The ability of weeds to penetrate mulch made me consider some plants to fill in the rose garden, and Shasta Daisies proved their worth. First of all, they immediately harbored Tachinid Flies, which attack insect pests. Daisies also attract other beneficial insects.
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| The Tachinid fly landed on the daisies as soon as they bloomed. They prey upon aphids. |
Shastas are classic-looking daisies—a central core of tiny yellow disk flowers surrounded by white ray flowers. Each of these inflorescences measures 2 or more inches (5 cm) across. The plant’s glossy dark green leaves have small teeth on their margins and create good habitat for predatory bugs like assassin, damsel, and spined soldier bugs. The nectar and pollen from the flowers is preferred by some species of parasitic wasps, minute pirate bugs, lacewings, soldier beetles, ladybugs, and syrphid flies.
Walliser, Jessica. Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2382-2386). Timber Press. Kindle Edition.
The flowers came back immediately in the spring, with a larger mound, so I decided to mulitply them. After our rain yesterday I had no trouble turning two growing mounds into eight smaller ones. The original mounds came apart easily, so planting was easy and quick, followed by some mulching and watering.
Several days of rain may follow, starting on Wednesday.
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| Mountain Mint is a magnet for butterflies and beneficial insects. |
The next challenge will be Mountain Mint, which has very tough root balls but great energy in growing and attracting beneficial insects.
I made an attempt already, but it seemed to release more mint aroma than mint itself. If the survivors of that attempt are like my first plants they will take off in the Butterfly Garden, the sunniest spot in the yard.
I began with tiny plants last year, one covered by newspaper and mulch by an over-eager helper. We could not find the poor little orphan, but a few weeks later it burst through newspaper and wood mulch, reaching shoulder height, and making people ask, "What is that plant?" Pollinators fly and buzz around it all day when the blooms come out.
Within the genus are several species that I see as particularly valuable garden plants. Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint) and P. tenuifolium (little-leaved or slender mountain mint) look fairly similar, with small awl-shaped leaves topped with clusters of white flowers with small purple specks. They are both magnets for good bugs, luring in natural enemies and pollinators of all sorts.
Walliser, Jessica. Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2570-2572). Timber Press. Kindle Edition.
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| Cat Mint is loved by cats. |
I am growing horse mint and cat mint as well.
Horsemint garners a lot of attention in the garden. Like other members of the genus Monarda, it has hollow, square stems; but unlike many other monardas, horsemint bears short, tubular yellowish flowers with purple spots. Nectar from these flowers is more readily accessed by smaller bugs, while monardas with more elongated flowers are often preferred by butterflies, bees, and moths. Native plant research at Michigan State University found horsemint to be attractive to a large diversity of natural enemies, particularly late in the season. Not only does horsemint attract a plethora of good bugs, but it is also drought defiant, deer resistant, powdery mildew tolerant, and incredibly visually interesting.
Walliser, Jessica. Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Kindle Locations 2469-2474). Timber Press. Kindle Edition.
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| Bee Balm - horse mint. |
