poppy P Melampodium leucanthum -- Blackfoot Daisy P Mertensia virginiana - Virginia bluebells P Mirabilis jalapa -- Four-o-clock or Marvel-of-Peru P Monarda sp. -- Bee Balm P Muscari sp. -- Grape Hyacinth P Narcissus sp. -- Narcissus & Daffodils P Oenothera sp. -- Evening Primrose P Ophiopogon japonica - Mondo Grass P Pachysandra sp. P Paeonia sp. -- Peony P Papaver orientale -- Oriental Poppy P Penstemon sp. -- Penstemon P Penstemon x gloxinoides -- Hybrid Penstemon P Perovskia atriplicifolia -- Russian Sage P Phlomis spp. P Phlox Paniculata -- Garden phlox P Physostegia virginiana -- Obedient Plant P Platycodon grandiflorus -- Balloon Flower P Polomium sp -- Jacobs Ladder P Polygonatum sp. -- Solomon's Seal P Potentilla fruticosa -- Bush Cinquefoil P Potentilla sp. P Pulmonaria sp. -- Lungwort P Pulsatilla vulgaris -- Pasque Flower P Ranunculus sp. -- Buttercups P Rudbeckia lacinata -- Goldenglow P Rudbeckia sp. -- Black-eyed Susan P Saponaria ocymoides -- Rock Soapwort P Saponaria officinalis -- Bouncing Bet P Scabiosa P Scutellaria seleniana -- Skullcap P Scutellaria suffrutescens -- Pink skullcap P Sedum kamtschaticum -- Yellow Stonecrop P Sempervivum sp. Hen and chickens (spiny varieties) P Sidalcea P Silene armeria P Solidago sp. -- Goldenrod P Stachys byzantina -- Lamb's Ear P Stachys coccinea -- Texas Betony P Symphytum spp. - Comfrey P Tiarella sp. -- P Trandescantia sp. -- P Tricyrtis sp. -- Toad Lily P Trillium sp. -- Trillium P Verbascum thapsus -- Common Mullein P Vinca minor -- Periwinkle P Viola sp -- some perennial violets, not pansies P Yucca sp. -- Yucca TENDER PERENNIALS -- act as annuals in zones 7,6,5, but can be overwintered indoors. Usually sold as annuals. TP Agapanthus spp. -- Lily of the Nile TP Agastache cana -- Perennial Agastache TP Agave leuchugilla -- Agave TP Agave scabra -- Century Plant TP Asparagus springerii -- Asparagus fern TP Begonia x semperflorens -- Wax Begonia TP Begonia x tuberhybrida -- Tuber Begonia TP Brugmansia spp. TP Brugmansia versicolor -- Angels Trumpet TP Caesalpinia gilliesii -- Bird of Paradise TP Dahlia sp. -- Dahlia TP Datura innoxia TP Datura meteloides -- Downy Thorn Apple TP Datura metheioldes TP Datura quercifolia TP Datura wrightii TP Hesperaloe paviflora -- Red Yucca TP Lantana camara -- Lantana TP Lantana montevidensis -- Weeping Lantana TP Osteospermum sp. -- African daisy TP Pelargonium sp. -- Geranium TP Pentas lanceolata -- Egyptian Star Cluster TP Plumbago auriculata -- Cape Plumbago TP Salvia azurea v.pitcheriii -- Pitcher Sage TP Salvia ballotaeflora -- Blue Shrub Sage TP Salvia chamaedryoides -- Gray Shrub Sage TP Salvia coccinea -- Flowering Sage TP Salvia discolor -- Silver Peruvian Sage TP Salvia farinacea -- Mealycup Sage TP Salvia greggii -- Autumn Sage TP Salvia guaranitica -- Bog Sage TP Salvia leucanthia -- Mexican Bush Sage TP Salvia lycioides -- Canyon Sage TP Salvia lyrata -- Lyre-leaf Sage TP Salvia patens -- Gentian Sage TP Salvia regla -- Mountain Sage TP Salvia roemeriana -- Cedar Sage TP Salvia sp. -- Perennial Salvia and Sages TP Salvia splendens -- Scarlet Sage TP Salvia uliginosa -- Bog Sage TP Salvia viridis -- Joseph Sage TP Zantedeschia aethiopica -- Calla Lily SHRUBS S Abelia x grandiflora -- Glossy Abelia S Amelanchier sp. -- Serviceberry S Amorpha fruticosa -- Indigobush S Arctostaphylos uva-ursi -- Bearberry S Berberis vulgaris -- Common Barberry (Caution: Invasive.) S Buddleia sp. -- Butterfly-Bush S Buxus sempervirens -- Common Boxwood S Callicarpa americana -- American Beautybush S Callicarpa japonica -- Japanese Beautyberry S Calluna sp. -- Heather S Calluna vulgaris -- Scotch Heather S Caryopteris sp. -- Blue Mist Caryopteris S Cephalanthus occidentalis -- Buttonbush S Chaenomeles sp. -- Flowering Quince S Clethra sp. -- Sweet Pepperbush S