I alter watering technique from one to another. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms Leaves in shades of green, yellow, orange, red, pink and black, many with fancy markings; insignificant blue or white flowers all summer and fall Light Full sun to full shade Size 6 to 48 in. Once they become too large, their progeny are waiting in the wings. Endangered by changing land use and increasing population density, this species deserves a wider appreciation among gardeners in summer-dry climate regions of the world. I have never observed branched flower stems. … Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms White, pink or red flowers top shiny foliage spring through frost Light Full sun to full shade Size 12 to 18 in. YANAGI ICHIGO (Debregeasia edulis) 3. All photographs in this section by Stavros Apostolou. My criteria for success include not only whether a plant will survive for any length of time in a pot, but whether it is almost as floriferous in a pot as it would be when planted out in the ground. By contrast, the salvias that I grow have all delighted me. Add a taste of the Med to your garden, and make the summer holidays last all year round. A layer of small gravel or pebbles over the surface of the potting soil looks attractive and offers an extra degree of drainage around the rot-sensitive crown where the thick succulent roots join the rosettes of succulent leaves. Alan Titchmarsh's tips on creating a Mediterranean garden CONJURE up a magical Mediterranean look with terracotta pots and olive trees, says Alan. The most popular color? Whether by drip irrigation or by hand, always water early in the morning or in the evening. Looking at our garden, I am aware of at least two plants which are thriving now but will require attention next year. Want to attract butterflies to your garden? Careful observation will indicate which kinds need the shelter of a porch, windowsill or cold greenhouse in winter, as much to keep them on the dry side as to safeguard against freezing. In truth, I am not particularly fond of its spikes of flowers, produced in autumn, for they always look somehow anaemic to me (though I don’t go as far as to cut them off when they appear). As a general guide, these plants require free-draining soils, whether grown in the garden or cultivated in pots. If you already have a very sunny, south-facing site and a free-draining soil that … Pots dry out quicker than garden areas and need frequent watering. We were influenced by the pot gardens we see in Greece, whether in Crete, Corfu, Parga or Delphi where pots are often arranged on different levels, filling flights of steps, ledges on walls and windowsills. If all is not well then carefully remove all the soil from the roots, cut off all dead and rotting roots and, if necessary, spray with an insecticide and leave to dry for a day or two. Any petunia gives you lots of bang for your buck. But some plants are born to shine just a bit brighter. Nov 26, 2016 - Explore Sean O'Hara's board "plants for mediterranean climate gardens", followed by 155 people on Pinterest. If the plant is watered too much it is likely to crack or rot which is irreversible, whereas if the plant is under-watered it may get a little dehydrated but this will be corrected with the next watering. pelargoniums need smaller quantities, annual climbers need more, etc). You can cut back almost all shrubby plants for a better shape or to reduce their height (but – if you grow them – avoid cutting into the old wood of lavenders and rosemary, which tends to cause die-back). Within that time the plant can absorb as much water as it needs to survive the next waterless 7-10 days with the strength to grow and to flourish. It is important to water each pot thoroughly and always to water before a 40-degree day, not a rescue mission afterwards. The set of two Corner Terrazzo Planters includes a matching pair of pots with a Mediterranean style. Bougainvillea with its bright pink blooms will transport you to the Riviera. Salvia discolor In the same way, I grew our enormous Furcraea foetida (syn. There is a multitude of plants which will grow successfully in pots, mostly the sub-tropicals like Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Chinese Hibiscus) from Asia and Brunfelsia pauciflora (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) from Brazil. The reason for this is that as the plant’s roots take up water, oxygen is drawn into the soil. This was a terrible responsibility: I anxiously checked it daily, frightened lest I let it die and had to face Sally’s wrath. S. guaranitica) When repotting cacti and succulents remove the plant carefully from the old pot and check the state of the roots. One way to avoid shocking delicate cacti is to start by using a water spray only and then slowly increasing the amount of water and frequency until by the summer a weekly watering is given. Salvia × jamensis The pots set high in this part of the garden complement the massed arrangements at ground level, as do the plants on the mosaic tables and Victorian plant stand, painted Grecian blue. Whether the amount of water is excessive depends not only on how much the plant is watered but also on how much water the soil in the pot holds. The regular watering of pots leaches nutrients out of the soil, and of course the plant itself exhausts them. tall, 18 to 72 in. Tomah Botanic Garden in 1998), which graduated to a spot on our front wall where it could no longer harm us as we moved through the front courtyard. Succulents vary enormously and it takes time to learn which ones can tolerate the hottest sun or need shade in summer. Other plants are divided when they outgrow their pots – which produces plenty of material to give to friends. You can also overwinter cannas indoors, then bring