This year I’m concentrating on making my garden as unattractive to Japanese Beetles as possible. I’ve dug up and given away some of their favorite perennials including coneflowers and butterfly bushes. I also didn’t sprout (or plant) any of their favorite annuals like marigold and dahlias.
I usually grow morning glories on my little metal arbor, but they are a beetle favorite so this year I’m trying a different morning glory relative, Cardinal Climber. This vine is also called Cypress Vine by some, but I’m pretty sure they are two different plants. I got a headache trying to research the nomenclature online and it doesn’t help that the plant tag says Cardinal Climber but is followed by the latin name for Cypress Vine.
Whatever its name, this half-hardy annual has cheery, bright-red flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. Because the leaves are smaller and pointier, I’m hoping the beetles won’t have any interest in them.
