Working agave and aloes into the garden?

[rprimbs]

I have a little "rock" garden area where I planted some cycads, and I decided to add some aloes and agaves to it. I need to bury more big rocks to it to give it character. The "red yucca" I planted earlier worked in well, but I can't decide whether it looks over planted with the aloes and agaves or whether they are even the right choice. But these plants are definitely beautiful on their own.

I planted Agave "blue glow", Agave victoriae-reginae, Agave desmettiana "Variegata", and Agave parryi "huachucensis". And I already had several Aloe polyphylla planted near the rocks. Evergreen Nursery has a great selection of Agaves and Aloes! (I would have posted bigger pictures but I was having troubles with the size..)

Edited August 5, 2012 by rprimbs

[rprimbs]

I keep trying for a bigger picture -- by using online "optimizers" but they don't seem to be working...

Edited August 5, 2012 by rprimbs

[rprimbs]

Maybe I can show things better in these pictures. The individual plants are great, however it seems that overall the "rock garden" is taking on a "spotty" look. Maybe I need more repetition? I do know to bury the boulders to give the natural outcrop look and the plants seem to look great around them. Maybe if I were to add another dwarf century plant or two along the edge? And maybe when I get some more boulders added it will look more aesthetically pleasing?

Edited August 5, 2012 by rprimbs

[John Case]

These plants will grow, albeit slowly....I would add plants with the intent to remove some as they get larger.....

[bahia]

You might consider adding compatible lower ground cover type succulents to visually knit it together. Some I especially like include Sedum palmeri, Sedum rubrotinctum/rupestre 'Angelina', Echeveria agavoides/imbricata/elegans/secunda, Kalanchoe pumila, Crassula lycopopodioides/erosula 'Campfire'/multicava, Senecio mandraliscae/sepens, Cotyledon orbiculata, Bulbine frutescens. You might also consider adding some fast clumping Aechmea recurvata varieties and Dyckias, or adding fast growing clumping Aloes such as Aloe 'Johnson's Hybrid'. Other ground covers to consider include Dymondia, Zauschneria, Lessingia filaginifolia, Verbena lilacina, Arctotis hybrids, etc.

[rprimbs]

Thank you guys for the great suggestions! I will plant more, and plan on moving and changing things in the future. Bahia thanks for the great suggestions! I'm just learning about rock gardens so I appreciate your list of plants. I think you're right about adding small scale plants.