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Evergreen shrubs generally provide the backbone and structure to the garden and can be complimented with containers of herbs and flowers. Hedges and clipped plant forms, such as topiary adds interest to a Mediterranean Garden when summer seems a long way off! Scented plants (both foliage and flowers) and ‘spiky-leaved plants’ also are used for interest and focus. These plants were selected to be suitable for gardens in eastern and southern Australia.
A savewater!® Mediterranean Garden is designed to reduce water by using plants that have low water needs. This means selecting plants from low rainfall climates or those with special water conservation features. Some of the major plant groups used in a Mediterranean Garden includes small trees, evergreen shrubs, deciduous climbers and kitchen garden plants.
This plant list and text was prepared by Burnley Campus, School of Resource Management, University of Melbourne.
Small evergreen trees can provide shade, shelter, fragrance and food in a Mediterranean Garden. Most grow between 5 and
10 metres in height and are best selected for the conditions of the site and specific multi-use properties and functions.
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Grecian Strawberry Tree Arbutus andrachnoides
A small tree that grows up to 7 m in height, it has a multitrunked habit and flaking, reddish-brown bark. It can be a slow growing tree and it produces clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by clusters of small red fruits in autumn.
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Coastal Banksia Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia
A small, flowering tree growing up to 10 m from south-eastern Australia, it is particularly useful for coastal and dry climate gardens. It forms creamy-yellow bottlebrush flowers up to 12 cm in length. Tolerating a range of sites and conditions, this is a tough and attractive small tree.
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Fig Ficus carica
The deciduous Fig tree grows up to 5 m in height and is quite drought tolerant once established. The edible fruits form over many months and are easily cultivated. Many different varieties are available.
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Pomegranate Punica granatum
One of the earliest used Mediterranean plants, the deciduous Pomegranate is an excellent small tree for the garden. It has attractive orange-yellow flowers in summer, yellow autumn foliage in autumn, bronze new growth in spring and pulpy red and orange fruits.
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Olive Olea europaea subsp. europaea
No Mediterranean Garden would be complete without an Olive tree. Slow, but long-lasting, Olives form a small open, multitrunked tree. Needing good drainage and full sun there are many different varieties available. Seedless varieties, such as ‘Swan Hill’ or ‘Tolleys upright’ should be used in areas where Olives are an environmental weed.
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Evergreen shrubs are essential element of this garden. They can be left to grow naturally or clipped in hedges and shapes. Many of the grey or silver foliage shrubs can also be clipped into low hedges and their colour providing a useful foil for even
the slightest flowers in bloom.
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Silver Wormwood Artemisia arborescens
An upright, silver-foliage shrub growing to 1 m tall, the Silver Wormwood is a tough and easy to cultivate shrub. It can be managed through biennial or occasional pruning to mange its habit.
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Coastal Correa Correa alba
The Coastal Correa originates from south-eastern Australia and grows into a rounded shrub up to 1.5 m tall and 1 m in spread. It has small, white starry flowers and is easily managed as a clipped shrub or hedge.
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Curry Plant Helichrysum italicum
The Curry Plant is named for its pungent-smelling foliage, particularly during a hot day in summer. It forms a small shrub, 50 cm in height, with silver narrow leaves. Useful as a low clipped hedge it can also be left to grow in a natural rounded form.
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Common Lavender Lavandula angustifolia subsp. angustifolia
A variable shrub growing up to 1.5 m in height, Lavender is a widely cultivated flowering plant. Its attractive and fragrant spikes of blue flowers in spring-summer make it one of the most widely-cultivated ornamental plants. Easy to grow, the main task is to prune during or after flowering.
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These are suitable for containers and in the garden. Most are low water use plants originating from Mediterranean regions and not surprisingly have found their way into gardens and homes as well.
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Lemon Citrus limon
An essential Mediterranean Garden plant is the Lemon. Most varieties grow between 2 and 3 m in height. Sensitive to frost and poor drainage, once established the Lemon produces good fruit in a range of conditions. It is best planted in a container in very dry areas to provide supplementary water over summer.
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Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus
With its large, silver leaves and wonderful statuesque form, the Globe Artichoke deserves a place for these features alone. A perennial with a number of different varieties, the greenpurple edible flower buds can be harvested over late spring and summer.
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Pine Geranium Pelargonium denticulatum
This is a sprawling sub-shrub that grows up to 50cm in height. It has strongly-scented ‘fern-like’ leaves and mauve flowers that form over spring and summer. A useful low-growing plant for its texture, form and flowers.
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Common Thyme Thymus vulgaris
The Common Thyme forms a sprawling, woody sub-shrub of wiry stems, rarely growing more than 20 cm in height. Best grown in a full sun location there are many different forms of this excellent kitchen herb.
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For the pergola or the trellis, no Mediterranean Garden would be complete without a deciduous climber that holds its leaves over summer and sheds them in autumn. Apart from summer shade, these climbers can also provide flowers and fruit. A good solid support structure is needed and most plants can be readily managed by some vigorous hard pruning over winter.
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Campsis Campsis grandiflora
A deciduous woody climber from south-eastern China, this plant is tolerant of low water conditions once established. It produces masses of orange-red trumpets of flowers over summer and is tolerant of a range of soil and climatic conditions. It needs a strong pergola to support its vigour and growth.
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Grape Vitis vinifera
The humble grape is one of the toughest and most drought tolerant climbers. Many varieties exist including table grape, wine grape and colourful autumn foliage forms. Specialised pruning is generally required for fruiting varieties.
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