Tag: shrubs
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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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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…
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Dorycnium
These two mediterranean plants belong to the Lotus genus. They need light, poor, and well-drained soil, are very drought tolerance (code de secheresse 4-5, according to Filippi) and tolerate frost down to -12℃ if planted correctly. Both are supposed to have a limited lifespan but to reseed themselves easily. So far they haven’t done so…
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Teucrium – Germander
Teucrium, also known as “germander”, is a large plant genus with about 250 species of flowering perennials and shrubs worldwide. Most of them are native to the Mediterranean region and thus are pretty heat- and drought-tolerant while also being frost hardy to -10℃ or more. They are simple to cultivate, have no great demands besides…
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Anisodontea
Anisodontea or Cape Mallow is another plant I would never have thought of planting myself but which I had grown rather fond of. My mother gave it to me 2021. It had been grown from a cutting as an indoor plant in cold Ulm, Germany. When we came here I planted it in the garden,…
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Trachelospermum jasminoides
This native of the Far East ist widely cultivated in Mediterranean gardens. It is a vigorous evergreen climber that can grow up to 6 meters high and 3 meters wide. Its very fragrant flowers will perfume the whole garden or terrace in May and June. Trachelospermum jasminoides will flower in full sun or (partial) shade…