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Indian pink

Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is currently the highlight of our front and back yards. It was the subject of a blog in 2010, after I first planted it in the backyard. At that time, I declared it to be one of my favorite native plants, and that’s still true.

It has attractive blooms and nice foliage, and it’s quite hardy and drought resistant. It’s about 12-16″ high, and grows well in shade or part-shade. According to what I read, it also attracts hummingbirds. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I decided I wanted it more visible to others, and planted these by our front door.

Indian pinks at front door

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Pussytoes and American lady butterflies

I like Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.) for a ground cover. They are drought tolerant and I have patches of them growing in various degrees of sun and shade.

However, I recently became concerned when I saw leaves that looked damaged. I was pleasantly surprised when my friend, Connie May of Chrysalis Natural Landscapes, told me the damage was due to caterpillars of the American lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis). And I was relieved when she told me the caterpillars will not destroy the plants.

Pussytoe leaves with caterpillars

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