Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel
What is a Mediterranean Garden?
Mediterranean gardens enhance the yards, terraces and courtyards in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco, where gardeners in these dry climates need to be drought-conscious. The Mediterranean climate features hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Native plants are adapted to long periods of drought and require little maintenance.
Mediterranean garden plants require less water, but are still stunning. The gardens evoke visions of a casual and rustic lifestyle where al fresco dining, leisurely siestas and social gatherings are frequent. Sensory experiences are essential—the calming sound of trickling water, vibrantly painted walls and doors, decorative tiles and exotic fabrics abound.
While we don’t have to be immediately concerned about living in a dry climate, keeping our warming climate trend in mind is something to consider. Including some ideas and plants from Mediterranean-style gardens can create a vibrant, relaxed aesthetic in our gardens, as well as conserve water. Mediterranean gardens are a 2023 trend and are gaining in popularity.
What’s in a Mediterranean Garden?
Because the temperatures are hot, there are shady retreats in which to escape the summer sun, cooling water features, seating areas, drought tolerant plants and gravel that replaces grassy lawns. Plants can survive without frequent summer watering and require good drainage to prevent root rot from wet winters. Incorporating true Mediterranean natives as well as plants from similar climates such as California, South Africa and Australia, and adding some typical features can achieve the ambience of a Mediterranean garden.
Make a Mediterranean Garden Starting with a Blank Slate
If you have an area in your yard that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sun during the growing season, you can consider installing a Mediterranean garden there. Mediterranean soil tends to be sandy or rocky. Raised beds or a rock garden are other options if the soil does not drain well. You may have to amend the soil with gravel, sand or perlite, but Mediterranean plants prefer a leaner soil, so fertilizer and compost are not necessary. A gravel mulch around the crown of plants will keep roots cool, suppress weeds, and retain moisture. A high-quality potting mix can be used in containers.
Do some online research regarding drought-tolerant plants that grow well in your location. List elements you would like to include, such as seating areas, water features, accessories and plants. Features such as a tiered fountain (tiers planted with succulents, geraniums or other annuals if water is an issue), an herb knot garden, or a bocce ball court will help it identify as “Mediterranean.” Drawing a rough sketch will help you visualize how your finished garden will look. Use your creativity to blend Mediterranean features with the style of your home. If your space is limited, a birdbath with a solar-powered fountain, bistro-style seating, and an arbor or trellis plus some colorful accessories can create the desired ambience.
Mediterranean Garden Characteristics
- Shade – Essential to escape the heat of the sun. An open sided pergola would be ideal, but in lieu of that, consider a patio umbrella, shade cloth or even a large tree.
- Water – A major component and cooling element. Water features might include fountains, birdbaths, pools/ponds or waterfalls.
- Outdoor Lounging Areas – Spending time outdoors is an important part of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Create a seating area in which to enjoy a cup of coffee of an al fresco meal – ideally in a shady spot.
- Containers – Terracotta clay planters, jars and urns are classic features – often oversized and used as bold focal points. Frost-proof, terracotta-color containers work well in our area. Smaller pots can be grouped together to make a focal point. Or, plan for a splash of color with an oversize ceramic pot filled with colorful flowers.
- Stone, Pavers, Gravel – Mediterranean gardens use warm-toned stone for walls, terraces and paving. Gravel is used for patios and pathways, as well as lawn areas. Try incorporating mosaic patterns with stone pebbles.
- Tile- No Mediterranean garden is without tile – on staircases, walls, patios. Source bright, glazed tiles with characteristic patterns to use on table tops, mosaic birdbaths, bench seats, or a plaque.
- Fragrance – Many Mediterranean plants have fragrant flowers or foliage.
Choose from suggested plants below or include herbs such as lavender, rosemary or mint that will give off a fragrance when brushed against. - Color – Bold and bright colors counteract the harsh light in some Mediterranean countries. Colors mimic those in nature – cobalt blue recalls the sea, red-brown terracotta mimics earth tones and mustard yellow echoes the sun. The pops of color are tempered by the neutral tones of stone, gravel and foliage.
