Hi everyone,

I'm in zone 5b. I love putting flowering plants on my front porch for spring through summer blooms. Traditionally, I've put out pansies but the last few years, something is eating all the flowers so I'm just left with a bunch of green leaves and spikey, naked stems! I'm guessing it's either rabbits, hedgehogs, or something similar. Repellents don't work.

So I'm looking for a recommendation for something that's beautiful, flowers (hopefully) profusely, but is unappetizing to whatever creatures are looking for pretty food.

One thing to keep in mind is that spring in my area usually carries with it some pretty low temps at night and I can't move the plants indoors. Also, it gets very hot on the front porch in the morning hours (north-east exposure on red brick). Pansies have always done well aside from being eaten...

Thanking in advance!

Marigolds and chrysanthemums, sea holly, datura, allium. They don't smell nice, so most creatures are not even tempted.

Serpent said: Marigolds and chrysanthemums, sea holly, datura, allium. They don't smell nice, so most creatures are not even tempted.

Thank you, Serpent! But aren't Marigolds and Chrysanthemums fall plants? Also, unfortunately, the rabbits absolutely love eating the allium. They eat them even before they have a chance to flower.

Going to check out the other two!

Is there a datura that grows in zone 5b?

Marigolds will bloom all summer and into fall until the frost kills them. You can start them indoors from seeds as well.

Daturas are still annuals here in Zone 5, but they can reseed every year if just left alone, so you should try them. I never have luck starting Datura seeds though for some reason, I'm sorry I didn't plant mine in the ground and let them reseed.

I wonder what they'd do with salvia.. since some are in the minty or scented range. I can't think of a thing that serves like pansies with bloom early in the year while it's cool, and similar shape in a pot. Though I agree, as early as you find marigolds at a nursery, they'd be in bloom and I think pretty tough re those conditions.

I would try flowering kale or cabbage for those early Spring plantings... They're edible but less attractive (to critters) than pansies.

Also... maybe try sowing some foxglove seed... They may not bloom until the second year... but sowing seed makes more sense than buying them in bloom... Even perennial varieties are short lived.

Thanks everyone, I should have made myself more clear--these need to be smaller potted plants. Think pansies in a pot. And I'm looking for something I can put out in early to mid spring that will last into at least early fall.

I think that you may be asking the impossible.
Those pots are going to be difficult to grow bedding plants in...
Most people swap them out 3 or 4 times a season.

I've had flowering kale hang in there for up to two years... but that was grown from seed in the ground.

cool season plants generally only look good in the cool weather, and hot season plants like lantana & hot peppers will be late getting started.

You can try California poppies. They'll take temps in the mid to low 20s and might bloom all summer for you.

Joanna, if you want some datura seeds, send me a tree Mail. My plant produces lots of seeds every year. It can take all kinds of tough conditions. It gets pretty big, though.

Those are so beautiful, Lynda, and thank you! But I really need something pretty compact. It's for the right and left border of a 3' x 4' porch with a few stairs. But...maybe...those could entwine the metal rail and banister, couldn't they?

Hmmm, maybe....

I've planted the datura in too small pots for two years in a row, they really need a large pot, so maybe not? It is a big, gangly plant.

gardenfish said: I've planted the datura in too small pots for two years in a row, they really need a large pot, so maybe not? It is a big, gangly plant.

DOH!!!!

Just curious why you don't think marigolds would fit where you want? They come in such a huge variety of shapes and heights now, from 6" up to 4', single small flowers to huge pompom types, you should be able to find something to fit your planters. I've grown them in pots several years and they did beautifully, blooming from late spring until late fall. In fact, when I had some big pompom types, they were one of the longest lasting flowers that kept going when others had started dying back from the cold weather in fall. Growing them in a pot often keeps them shorter for me, even the pompom types never got over 12".

Edit just to add that the reason I had the big pompoms is because they're usually not scented, I'm not a fan of the marigold scent. My mother used to make me help her plant seeds every year and I hated the smell, it would seem to stay on my skin for days after planting. Just in case you like or dislike scented marigolds.

Murky said: Just curious why you don't think marigolds would fit where you want? They come in such a huge variety of shapes and heights now, from 6" up to 4', single small flowers to huge pompom types, you should be able to find something to fit your planters. I've grown them in pots several years and they did beautifully, blooming from late spring until late fall. In fact, when I had some big pompom types, they were one of the longest lasting flowers that kept going when others had started dying back from the cold weather in fall. Growing them in a pot often keeps them shorter for me, even the pompom types never got over 12".

Edit just to add that the reason I had the big pompoms is because they're usually not scented, I'm not a fan of the marigold scent. My mother used to make me help her plant seeds every year and I hated the smell, it would seem to stay on my skin for days after planting. Just in case you like or dislike scented marigolds.

Just have never been able to get them to flower in the early spring here. But I have a bag of about 2000 seeds, so if I don't find anything else, maybe I'll give them a try. It's the Sparky Mix. If you want some seeds, I'll be happy to send you some!

Maybe a workaround would be to buy just a handful of already started marigolds locally that are blooming, and the seeds coming up around them will fill the planters in more a bit later? I know I enjoy seeing my planters slowly fill up during the summer as the plants get older rather than an instantly filled container. My containers look downright pathetic when first planted in fact!

Murky said: Maybe a workaround would be to buy just a handful of already started marigolds locally that are blooming, and the seeds coming up around them will fill the planters in more a bit later? I know I enjoy seeing my planters slowly fill up during the summer as the plants get older rather than an instantly filled container. My containers look downright pathetic when first planted in fact!

Nancy, what a wonderful idea! Thanks!

Anyone want some marigold seeds? I'll probably never use them all...

Sparky is a good one, a French and doesn't get that tall. Perfect for pots.

Any thoughts on flowering succulents?