In my earlier years of gardening, I was attracted to and purchased unusual plants. Many of those didn’t survive beyond their first year. As I have “matured,” I have redirected my purchases toward the easy-to-grow natives that feed our local pollinators. The hotter, drier summers have reinforced this decision.

Among those early, unusual purchases are three survivors that have been in my garden for nearly 20 years. Get ready to slip on your leather gardening gloves if you would like to try them because they are prickly. The fact that the deer won’t touch them could be the true reason for their longevity.

ZULU WARRIOR

This plant is a native to South Africa. Berkheya purpurea is a member of the aster family and hardy to zone 6. Its foliage consists of a rosette of silvery, spiny leaves with a diameter nearing two feet. White webbing covers the leaves. From the rosette, a stalk emerges that in mid-summer produces the bloom.

The 2-3-inch daisy-like blooms are a pretty lavender with dark purple centers. Clusters of blooms form at the top of the two-foot stalk armored with spiky leaves. If dead-headed, it will rebloom. Zulu Warrior prefers full sun and neutral, well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant.

RATTLESNAKE MASTER

This perennial is a native prairie plant. Although a member of the carrot family, Eryngium yuccifolium does not produce the characteristic bloom of that family. Instead, the blooms are greenish-white, one-inch spiny balls arranged in clusters atop 3-4-foot-tall stems. Butterflies, wasps, flies and bees are attracted to and feed on the nectar produced by the flowers.

The foliage closely resembles the leaves of a yucca, which explains its species’ name. The leaves are blue-green with spiny margins and tips. In desirable conditions, the leaves can be three feet long.

This plant adds architectural interest to the border, and with its tall stalks of bloom, is an interesting see-through accent.

Rattlesnake Master prefers lean, well-drained soil in full sun. Due to a deep tap root, it is drought tolerant, and once established, should not be transplanted.

GLOBE THISTLE

This is one of my favorites due to the many honeybees and bumblebees that flock to feed on the purple balls of bloom in mid-summer. It also serves as a host plant for the painted lady butterfly.

Echinops ritro is a member of the aster family and native to areas of Europe and Asia. Mine is planted on a sunny, well-drained slope where it reaches a height of 3-4 feet.

The leaves of this plant are toothed, shiny, deep green and well-protected with prickly hairs. The stems are equally armored. In other words, the foliage resembles many other thistles. If you’re tired of deer using your perennial beds as a buffet, slip in a few of these plants. It won’t stop their browsing, but it might give them something to think about.

For information on another of my prickly plants, visit https://go.osu.edu/bearsbreeches

For even more on spines, prickles and more check out https://go.osu.edu/prickles

Steffen is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.