These Types of Plants are Found in a Mediterranean Garden
Mediterranean garden plants have certain traits and functions. They need to be drought tolerant. Foliage plants add color, texture and structure, especially silver leaved plants that reflect the sun’s heat and conserve water. Vining plants soften walls and pergolas and provide a canopy of coolshade. Clipped hedges and topiaries are a hallmark and Mediterranean trees add verticality, structure and shade. Citrus trees add a tropical and fragrant touch. They can be grown in large pots and overwintered indoors. Ornamental grasses add texture, color and movement. Ground covers substitute for lawn and soften edges of gravel paths and terraces.
The Best Plants for Your Mediterranean Garden
Following is a selection of plants that grow well in our location and will provide the look and feel of a Mediterranean garden.
- Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) – Silvery-blue evergreen clumping foliage adds fine texture with wheat-colored flower heads that bloom in summer.
- Globe Thistle (Echinops bannaticus) – Spiky globe-shaped, blue, violet or silver flowers add structural interest, complemented by deeply dissected silver-gray leaves.
- Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantine) – This Mediterranean native with velvety silver foliage and spikes of pink flowers in summer also makes a great border plant.
- Lantana (Lantana camara) – Grown as an annual in our location, but can become a large bush with a variety of colorful flower choices that bloom throughout the summer months.
- Agave (Agave spp.) – This spiky evergreen succulent with fleshy pointed leaves with sharp spines at the tips and edges definitely looks like it belongs in a Mediterranean garden. Agave’s spiky green, blue or silver-grey foliage adds bold structure to beds and it can also be grown in containers.
- Artemesia (Artemesia spp.) – Tolerant of dry heat and poor soil conditions, Artemesia’s many aromatic varieties add a bushy silver, white or gray soft texture to beds or containers.
- Catmint (Nepeta spp.) – A relative of mint, catmint’s clusters of blue flowers are a good stand-in for lavender if that won’t grow for you. It’s tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions and soils.
- Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) – This tender perennial is common in Mediterranean landscapes in beds or in containers, window boxes and hanging baskets. Find it in a wide range of colors and enjoy its blooms from mid-spring through frost in our location.
- Lavender (Laveandula spp.) – A popular Mediterranean native, Lavender offers scented flowers in shades of lavender, purple, pink, yellow and white with gray-green foliage.
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) – This aromatic shrubby herb can be grown in beds or containers. Its silvery-green, needle-like leaves are used in Mediterranean cuisine. It can be overwintered indoors.
- Caradonna Sage (Salvia nemorosa) – There are many different ornamental and culinary sages that will provide a Mediterranean ambience in your garden. Caradonna is a hardy variety that has deep purple flower spikes that bloom in late spring through summer.
Consider adding vining plants, such as grape, honeysuckle, passionflower, trumpet vine or wisteria, to an arbor or trellis. Succulents such as hens and chicks, portulaca, rock purslane (Calandrinia), sedum varieties or yucca will provide a characteristic Mediterranean vibe. Cold hardy cacti include prickly pear (Opuntia), hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus) and barrel cactus (Echinocactus). Chives make a great border and other herbs, such as marjoram, parsley, sage, tarragon and thyme will add both fragrance and utility.
Armed with a sketch of the garden you envision and a plant list, you are well on your way to achieving a Mediterranean garden ambience either in an existing bed or in a new area to be developed. Look beyond the hard work it will take to accomplish those plans and picture yourself enjoying the Mediterranean lifestyle—al fresco dining, entertaining friends and family and leisurely siestas in your new garden!
Article Resources: Garden Design Online Newsletter 2-26-23; “Ideas for a Mediterranean-style Garden” by Janet Loughrey, published 10/4/22
