No Care Mums

It’s true. Nothing was done to these mums this year.  They were not pinched back, though that might have made them more compact -- just the regular bit of compost and mulch and a friendly mother nature is all.

Shefffield Pink  is spectacularly large at over 3 feet tall. 

One little yellow volunteer appeared in my garden in 2007 and has almost taken over the bed. 

 

Great blooms following great summer weather.

Liatris

Liatris spicata 'Purple Spikes’

(Gayfeather, Blazing Star)

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I’ve written about Liatris before but this is another plant I’m adding to my easy perennial list. They are also deer resistant as opposed to, say, tasty beans.

We returned home to find the pole beans chewed off at the bottom. The vines shriveled and died and made their contribution to the compost heap.

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Anyway, the erect Liatris, at about 3 feet tall, looks good as a stand-alone display or as a backbone among other annuals and perennials.

Liatris is slow spreading and comes in several shades including white. It is easy to divide in spring and makes a nice cut flower.

Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’ (with Casablanca lilies)

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The plants are drought tolerant after established – a good thing for this hot dry summer - and bloom from July into August. They will need to be dead-headed at the end of their bloom.

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But, even if Liatris is deer resistant, it won’t prevent an animal from sitting on it.

(Doug Green has expert advice on how to grow Liatris here.)