For exotic new features in my Med Garden, I have found some real stunners this November!
Must haves for Mediterranean climate garden design inside!
A curious thing is happening at garden nurseries across the Med in November - they are packed with exotic new plants that I hadn’t seen all summer…and crowds of people! What is happening? It’s planting season in the Med, the cusp of the rainy season when everything thrives - and it seems that everyone is getting in on it.
This is an amazing new discovery that has me brimming with glee!
One of my favourite things is a Saturday wander around my local garden nurseries. In March, I am usually boiling over waiting for spring planting season. Yet in March in the Med, garden nurseries are quite sparse. When I asked the friendly staff about certain plants, their answer - in March - is more often than not, come back in a few weeks…
So now I know why. Everyone has planted in the fall!
Freshly in on this secret of Mediterranean gardening, I’m spending my March planting budget in November :)
Here are 5 Mediterranean Garden Plants that will become beautiful new features around my Med Garden:
5 Mediterranean Garden Feature Plants
Plumeria (Frangipani)
On one of my garden nursery meanders my eye was instantly drawn to a small and elegant tree with enormous flowers. As I went closer I could smell its pleasing perfume. It was so beautiful and exotic looking. I asked the nursery owner what it was… Plumeria or Frangipani.
The one I saw had large white flowers. However the nursery owner told me that actually they are known for the unique array of colours of different varieties: orange mixed with pink, yellow and white, violet and pink… Sample of the magnificent colours of Plumeria in photo above!
I bought 5 small Frangipani plants that aren’t yet flowering… so I look forward to the reveal of their colours next spring. I chose a few spots in my garden that I want to be a spotlight with this special small tree.
Fun Fact: In looking up care instructions I found that the Frangipani flower is that iconic Hawaiian flower that have made the “Hawaiian shirt” famous.
Find care instructions for Plumeria / Frangipani here: https://www.gardenia.net/guide/learn-how-to-grow-and-care-plumeria
Strelitzia Augusta (Birds of Paradise)
Another plant that stood out in the garden nursery were a group of tall plants with enormous leaves. There was no trunk, just huge shiny leaves standing tall right out of the pot. It felt like walking through a tropical garden.
I learned that they are Birds of Paradise plants - and those leaves can grow more than 3 metres tall! Their varieties, it turns out, go beyond the orange Bird of Paradise flower that I was aware of previously. I chose Augusta, with white “wing” flowers and dark purple “feet” to match my garden colour theme for a touch of the tropical in my Med Garden.
Find care instructions for Birds of Paradise here: https://viverosgonzalez.es/gb/herbaceous/1357093-strelitzia-augusta-.html#:~:text=Strelitzia Augusta, more commonly known,emerging directly from the trunk.
Yucca Puck
I have long admired beautiful Yucca trees that you see quite prominently around the Med. Their spiked foliage make it an unmistakable feature in many Med Gardens. I had already saved a special spot for a Yucca, at the front entrance to my house, to be on full grandeur display.
On a specific Yucca shopping mission, I found the Yucca Puck. It is distinct amongst the Yuccas with yellow borders on its green spikes. Absolutely stunning. I may have to get more!
Find care instructions for Yucca Puck here: https://www.nieuwkoop-europe.com/en/plants/pot-plants/4YUEPRS30/Yucca-elephantipes-Puck-4YUEPRS30
Moringa (The Miracle Tree)
I’ve been upgrading the gardens around my driveway this year, which previously only had a few established carob and strawberry trees on one side. I’ve added a border of blue plumbago and white oleander on the previously wild side, with a yellow bells feature at the top near the house.
As that side was lacking in mature trees, in my driveway garden design I envisioned a triangle of large trees in the middle of the driveway border to create more shade over the cars. As it takes time for trees to grow a canopy big enough to cover cars, I was looking for a fast grower - that also needed to be able to weather the strong winds that come from that north side, and the rocky terrain.
I found Moringa, which they call the Miracle Tree . It is said to be an extremely fast grower - several metres per year! Native to India and Africa, it is called the "miracle tree" because all of it is edible and it will grow well in very tough conditions - sandy soil, and drought prone regions. What’s more is that the leaves contain more rich vitamins than spinach! I also love the look of its delicate leaves, which are similar to the majestic Jacaranda, which I also have as a feature (and creator of shade) around the house.
Excited to see just how fast they grow, and to taste the leaves!
Find care instructions for Moringa here: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-and-care-for-moringa-plants-5076022
Mystic Spires Blue Sage
This sage has been a surprise star in my garden. I added a few to my garden in the first year thinking it was lavender (oops!). It looks a lot like lavender with green-grey leaves and shoots of beautiful purple flowers.
The surprise was that it actually does much better than lavender in my garden for some reason. It is a long bloomer, from early spring to summer. If you cut it back mid-summer it will come back again beautifully and bloom all fall!
I found Mystic Spires Blue Sage for an excellent price in one nursery this month, just €2 per plant, and so I bought a bunch more to add to my borders and beds.
Find care instructions Mystic Spires Blue Sage here: https://dallascountymastergardeners.org/mystic-spires/
Getting my workout, digging into fall planting season in the Med!
Share your favourite exotic Mediterranean Garden plants in the comments below!
Jade
Lewon
Med
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