Grow a Drought-Tolerant Border with ‘Millenium’ Allium

‘Millenium’ allium has an upright habit that makes it a cinch to tuck in between other summer-blooming plants and creates an interesting contrast to the mounding cushion spurge and snow-in-summer growing nearby in this garden plan. Its ball-shaped blooms stand out among the spiky salvia and domes of euphorbia. And if deer have been browsing your garden, this is one border they'll give a pass — these perennials rarely get nibbled.

Give this drought-tolerant group full sun for the most flowers and best foliage color and well-drained soil to avoid rot. There's no real need to feed this group of plants that thrives in lean soil. Mulch every year or two with compost and it will provide plenty of nutrients to keep these plants healthy.

'Millenium' allium doesn't need deadheading. Once the colorful midsummer flowers fade, the round seedheads provide an interesting accent for the border until late fall. This cultivar doesn't produce many seeds so reseeding isn't a problem.

Artemisia is mostly grown for its ferny silver foliage but small yellow flowers sometimes show up in late summer. They aren't that noticeable so there's no need for deadheading.

Cushion spurge and snow-in-summer do need to have fading flowers removed because they reseed prolifically (but aren't invasive). Instead of cutting individual flowers, make short work of this chore by using hedge shears to remove all the spent stems at once. Cut the outer stems a bit lower