Tag: shrubs
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Cotinus coggygria
Cotinus coggygria is a Mediterranean native but also grows in Southwest Asia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and China. It thrives on sunny and dry, rocky slopes up to altitudes of 2400 meters. It reasonably thrives in my low-lying mediterranean garden at 50 masl but it doesn’t grow very big, staying far below its potential of 2-3…
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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,…
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Jasminum mesnyi
When we moved in last summer, it took some time for me to discover the large Jasminum mesnyi because it was well hidden behind a thick Eleagnus hedge. It had been planted up on the retaining wall between the garden and the neighbors lower back terraces. It had apparently never been trimmed and was hanging…
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Lavandula
One of the quintessential Mediterranean plants, lavender comes in a variety of types, differing in size, height, and blooming season. It is not easy to tell them apart and depending on where you buy them they may all just be called “Lavande” (this is my major beef with most regular garden centers). All lavenders are…
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Goji – the Berry from Hell
It’s very difficult to cultivate small soft berry fruit here – too hot, too dry. Goji berries however aren’t scared of anything. Heat? Drought? No problem. Along with their dainty little flowers and pretty berries, they have the personality of a Mongolian conqueror and start spreading everywhere underground. I found that I didn’t really like…
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Caryopteris clandonensis
One of my “darlings” and a somewhat misguided beginner’s purchase because Caryopteris is not really a drought-resistant plant. Filippi gives it a mere 2.5 on the drought-resistance scale. But so far it has turned out to be surprisingly tough and has survived less than ideal circumstances in my garden. I planted it in March 2023…