Bulbine latifolia and Calothamnus villosus

I got a few new low-water plants for the front slope. I wasn't familiar with Bulbine latifolia. I've had Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' out there for a while, enduring horrific drought and thriving in spite of it. B. frutescens has grassy, tubular foliage, while B. latifolia resembles a small toothless Aloe, or even a dwarf Agave attenuata.





Graceful yellow flower spikes will contrast appropriately with the blue of Senecio mandraliscae.


Also for the front slope, Calothamnus villosus. I went to a garden talk on low-water plants Monday, and this one was enthused about as a hummingbird magnet, so I thought I'd give it a try. The foliage looked like it would coordinate with the trio of Chamelauciums already out on the slope. I look forward to watching these grow and seeing how they perform.

I made the big grown-up step in buying three instead of one in order to get away from my one-of-everything design problem. A group of three is at least a start. Five or seven would probably have been better, but if C. villosus finds the slope too harsh, then I have five or seven dead plants instead of three. It's always a conundrum: if you buy one, it does great, and you are then guaranteed never to be able to find more for sale. If you buy several to create a mass planting, they'll all croak. Succulents are, of course, an exception to this rule: one is always enough because propagation from cuttings is usually so easy. One of a succulent is correct, unless you are in a hellfire hurry.

Calothamnus villosus foliage:


I hurried to get them all planted, because there is a chance of beautiful wonderful rain over the next few days.