Cotoneaster apiculatus -- Cranberry Cotoneaster S Cotoneaster glaucophyllus S Cotoneaster horizontalis -- Rockspray Cotoneaster S Cotoneaster sp. -- Cotoneaster S Crataegus laevigata -- English Hawthorn S Crataegus sp. -- Hawthorn S Cytisus scoparius - Broom S Daphne x burkwoodi -- Daphne S Deutzia gracilis -- Slender Deutzia S Deutzia scabra -- Fuzzy Deutzia S Enkianthus campanulatus -- Redvein Enkianthus S Erica sp. -- Heather S Euonymus alatus -- Burning Bush S Ficus caria -- Common Fig S Forsythia sp. -- Forsythia S Hibiscus syriacus -- Rose of Sharon S Itea virginica -- Virginia Sweetspire S Kalmia latifolia -- Mountain Laurel S Kerria japonica -- Japanese Kerria S Kochia scoparia -- Burning Bush S Kolkwitzia amabilis -- Beautybush S Larrea tridentata -- Creosote Bush S Leucothoe fontanesiana -- Drooping Leucothoe S Ligustrum amurense -- Amur Privet S Ligustrum vulgare -- Privet S Lindera benzoin -- Spicebush S Mahonia aquifolium -- Oregon Grapeholly S Mahonia sp. -- Mahonia S Myrica sp. -- Bayberry S Nandina sp. S Pieris japonica -- Japanese Andromeda S Prunus caroliniana -- American Cherry Laurel S Pyracantha coccinea -- Scarlet Firethorn S Rhus aromatica -- Aromatic Sumac S Rhus virens -- Evergreen Sumac S Rosa spinosissima -- Scotch Rose S Sambacus canadensis -- Elderberry S Spiraea prunifolia -- Bridalwreath Spirea S Spiraea sp. -- Spirea S Spiraea x bumalda -- Bumald Spirea S Syringa sp. -- Lilac S Viburnum sp. TREES T Abies procera -- Noble Fir T Acer saccharinum -- Silver Maple T Aesculus arguta -- White Buckeye T Aesculus hippocastanum -- Horsechestnut T Aesculus pavia -- Red Buckeye T Asimina triloba -- Pawpaw T Betula lenta -- Sweet Birch T Betula papyrifera -- Paperbark Birch T Betula pendula -- European White Birch T Cercis canadensis -- Eastern Redbud T Chamaecyparis sp. -- False Cypress T Cornus kousa -- Kousa Dogwood T Cornus sericea -- Red-twig Dogwood T Cotinus coggygria -- Smoke Tree T Cotinus obovatus -- Smoke Tree T Cryptomeria japonica -- Japanese Cedar T Fagus sylvatica asplenifolia -- European Cutleaf Beech T Fagus sylvatica atropunicea -- European Copper Beech T Fagus sylvatica pendula -- European Weeping Beech T Fraxinus pennsylvanica -- Green Ash T Ginkgo biloba -- Maidenhair Tree T Ilex decidua -- Possum Haw T Ilex sp. -- Holly T Ilex vomitoria -- Yaupon Holly T Juniperus spp. T Juniperus virginiana -- Eastern Red Cedar T Koelreuteria paniculata -- Panicled Goldenraintree T Lagerstroemia sp. -- Crape Myrtle T Liquidambar styraciflua -- Sweetgum T Magnolia grandiflora T Malus spp. T Melia azedarach -- Chinaberry Tree T Metasequoia glyptostroboides -- Dawn Redwood T Picea abies -- Norway Spruce T Picea abies nidiformis -- Birds Nest Spruce T Picea glauca -- White Spruce T Picea pungens glauca -- Colorado Blue Spruce T Pinus elderica -- Afghan pine T Pinus nigra -- Austrian Pine T Pinus resinosa -- Red Pine T Pinus rigida -- Pitch Pine T Pinus strobus -- Eastern White Pine T Pinus sylvestris -- Scots Pine T Pistacia texenanus -- Texas Pistachio T Prunus persica -- Peach T Prunus spp. T Pyrus calleryana bradfordii -- Bradford Pear T Pyrus communis -- Common Pear T Quercus prinus -- Chestnut Oak T Quercus rubra -- Red Oak T Robinia hispida -- Rose acacia T Sassafras albidum -- Common Sassafras T Sciadopitys verticillata -- Umbrella Pine T Tamarix ramosissima -- Tamarisk T Taxodium distichum -- Bald Cypress T Tilia cordata -- Littleleaf Linden T Truja spp. -- Cedar T Vitex negundo -- Chastetree T Zelkova serrata -- Japanese Zelkova VINES V Bignonia capreolata -- Cross vine V Campsis radicans -- Trumpet Creeper V Clematis sp. V Ficus pumila -- Fig vine V Gelsemimum sempervirens -- Carolina Jasmine V Hydrangea anomala petiolaris -- Climbing Hydrangea V Lonicera semipervirens -- Trumpet Honeysuckle V Parthenocissus quinquefolia -- Virginia Creeper V Parthenocissus tricuspidata -- Boston Ivy V Wisteria floribunda -- Japanese Wisteria V Wisteria macrostachya UNKNOWNS These are plants from a list that was compiled for Texas. Many of these plants are unfamiliar to the Author -- any information about them appreciated. ? Actae pachpoda spp -- Baneberry ? Adonis annua -- Pheasant's Eye ? Allamanda cathartica ? Anisacanthus wrightii ? Anisodontea ? Antigonon leptopus ? Argemone mexicana -- Yellow Prickly Poppy ? Argemone sanguinea -- Rose Prickly Poppy ? Argyranthemum frutescens -- Butterfly daisy ? Aristida purpurea ? Asclepias asperula ? Asclepias linaria -- Pineleaf Milkweed ? Asclepias sublata ? Asclepias tuberosa -- Butterfly Weed ? Asclepias virdii -- Green Milkweed ? Baccharis halimifilia ? Baileya multiradiata -- Desert Marigold ? Berberis swaseyi -- Texas Barberry ? Bervberus trifoliolata ? Bucharest sarothroides ? Buchloe dactyliodes -- Buffalo Grass ? Calamagrostis x acutiflora -- Reed Grass ? Carduus nutans -- Nodding Thistle ? Carduus texanum -- Texas Thistle ? Cassia corymbosa - Common Tree Senna ? Cassia lindheimeriana -- Lindheimer Senna ? Cassia roemeriana - Two Leaved Senna ? Centaurea melitensis - Tocalote Thistle ? Centaurea texanum - Texas Thistle ? Centaurium beyrichii - Mountain Pink ? Cestrum nocturnum -- Night Blooming Jasmine ? Chrysanthemum mexicana ? Cirsium japonicum -- Sea Thistle ? Cladrastis kentukea -- Yellowwood ? Comptonia peregrina -- Sweet Fern ? Cooperia drummondii -- Rain Lily ? Cooperia pedunculata - Rain Lily ? Corydalis sempervirens ? Dalea frutescens -- Black Dalea ? Dalea greggii -- Gregg Dalea ? Dasylirion texanum ? Descuraninia pinnata ? Dyschoriste linearis ? Dyssodia pentachaeta ? Dyssodia setifolia v radiata ? Emilia javanica -- Tassel Flower ? Ericameria laricifolia ? Erthrina herbacea ? Erygium heterophyllum - Mexican Thistle ? Eryngium leavenworthii -- Eryngo ? Escholzia californica -- California poppy ? Eupatorium rugosum -- White Snakeroot ? Eupatorium wrightii -- White Mistflower ? Euphorbia antisyphilitica ? Euphorbia bicolor -- Snow-on-the-Prairie ? Europs spp. ? Eustoma grandiflora -- Lisianthius ? Evolvulus glomeratus -- Evolvulus ? Eysenhardtia texana -- Texas Kidneywood ? Flourensia cernua -- Tarbush ? Gloriosa supurba L. -- Gloriosa Lily ? Grindelia lanceolata ? Gutierezia sarothrea ? Habranthus texanus -- Copper Rain Lily ? Helenium amarum -- Bitterweed ? Helianthus maximilliani -- Maximilian's Sunflower ? Heterotheca latifolia -- Golden Aster ? Hymenoxys scaposa ? Iscoma wrightii ? Jasminum mesyni ? Jatropha cardiophylla ? Jatropha cuneata ? Jatropha dioica ? Lavatera trimestris -- Tree Mallow ? Leucophyllum frutescens ? Lithospermum incisum -- Fringed Puccoon ? Lycium andersonii ? Lycium berlandieri ? Lycium fremontii ? Lycium halimfolium ? Machaeranthera phyllocephala -- Camphor Daisy ? Machaeranthera tanaceifolia -- Tahoka Daisy ? Malvaviscus drummondii ? Merremia aurea -- Yellow Morning Glory ? Moluccella laevia -- Bells of Ireland ? Muhlenbergia capillaris ? Muhlenbergia dubia ? Muhlenbergia dubiodes ? Muhlenbergia lindheimeri ? Muhlenbergia rigens ? Nephrolepis -- Sword fern ? Nierembergia hippomanica -- Cup Flower ? Nyctagina capitata ? Oxytropis lambertii ? Palafoxia hookeriana ? Parkinsonia aculeata ? Parrotia persica -- Persian Parrotia ? Pectis angustifolia ? Perezia runcinata ? Perezia wrightii ? Phyla nodiflora v. incisa ? Physalis spp. -- Ground Cherry ? Physostegia intermedia ? Picradeniopsis spp. ? Pluchea camphorata -- Camphor Weed ? Pluchea purpurascens -- Marsh Fleabane ? Polaniaia uniglandulosa ? Poliomintha longifolia -- Mexican Oregano ? Polytaenia nuttallii ? Prionopsis ciliata ? Prospis glandulosa ? Psilostrophe tagetina ? Psoralea tenuiflora ? Pteridium auilinum ? Pteridium sp. -- Bracken ? Quincula lobata ? Sanvitalia procumbens -- Creeping Zinnia ? Sapindus drummondii -- Soapberry ? Senecio ampullaaceus -- Texas Squaw Weed ? Senecio jacobea -- Tansy Ragwort ? Senecio leucostachys -- Dusty Miller ? Silphium albifloum -- Rosin Weed ? Silphium simpsonii v.wrightii ? Solandra guttata ? Solandra spp. ? Solanum elaeanifolium -- Silver-leaved Nightshade ? Solanum jasminoides -- Potato Vine ? Solanum speudocapsicum -- Jerusalem Cherry ? Sophora secundiflora -- Texas Mountain Laurel ? Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) ? Stephanandra incisa -- Cutleaf Stephanandra ? Stewartia pseudocamellia -- Japanese Stewartia ? Symphoricarpos albus ? Symphoricarpos albus -- Common Snowberry ? Tecoma stans ? Tephorosia lindheimerie ? Thalictrum dasycarpum ? Thelesperma filifolium ? Thymophylla tenuiloba -- Dahlberg Daisy ? Ungnadia speciosa -- Mexican Buckeye ? Veratrum viride ? Verbena bipinnatifida -- Prairie Verbena ? Verbena peruviana -- Peruvian verbena ? Verbena sp, -- Verbena ? Verbena tenuisecta -- Moss verbena ? Verbesina enceliodies ? Verbesina virginia ? Vernonia baldwinii -- Western Ironweed ? Vernonia lindheimeri -- Woolly Ironweed ? Veronica incana -- Woody Veronica ? Viburnum rufidulum -- Rusty Blackhaw ? Viguiera denata ? Wedelia texana ? Xanthocephalum dracunculiodes ? Zexmania hispida Follow-Up Postings: *Posted by: LynnT Z6A MD (My Page) on Mon, May 13, 02 at 8:59 Great list! I was all ready to quibble and say that I thought Four-O'clocks were Mirabilis, not Clarkia, when I saw you'd got Mirabilis listed as Four-oclocks under annuals. The joy of common names! Have you ever grown clarkia? I understand they do OK here and are really attractive in part-shade. I can tell you from personal experience that deer do eat chelone when the hosta are all gone/protected. *Posted by: Periwinkles z6MD (My Page) on Fri, May 24, 02 at 11:25 The deer here love my Burning Bushes - Euonymous Alatus and also my Oakleaf Hydrangeas. They also eat the white pines, hostas, and even a Yew I thought was deer-proof! * Posted by: mtngirl z6VA (My Page) on Fri, May 24, 02 at 20:30 The deer eat our burning bushes, too. They also devoured a barberry, and hostas are out of the question. One day last winter we looked out our window and saw a doe eating birdseed out of one of our bird feeders! I think if they get hungry enough they will eat just about anything. * Posted by: Madgardenr z7WDC (My Page) on Fri, May 24, 02 at 21:56 I think it's right that if deer are hungry enough, they will eat anything. What's tasty is apparently a regional issue, also, so you might try checking your local (in my case, Maryland Cooperative Extension's Web site) extension service for a list of plants that are "deer candy" or avoided by deer in your area. I've had them nibble on Japanese white spiraea (Spiraea albiflora) and the usual tulip and hosta foliage. But recently I've had good experience with treating susceptible plants with Repellex (not ground-toxic, just tastes and smells repulsive) tablets and spray. * Posted by: dadahlia 5 PA (My Page) on Sun, May 26, 02 at 4:46 They have never touched my canna. * Posted by: hannah Z6 PA (My Page) on Sun, May 26, 02 at 11:16 Thanks for the list but, I beg to differ with Siberian & Japanese Iris being deer resistant...the little buggers walk right up to my front beds and systematically chomp off each bloom...nubs is what i'm left with...have to leave front flood lights on and that makes for a rough night's sleep, considering i don't like curtains. ..LOL * Posted by: dadahlia 5 PA (My Page) on Mon, May 27, 02 at 1:51 I have counted as many as twenty deer out there and they have never touched any of the iris or lilies. They prefer my neighbors grass. She has it professionally taken care of every week. I wish she would