MEMBERS' PHOTOGRAPHS OF MEDITERRANEAN-CLIMATE plants at home and abroad
Manoj Malde's Chelsea garden 'Beneath a Mexican Sky'
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Mediterranean gardening can be challenging with no rain for three or four
months of the year and temperatures in the high 30's centigrade followed by, often very wet, winters in the low minuses. Often the soil is free-draining, which is difficult if you are also trying to be water-wise. Here we encourage members to share photographs of plants flowering in their own Mediterranean-climate gardens. We all enjoy visiting other gardens, often picking up ideas for our own and our new gallery page will only work with your help and your photographs. Photographs will be featured monthly with a plant of the month to create a catalogue of what flowers, when. Any plant in a garden or any wild flower in a Mediterranean-climate countryside,
is welcome, even if you have no name, we should be able to identify it. We love to have exchange between members so, please do email photos to Susie Warwick. |
Sending photographs
A close-up is best with a description of the flowering situation. The largest resolution file you can send is best for clarity when putting photographs on the internet. Images should have as many of the following details as possible but don't worry if you don't have all this info:
the month, plant name and area where the photograph was taken. Any other information you have about it is interesting to have.
A close-up is best with a description of the flowering situation. The largest resolution file you can send is best for clarity when putting photographs on the internet. Images should have as many of the following details as possible but don't worry if you don't have all this info:
the month, plant name and area where the photograph was taken. Any other information you have about it is interesting to have.
this month
Sue Tymon, S Africa garden Wisley
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Bupleurum fruticosum
Height: 1.5m
Soil: Loam, Chalk Common across southern Europe on sunny hills, walls and sunny places. Also known by the name shrubby hare's ear. May be annual or perennial, evergreen blue-green leaves. |
JANUARY
Lesley Jones, Spain
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Iris unguicularis (formerly I. stylosa)
Height: 30cm Spread: to 0.5m Flowers: very fragrant Winter low -5C Also known as the Algerian iris, native to Greece, Turkey, western Syria and Tunisia. Its natural habitat being lightly shaded and rocky. It thrives on neglect and thin soil. In Britain it needs full sun and dry, stony alkaline soil. At the foot of a sunny wall is a good choice.
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Susie Warwick, Greece
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Solandra grandiflora
Greece, Peloponnese. Winter low -2C +50m but easily kept within bounds happy in poor soil occasional watering Not a Mediterranean plant but very definitely worthwhile growing this vigorous climber for its huge pale yellow flowers which continue appearing until May in our area. It seems to enjoy being cut back. |
FEBRUARY
Lynda Psareas, Greece
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Iris tuberosa Syn: Hermodactylus tuberosus
Agios Spiridona, Peloponnese Winter low -5C Height: 30-35cm Poor well-drained soil No extra water. Needs summer baking. Native to the Mediterranean. Spreads easily and has a delightful scent which intensifies in the sun. |
Michael Turner, Edinburgh
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Coronilla valentina ssp glauca, UK
Height: 0.5 - 1m Spread: 0.5 - 1m Soil: Any Scented flowers Water: well-drained but moist Coronilla valentina ssp glauca is a true native of the Mediterranean but is photographed here growing very happily in Edinburgh, where it flowers right through the winter. Garden centres often name it simply as Coronilla glauca, presumably for the convenience of customers. This is the variety ‘Citrina’, with lemon yellow flowers that contrast well with the small blue-green leaves. Member Michael Turner says: "The books all say it needs a warm sheltered spot but we think it is more tolerant. It even offers a pleasing scent on a calm sunny day, though we do not have many of those in Edinburgh." |
MARCH
Susie Warwick, Tresco
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Echium candicans
Isles of Scilly. Winter low - frost tender Height: 1.5 - 2.5m Well-drained soil in sun. A perennial which is semi-evergreen, will need protection in colder regions where it may also lose its leaves until Spring. |
APRIL
Roger Foden, Cheshire
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Tulipa doerfleri, UK
