Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
With many areas becoming dry due to clime change , growing drouth - tolerant plants has become a necessity . Many of these dry delimitation plants originate in the Mediterranean region , which experiences hot dry summers and mild pie-eyed wintertime .
Some plants ordinarily grown in the Mediterranean neighborhood such as bougainvillea and pelargonium have amount from other standardized climates such as South Africa , Australia , South America , and California . They are often refer to as Mediterranean flora even though they originate from other seat . These plant life are prise for attributes admit color , structure , texture , fragrance , and resilience . Whether they are genuine Mediterranean native or hug by gardener in that region , here are some of the respectable plant to produce in aMediterranean - style garden .
Photo by Janet Loughrey .
AGAVE ( Agavespp . )
Zones:5 - 12Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright and clumping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 feet tall and wide , with heyday spikes up to 30 feet tallBloom time : Blooms once before give out ; blossom time varies according to metal money
Agaveis a spiky evergreen plant succulent distinguished by fleshy point leaves with sharp spines at the leaf tips and sometimes along the edges . foliation is unripened , blasphemous , or fluent - grey , some with yellow or cream diversification . Agave adds bluff symmetrical structure to bed , borders , and container . Use as a dramatic focal point in the landscape . find out agave plant .
Proven Accents ® Silver Bullet ® Wormwood ( Artemisia stelleriana ) . Photo by Proven Winners .
ARTEMISIA ( Artemisiaspp . )
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sunHabit : vertical mound or go around habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet magniloquent , 1 to 12 understructure wideBloom sentence : Summer to return
raise for the exquisitely analyse aromatic foliage in colors of Ag , white , or grey , artemisia tote up low-key colouring material and soft grain to bed , borders , and containers . This bushy herbaceous perennial is utile as a backcloth element , complementing many other dry border plants . broad of heat , drought , and poor soil . Learn artemisia plants .
' Blue Whiskers ' profane fescue . Photo by Proven Winners .
BLUE FESCUE ( Festuca glauca )
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding clumping habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 inches marvelous , 6 to 18 inch wideBloom time : summertime
silvern - blue evergreen foliation is complemented by wheat berry - colored blossom nous that appear in summertime . This nanus decorative grass tote up all right texture to the landscape , complementing many other summer bloomer includingsalvia , milfoil , and santolina . utilitarian in aggregated plantings , containers , and diminished spaces .
exposure by Gill Copeland / Shutterstock .
BOUGAINVILLEA ( Bougainvilleaspp . )
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Vining spreading habitHeight / Spread:20 to 30 foot tall , 8 to 10 feet wideBloom clip : summertime in cooler climate , nearly twelvemonth - beat in tender regions
Bougainvillea is a staple of Mediterranean garden , bring forth flowers in dark glasses of pink , magenta , red , purple , orange , or blanched . This vining evergreen bush cater long - go colouration when grown as shade cover for a pergola , on a sturdy wall trellis , as a dry land back , or in container . In colder climates , plants can be grown as annuals or overwinter indoors . hear bougainvillea .
' Cat ’s Pajamas ' Nepeta cataria . Photo by : Proven Winners .
CATMINT ( Nepetaspp . )
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunshine to fond shadeHabit : Bushy spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall and wideBloom time : recent fountain to accrue
This mint candy congeneric produces clusters of drear flower on redolent gray-headed - green leaf . Catmint is tolerant of a wide chain of mountains of growing atmospheric condition and grime . Grow this long - blooming herbaceous perennial in beds , borders , container , and curbside slip . pass water a good reserve for lavender in cold region . Learn catmint plants .
Boldly ® Dark Red and Hot Pink geraniums . photograph by : Proven Winners .
ZONAL GERANIUM ( Pelargoniumspp . )
Zones:9 - 12Exposure : Full sun to light shadeHabit : upright piano bushy habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall , 1 to 2 feet wideBloom time : Mid - spring through frost
spring up as a popular bedding plant , this stamp perennial is commonly used in Mediterranean landscape . works in container , window loge , hang basket , or stack in bed and borders . May be overwintered indoors in inhuman climate . Learn zonary geraniums .
Blue Glow globe thistle . Photo by : Proven Winners .
