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Hearty plants for planters on concrete SoCal

sarahsgarden
13 years ago

I need to find hearty plants to put in 16" square planter boxes that are located on concrete at our school. There are 34 planter boxes in the courtyard. I think lantana will work, along with boxwood, heavenly bamboo, some types of rosemary, lavendar, and sage. What are your recommendations. We need some color and some variety, but don't want to replace these plants often. We are located in the Santa Clarita Valley and have hot summers and mild winters.

Comments (5)

  • gobluedjm 9/18 CA
    13 years ago

    Sarah, you might want to visit the display garden at CLWA.
    Its on Bouquet Canyon on the hill up above Central Park.
    The link below is a list of plants in the garden.
    I do think Lantana and sages are a great choice. But the Lantana here in the valley will frost and turn really dark purple and sometimes black by Feb. It comes back fine in the spring. Although the concrete might be enough warmth to prevent that damage.
    I would go with salvia microphylla as first choice and s. gregii as second.
    The lavenders will require deadheading. If you do french lavender it can get 5 feet around and hundreds of flowers...thats alot of deadheading. Personally I like the look of french lavender over spanish.
    You might consider sweet pea bush polygala dalmaisiana
    or rock roses cistus. Both will require very little care.
    Once the rock roses are established little water is needed.
    Something else to consider the lavenders, sages and lantana will attract honey bees. They don't normally sting but some children might be afraid.

    Here is a link that might be useful: CLWA plant list

  • hosenemesis
    13 years ago

    I am a fan of Sprenger asparagus ferns in containers. Ivy geranium. Trailing rosemary. I would avoid boxwood- they often turn yellow in full sun.
    Renee

  • domehomedee
    13 years ago

    How about succulents?
    There are also some good native plants like penstemmon that have nice flowers and will really take the heat. Mint might be another good one, at least you won't have to worry about the kids being poisoned by the plants!
    I suggest you look up poisonous plants online before making your final decision.
    Dee

  • gardenguru1950
    13 years ago

    I think domehome has the right idea: succulents.

    16 inches square is a SMALL planter box and with most plants, you'll need to replce them often or at least put in lots of maintenance to keep them looking good.

    Here's some good succuelents for such containers. Some of these are spectactular when in bloom. Do "arrangements" within each planter:

    Aeonium haworthii âÂÂKiwiâ GOLDEN PINWHEEL
    Aeonium manriqueorum âÂÂZwartkopâ BLACK-HEADED PINWHEEL
    Agave âÂÂBlue Flameâ BLUE FLAME AGAVE
    Aloe âÂÂBlue Elfâ BLUE ELF ALOE
    Aloe brevifolia SHORT-LEAF ALOE
    Aloe vera ALOE VERA
    Cephalophyllum pillansii SPARKLING ICE PLANT
    Cistanthe grandiflora ROCK PURSLANE
    Cotyledon tomentosa BEARâÂÂS PAWS
    Cotyledon undulata SILVER RUFFLES
    Deuterocohnia brevifolia CLUSTER BROMELIAD
    Drosanthemum micans FLAME ICEPLANT
    Drosanthemum speciosum SHOWY DEW FLOWER
    Dudleya brittonii SILVER DOLLAR PLANT
    Dudleya farinosa POWDERY LIVE-FOREVER
    Echeveria agavoides HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria derenbergii HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria elegans HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria gibbiflora HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria pulvinata HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria runyonii âÂÂTopsy-Turvyâ HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria shaviana HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria âÂÂBlue Curlsâ HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria âÂÂBlue Horizonâ HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria âÂÂBarbillionâ HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria âÂÂBittersweetâ HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Echeveria âÂÂDondoâ HENS-AND-CHICKS
    Gasteria batesiana OX-TONGUE
    Graptopetalum bellum SUPER STAR
    Graptopetalum paraguayense SILVER GHOST
    x Graptosedum âÂÂVera Higginsâ GRAPTOSEDUM
    Hechtia marnier-lapostollei FALSE AGAVE
    Kalanchoe pumila FLOWER DUST PLANT
    Kalanchoe thyrsiflora PADDLE PLANT
    Kalanchoe tomentosa PANDA PLANT
    Lampranthus deltoides OSCULARIA
    Othonna capensis LITTLE PICKLES
    Sedum cauticoloa âÂÂLedakenseâ STONECROP
    Sedum forsterianum elegans âÂÂSilver Stoneâ SILVER STONE SEDUM
    Sedum glaucophyllum CLIFF STONECROP
    Sedum grisebachii ATHOS STONECROP
    Sedum seiboldii AUTUMN DAPHNE
    Sedum seiboldii mediovariegata VARIEGATED AUTUMN DAPHNE
    Sedum spathulifolium PACIFIC STONECROP
    Sedum spurium DRAGONâÂÂS BLOOD
    Sedum tetractinum CHINESE STONECROP
    Senecio articulatus CANDLE PLANT
    Senecio scaposus SILVER CORAL
    Yucca desmettiana RED YUCCA

    Joe

  • hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
    13 years ago

    Yes, succulents. They are good for years potted and require very little care, and are very "in" now so there's lots of selection available.

    Make sure you select those with a high tolerance for reflected light and heat. Not all of them can take that environment.