One of five endemic species of tulip on Crete, growing exclusively in Gious Kambos at an altitude between 700-800 metres. Endangered and protected since 1981. Roger says: The bulbs were picked up from Spili Plateau (Gious Kambos) in autumn some years ago. Bulbs are lifted to the surface when fields are ploughed. Planted in ordinary garden soil, in a gravel-covered bed ten years ago, they have grown and multiplied. Though the species is reportedly sterile but some have migrated! The number of flowering plants varies: this year we had some damaged plants, possibly due to Lily Beetle. |
Lesley Whayman, Spain
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Orchis italica, Naked man orchid
Spain Height: to 50cm Well-drained soil Common throughout the Mediterranean and found usually in large colonies on scrubby land, often close to the sea. |
Oron Peri, Israel
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Iris bismarckiana
Height: 30-50cm Well-drained soil in full sun Found on rocky, stony mountainsides at the edges of woodland or in scrub. Happy on heavy limestone clays or chalky rocks. It needs high summer temperatures and dryness. This one was found in north-western Jordan by Oron, is also called Nazareth iris. They form erect fans of leaves something similar to I. susiana. |
MAY
Sue Tymon, Greece
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Solanum riccartonii
Lefkada town, Ionian, Greece Height: to 6m A member of the potato family, (Solanaceae) native to South America. Less hardy than S. 'Glasnevin'. Vigorous growth but can easily be controlled by pruning in early spring. |
Susie Warwick, Greece
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Nectaroscordum siculum
Height: up to 1.2m
Any soil Sun or shade Self-seeds freely A robust perennial with keeled basal leaves and a terminal umbel of nodding, long-stalked, bell-shaped flowers, beloved by bees. Colours combine cream, pink and green tints, followed by attractive, erect seed pods in late summer. |
JUNE
Liberto Dario, Greece
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Scilla peruviana 'Paul Voelker'
Height: 30 cm
Any soil Scilla evergreen bulbs with narrow basal leaves and erect stems bearing racemes of star-shaped, flat or bell-shaped flowers which are often blue. Common name Cuban lily and Portuguese squill. |
Guy Cheeseman, Provence, France
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Teucrium ackermanii
Height: 15cm (6”)
Spread: 40cm (16”) Soil: neutral to alkaline Commonly known as silver germander, with silver grey linear leaves and scented purple pink flowers is very pretty falling over a rocky area. It is evergreen, drought and cold resistant down to -15°C and flowers throughout the summer. |
JULY
Susie Warwick - Peloponnese, Greece
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Plumeria rubra
Height: up to 6m
Spread: 6m Soil: well-drained, any pH A slow growing tree native to southern Mexico and Florida but widely cultivated for its fragrant and attractive blooms. Deciduous with flowers beginning to show in June, opening in early July in Mediterranean regions and repeat all through the summer into autumn scenting the evening air. |
AUGUST
Lesley Whayman - Spain
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Phlomis russeliana (seedhead)
Height: 60-90cm
Spread: 60cm Soil: any, well-drained Also called Turkish Sage. Evergreen shrubs with sage-like leaves and whorls of hooded, tubular flowers. Although still in flower in the UK across the Mediterranean the Phlomis is ready for seed collection. Keep you eyes open for the many plants similarly in seed. |
SEPTEMBER
Susie Warwick - Peloponnese, Greece
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Yucca aloifolia
Height: 4.5+ m
Spread: 3+ m Soil: well-drained Drought resistant Also know as Spanish dagger is a member of the Agavaceae family in the genus yucca. A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree can grow to 20m tall with a long, slender trunk and sword-like, leathery leaves. It is a native of south-eastern North America where it grows on sand dunes.
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Lesley Whayman - Spain
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Cascabela thevetia (syn. Thevetia peruviana)
Also known as Peruvian oleander a relative of Nerium oleander and a native of Mexico and South America. Like other oleanders all parts are poisonous. Flowers give a slight fragrance in the evening. Height: 2m Spread: 1m Soil: Should not dry out, especially when in bloom Temperature: to -10°C |
NOVEMBER
Liberto Dario - Atacama Desert, Chile
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Cistanthe celosioides
The Atacama Desert, considered you be the driest place in the world (apart from the poles) this beauty has popped up after some rainfall. |
DECEMBER
Susie Warwick - Peloponnese, Greece
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Aloe arborescens
Originating from southern Africa. Bushy, multi-headed succulent shrub, also called deer-horn cactus. Long slender blue-green leaves have toothed margins. Height: 2.5m - 4m Spread: 1m - 2.5m Temp: down to -1C (30 F) |