Plant Patent #12,397

Our native Foamflower has never looked so beautiful! 'Spring Symphony' combines all the best attributes of the family -- lovely, fragrant blooms; variegated foliage; semi-evergreen habit -- to create a carefree groundcover that will transform your partly to deeply shaded garden.

For many weeks in spring and early summer, 'Spring Symphony' is covered by a field of luminous shell-pink to white cloudpuffs, so airy and light they scarcely look real. Standing 10 inches high (above the foliage, which only reaches to about 6 inches), these bottlebrush blooms release a light, sweet fragrance that fills the garden, attracting the first butterflies of the season and absolutely delighting the gardener!

Once the blooms finally pass, it's hard to miss them, because the foliage takes center stage. These very unusually-shaped leaves of olive green are strongly marked with black, very striking and eye-catching in the border. Large and many-lobed, they contrast beautifully with all neighboring plants, and keep their variegation throughout the summer heat. In mild and warm climates, they remain all winter. Absolutely showstopping!

This compact, clumping plant reaches about 10 inches wide, which isn't nearly enough space to show off its good looks, so you will want to plant it in groups of at least three. Very resistant to pests and diseases (that native vigor!), it shows its best black variegation in cooler weather. Autumn is a splendid season for 'Spring Symphony'!

Group this Tiarella among small-leaved plants, in front of Hostas, and with other native perennials. Somewhat resistant to deer (it's far from their first choice of meals in the shade garden!), 'Spring Symphony' is trouble-free and very easy to grow, with blooms the first year in your garden. Reserve it today! Zones 3-8.

• Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
• If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
• Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
• Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
• Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
• Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
• Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
• Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
• Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
• If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
• Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.

As the deer population has boomed and food has become scarcer, they have become more aggressive. In some areas deer will strip your garden bare, leaving nothing green or flowery behind. While there is no such thing as a completely deer-proof garden, there are some effective things you can do to protect your garden from these hungry animals.

Use physical barriers

A High Fence
Deer can jump pretty high, but a fence higher than eight feet (higher on an up-slope) and flush with the ground will keep any deer out.

Electric Fences
They are a much easier and less expensive solution. Deer generally will not try to jump electric fences, but will rather try to climb through the wires, receiving a deterring shock.

Bird-Netting
An even less extreme physical option is to put bird netting over your larger and more susceptible plants.

Plant Deer-resistant Varieties

Herbs, some conifers, and many flowers are some of the best deer-resistant plants. More fragrant plants will often deter predation. Planting just a few deer-resistant plants will limit grazing of your other plants. Remember, "deer-resistant" does not mean deer-proof. A hungry animal will eat just about anything.

Having a dog In the Family

Owning a dog, especially a big dog will almost always keep deer from approaching your home. Just the scent of the dog will keep most deer away, and if your dog lives outside you will probably never see any deer.

For most gardeners, it is a combination of different solutions that works best. Every gardener has to find the solution that works best in their garden.

Shop All Deer-resistant Plants

Tiarella

Planting:

Set plants 10 to 12 inches apart. Choose a shady or partly shady location, and a soil that is slightly acid, moisture-retentive and that has been enriched with organic matter.

Maintenance:

Make certain that plants are kept well-watered during any dry spell. Foliage is evergreen in the south and old leaves should be trimmed back in early spring. A year round mulch is recommended.

Zones:

Zones 3-8

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Since its founding in 1920, Wayside Gardens has brought the rarest and highest-quality plants to the garden market. Wayside was founded in 1920 by two acclaimed growers who came together to pursue their shared vision of marketing all high-end plants for the serious garden enthusiast. Originally located in Mentor, Ohio, Wayside Gardens swiftly grew a reputation for the highest-quality plants and the most sophisticated clientele. In 1975, Wayside was purchased by the Park Seed Company, and moved to Hodges, SC.  The company has flourished since then, growing to become an undisputed leader in rare and unique plant growing.

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