Selection of plants for Mediterranean climate

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by very hot and dry summers and mild winters. The plants that we want to have in the regions that have this climate must be able to withstand the strong summer insolation, as well as the lack of rain, especially if we are going to plant them in a low-maintenance garden.

Finding plants for a Mediterranean climate is sometimes a very complicated task, since we do not always find those that are to our liking. But that's not going to happen to you anymore. In this special we are going to give you a plant list that you can have both in the gardens and on the Mediterranean terraces.

Trees

Ornamental

We are not going to fool ourselves: ornamental trees that are planted in gardens with a Mediterranean climate need, at least, a weekly watering, especially during the summer. But they are very decorative species, which grow well in the limestone soils typical of these regions. Of all of them, we recommend:

• acacia baileyana (mimosa): evergreen tree with flowers that resemble a small 1cm pom-pom and are yellow in color. It grows up to 8 meters in height.
• Albizia julibrissin (Silk tree): deciduous tree up to 15m, with a wide crown and pink inflorescence.
• bauhinia variegata (Cow's foot tree): deciduous tree up to 12m. It has oval leaves, up to 20cm, and pink or white flowers.
• Cercis siliquastrum (Tree of love): deciduous tree up to 6m, with simple rounded leaves and lilac inflorescences.
• Prunus pissardii (Ornamental cherry): deciduous tree up to 15m, with purple leaves and pink flowers.

Fruit trees

There are very few fruit trees, and most want a lot of water. However, there are some that resist periods of drought well:

• ficus carica (fig tree): It is deciduous, and grows up to 5 meters. It produces figs with a sweet taste during the summer (August in the Northern Hemisphere).
• Almond (almond): it is the only species of Prunus that has managed to become naturalized in the Mediterranean. It grows up to 6-7 meters, and is deciduous. At the end of winter it fills with white flowers, and in autumn its fruits, the almonds, ripen.
• Punica granatum (pomegranate): it is a tree up to 6 meters tall that has deciduous leaves. During the autumn-winter its fruits, the pomegranates, ripen.
• Olea europaea (olive): It is an evergreen tree that grows to 5-6m. It bears fruit in autumn.

Shrubbery

Shrubs are very useful when you want to have a dream patio or terrace, or you need to fill in spaces that have been left empty in the gardens. If you live in a Mediterranean climate, we suggest the following:

• Polygala myrtifolia (polygala): plant that grows up to 2m in height. It has evergreen leaves, and very decorative pink flowers.
• nerium oleander (oleander): plant that reaches a height of 2-3m. It has evergreen leaves, and flowers that can be white, pink or red. It is a poisonous plant.
• African tamarix (tare): shrub or small tree up to 3m high. Its flowers are very small, pinkish, but very abundant.
• euonymous (eponymous): Very decorative evergreen plant, green or variegated in color. It grows up to 3m in height.

Climbers

Climbing shrubs are what bring joy to the garden or terrace, especially if they produce brightly colored flowers. The most used are:

• Bouganvillea sp (all species): deciduous plant with pink, orange, red or white inflorescences. It grows up to 6m in height. You need support.
• plumbago auriculata (plumbago): plant with spectacular bluish or white flowers. It grows up to 3m in height, so it is usually planted on balconies or on walls that face the streets to cover them.
• Jasminum officinale (jasmine): this is a plant that grows up to 6-7 meters. It stands out for having white flowers which give off a pleasant and soft aroma. It also needs support to grow.

Aromatic

Aromatic plants are those with which it is possible that the place where they are smells wonderful. The most used in Mediterranean climate are:

• Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary): It has small, lanceolate, green leaves and lilac flowers. It can grow up to 1m in height, but usually it does not exceed 40-50cm.
• Lavandula sp (all lavender species): They are plants that are not only aromatic, but also repel mosquitoes. They grow, depending on the species, up to 1m in height.
• Petroselinum crispum (parsley): It is a perennial herbaceous plant that is mainly kept in pots. It has very vivid green leaves, and grows up to 30cm tall.
• Salvia officinalis (sage): This species is one of those that best withstands the conditions of this climate. It has gray-green leaves and lilac flowers. It grows up to 50cm in height.
• Thymus vulgaris (thyme): plant up to 40cm tall with very small leaves, green or greyish green. Its flowers are violet or white.

Flowers

A garden without flowers is a garden that is missing something, lacks color, lacks life. Even if you are in an area with a Mediterranean climate, you can also have a very cheerful garden with these flowers:

• Gazania freezes (Gazania): This curious perennial plant has flowers that open in the sun, and remain closed on cloudy days. Flowers that certainly look like daisies, white, orange or red.
• Calendula officinalis (calendula): plant grown as an annual. It grows to 50cm tall, and has orange flowers.
• Dimorphotheca ecklonis (dimorphotheque): This is a perennial plant that grows to 30-40cm tall, with red, white, or lilac flowers.
• Lobelia differed (lobelia): plant that behaves as a short-lived perennial if winter temperatures are mild. When it blooms, it fills with lovely little lilac flowers. It grows up to 20cm tall, and you have to know that it is poisonous.

Palm trees and the like

Palm trees and those plants that have a similar appearance are often used to give that exotic and tropical touch that is so sought after in these gardens. But what are their names?

• butia capitata (Jelly Palm): palm tree that grows up to 6 meters in height. It has pinnate leaves, slightly arched, and a trunk thickness of up to 45cm.
• Chamaerops humilis (Palmetto): multicaule palm, that is to say, with several trunks, with palmate green leaves. It grows up to 2m in height, and has a trunk thickness of up to 30cm.
• Cycas revoluta: It is a plant that grows up to 1,5 or 2m tall. It is not a palm tree, but the truth is that they are very similar.
• Zamia furfuracea (Zamia): this is a plant that has pinnate leaves, with wide leaflets up to 1cm. It is not a palm tree.

Succulent plants

Cactus

Cacti are those plants, mostly thorny, that are not lacking in xero-gardens, or in patios 😉 All are highly recommended, since they support the intense solar radiation of the Mediterranean like no other plant, but we recommend the following:

• Ferocactus sp (all species): cactus with thorns of very curious colors: yellow, intense red, orange. Its flowers are small, but decorative, in colors that go from red to white, passing through yellow. They reach 50-60cm in height.
• Echinocactus sp (all species): globose cacti with spines and very showy flowers, except those of the Echinocactus grussoni, which has very small ones. Depending on the species, they reach a height between 10cm and 70cm.
• Rebutia sp (all species): small cacti with a height of 15cm, globose with thorns and with spectacular, large flowers, up to 2cm in diameter.

Succulents

Succulents are those that store water in their leaves. They do not have thorns, so they can be kept in gardens where there are children and / or pets without problems. The most recommended are:

• Sedum spectabilis: plant that grows to 40cm, with green and serrated leaves, and pink inflorescences in clusters.
• Aloe spp: There are many species of Aloe that you can have, among others Aloe vera, Aloe arborescens, Aloe plicatilis or Aloe saponaria. All of them are characterized by having long, thin, fleshy, green or gray-green leaves. The inflorescence is red, yellow or orange. They reach a height between 30 and 2m.
• Aptenia cordifolia (Cat's claw): plant with triangular green leaves and pink flowers. It does not exceed 10cm in height.

And so far our selection of plants for the Mediterranean climate. We hope that it will serve as a guide to have a spectacular garden or terraces 🙂.

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