A: One I like is called Spiraea alba, also known as meadowsweet. This is different from spirea japonica, which is non-native. Spiraea alba is a good pollinator for native bees, butterflies, and other insects, and it’s also a host to several moth and butterfly caterpillars. It’s also deer-resistant. These early to mid-summer white flowers are so sweet and clustered.
While we’re talking about native plants, rhododendron periclymenoides (pinxterbloom azalea) is a deciduous shrub that can grow 3 to 10 feet with spring to summer pink or white flowers. It does well in sun or shade and it’s pollinated by native bees, as well as butterflies and other insects, and it’s also deer-resistant.
An up-close look at some pinxter azalea.Mason Brock
Q: I’m battling a Disney cartoon of animals: squirrels, rabbits, deer, groundhogs, raccoons, possums, chipmunks. I’ve given up on vegetables that I used to mingle in different spots with the flowers…they’re smarter than me. I have found lavender works and many irises. Can you recommend other flowering plants? I have a sunny hillside and a shady backyard.
—Jacquie
A: Rabbits are always particularly challenging, but with the deep snow cover this past winter, you probably noticed some of your plants have had some significant damage. Although the plants may be unsightly right now, don’t let your impatience get the best of you. Wait until we get into mid-June before making any decisions about removing plants. Established plants can often recover more than you would expect.
For vegetable gardeners, rabbits are a real problem. I have a rabbit fence around my vegetable gardens, and this generally works pretty well. Many of the rabbit-proofing sprays and other substances work pretty well, too. The problem is you have to reapply them after the rain, and a lot of people just simply forget, so then the rabbits come back.
I’ve put some fencing around my vegetable garden to keep critters out.Dave Epstein
Rabbits tend not to like coarsely textured perennials or perennials with foul taste. For a sunny hillside or shady backyard that might be less tempting for the critters, you can try the solidago, also known as goldenrod. Native plants, they flower late in summer or early fall and are generally rabbit resistant.
Goldenrod is one of many plants great for warding off rabbits.Jacqueline Larma/Associated Press
I love this wide variety of plants with different heights for a sunny, dry spot. Other top native, rabbit-resistant choices include “stiff goldenrod” (Solidago rigida), “wild bergamot” (Monarda fistulosa), “mountain mint” (Pycnanthemum), “Beardtongue” (Penstemon), and “Amsonia”.
Finally, with rainfall becoming even less predictable than it has been, why not try some New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium). These plants have evolved to handle periods of limited moisture, often developing deep root systems and slightly tougher foliage that reduces water loss.
A red admiral butterfly stops on a New England aster flower.Matt Dunham/Associated Press
A monarch butterfly nectaring on New England aster.adobe.com
Swamp aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum), for instance, is well adapted to low-lying areas or gardens with heavier soils that retain moisture. These plants don’t just tolerate wet soil; they often prefer it. I have huge swaths of this growing at the edge of the wetlands near the house.
Light conditions are another area where asters shine, pun intended. You might associate asters with sunny borders, but some species perform beautifully in partial shade. White wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) is a standout in this regard, brightening woodland edges with small white flowers even where sunlight is limited.
As plants continue to rapidly expand and emerge from the garden, this continues to be a wonderful time to augment what you have or fill in some of those gaps. April gardening is, in my opinion, just the best.
Have a gardening question for Dave? Email weather@globe.com or leave it in the comments below, and he will answer it in an upcoming gardening column.
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