Tag: perennials
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Osteospermum
I’m normally not that crazy about daisies but I’ve grown to love Osteospermum or Cape Daisies for their bright and cheerful look and drought-resistance. They come in many colors and shapes with either simple or spooned petals, some spread out over the ground, some grow like little shrubs, and they are more or less hardy.…
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April in the Mediterranean Garden: Managing Abundance
Spring is probably easy in just about any garden anywhere. It is definitely easy in our Mediterranean garden. The spring rains were plentiful again this year and so for once there are no water restrictions in force. The sun is getting stronger by the day and everything grows by leaps and bounds. Sometimes I just…
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Melissa officinalis
Melissa officinalis is a Mediterranean native, naturalized around the world. In rich soil and a temperate climate like in my former garden in Switzerland it can spread aggressively, like mint. Here in this Mediterranean garden it never moves much beyond the lovely bright-green clumps that were already here when we moved in. If wanted for…
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Cymbalaria muralis
“Kenilworth Ivy” is one of my all-time favorites and I’m happy to have been able to establish it (I hope) here in its native region behind some gabions where it gets enough shade in summer. I love its French name “Ruine de Rome” and I love its dainty snapdragon-like blue flowers blooming from April to…
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Centaurea bella
A drought-resistant (Code secheresse 4/6), low-growing (20x40cm) perennial, making pretty pink flowers between March and May. Planted in late winter 2025 it came through the summer practically without watering and still looked very healthy in the fall. It likes a hot and sunny location and well-draining gravelly soil. Because of an extensive root system it…
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Salvia / Rosmarinus officinalis
Yes I know that the scientific name is Salvia rosmarinus. But I’ve always known and grown to love it under the “Rosmarinus” name and I think there are so many kinds of Salvias in the world they won’t miss this one in the family. Besides, to me it looks and smells nothing like salvia. Anyway,…