need to replace agapanthus, but with what?

15 years ago

Hello. Thx in advance for reading :-) I have several agapanthus lining our main rear patio that are in full sun. They did not do well this summer despite regular, but not excessive, watering. I had them at a previous home in partial shade and they were fabulously healthy and vigorous. At this new home (bought July 2008), I think the site is too extreme for them--they are dying to the ground, currently, due to some cold nights in December. Winter dieback is expected, but they looked pretty bad in the summer, too. Anyway, I'd really like to replace them with something else. The site has good drainage and gets full sun. I'm in Walnut Creek. I'd like something not too tall (about 12-18" is ideal) so you can see the pool which is below the planting site on our gently downsloping lot. I'd prefer to water once weekly or less at the height of summer. Is there a native or a well-suited (ie: more attractive than the sad agapanthus) plant you think may work? Thanks for the help.

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Comments (9)

dicot
15 years ago
Lots of plants will work from what you described, maybe rockroses or gaura or a sage like S. leucantha or S. microphylla.
CA Kate z9
15 years ago
I was also going to suggest Salvia microphylla AND greggii perhaps inter-planted with roses and Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) for a lightweight, but structured height.
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gobluedjm 9/18 CA
15 years ago
I have to agree with the salvia suggestions also.
I have numerous in and all doing well in sun.
You might also look at goodwin creek lavender or even a sweet pea shrub.
gardenguru1950
15 years ago
Forgive me but I don't think many (if any) of the above suggestions meet shannorcal's criteria of 12-18 inches tall.

Here's some short stuff:

Achillea ÂMoonshineÂ MOONSHINE YARROW
Achillea x hybrids HYBRID YARROWS
Aloe (many) ALOE
Arctotis x hybrida VELDT DAISY
Ballota pseudodictamnus BALLOTA MINT
Dudleya pulverulenta CHALK LETTUCE
Eriogonum crocatum SAFFRON BUCKWHEAT
Eriogonum umbellatum RED-FLOWERED BUCKWHEAT
Eriophyllum lanatum arachnoideum WOOLLY SUNFLOWER
Erodium x variable CRANESBILL
Eryngium amethystinum BLUE SEA HOLLY
Euphorbia myrsinites BLUE EUPHORBIA
Euphorbia rigida MEDITERRANEAN EUPHORBIA
Euphorbia x martinii RED EUPHORBIA
Gaillardia x grandiflora BLANKET FLOWER
Geranium x cantabrigiense HARDY GERANIUMS
Geranium x oxonianum HYBRID GERANIUMS
Geum chiloense AVENS
Helianthemum nummularium SUN ROSE
Hemerocallis (dwarves) DAYLILIES
Heuchera hybrids CORAL BELLS
Heuchera micrantha ALUMROOT
Lathyrus latifolius EVERLASTING PEA
Mimulus aurantiacus hybrids SHRUBBY MONKEY FLOWER
Nepeta racemosa ÂWalkerÂs LowÂ CATMINT
Oenothera caespitosa TUFTED EVENING PRIMROSE
Origanum species and hybrids ORNAMENTAL OREGANOS
Pyrethropsis hosmariense MOROCCAN DAISY
Salvia chamaedryoides GERMANDER SAGE
Santolina chamaecyparissus LAVENDER COTTON
Santolina virens GREEN SANTOLINA
Scabiosa columbariae PINCUSHION FLOWER
Sisyrinchium bellum BLUE-EYED GRASS
Sisyrinchium californicum GOLDEN-EYED GRASS
Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum DUSTY MILLER
Tulbaghia cominsii EVENING-SCENTED TULBAGHIA
Verbena tenuisecta MOSS VERBENA

Joe
CA Kate z9
15 years ago
oops! missed that criteria. mea culpa
deep___roots
15 years ago
Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster - feather reed grass
That is if you like ornamental grasses. This one's green part stays pretty low, and the flower stalks that float above do not block views and are pretty in and of themselves. Low maintenance, no maintenance, except for cutting to ground in February.
You can cut and paste the words at top for quick googling.
wanda
15 years ago
Low water, 12-18", you could try some of the CA fuchsia (Zauschneria/aka Epilobium) hybrids. Carex pansa is a native bunch grass that works well for a "meadow type" effect. Eriogonum umbellatum 'Shasta Sulphur' is pretty cool.

For non-natives, you might look at some of the prostrate cistus species, or prostrate rosemary, maybe even Heliathemum. For winter flowering, Pryrethropsis hosemarienses with steely gray foliage and pretty white daisy flowers.

Society Garlic (Tulbagia) might give you a similar look to the agapanthus.

wanda
davissue_zone9
15 years ago
Society garlic is like a smaller version of agapanthus, and seems to be more frost and heat tolerant. Or I suggest you go over to Orchard nursery in Lafayette and ask them for suggestions, they are the nicest and largest full service nursery in your area (this is not the similarly named hardware store chain).

Here is a link that might be useful: orchard nursery
shannorcal
Original Author
15 years ago
THANK YOU ALL for your great suggestions/ideas! You ROCK!