stop. Our yards are attached and they wander up this way frequently. Never touched my TB, siberian or lilies. * Posted by: Elaine8 PNW-Zone 8-Wa (My Page) on Mon, May 27, 02 at 5:59 In Washington State, the Deer love Heuchera (Any kind). Wouldn't it be the same in other areas? * Posted by: razmataz z7 VA (My Page) on Sun, Aug 11, 02 at 22:12 What a find! Thank you so much. Moved from California to Virginia last year, so much to learn! Deer are different in different areas. For example mule deer in CA usually won't touch impatiens, but white tail in VA LOVE it. All of them will resort to anything in a drought years. * Posted by: whinny z7 NJ (My Page) on Tue, Aug 13, 02 at 19:40 I noticed that the young deer will try just about anything, so while they may not like it, they may destroy a valued plant while sampling it. I spent a lot of money to fence in my back yard. The only sure way. (I hope) Also, they won't eat my iris, but they eat certain daylilies, but not others.

It is a nice list, but I have companion planted forever and want to stress that it is far from a proven science. In fact, in multiple university studies, the companion planting claims do not hold up in controlled studies done to study their efficacy. I am at the point that I ignore all those comments about "improves growth or flavor" and I ignore 98% of the comments about any type of plant repelling specific pests. Very few of those supposed benefits have been observed in my garden, and I've been companion planting in this location ever since we moved here in 1999. The reason to companion plant is to attract beneficial insects, and that's why I do it. Here's one example from what I've learned over the years: I can surround my cabbage beds, for example, with a solid border of all the companion plants said to repel cabbage worms, and my cabbage plants (and all other brassicas susceptible to the same pests) will be totally devoured by cabbage worms anyway. Often, those cabbage worms are sitting so close to the plants that supposedly repel them that they can use the companion plants to travel from one cabbage plant to another. So, take those sorts of recommendations with a grain of salt and just save yourself the hassle by growing your brassicas underneath row covers or insect netting placed over low tunnel hoops. It is the single most effective thing I've done in my garden in terms of deterring all types of brassica type caterpillar pests from devouring brassica plants. It is a gazillion times easier and more efficient/productive that devoting garden space to companion plants that don't repel the pests anyway, and it is preferable to using Bt 'kurstaki' in the garden, since the Bt can harm desirable butterflies. In the back garden I felt like I had some success with common wormwood repelling some but not all caterpillars from brassicas, but common wormwood is a garden thug that gets huge and reseeds readily. Fortunately for me, I believe the flooding of 2015 killed all my wormwood. I don't intend to replant it, and live in fear of it spontaneously making a comeback from self-sown seed and taking over the whole back garden again. There are some things that do seem to work. For example, growing horseradish (preferably in pots since it is invasive) does seem to help (though not 100%) keep Colorado Potato Bugs off your potato plants. But, guess what? If the CPBs show up and are repelled from the potato plants by nearby horseradish, guess where the CPBS will go? Straight to the tomato plants. So, remember you also can see some unintended consequences. I find hand-picking and drowning the CPBs as soon as they show up to be the best way to manage them. It is important to find them the first day they show up, before they can breed and lay eggs. Growing basil with tomatoes seems to help repel