Some plant failures just don’t let go. Three tries is generally considered reasonable, but after that? After that, reason doesn’t have much to do with it anymore.
At my local nursery, coming upon a few gallons of the spiral aloe, I had to admonish myself to keep walking. Don’t stop to admire, just keep walking. Walk on by. Even so, I reflexively engage in the habitual process of mentally ticking off pros and cons, as in: That’s a pretty good price, $20/gallon. Remember when a spiral aloe was prohibitively pricey and/or mostly unavailable? Maybe tissue culture is easing scarcity.
And the cons: Remember how this aloe doesn’t appreciate hot, dry conditions but requires impossible-to-meet conditions? Alpine conditions. Cool, moist, but not too wet, strategic drainage. And after multiple attempts, I’ve never had one survive much less do the mythic spiraling thing. Fool, spiral aloes love the Bay Area, not Southern California, so keep walking! But that price…I apologize in advance, little aloe, for the torment you’re about to receive. Unappreciative of temps over 80F is a tricky requirement when yesterday, on February 27, we pegged over 90F…
Other than the spiral aloe and reintroducing shrubs previously grown, Phyllica pubescens, Leucadendron ‘Ebony,’ Alyogyne ‘Ruth Bancroft,’ there’s been no new planting, just working with what’s been surviving the half-year absences. With a few minor exceptions like playing around with an intriguing annual I’ve never grown before, found locally, Isotoma ‘Bottle Rocket Blue’ from Australia. Possibly perennial here.
The Dune Daisy is newish to the garden. I really like the wiry energy and endurance of this little daisy. This is its second year living in a container with other dry-tolerant stuff like the caudiciform Pseudobombax ellipticum.
Several varieties of the South African pincushions have graced the garden in the past. They need sun and lots of room, and those conditions are both moving targets depending on what else is growing. Leucospermum ‘Brandi Dela Cruz’ was planted in 2024 just outside the shade canopy of Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ but getting less than the full-day sun that’s ideal.
Exciting to see the first bloom truss on an aloe labeled ‘Chompers.’ It’s impossible to find a reference for it now. A divaricata selection by Kelly Griffin (or so I thought), I like its relatively lightweight structure, in leaf and flower. A see-through aloe.
Take care. More soon, AGO.
I’ve seen some of those reasonably priced spiral aloes recently too but, so far, I’ve avoided the siren’s pull. Phylica pubescens also failed me twice and I haven’t had the heart for another try. Your garden’s looking splendid with all the work you’ve put in since your return! I hope the heat wasn’t as bad yesterday and today for you as it was for us – 90F in late February is ridiculous.
I had to laugh when I read your post. I was THIS close to buying a spiral aloe this morning. THIS close. But I didn’t. I’ve killed too many. You should stand a much better chance in LB. Just keep the roots cool in the summer.
@Kris, the heat on Friday here was 91F, breaking last year’s record for that date by one degree! Something is up with late February heat! If you want to try the feather bush again, Flora Grubb grows them…
@Gerhard, I was going to keep the aloe potted and take it north but decided not to shuttle it back and forth so it takes its chances in the ground in SoCal!
I also laughed, I bought a reasonably priced(double what you paid!) Aloe polyphylla at UC Santa Cruz last fall. They are still insanely priced around here, over $200 at Flowerland for a 5g. It is spiraling, but the tips have turned yellow over the winter. I can only imagine how much it will hate the summer. I love that Felicia echinata, the foliage is great! Your garden looks terrific, all the color and texture in the last photo is to die for. Along with polyphylla, I should give up on Leucospermum, they just don’t love it here. Your ‘Brandi Dela Cruz’ looks very happy.