Bring your Med Garden and Terrace Pots to life this December - for a burst of colourful winter garden flowers in time for holiday entertaining!
5 Stunning Plants Blooming in December Inside & How to Do-It-Yourself!
What I love about the Mediterranean climate is that there are flowers blooming all year long! I am also learning that there are fruits and veg to harvest all year long as well (future blog!).
When I arrived in the Med it was December, and I was struck by the abundant shoots of tall orange flowers everywhere. I discovered that they were a type of aloe - Aloe arborescens or "Christmas aloe" as they call it here. I had to bring them to my Med Garden.
To my amazement, I have discovered that there are also many more succulents and all year round bloomers to bring to your Med Garden for winter colour just as abundant as spring!.
Here’s what I am learning about realising the magical symphony of colour, fragrance and nourishment in my Med Garden - even in winter!
As we embark on the winter holiday season of entertaining, why not update your flower pots around the garden and terrace with these stunning December bloomers!
Here are 5 of my Fav Winter Bloomers from the Med - Garden Pot Refresh Ideas!
TIP - Note these ideas in your Mediterranean Garden Notebook!
5 Garden Pot Plant Ideas - Blooming in December!
1. "Christmas Aloe" (Aloe Arborescens)
This is probably my favourite December blooming plant. It stands tall, majestic and unapologetic in December. It creates a spectacular display which you see throughout the Med at this time of year.
I started with two, which I purchased immediately on my arrival in the Med. I loved them so much each December that I have now added them to several feature spots throughout my garden. We can now enjoy their vibrant orange colour from every seating area throughout the garden and from our terraces.
TIP: At your garden store look for the plants with flower shoots already formed to ensure blooms in time for Christmas & New Year entertaining!
2. Rosemary "Tuscan Blue"
Driving around the Med in December you see an abundant display of purple flowers by the roadside - it’s Rosemary!
I have some small Rosemary plants in my container herb garden. However, now that I hae seen how amazing their colour is in December, I will add them to my roadside borders.
TIP: I've also learned that Rosemary is great on rocky slopes to help prevent erosion.
3. Rose "Coral Knock Out"
I cut back my rose bushes in early November, with my fall garden maintenance. I was away for a 2-week business trip end of November, and arrived home to the Med in December to beautiful roses in bloom again!
TIP: Add different rose varieties to your terrace pots for a colourful display. Check with your garden store plant specialist the varieties blooming now!
4: Limonium "Salt Lake"
I had an entourage of guests in October this year, and wanted to spruce up my garden pots with some fall colour.
I went to my local garden store and noticed these beautiful showy purple flowers in bloom. I picked up several to add to my garden pots and I have been completely satisfied with their constant blooms - and they are still in bloom now in December!
Limonium is a spectacular find!
Bougainvillea never disappoints! These hearty vines are a quintessential feature of gardens in the Med - for their breath-taking colours of violet, pink, orange and white.
I inherited this bougie with my house. It was already quite mature, albeit a little wild when I arrived. I have trained it upwards to create a beautiful purple-pink display against my white terrace wall. It needs regular pruning to keep it growing upwards vs. outwards.
All of this continuous pruning has resulted in constant blooms throughout the year and is now one of the focal points of my Med Garden!
BONUS: December Harvest
Citrus! Lemons and oranges are ripe and ready to enjoy in December.
It’s sort of counter-intuitive if you are not from a hot climate - oranges seem like a summer fruit - but the truth is, “winter” in hot climates are the harvesting months for many citrus fruits.
My Mandarin Orange tree is ripe and ready. My Valencia Orange tree's fruits are now starting to ripen . And my Lemon trees are shooting out new flowers and fruit buds in December!
Citrus Trees - Lemons, Limes and Oranges - thrive in the Med climate and bring fragrant flowers in spring which turn into a market of fruit all year long.
Citrus trees also do well in pots on the Med Terrace!
For Care & Maintenance Tips for all of the winter blooming plants listed above, click on the plant name link to get more info from my go-to searchable plants and garden website: Gardenia.net.
December Winter Garden To-Do List
I am expecting a welcome landing of family this holiday season, and I want my garden to look immaculate for their arrival.
I called a local gardening service I have used to help me in the past, but their calendar was fully booked - so I did it myself! My garden is not small - which is why I was hoping for some help with seasonal weeding, pruning and general care as I prepare for my family’s arrival. I love being in the garden, and doing-it-myslef provided me with some pre-Christmas rush garden meditation.
A few TIPS for efficient garden maintenance in December - when you are doing it yourself!
1. Pick your battles: My main goal was to remove unsightly weeds to maintain my clean and fresh garden look. As time is of the essance before family arrives, nice to have immaculate pruning of my trees and shrubs (which I would have liked) will have to wait!
2. Buy a Weed Wacker: They cost about €50-€100, will save your backside, and will be available to you every time you see unsightly weeks popping up about your garden (vs. local gardener service who charges €200 a day in my region of the Med). Return on investment seems good for the Weed Wacker. I ordered my Weed Wacker from Amazon.com.
3. Let your Garden & Terrace Pots sing!: Update garden and terrace pots with winter bloomers - this is a shortcut to obtaining beautiful flowers in the garden at your desired time. Simply pick out blooming plants at the garden store, and plant with the appropriate soil, sun and water conditions, et voila - instant blooming garden!
4. Winter Feeding: Add slow release organic fertiliser and compost throughout your Med Garden - If you didn’t do this in November, its still not too late - your garden trees and flowering plants will benefit from the gentle feeding over the winter months to prepare for an exuberant spring.
5. Winter Watering: If you have an automated watering system, it’s time to update the frequency to once a week or less. The amount of water required for each of your trees and plants may vary. Check carefully the care instructions for each plant for each season. Note the winter care instructions in your Mediterranean Garden Noteook!
BONUS: Gift Idea: The Mediterranean Garden Notebook
Order Today from Amazon.com online bookstore for arrival before Christmas!
I am so excited that my Garden Planner Notebook is ready for gift giving at Amazon.com!
I created this Garden Notebook specifically for Mediterranean & hot climate gardners, and everyone that wants to create a Mediterranean-style garden of your own!
See My Blog (click here) for a peak inside and more information on how to use the Mediterranean Garden Notebook & Planner.
When I started to design and care for my Med Garden I tried various plant apps and searched Amazon for a Garden Notebook and Planner to keep track of my plants, care notes, learnings, goals… however, I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for.
So I created my own!
Order directly from Amazon.com bookstore!
The The Mediterranean Garden Notebook & Planner is the perfect gift for your garden enthusiast friends and family this Christmas!
Share your favourite winter garden plant selection in the comments below - I'm always looking for new plants to try!
Jade
Lewon
Med
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