Bad Bugs? Good Plants!

Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) -- this perennial herb has small daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. Grow in full sun for blooms from summer until mid-fall.

Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) -- what garden would be complete without lavender?? This is the familiar English lavender, with low growing mounds of foliage. Flower stems rise 4 - 12 inches above the foliage, topped with spikes of flowers in various shades of purple.

Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida sullivantii 'Goldstrum') -- these Black-eyed Susans have rough textured, medium green leaves and long stemmed, bright orange-yellow flowers with black "eyes". They're prolific growers and need full sun.

Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) -- a popular annual, this low, trailing plant is wonderful as an accent in containers. Use it to underplant roses or clematis for a stunning look. It is fast growing, easily grown from seed and overwinters in mild climates. Shear plants back a month after they've bloomed to encourage another burst of flowers.

Yarrrow (Achillea millefolium) -- leaves of this perennial are typically gray or grayish green and finely divided. The flower heads are in flattish clusters, ideal for offering up their nectar. Flower colors range from white to pink to yellow, depending on the variety.

Be sure to add many different insectary plants around your garden. The more variety of food and shelter you provide, the more types of beneficial insects you'll attract and the more unwanted pests you'll control.

This article is part of the Suite101 "Container Gardening" topic area. For the other Suite101 articles and discussion forums on Container Gardening, see the Welcome Page on Suite101.

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