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

Battling it out on the edge

I have a tendency to cram too many plants into a space.  I dislike bare soil so I try to cover it, often using aggressive plants on the theory that, if they become too crowded, I can always thin them out.  But sometimes I just end up with a mess.  Here's a look at a group of ground covers growing at the edge of a walkway in the back garden:

This area along the walkway contains the following ground covers: Ajuga 'Mint Chip', Campanula portenschlagiana,  Erigeron karvinskianus, Euphorbia' Blue Lagoon', Liriope spicata and Persicaria capitata.  The Erigeron was self-planted.  The Euphorbia, Campanula and Persicaria, presumed dead during the drought, were resurrected by our winter rains.  The Liriope was a big mistake - I can't say I wasn't warned. 

I was only minimally successful in cleaning them up.

Much as I like its grass-like appearance, the Liriope probably needs to come out but it spreads by runners and removing it will require digging out the entire area.  If I don't talk myself out of that (again), I'll tackle that in the fall.

That's not the only area in the back garden that's a battleground.  On another front, Lotus berthelotii is fighting with creeping thyme.  Erigeron karvinskianus is duking it out with asparagus fern - and just about everything else in its path.  Cotula lineariloba is clambering over Gazanias and poking its way through daylily foliage.  And here's another battleground:

Phyla nodiflora (aka Lippia or frogfruit) is doing a pretty good job holding the line here but Erigeron karvinskianus (aka Santa Barbara or Mexican Daisy), Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alyssum), and Gaura lindheimeri, all self-planted, are putting up a fight.

Why can't they all get along?  A few do.

Plectranthus ciliatus 'Zulu Wonder' is peacefully cohabiting with Campanula portenschlagiana and Pelargonium peltatum 'Dark Burgundy'

While others cut loose and seek uncharted territory.

Seedlings of Lobelia erinus have escaped the pots the plant shares with blueberry shrubs to find a new home under the garden bench in the space between the patio pavers

Do your ground covers behave themselves?



All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Foliage Follow-up - May 2014 Heatwave Edition

As I've mentioned (ad nauseum), we're in the middle of yet another spring heatwave.  The heat reached a ridiculous level for awhile yesterday - not that any temperature above 80F (27C) in May isn't ridiculous.

Nearly 105F (40.5C) outside at 2pm

The effects on the flowering plants have been obvious but the weather has impacted my foliage plants as well.  There are clear winners, plants that continue to thrive under heat and drought conditions, and losers, plants that are struggling, so I thought I'd use this month's Foliage Follow-up, the meme sponsored by Pam at Digging, to highlight some of each.

In the popular plants category, Yucca 'Bright Star' is doing so well that I kept myself awake recently wondering where I could put more.  My 3, planted in January in the backyard border, are still small but they get prettier with each passing month.

In contrast, Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt,' another popular newcomer reputed to be drought tolerant, has had more difficulty adapting to the abrupt increases in temperature.  Prior to the first heatwave, I'd have said the Acacia in the large pot near to the house was the best-looking of its brethren; however, despite receiving only morning sun and regular watering, it lost a lot of its leaves and now has a visibly thinner appearance.  To be fair, the 4 plants in the ground experienced less leaf loss than the one in the pot even though they get more sun and less attention.

Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' has receding foliage

Leaf debris dropped by 'Cousin Itt'

In the Japanese maple category, 'Sango Kaku,' growing in a partial shade location next to the garage, and 'Mikawa Yatsubusa,' which gets mid-afternoon shade in the backyard, are both looking good despite exposure to heat and wind.

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' hasn't shown any ill effects to the heat thus far

Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsubusa' has only the slightest leaf tip burn

This is not the case with Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' despite extra water the other 2 didn't receive.  'Purple Ghost' stands on the southeast side of the house and, although it gets some shade from nearby trees, it probably gets more sun overall that the other 2.  The wind that whips through that area as it moves around the house  may be an even more significant issue.  And, of course, the visits by raccoons and a gopher can't help things.  I'm afraid that 'Purple Ghost' may have to be moved in the fall (if it lives that long).

My sad 'Purple Ghost'

All my Phormium are doing well.  They don't appear to notice the heat at all.

Phormium 'Amazing Red'

That's not true of Cordyline 'Renegade,' despite similarities in appearance and place of origin.  Perhaps, as in the case of the Acacia cognata described above, part of the problem is that my Cordyline are in pots.

'Renegade's' growth is stunted and the foliage has lost some of its intense color while the Pelargonium planted with it enjoys its sunny setting

In the decorative shrub category, Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' is performing very well in full sun conditions in the windy southeast side yard.

Justicia brandegeeana,' on the other hand, doesn't seem happy.  Although it seemed fine before the temperatures soared this week, it clearly needs more shade under current conditions.  I'll have to find another spot for it.

This Justicia brandegeeana is frying - the other one, in partial afternoon shade, is faring better

Some groundcovers are doing better than others as well.  The St. Johnswort is slow growing but seemingly impervious to heat.  The red hook sedge gets a touch of shade during the first half of the day but takes the sun's full blast from mid-day with no ill effects thus far.  But my experiment in stretching my zone to include Nepeta 'Pink Cat' was short-lived.

Hypericum x moserianum 'Tricolor'

Uncinia uncinata 'Rubra' in the midst of our 2nd heatwave

Nepeta 'Pink Cat' was dead after the 1st heatwave

The ugliest parts of my garden right now are the remaining areas of lawn, most of which are quickly turning straw yellow even though I've delivered far more water during the current heatwave than I did during the first one.  I've been reading about drought tolerant grasses, grass substitutes, and even fake grass.  Although we've eliminated various sections of grass since we moved in 3 years ago and I'd already slated other sections to go, I hadn't originally planned to take it all out but it may come to that.  Looking at this, in mid-May, is depressing:

This patch of lawn in the backyard was mostly green just a week ago

This, in contrast, is not depressing.

Lomandra 'Breeze'

Stipa tenuissima

If current conditions represent the "new normal," then I need plants that are better at adapting to sudden temperature fluctuations, more intense heat, and less water.  At present, my plants aren't the only ones having trouble adapting.  Heat and low humidity (plus dying plants) has made me cranky.  In contrast, at least one of my household companions takes the heat in stride.

Pipig has no problem with the heat despite being covered by fur

Please visit Pam at Digging to read her Foliage Follow-up post and to find links to other gardeners' flaunting their foliage.