hornworms, but you'll see an occasional hornworm on a plant anyway. I feel like four o'clocks planted as a heavy border along two sides of the garden also repel hornworms. Otherwise, there's no real explanation for how I can grow hundreds of tomato plants each year and almost never see more than 1 to 6 hornworms the entire growing season. The area where companion plants shine is in the way they attract beneficial insects, which serve multiple purposes in your garden. This is how I use companion plants nowadays, after determining that their other reported benefits are hard to see, hard to prove and harder and harder to believe. For attracting beneficials, you need a wide range of companion plants, and the most important is to have something that is green and, hopefully, in bloom virtually year-round. Diversity is important so instead of growing tons and tons of each companion plant, I grow a few of many, many different plants. The most useful plants for attracting a wide range of beneficials are those that have small flowers or large flowerheads composed of many small flowers (like yarrow, tansy, sweet alyssum, etc.) and daisy type flowers. I feel like the flowers/herbs that attract the most beneficial insects to our garden are these: sweet alyssum, dill, fennel, yarrow, statice, purple poppy mallow, petunias (especially Laura Bush petunias with their heat tolrance), feverfew, nicotiana, small flowered marigolds like lemon gem, tangerine gem, and red gem, cilantro/coriander (you have to leave it and let it bloom in order to attract the beneficials so you don't harvest this cilantro as cilantro but you can harvest the seeds for coriander), parsley, tansy, silver tansy, comfrey, zinnias, cosmos, buckwheat, spike speedwell, nasturtiums, and moss rose. Many other herbs will attract beneficial insects once they flower, and this includes catnip, catmint, lemon balm, sage, basil, mints (in pots only as they are incredibly invasive), borage, and wormwood. The beneficial insects that I most want to attract to my garden, in addition to bees of all kinds, are green lacewings, brown lacewings, hover flies, lady bugs, minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, and all the little parasitic wasps like brachonid wasps, ichneumoid waspas, and trichogrammas wasps. The plants I listed above do attract them and I think the beneficial wasps, in specific, are why I don't have a lot of caterpillars anyway, notwithstanding the annual onslaught of cabbage worms. I believe the beneficial wasps eventually, in due time, would control the cabbage worms, but before that could happen, you'd have holey plants, so I just exclude them from the plants in the first place. You don't have to run out and buy tons of packets of flower and herb seeds. Many seed companies sell pollinator blends and good bug blends that attract bees and other pollinators as well as the beneficial insects I listed above. You can buy as little as one seed packet of pollinator or good bug attracting plants, or you can buy the mixes by the quarter pound or pound. I have used seed mixes like these from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, Wildseed Farms and Botanical Interests, among others. Because many of the plants that attract pollinators are large, getting quite tall and spreading out wide, the easiest way to grow them is as border plants along the edges of your garden. You can choose smaller, more compact companion plants to grow in the same beds as your garden plants, but understand that even these can take up a lot of space if you aren't careful. It is hard enough to squeeze them into a large garden, and considerably harder to find space for them in small gardens. A lot of the herbs and flowers I grow to attract beneficials are grown as shorter border plants along the