Key plants in The Mediterraneo Garden

The loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is ideally suited to small gardens. The foliage is particularly distinctive, with large, evergreen leaves borne in spurts of fresh green. In warmer climes, such as the Mediterranean it’s grown for the tasty spring fruits (loquats). A beautiful addition to a UK garden, the leaves provide a dramatic display.

A small shrub, with crinkled grey-green foliage, and striking magenta-pink flowers. It’s evergreen and fully hardy, while producing stunning bright flowers.

(Pictured: Cistus × pulverulentus ‘Sunset’)

 

Synonymous with a Mediterranean garden scheme, they’re great value plants. Low maintenance and both heat and drought-tolerant, providing flowers all summer. They produce brightly coloured flower clusters on long stalks which brightens up any garden. Some have aromatic foliage, such as rose or lemon scented. They look stunning in terracotta pots, which also helps when you need to overwinter them indoors or in a light, frost free place. 

A long-blooming euphorbia with dark green foliage and upright stems that emerge a dark burgundy becoming more intense with lower temperatures in the spring. Bright lime-yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the dark foliage that is both drought and heat tolerant once established. Resistant to deer and many diseases that affect other euphorbias, it’s a great addition to any water-wise or Mediterranean style garden borders.
 

T. serpyllum is a dwarf, aromatic, evergreen shrub forming a low, wide mat to 5cm in height. It has tiny, pointed, dark green leaves and tight clusters of purple flowers in summer. 

(Pictured: Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chintz’)