Category: Plants
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Hyssopus officinalis
Native to Europe and the Middle East, Hyssop has been both a kitchen and a healing herb since the Middle Ages. In the garden it is a small woody (sub-)shrub (about 45×45 cm), with semi-evergreen aromatic foliage and purple or pink flowers from June through July or even through September in less hot regions. It…
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Sedum & Sempervivum
Sedum and sempervivum are very drought and frost tolerant plants and are sold as such by garden centers. However, all will not work in our particular Mediterranean climate and I can only kick myself for omitting “due diligence” research before trusting garden center descriptions. Petrosedum sediforme This true mediterranean native grows all over this garden…
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Santolina
Somewhat unspectacular plants, but very good shrubs to have in a Mediterranean garden. Santolina chamaecyparissus An evergreen Mediterranean shrub, growing to 50 x 80 cm. The very aromatic, grey-green leaves have a scent reminiscent of Chamaemelum nobile. The round yellow flower heads appear in May-June. Santolina chamaecyparissus has been a feature of Mediterranean herb gardens…
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Agastache aurantiaca
Another one of those plants where it pays to look very closely… Garden centers will sell Agastache aurantiaca as suitable for Mediterranean climates, mentioning maybe that it comes from Mexico. Looking closely however, it is native in the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Durango which are both mountainous. Thus it likes cool nights, cold winters,…
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Monoxia obesula on Atriplex halimus
The steep bank bordering our garden has been planted a long time ago with Atriplex halimus, also known as Mediterranean salt bush. This plant is a native of Mediterranean and North African regions and famous for its great drought-tolerance. It grows quickly and likes poor and even salty soils. Its deep root system retains the…
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Medicago arborea
Medicago arborea is a native shrub of the Mediterranean Basin, where it grows wild on rocky shores. It is used as fodder for animals and apparently the leaves can be eaten in salads. I haven’t tried it yet… Like all Medicago, it can fix nitrogen in the soil. It grows up to about 150 x…