them outside the next spring. We cut back this vigorous climber in winter, ensuring maximum light for a profusion of bright orange flowers to follow. Brugmansias (commonly sold as daturas: properly speaking, brugmansias have pendent trumpets and daturas up-turned ones) – wonderfully scented in the evening, Plumbago (sometimes burnt to the soil level by frost but usually comes back in spring). Its mid-winter flowers are red and borne in short spikes that are sometimes candelabra-like in mature plants. These plants can often be found close to the water, so they need moist soil to be happy in a garden. Every expert you ask and every book you read will have a different opinion. As an experiment with our grass tree (. In a talk to the Greek Branch, The Mediterranean Garden editor, Caroline Harbouri, provided answers to all the practical questions you might have about container gardening and included a list of tried and tested plants for pots. All plants need good drainage. In semi-shade try Jasminum sambac, either single-  or double-flowered. Mediterranean containers. I list them in no particular order. A similar mix can be used for Lithops, Conophytum and Pleiospilos but with sand as well as perlite. Perhaps they’re durable plants you can count on to look good all summer long. Liquid seaweed also appears to build up a plant’s resistance to excessive heat in summer and cold in winter – both common features in our city. In their natural habitat they develop deep woody roots in order to survive the summer drought and do not need or want water. Pots. Mine, flowering now in November, is a good strong purple and white; I find the paler-coloured ones less attractive. may need additional water given by sprays on the upper part of the plant on very hot days. Slightly shiny purple foliage make a great contrast or backdrop for plants with bright-colored flowers. Since being repotted it has quadrupled in size. It is not hard to grow as long as the soil is well drained. I had long yearned for an Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum) with its huge leaves and bright red midrib. The following can usually be found in garden centres: Regular dead-heading encourages prolonged flowering in many of these plants. I wouldn’t be without it. A productive visit to the Adelaide Botanical Gardens “growing friends” in November 2004 revealed one of very modest dimensions, small enough to travel back to Melbourne with us on the aeroplane. These plants love the heat and don’t mind getting a bit dry, which makes them fantastic container plants. If you like baby’s breath as a filler in your bouquets, you’ll love this annual euphorbia in your mixed containers. —Amelia Lima, Amelia B. Lima & Associates in San Diego, CA Mediterranean Plants for Landscaping —Watch how this property was landscaped with Mediterranean plants such as lavender, santolina and lambs' ear. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11. Salvia uliginosa They can be moved to the shade in summer or to the sunny front garden in winter. Often associated with the famous purple fields of Provence, Lavandula angustifolia, also called English Lavender, is not native to England but to the Mediterranean. Only the brave-hearted will contemplate inducing multiplication by mutilation of the central growing point, but it is by this means that new side growths can be stimulated into appearing – eventually. Aloe longistyla is almost an endangered species in its habitat around the Great and Little Karoo deserts; it hangs on despite over-collecting and over-grazing but seeds are readily available from captive breeding collections and hence to specialist nurseries around the world. Buddleja. They can be grown in full sun but care needs to be taken to ensure that the plants do not suffer from sun burn and leaf scorch as this ‘cooking’ can also induce rotting. Type Tender perennial, grown as annual Blooms Flowers in shades of blue, violet, white, yellow, red, orange, peach, bronze or pink from spring through fall Light Full sun to part shade Size 6 to 10 in. Aloe melanacantha is a relative newcomer alongside the three old familiars above. All our plants are hardy to -5C, but in extreme weather the pots should be brought indoors or covered with fleece. All are exposed to full sun from morning to evening in summer, without any shade except that which neighbouring plants provide for one another. Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms Burgundy, brown, gold, green and variegated leaves spring through fall Light Full sun to part shade Size 4 to 12 in. Coleus is so versatile! The pineapple sage – though I can’t say it smells very strongly of pineapple to me. They are quite attractive and distinctive too. The aim is to allow the plant to dry out quickly. Many cacti must stay completely dry during the winter. A couple of days in moist soil is enough for the plant to get what it needs for its development. In their natural environment cacti and succulents are adapted to resist long periods of drought and can find enough moisture from a single rainfall or even from the humidity in the air to maintain life, grow, flourish and multiply. Salvia leucantha Of course there are always exceptions such as Astrophytum, Ariocarpus, Copiapoa, Aztekium, Lophophora and generally the more susceptible cacti which need less water than other plants and should be watered only every 15 days or even less frequently. Rules for repotting cacti and succulents: Choosing a soil mix for potting cacti and succulents is quite complicated. Such soils may be highly mineralised but are low in nutrients so aloes do not need much fertilising to maintain growth. I’m glad to say that it didn’t die; indeed it subsequently provided the cutting from which my own plant came. Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms White or pink flowers late spring through fall Light Full sun to part shade Size 12 to 18 in. As Rudolf Schulz and Attila Kapitany say in their useful book Succulents: Care and Health (Schulz Publishing, 2003), most succulents are killed by under-watering. Its beautiful leaves make it interesting enough to grow as a single specimen or with loads of other annuals. Always choose the size of the pot to fit the plant, in other words don’t put small plants in large pots. However there is one basic requirement for any soil mix: it must have such good drainage that it will have dried out within a day or two of watering. Our variegated form of the Australian native Dianella tasmanica came from Rachel Howell (Rosevears, Tasmania) a number of years ago before it was stocked by general nurseries. Pots of bamboo make excellent additions to the Mediterranean garden too. Greeks and Romans filled terracotta pots with bright flowering plants to add colour to paths and courtyards. That’s all there is to it! Tropical cacti such as Hatiora, Lepismium, Pfeiffera, Schlumbergera and Rhipsalis can be planted in the basic mix of ready-made cactus soil, perlite and sand or the cactus soil can be replaced totally or in part by pine bark. Crushed eggshells or coffee grounds placed on the soil around plants to some extent deter snails. This is a huge success. There are also ranges from white, cream, orange to red to choose from. I’ve thus never attempted to grow either Salvia officinalis or S. triloba in a pot. Characteristically it has tightly incurved clusters of grey leaves which form solitary plants from which emerge dense spires of pendent floral tubes of bright red changing to yellow as the flowers open. Ants ‘farm’ aphids for their sticky honeydew. Growing Plants in Pots I recall several ancient aunts who gardened in the era before tapped water supplies were available. Succulents need more water and during the summer can be watered twice or three times a week depending on the heat, shade, pollution etc. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11. W. caracasana) which suckers too much for a city garden), as well as delicate plants which we preferred to nurture, particularly small bulbs, cyclamen, auriculas and lewisias, and an assortment of bowls with succulents. A Gallery of Aloes many of which would be suited to growing in pots, can be found here. A plant palate that is in tune with the environment's limitations helps to minimize water and maintenance needs. It also deters the blackbirds who can create havoc with my bulbs, cyclamens and delicate emerging shoots as they excavate for worms. Clematis. The pebbles also stop the soil from being swept to the ground during watering. Starflower needs sun and heat to get going, so don't set one out until summer arrives. To my eye there is nothing very farinaceous about ‘Victoria’ but the white-flowered plant has a floury look which makes me immediately understand its common name of Mealy Sage. By ‘breathing’ I mean that terracotta pots, being porous, lose moisture by evaporation from their sides, making the soil within them less likely to become dank and stagnant. have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. With certain plants, I supplement this with Phostrogen, containing potash to promote flowering. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/containers/all/meet-8-of-the-best-container-plants/, Container Plants You Don't Have to Deadhead. Again, winter flowering is the norm and the tubular and somewhat campanulate flowers are also red; flowering occurs when plants are mature, around 5-7 years from seedling stage. But don’t forget the foliage! I have a great liking for the velvety, chenille-like texture of its flowers. In shade you can grow various ferns and fuchsias. Wet soil can be fatal, so let plants dry out between waterings. Check plants for aphids and scale insect before you buy them. Many delicate plants I used to lose in my previous garden do very well in pots. The common name comes from the flower petals that are arranged like fans. Principal among this group of under-appreciated plants are the small-growing succulents, and the dwarf aloes in particular. Some Salvias Grown in Pots I feed regularly during the growing season and am a great advocate of liquid seaweed plant food. Watering is essential but excessive water can easily lead cacti and succulents to rot or crack and so die. Type Tender perennial (usually grown as annual) Blooms White, lavender, pink, orange or red blooms from spring to fall Light Full sun Size 5 to 24 in. Components of the soil mix can be: sand, perlite, a little leaf mould, a little peat, red soil, pumice stone, broken shells, cuttlefish bones, various Japanese soils such as Akadama, Kanuma, Kiryu and many others. Once the heat of the summer is over I bring it forward again and it comes to life: as I write in November, it is covered in spikes of vermilion flowers. See more ideas about plants, mediterranean plants, planting flowers. It is somewhat tender, so that a couple of years ago Sally Razelou gave me her (then) only precious S. discolor in a pot for me to over-winter for her, feeling that central Athens would be warmer than Sparoza. If the pot is too big, there is a large volume of soil from which water is not taken by the roots and which thus remains deprived of oxygen and stagnant or even waterlogged, causing the plant to do badly or die. Aloe × ‘Tegelberg’s Triumph’ is a hybrid of recent origin that is well worth seeking out. A mix for these plants may contain ready-made cactus soil, perlite, lava (fine), fine sand and generally materials that do not have sharp edges. Mature plants produce branching flower stems in winter with numerous red-tubular ‘bells’. 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