My lesson with Dierama has been you stand a much better chance in the soil than in a pot. They dislike pots intensely and slow the growth to a crawl. Hot weather makes them suffer and if a heat waves comes along, a cardboard box that provides shade makes all the difference. If the soil is moist in winter and more rain is on the way, a tarp to keep excess water off is good. Make sure they are not in soil that will get soggy. I've had good luck so far in morning sun but being nearer the coast would be even more to these plants liking. The other tip I heard was collect the seed and sow it right away to grow more plants in case your mother plant dies out. The fresh seed is easy to sprout but older saved seed is very hard to grow.

I haven't grown swamp sunflower, but I wonder if it would enjoy the dry heat of SoCal. There are some dry climate sunflowers that might be better adapted to hot SoCal (Encelia californica, Helianthus maximiliani, to name a few). Are you referring to growing these by a real pond, possibly with varying water levels, or a plastic/liner/hardscape pond marginal area? I've grown Joe Pye in full sun without any special cultural care. A gopher seemed to be crazy for the plant--eating the root of one, then tunneling 45' past a variety of other garden offerings, to gnaw on the roots a second plant. I don't know if that was typical behavior, or just that individual's taste bud's delight! They seemed to be short-lived plants in my garden--2-3 years tops--but several seedlings would come up to replace the parents, so it wasn't a problem. The newer, shorter cultivars didn't reseed for me when I grew them I haven't grown that particular lobelia that I recall, but it is Sunset zone rated 4-9. 14-24, so it should do fine in San Diego. Sunset recommends a sunny, wind-sheltered position in fertile, well-drained soil. Regular irrigation.

I'm interested in your Lobelia tupa. I don't have many houseplants but can offer a rooted cutting of Pelargonium tomentosum (soft aromatic leaves)to trade. I also have bulbs of Eucomis bicolor, rooted cuttings of Hydrangea aspera (one with very big felted leaves), various tree peonies 2 and 3 years old (lutea, rockii,delavayi), Euphorbia rigida and Euphorbia myrsinitis. Tree peony seeds (and a few others) for the big seed swap are on their way!

Thank you Gardengal. I have just moved (actually shovel pruned). a giant rock rose near the Lobelia and will see if it helps the Lobelia. I am wondering if it gets too much sun where it is. The leaves are always a sickly green. I have seen them with much better looking foliage. Wonder why this one doesn’t thrive. It as, however, made some babies. So there is that. green.