Re: Companion plants for Alstromeria 'Ligtu Hybrids'
david feix wrote:
> Regarding the previous thread of favorite plants that
> perhaps shouldn't be, Alstromeria 'Ligtu Hybrids' is
> another plant that is incredibly easy here in the Bay
> Area, and will volunteer around the garden if allowed
> to set seed. This plant will survive and thrive on
> rainfall alone, and is spectacular when in full bloom,
> with the range of pastel colors. The down side is
> that it goes dormant after blooming in May/June, and
> is so dense growing that it will smother out anything
> else planted with it. I remember Chris Rosmini in a
> Pacific Horticulture Magazine article suggesting the
> use of Physostegia virginiana as a good A. 'Ligtu
> Hybrid' companion plant to compete with and fill the
> void, but have not seen the two combined to know if it
> works. Does anyone in the group have other
> suggestions for companion plants to Alstroemeria
> 'Ligtu Hybrids'?
Hi David,
I haven't posted for a while, but your request for a companion to the
alstromerias brings up one of my favorites. Salvia verticillata 'Purple
Rain' planted on 3 sides of one of my clumps of Alstromeria Ligtu
Hybrids completely cover the summer bare spot. This is a low growing (2'
in bloom) spreading herbaceous salvia. It is +completely+ deciduous
during winter, but the alstromeria sends up its non-blooming green
shoots then. S. 'Purple Rain' re-emerges from the soil in late spring,
just as the alstromeria is going over. The wide fuzzy leaves and
continuous hazy purple flowers complement any color.
On the down side, there is a time during late summer when S. 'Purple
Rain' starts to look ratty. I cut them to the ground, give them a mulch
and a soak, and back they come, blooming all the way.
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jan Smithen,
Upland, California
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10
http://home.earthlink.net/~jansmithen/
Visit the Los Angeles County Arboretum
Victorian Rose Garden website at:
http://victorian-rose.org/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
