Hi alpharalpha, some background:
https://garden.org/ideas/view/...
IMHO, ditch the crotons & pull up the plastic. Instead, plant:
African Iris (Dietes bicolor)
Stalked Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens)
Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis)
And daylilys
Forget the asparagus fern. I promise you'll be very happy for a few years & then, & then, & then you'll be cursing the day you ever planted it.
You will have to water anything until it gets established.
Make your mulch a good 3" thick & keep up on it. Don't let it degrade, just keep replenishing it.
