All that gorgeous 80-degree weather that we were, um, NOT gloating about last week, has turned to lovely, lovely rain, which is exactly what the gardens need right now. One of the stand-up, stand-out bloomers pretty much year-round here in USDA zone 9-10 is Aristea inequalis.
This incredibly tough South African Iris relative is planted in a 12″ parking strip in front of Annie’s house. There’s nice soil for maybe about 4″ and then it hits hardpan. In the rainy season, there’s a culvert up the street that often overflows, sending a river of water right past this guy and eroding all of the soil around it. Does it care? It does not.
In fact, each year it seems to get bloomier and bloomier, with a tidy 3′ x 3′ foliage clump that never needs cutting back. It’s the plant we most recommend to beginning gardeners because it’s virtually indestructable! Bonus points for being hardy to USDA zone 8 and clay, heat and drought tolerant! Oh, AND deer resistant!
Thank you Aristea inequalis! And thank you to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! See what’s blooming on other folks’ gardens this February!
blog.anniesannuals.com 
That’s a very impressive plant; lovely blossoms & growing in such a tiny strip of shallow soil. Amazing.
I had this plant many years ago, and its one tough cookie, and can be drought tolerant too!
What a fabulous plant! I am sad since it is not hardy to our zone 7 and no longer try to push those zones after the last few winters we have had. It seems the perfect planting for the harsh strip of earth. 🙂
Frances
Ah, one has to love a plant like that. Others have to be coddled, mix the soil, improve the drainage, and this one just blooms!
Happy Bloom Day!
Thank you Town Mouse! Blooming like mad in February? You really couldn’t ask for anything more with this one.
Can you tell me when the “torch” aloe will be available again?
Hi Russ – I don’t think we will have it this year. But you might be happy to know that it is one of the more common aloes we grow, and you might be able to find it elsewhere. Or, you can put it on a WISH LIST and you will get an email as soon as it becomes available!