I am looking to establish a small flower meadow in my yard in Campbell River. I would like plants that are good for bees, and I NEED plants that are deer resistant. ;o) I would appreciate suggestions for flowers, perennial or annual, and small shrubs that meet these criteria. I don't want to buy a packet of "wild flowers" as I'm sure they are half invasive species here in the Island. Thanks for your assistance! Tom
Wild Bergamot. Bees love it and it's deer resistant. A widespread native plant in North America including B.C, but not native to the Campbell River area.
My desire for "native" plants grows mostly from a fear of introducing an invasive species. The conditions are so good here that things that are annuals other places in Canada can take over here. I wouldn't want people talking about me like they do the Victoria man who brought a Scotch Broom plant his yard because it reminded him of home! Thanks Chris! I'll give it a try, although I see on Wiki it likes a soil more to the base side, and our soil tends to be acidic.
The Master Gardener Association of BC has a nice list of deer resistant plants from the Victoria Master Gardener Association. Deer Resistant Plants | MGABC They are not all native plants, but the most serious invasives are identified. There is a lot to choose from.
Here is a list of plants for bees from the Garry Oak Gardener's Handbook, a local publication from Vancouver Island. I'm not sure which are deer resistant though. Early Flowering: Blue-eyed Mary Broad-leaved shootingstar Oregon-grape Sea Blush Spring-gold White fawn lily Willows Mid-season: Arbutus Camas species Gold star Menzies' larkspur Nootka rose Oceanspray *Penstemon species Red-flowering currant Snowberry Woolly sunflower Late-Flowering: Aster species Brodiaea *Canada goldenrod Douglas aster *Fireweed *Hardhack Pearly everlasting Nodding onion Other wild onions *not necessarily Garry oak species, but excellent native plants for bees.
