Lotus hirsutus: Great groundcover or potential pest?

Given the newly empty spaces in my garden I've been considering both what plants I can use to fill them and how I might simplify my landscape in the process.  When I first began planting my current garden over fourteen years ago, it was all about buying every plant I fell in love with and finding spots to put them later.  More recently, in addition to fire safety, I've become concerned with streamlining plant care and maintenance through the use of more mass plantings.

As I looked around at my more prolific, low care plants, I zoomed in on Lotus hirsutus, commonly known as Hairy Canary Clover (formerly classified as Dorycnium hirsutum).  It's a vigorous groundcover, very drought tolerant, and pretty with and without flowers.  The fuzzy silver gray foliage is particularly soft to the touch.  I'd argue that it's even softer than lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina).

Closeup of the clover-like flowers

In addition to the plant's other attributes, it's beloved by bees

There's a lot of this plant in my garden already, much of which has spread itself around, which is one of my concerns.  My recollection was that I'd purchased only one or two plants over the years but according to my spreadsheet I've purchased the plants six times between 2011 and 2018, corroborating San Marcos Growers' assessment of the plant as "short-lived."  That's actually comforting as it suggests that the plant won't overrun my garden, while the fact that it self-seeds allows me to spread seedlings about where they can be useful.

The majority of the purchased specimens were placed in the dry garden on the north side of the house.  I can't say with any certainty which, if any, of those shown below are original and which are self-seeded.

I vaguely recall planting one of my purchased plants along the edge of the gravel path here.  I cut them back as needed when they encroach on the path.  The only downside is that the tiny plants that pop up in the gravel can be more difficult to remove than they are elsewhere.

I think the plant seeded itself here but it looks nice with the self-seeded pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa)

I may have placed another plant or seedling here, or this could be a self-seeded plant - they do like to place themselves along path edges

This one definitely planted itself here, in a shaded area of the same path

I've already transplanted two Lotus seedlings in one of the empty spots in the north-side garden and I'm contemplating adding more.

This is the area previously occupied by 3 humongous rosemary shrubs.  I didn't intentionally go with a pink theme here but with 2 large Leptospertmum 'Pink Pearl' shrubs, a Protea 'Pink Ice', a Grevillea sericea, and 3 Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite' in the same area, adding more Lotus hirsutus could help knit the area together.  I've already placed 2 Lotus seedlings there.

I potted up this large seedling for future use.  Like the 2 plants in the prior photo, it's struggling a bit after being yanked out of the ground; however, based on prior experience, there's at least a 50-50 chance the seedlings will recover.

The plants have long tap roots, which can be difficult to get up intact.  I tossed this one because I clearly broke part of that tap root.

These are 2 of the areas where Lotus transplants may be useful.  The area on the left under one of our persimmon trees is one spot but I need to remove more ivy first.  The area on the right alongside the concrete block stairway leading down into the back slope had been occupied by prostrate rosemary.  Lotus seedlings or Aeonium cuttings are both options there.

I need to remain mindful about pulling the Lotus seedlings where they're not wanted because they've spread into some areas I didn't expressly select.

Large Lotus hirsutus in the front driveway

I may have intentionally planted the Lotus in the prior photo but I definitely didn't plant these

I didn't plant the Lotus along this narrow path on the front slope either but, as few things grow well there other than weeds, I'm leaving them in place and simply pulling seedlings as needed

I also didn't plant the Lotus here but then this part of the garden on the west side of the driveway is an amalgamation of self-seeded plants, including Polygala myrtifolia, Lavandula stoechas, and Festuca glauca.  One day I'll get around to replanting the whole area but it won't be anytime soon. 

The Lotus has made some attempts to take hold in the back garden too.  I've removed all but this one, which I should probably replace with something else before this self-seeder gets even more comfortable here.

Despite some reservations, I'm currently leaning toward using more Lotus in the north-side garden but not elsewhere at the moment.  What self-seeders have you found useful?

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wild & Weedy Wednesday: Not quite weeds

I'm joining Cathy of Words and Herbs once again this week to share four plants that aren't classified as weeds (at least in California) but behave a bit like them.  I've found the first three of the four somewhat difficult to manage as they self-seed wherever they like and can be difficult to remove when they settle where they're not wanted.

The first one is known by the colorful common name of Hairy Canary Clover.  Despite its common name it's native to Portugal, not the Canary Islands.  It's now classified as Lotus hirsutus but it's appeared in my blog posts on earlier occasions under its former classification, Dorycnium hirsutum.  Its foliage is soft and ever-gray.

As I recall, I originally planted it from a 4-inch pot in one of the driest areas of my garden.  It's since spread widely within that area and, although it prefers to seed itself, I've managed to transfer seedlings into my front garden as well.

As you can see in this closeup, the flowers look very much like clover.  The bees love it too.

One transplant in my front garden overtook its space and grew into the driveway following this year's heavier rain.  It doesn't look so good after being cut back (right) and I'm tempted to pull up the mother plant and let the fallen seeds replant the area.

It produces gobs of seeds

It likes to plant itself in gravel but its takes some effort to get those seedlings out.  The seedlings take their time to get established if they're moved.

It's an attractive groundcover and lovely in and out of flower, although as the photo of the plant adjacent to our driveway shows, it doesn't look great immediately after it's been pruned back hard.

Gaura lindheimeri is another plant that seeds itself wherever it likes but it's not as prolific as the Lotus.  I like its airy look but I wish it was more accommodating about its placement as it's seedlings don't transplant well.

In my garden it looks best early in the season as it's just taking off.  This photo was taken in mid-June.

These plants seeded themselves right in the middle of a path.  I haven't removed them yet but that's in my near-term plans.

 

I sowed seeds of the third wildflower, Daucus carota 'Dara', and then promptly forgot about it until a large plant appeared.  Before it flowered for the first time back in 2019, I was afraid that poison hemlock, a plant it resembles, had sprung up in my garden.  This one is regarded as a noxious weed in Washington state but not in California.  It's known for planting itself in disturbed places and is said to compete with native grasses and impact agricultural sites.  It's very pretty but it has a deep taproot so it isn't always easy to remove.  It also self-seeds broadly.

The plants shown here have self-sown close to its original position but seedlings have also appeared elsewhere in my back garden

It's a useful cut flower; however, it's best cut before it's fully developed as it drops seed once it's in full bloom

The last plant is native to California and, like the Daucus, it spreads in disturbed areas and is reportedly often found in ditches and along roadsides, although I can't say I'd ever seen it before I purchased an unlabeled plant from my neighborhood garden center on a whim.  I later learned that it's a form of gumweed, Grindelia (probably Grindelia camporum).  It's semi-deciduous in summer.  After it finished blooming last year I cut it down nearly to the ground.  It formed a nice compact clump this year - until it suddenly shot up over three feet in height and flopped all over its neighbors.

Loaded with buds, it produced its first bright yellow daisy flowers last week

It was planted in a spot way too small for its current size and flopped over all its neighbors

It had to go and I made relatively quick work of its removal.  The surrounding plants looked much better afterwards.

I cut a few stems and put them in a small vase.  The only criticism of the plant I have is that every part of it - the flowers, the leaves and the stems - are super-sticky.

The Grindelia didn't belong where I originally placed it when I had no idea what I was dealing with.  It needs a larger, open space where it can spread out.  If I find such a spot elsewhere, I may plant it again as it's said to be attractive to pollinators.

That's this week's weed report.  To find more wildflowers, visit Cathy at Words and Herbs.

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party