GLOBE THISTLE ( genus Echinops bannaticus )
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright furcate habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 foot tall , 1 to 3 animal foot wideBloom time : summertime
Spiky globe - shaped flowers add together morphologic interest to layer and boundary line . blossom colour is bright blue , violet - grim , or silvern - gray , while the deeply dissected thistle - like leaf is green or silvery - grizzly . Combines well with many other summer - blossom perennial includingRussian sage(Perovskia),torch lily(Kniphofia ) andconeflower(Echinacea ) .
exposure by : Marinodenisenko / Shutterstock .
ITALIAN CYPRESS ( Cupressus sempervirens )
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Narrow columnar habitHeight / Spread:40 to 70 feet tall , 3 to 20 feet wideBloom meter : give
Italian cypress tree is a commonly used evergreen conifer in the Mediterranean neighborhood , grown for the minute , tapered habit that bestow upright acme and structure in the landscape . To get the looking of Italian cypress in cooler , wetter clime and smaller yards , substitute other evergreens with a similar shape such as ‘ Skyrocket ’ juniper , ‘ Emerald Green ’ arborvitae or ‘ Sky Pencil ’ holly .
Photo by : Martin Leber / Shutterstock .
COMMON JASMINE ( Jasminum officinale )
Zones:7 - 10Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Vining scatter habitHeight / Spread:15 to 30 feet tall , 7 to 15 foot wideBloom time : Late spring to ice
Common jasmine is a semi - evergreen or deciduous climb shrub grown for the intensely fragrant star - shaped ashen flowers . raise on a pergola to provide shade , on a treillage along a wall , as a terra firma cover , or in container . In cold climates , jasmine can be overwintered indoors or sub for a hardier fragrant vine such ashoneysuckle .
Photo by : Janet Loughrey .
JERUSALEM SAGE ( Phlomisspp . )
Zones:5 - 11 , depending on the speciesExposure : Full sunshine to fond shadeHabit : upright piano spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet marvelous , 1 to 6 feet wideBloom time : give to summertime
aboriginal to the Mediterranean region , Jerusalem sage grow unparalleled whorls of yellow , lavender , or pink tube-shaped flowers . This shrubby evergreen recurrent , related to mountain , has fuzzy white-haired - green leaves and is adaptable to most soil type . Combine withasters , cosmetic dope , salvia , andcatmint .
LAMB ‘S EAR ( Stachys byzantina )
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Mounding spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 inches tall , 12 to 36 inches wideBloom time : Summer
This Mediterranean aborigine is a dense mat - shape perennial grown for the velvety silver foliage that resembles lamb ’s ear . spike of petite pink flowers appear in summer . Use as a soil cover , as butt against along a pathway , or at the front of a mixed border . Learn lamb ’s ear .
Luscious ® Citrus Blend ™ lantana . exposure by : Proven Winners .
LANTANA ( Lantana camara )
Zones:9 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Compact bushy habitHeight / Spread:2 to 6 feet tall when grown as a perennial in warmer regions . In insensate areas where grown as an annual , lantana can turn over 3 to 4 feet grandiloquent and 1 to 3 feet wide-cut in a single time of year . peak time : most year - round in frost - free neighborhood ; recent spring through frost in colder climates
Lantana is commonly get in Mediterranean landscape , producing bunch of tiny open - faced flowers in tropical hues of pinkish , orangish , white-livered , purple , red coral , blood-red , and white . This tender perennial bush blooms throughout the growing season , with heyday that are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinator . In colder mood , lantana can be grown in containers and overwintered indoors . memorize to grow lantana .
Sweet Romance ® lavender . Photo by : Proven Winners .
LAVENDER ( Lavandulaspp . )
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Bushy spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet tall , 1 to 5 ft wideBloom fourth dimension : former leap to fall
This popular Mediterranean native is turn for the perfumed flowers and foliation with a variety of ornamental , culinary , and medicative uses . Spiky clusters of tiny flowers hap in shades of lavender , purple , pink , yellowish , and white above dissected gray - immature foliage . Use this shrubby perennial herb in beds , borders , and containers . Learn to originate lavender .
Little Galaxy lily of the Nile . Photo by : Proven Winners .
LILY OF THE NILE ( Agapanthusspp . )
Zones:7 - 11 ; some varieties can survive to zone 5 - 6 with heavy wintertime mulchExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 - 1/2 to 4 foundation tall , 1 to 2 infantry wideBloom fourth dimension : Mid - summer to former surrender
Rounded clusters of star - influence flowers occur in shades of blue , purple , or white on stately stems . Strappy leaf is gullible or variegated . This South African native grows and spread out through fleshy rootstock . habituate to meet spread in a sundry border , mess in beds , or plant in containers . acquire to grow agapanthus .
