Archive | Gardening with Mediterranean Plants RSS feed for this section

African Lily

30. March 2012

Comments Off on African Lily

African Lily

Latin name: Agapanthus Description: A superb semi-evergreen clump-forming perennial with mid-to-dark green strap-like arching leaves forming at the base. Majestic spherical heads of trumpet-shaped blue to white (depending on variety and species) flowers are bourne on lax-to-upright stems from May to August. Excellent in containers where they flower best when pot-bound. Hardiness: Deciduous varieties are […]

Continue reading...

Blue Yucca

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Blue Yucca

Blue Yucca

Latin name: Yucca rostrata Description: Yuccas are well known desert plants and there are many to choose from. One in particular – Yucca rostrata is very handsome indeed. It is a stout, single trunked yucca from the Chihuahua deserts of northern Mexico. From the trunk top, linier, powdery, greyish blue, stiff leaves from 25-60cm long […]

Continue reading...

Bottle Brush

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Bottle Brush

Bottle Brush

Latin name: Calistemon Description: The well known Australian Bottle Brush is obviously not from the Mediterranean but is now being seen more often in our gardens since it survives well in drought.They are evergreen, woody evergreen shrubs with mid green tapering leaves with a strong scent when crushed. They are grown for their spectacular flowers […]

Continue reading...

Califonian Poppy

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Califonian Poppy

Califonian Poppy

Latin name: Eschscholzia Description: A very easy and fast growing annual that will really brighten up your garden. All through the summer months, intense, bright orange, poppy-like flowers with silky petals are carried on slender stems well above the finely divided, blue-green leaves. A glorious display can be had from a packet of seeds sown […]

Continue reading...

Califonian Tree Poppy

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Califonian Tree Poppy

Califonian Tree Poppy

Latin name: Romneya coulteri Description: Tall plant with absolutely fabulous plant with huge solitary poppy heads (10-15cm across) consisting of six almost round petals overlapping each other around the central golden stamens. The petals unfold crinkled from smooth buds from mid-summer to early autumn from the terminal ends of long stems. The large, light-grey, hand-shaped […]

Continue reading...

Californian Fuchsia

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Californian Fuchsia

Californian Fuchsia

Latin name: Zauschneria californica Description: The abundance of flowers produced by this delightful little evergreen perennial will brighten any border from late summer to early autumn. It has lance shaped, rich green to grey-green leaves giving an overall light feathery appearance. The tubular flowers are produced in abundance all summer and are a bright vermilion-red, […]

Continue reading...

Drought gardening

14. April 2012

2 Comments

Drought gardening

  Thousands of people will be  visiting their local garden centre this Spring to buy annual bedding plants such as petunias, lobelia, bizzy lizzies. Maybe this year with drought conditions and a hosepipe ban just a week away, garden centres might offer alternative plant ideas to beat the drought ? SAY NO TO BEDDING PLANTS […]

Continue reading...

Echevaria /Hens and Chickens

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Echevaria /Hens and Chickens

Echevaria /Hens and Chickens

Latin name: Echevaria Description: These well-known succulents are found in dry, often semi-desert areas in their native habitats. Many of the hybrid forms are very decorative, with colourful, often large leaves and different growth forms. Echevaria secunda var. gauca is a popular and easily obtainable variety and is a rosette-forming succulent with large glaucous, whitish […]

Continue reading...

Euphorbia

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Euphorbia

Euphorbia

Latin name: Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii Description: There are countless Euphorbia’s though one in particular looks excellent in a hot dry situation – Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii – the name might be a bit of a mouthful but the plant is astounding. It is a handsome perennial that adds drama to a border with its […]

Continue reading...

Hardy Bromeliad

30. March 2012

Comments Off on Hardy Bromeliad

Hardy Bromeliad

Latin name: Fasicularia bicolor Description: Amazingly hardy bromeliad from Chile and much hardier than originally thought. Fasicularia bicolor has narrow, stiff, arching, and spiny-edged, glucose leaves up to 50cm long. The innermost leaves become bright red when it comes into flower in late summer. Mature rosettes bear inflorescences with tight clusters of pale powder blue […]

Continue reading...