Best Plants for a Mediterranean Garden

Mention Mediterranean gardens and you’re likely to imagine alfresco dining, soft colour palettes, citrus trees in terracotta pots and sun-loving perennials, all awash with the heady scents of herbs such as lavender and thyme. But you don’t need to travel to Greece or Italy to enjoy this kind of outdoor living. Mediterranean-style gardens are becoming more popular in the UK as many areas become more susceptible to drought, due to the climate crisis. Planting with species that have naturally evolved to live in hot, dry conditions means your garden will be more resilient in dry periods and more sustainable in its use of water – an extremely precious resource during our increasingly hot summers.

Drought-tolerant plants originating from and around the Mediterranean basin are at the heart of this low-maintenance style of gardening. Many Mediterranean species have adaptations to enable them to survive prolonged dry conditions such as silvery leaves to reflect light and heat away from the plants and thick waxy leaf coatings to reduce water loss. Dry, sunny gravel gardens provide an ideal habitat for these plants from the Mediterranean region to thrive, creating a loose, naturalistic aesthetic, especially where perennials are allowed to self-seed in the gravel.

Mediterranean gardens often have shaded seating areas with plants in terracotta pots, surrounded by drifts of fragrant herbs. Water features are another central element, helping enhance the tranquil atmosphere. The combination of scented plants and the serene sound of water creates a beautiful sensory space. This elegant design style tends to use a small number of plants repeated throughout,