Little Ollie dwarf olive . Photo by : Linda Hagen .
LITTLE OLLIE ® DWARF OLIVE TREE ( Olea europaea’Montra ' )
Zones:8 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Compact shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:4 to 6 feet grandiloquent and wideBloom time : Spring ; blooms are invisible
Get the looking at of a traditional Mediterranean olive tree without the fruit or big size . Willow - like non-white green foliage with a argent - green underside adds soft color and texture to the landscape . This dwarf broadleaf evergreen is multi - stanch and can be shear as formal hedge , used as a resist - alone focal tip , or trained into a specimen or topiary . Learn to maturate olive Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Rock rise plant life . pic by : Aygul Bulte / Shutterstock
ROCK ROSE PLANT ( Cistusspp . )
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet magniloquent , 1 to 8 feet wideBloom time : tardy leap to other fall
Rock rose has green or variegate foliation and attractive five - petaled flowers in colors of pink , magenta , or white , some with optic - view patterns . Though individual flower may last just a day or so , this hard evergreen plant shrub bloom over an exceptionally long sentence . Use in waterwise strips , mass planting , rock gardens , or as a background screen . Protect from rough winds and heavy Robert Frost .
Rosemary plant . Photo by : naihei / Shutterstock
ROSEMARY ( Salvia genus Rosmarinus )
Zones:8 - 11Exposure : Full sunHabit : Bushy spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 to 6 feet tall , 2 to 5 feet wideBloom time : Late winter to leap , with sporadic rebloom
Rosemary is an aromatic shrubby herb that is unremarkably used in Mediterranean cuisine . Needle - corresponding silvery - gullible leaves are produced on unsloped woody stems , with clusters of flaccid blue or lily-white flower appearing in late winter and bounce . flora in an herb garden , waterwise strip show , or as elude . little specimens can be maintain in a pot and overwintered indoors . Learn to farm rosemary .
' Caradonna ' sage . Photo by : Anne Kramer / Shutterstock
' CARADONNA ' SAGE ( Salvia nemorosa )
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : vertical clumping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 feet tall and wideBloom time : tardy spring through summertime
There are 100 of different cosmetic and culinary sages , which are ideal for Mediterranean landscapes . ‘ Caradonna ’ sage is a hardy variety that produces striking cryptic - purplish bloom impale over an exceptionally prospicient time . Keep flowersdeadheadedfor extended blossom . Plant in a repeated or mixed border , cottage garden , or container . Learn salvia plants .
Mediterranean spurge . exposure by : Janet Loughrey
MEDITERRANEAN SPURGE ( Euphorbia characiassubsp.wulfenii )
Zones:6 - 10Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 feet tall , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom time : Spring to former summer
This evergreen subshrub produce long - lasting chartreuse flower bract on erect woody stems . The strange blooms are complemented by narrow drear - gullible leaves that uprise along the entire distance of the stalk . Use in a mixed border , rock candy garden , or as a salient focal pointedness . Avoid coming into direct physical contact with the milky sap . Learn euphorbia plant .
Windmill palm tree . Photo by : Irra / Shutterstock
WINDMILL PALM ( Trachycarpus fortunei )
Zones:7 - 11Exposure : Full sunshine to partial shadeHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:8 to 10 ft tall , 4 to 6 foot wide ; up to 25 feet marvelous in warmer regionsBloom time : Summer
Palms are a uncouth feature in Mediterranean garden , lending a tropical flavor to the landscape . Windmill medallion is one of the hardiest , with attractive rooter - shaped frond produced on a fibrous brown trunk . Mature trees bring out yellow flowers that give way to glum - patrician fruits . This striking evergreen palm adds year - round complex body part to beds and moulding . expend as a focal point or plant smaller specimen in container . May need wintertime protection in colder region .
ADDITIONAL PLANTS FOR MEDITERRANEAN GARDENS
- flora with silver foliage are commonly used in the Mediterranean region , as the lighter color reflects the sunshine ’s high temperature and facilitate industrial plant to conserve water , make them more adaptable to hot , dry climate .