edges of raised beds or, if they are too tall to be true edging plants, I grow them at the ends of each raised bed, but not in the middles of the bed where the actual crop plants are growing. If you've ever seen a borage plant growing and spreading massively to try to outgrow the tomato plants beside it, you'll understand where I'm coming from. Of course, almost all my companion plants reseed readily, popping up anywhere and everywhere. I try to let them stay where they sprouted when I can, but if they start to outgrow the vegetable plants they're sitting next to, I either prune them back really hard or yank them out. I also grow tons of wildflowers outside the garden fence on all sides of the garden because they also attract beneficials. The area where most people fall short when planting to attract beneficials is that they fail to plan for the cool season. I have lady bugs, bees and other beneficial insects out even in January, frantically searching for food, so I do the best I can to provide for them. I always leave henbit wherever it pops up and let it bloom because so many beneficials depend on it in the cool-season. I have sweet alyssum and chamomile in bloom by February of most years and they attract many beneficials. I often have dianthus and violas blooming in February or early March. For early beneficials, you need extra-early plants to attract them and also to feed them. I never, ever, ever under any condition would consider ground ivy/Creeping Charlie to be a companion plant. It is a rampant, highly-invasive thug and I don't tolerate it anywhere. If you let it take hold and get established, you'll have it forever and it will be on a constant mission to take over every square inch of planting space, and it isn't just happy to occupy the garden. It will fight to stay in the lawn and in flower beds. Right now, if you walk out into my frozen garden, you'll still find green catnip plants (regrown since we dropped down to 4 degrees a few weeks ago), tansy and dianthus. You'll also find beneficial insects on them on all but the coldest days. You may not see the beneficial insects early in the morning on cold days, but you'll see them out by mid-day. When planting both cosmos and zinnias to attract beneficial insects, search out old-fashioned varieties that haven't had their nectar/pollen tampered with by modern plant breeders. Also, plant the shorter varieties that stay more compact and are easier to manage or you'll end up with huge cosmos and zinnia plants (easily attaining 4-5' in height) shading out surrounding plants. Same thing with nasturtiums. Grow only the short, busy ones, not the vining ones. While some of the more modern zinnias have tolerance of/resistance to powdery mildew bred into them and they look nice, they don't attract and keep beneficials like the old OP varieties do. I love companion planting and mixing in herbs and flowers with fruits and veggies all over the garden, but you have to manage the way you use companion plants or you'll find too much of your resources (soil, water, even light) going to them and not enough going to the edible plants you're growing. There are a few plants that make great trap plants, attracting pests to them. The way to use them is to grow them outside the garden itself in order to lure those pests away from the garden. Sunflowers are my favorite for this purpose. If you plant sunflowers outside the garden, maybe 10' from the garden, they'll attract stink bugs to them. Then, you can use the method of your choice to kill the stink bugs. Anything I can do to attract stinkbugs away from the garden in summer is worth doing. They are a horrible pest that feed on the fruits of most summer crops. The grain type amaranths are useful in this way to as they can lure some pests away from your garden.