The gardens bordering the Mediterranean have a very special charm! Between minerality and plants remarkable for their graphics, this type of garden is very appreciated for the perfumes that emanate from it according to the hours of the day. Let yourself be tempted and recreate at home this atmosphere by installing Mediterranean plants!
The essentials of the Mediterranean garden
A Mediterranean garden is necessarily shaped by the typical climate of this region: a very hot and sunny summer where rain is rare, an often windy and mild winter without very pronounced frost episodes, strong thunderstorms often brief.
The plants generally have green/greyish foliage such as olive, beaver tail, santoline or rosemary, tough as in cork oak, even succulent in agave or aeonium to withstand the burning rays of the sun and drought without flinching.
Rocks, slopes, restanques participate in the atmosphere of these gardens so particular where the mineral has necessarily its place. A few accessories such as large raw terracotta pots, calades on the ground, a beautiful arbor bearing a vine, will further support the style.
Acclimatization of Mediterranean plants: what you need to know
Always choose plants whose hardiness is adapted to your region. Some Mediterranean or similar plants can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C; always prefer to install frost-resistant species to limit losses. Be careful, the minimum temperatures are given for plants already well installed (for at least 3 years), in open ground and in very drained soil. A recently installed plant is always more fragile, it will then be necessary to redouble vigilance in the event of cold snap!
Plants that occur naturally in Mediterranean areas are adapted to long periods of drought, which is why in other regions they will need well-drained soil, or even planting on hilltops or sloping ground so that water does not stagnate around the roots for too long. Moreover, in case of frost, they will be much more resistant if they are planted in a very well drained soil because many of them are still a little bit cold.
Remember to give them as much sunlight as possible and, if possible, to expose them to the south and away from the prevailing winds to optimize your chances of success.
In order for the soil to warm up more quickly while remaining very draining, the construction of dry stone restanques will bring a touch of Provence while ensuring optimal growing conditions for your Mediterranean plants.
In winter if a cold snap is announced, do not hesitate to wrap them in a wintering veil. Avoid thick mulching at the foot especially for plants that are very afraid of humidity, instead of being protective, it would have the opposite effect and could lead to root rot or the development of diseases.
Plants grown in large pots should be raised on gratings in winter and surrounded by bubble wrap if it is very cold to preserve them. Never leave water in the pots to prevent frost from becoming even more virulent!
Which Mediterranean plants for my garden?
As we have seen, except in regions with a clear oceanic climate where many plants can be considered, it is preferable to choose resistant varieties. In the same family, some varieties are much more resistant than others, for example in oleanders, prefer the cultivars 'Villa Romaine' or 'Atlas' with single pale pink flowers and 'Italia' of a beautiful fuchsia pink, which tolerate short frosty spells at -15°C. Although the foliage may disappear, the strain will grow again if all the above conditions are met.
The same goes for olive trees, where one will gladly turn to 'Aglandau', 'Bouteillan', 'Frantoio' or 'Verdale du Vaucluse' which, if planted in very well drained soil, or even on a small hill, will tolerate temperatures down to -20°C.
The fig trees will have to be chosen with care! "Brunswick', 'Dorée', 'Ronde de Bordeaux' or 'Pastillière' are the most hardy varieties (-15°C) and can even give you fruit north of the Loire!
Among the agapanthes, so graceful in a restanque in company of lavenders or in large pots on a terrace, it is a little the same thing! Varieties with deciduous foliage will be preferred because they are much more rustic!
For a Mediterranean evocation, the cypress of Florence always makes its effect when it frames the entrance of a property or in the background of a rockery thanks to its line of an incomparable graphic design.
The dasylirion and its shaggy side, as well as Yucca rostrata, filamentosa and gloriosa, are particularly resistant to cold (down to -15°C) and will find their place on a sloping ground or in a well-sheltered rock garden.
To dress the top of a low wall, think of the creeping version of rosemary, which will have less wind resistance and therefore suffer less from the cold. Thyme, which is much more hardy than one might imagine (-20°C), can accompany it to attract pollinating insects like no other.
In your flowerbeds, think of the magnificent perovskia (-20°C), whose silvery foliage is adorned with bluish spikes erected throughout the summer, as well as the chaste tree with its beautiful palm foliage giving off a peppery smell. The phlomis will ensure a beautiful contrast thanks to its yellow flowers so original. Don't forget the rustic sage so appreciated by bees and of course the inimitable lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) which will embalm your garden with deliciously Provencal notes!
