Heat-hardy accents for poolside settings

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: May, 2008, Page 198

Aloe x ‘Blue Elf’

Description:
Clumping dwarf aloe hybrid that grows to 1 1/2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Produces coral-color blooms January through April on spikes that develop from steel-blue leaves.

Best traits:
Attracts hummingbirds; long-flowering period; tolerates the low desert’s summer sun; does not sunburn; cold-hardy to 20°.

Growing tips:
Plant in full sun to part shade. Although low-water-use, does best with supplemental irrigation in summer. Remove spent blooms.

In the garden:
Does well in containers. Makes a fine option for xeriscape gardens or as an accent plant.

Foxtail Agave
(Agave attenuata)

Description:
Slow-growing ornamental succulent with bluish-green leaves. Produces a pale-yellow flower after it reaches 10 years of age. Dies once it blooms but generates offshoots from the mother.

Best traits:
Makes a bold statement in the landscape; offers tropical appeal; tolerates poor soil; has no sharp spines.

Growing tips:
Prefers light shade to part sun and regular watering in summer. Needs frost protection when temperatures dip below 30°.

In the garden:
Good choice for containers, rock gardens, borders or planted in masses.

Yellow Yucca
(Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Yellow’)

Description:
Clumping perennial that grows to 3 feet tall and wide. Creamy yellow flowers appear late spring through fall on spikes that reach 6 feet high.

Best traits:
Long-lived blooms; drought-tolerant; cold hardy to -20°; handles reflected heat.

Growing tips:
Place in full sun. Although tolerant of most soils, must have good drainage. Extra summer watering helps plant develop faster. Remove flower stalks after blooming.

In the garden:
Striking when grown in masses or alongside red-flowering flora. Perfect for xeriscape and cactus gardens.

Twisted Leaf Yucca
(Yucca rupicola)

Description:
Small trunkless plant with olive-green leaves that twist as they age. Produces spikes of creamy white flowers in summer that can grow to 5 feet tall. Main rosette—which can reach 2 feet high by 3 feet wide—dies after blooming but produces several offsets.

Best traits:
Eye-catching blooms; low-water-use; heat-tolerant; hardy to -10°.

Growing tips:
Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil. Remove spent flower stalks.

In the garden:
Good selection for small spaces, xeriscape gardens and as an accent plant. Easy to grow in pots.

Elephant Food
(Portulacaria afra)

Description:
A shrublike succulent with twisted red branches lined with green fleshy leaves. Can reach 12 feet tall and wide. Produces tiny pink flowers in summertime.

Best traits:
Fast grower; drought-tolerant; low maintenance; easily propagated from cuttings.

Growing tips:
Plant in full sun to part shade. Needs frost protection when temperatures drop below 25°. Prune frost-damaged foliage in spring.

In the garden:
Excellent container choice. Can be grown side-by-side to create an informal hedge or be utilized as screening. Ideal for use as a bonsai plant.