Color Guard yucca & other deer-resistant color

July 30, 2010


It shows an incredible amount of restraint that I have not planted my entire garden with nothing but ‘Color Guard’ yucca (Y. filamentosa ‘Color Guard’).

That color! The starburst form! Those curly, white filaments threading through the sword-shaped leaves!

This deer-resistant, drought-tolerant “shrub” will grow in full sun or part shade (in a hot climate), and it’s cold-hardy to zone 5. Frances at Fairegarden in Tennessee grows several ‘Color Guard’ yuccas in blue containers—yum!

Of course, restraint is the better part of valor, and not planting my entire garden with yucca means that I can play with other deer-resistant plants, like pale pavonia (P. hastata).

Native to South America, it’s a cousin of our native rock rose (Pavonia lasiopetala). Both have a reseeding habit and flowers that open in the morning and close in the afternoon. The pale flowers of hastata glow in the dappled shade of live oaks. A wine-colored eye and veins make them even prettier.

On the sunnier side of the bed, ‘Senorita Rosalita’ cleome has not been sampled once by the deer.
I’m starting to feel the planting itch again. How about you, southern gardeners? Are you counting the weeks until the Death Star switches from high beam to low (or at least medium)? Just two more months to go until we get a break from the heat and can plant to our hearts’ content. Just one month if we want to “cheat” and start early. Or did you never stop for summer?
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Color Guard yucca & other deer-resistant color”

  1. Diana says:

    Planting itch – YES? Weeding and pruning itch…NO! Your deer garden looks great. I love the pal pavonia – I have some new passalongs and I can’t wait for them to bloom after seeing yours!

  2. Cyndy says:

    Hi Pam, I know what you mean about the death star – it’s a bit in retreat here this a.m. in Connecticut, soon to return. Love your ‘Color Guard.’ My single specimen couldn’t stand the poor drainage here, but maybe if I built it its own little berm…

  3. Amen to that Sistah! Death star indeed. I’m waiting for soothing mid-September when I can uproot some daylilies and plant others in their places. I did succumb to a couple of plant sales, and now I’m wishing I hadn’t. I’m working hard to keep these lovelies alive until the orb begins to move away from the plants. Love your yucca and all things in your yard truly.~~Dee

  4. David C says:

    Death star…ha ha! Glad we are done w/ the worst of the heat here in NM…probably. So planting can be done w/ the wetter monsoon conditions, esp w/ drip irrigation.

  5. meemsnyc says:

    Wow, the color is lovely!

  6. Frances says:

    Oh how I love that Color Guard, Pam! Your photos of it are superb and I perfectly understand that the whole yard could be planted with it, thanks for the linkage! But then where would you plant the other, equally deserving plants? We plant all year, but shouldn’t, here. The death star keeps on shining! (With little or no rain.) It is one of THOSE years, when the xeric plantings are earning their keep.
    Frances

  7. RBell says:

    Really liking that ‘Color Guard’ yucca. How do you think they’d do in dappled sunlight here in Austin?

  8. Mamaholt says:

    I cheated all summer in my shady yard. LOVE the color guard. I’ve been looking for something for my very bright orange pot. That may be just the thing! See you tomorrow.

  9. Pam–I won’t let myself stop at any garden centers for fear of buying. I don’t “need” anything, I just “want” things. I miss planting-that is a favortie part of gardening for me. I went to Plum Creek Primitives in McKinney last week and of course they had fall out–made me want to come and dig our pumpkins! 🙂

  10. Denise says:

    Love the pavonia with the dark eye. I grew a small-flwrd, all pink one a few years back that never reseeded. I’ll keep a lookout for this one.

  11. I’m glad you mentioned P. hastata can grow under live oaks, I’m always on the look-out for something that I can plant under mine.

  12. Jean says:

    It’s always after the third week in September when the weather breaks. At least from my experience in Austin and Louisiana. I absolutely can’t wait. And no, I don’t plant anything here in the summer. Just try to keep things alive. Well, occasionally I’ll do a container planting in the summer (just got a couple of succulents at the big box 🙂 ). Pam, I’m glad to see your front garden is doing well, but I can’t keep up with all your posts!