Plant What Where | Aussie Mediterranean
PLANT WHAT WHERE | Aussie Mediterranean
When seeking hardy, drought-tolerant plants that are suited to long, hot, dry summers and short, cool, wet winters some will naturally look to Aussie natives. They offer a resilient solution for the garden, and many have the added benefit of attracting birdlife and beneficial insects. Nonetheless, it doesn’t have to be all native.
Australia’s South Eastern temperate climate lends itself perfectly to Mediterranean style plantings. When thinking of a Mediterranean style garden, it’s not just those surrounding the southern European sea. It’s the climactic conditions we are considering, and these are similar in South West Africa, the Southern states of America and of course South Eastern Australia and New Zealand. This geographic diversity offers a variety of options. In addition to edibles, there’s a range of flowering shrubs and trees, both evergreen and deciduous to choose from.
With the many similarities in planting requirements in the flowing selections, they can be combined to create a stunning palette of plants with an array of foliage, forms, colour and shape.
Plant Selections:
Sedum telephium 'Autumn Joy'
An upright evergreen perennial plant with succulent, waxy leaves. Bears clusters of small showy star-shaped crimson-pink flowers in late Summer to Autumn. Flowers change from deep pink to copper as the season progresses.
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
One of the most popular ornamental grasses, 'Karl Foerster' is known for its majestic long-lasting plumes and hardiness. Its foliage is a deep green and has a neat upright, clumping growth habit.
Acca sellowiana (Feijoa)
Also commonly known as the Pineapple Guava, the Feijoa is a very hardy evergreen shrub with decorative flowers and delicious fruit in autumn and early winter.
Essential Edibles
The pick of citrus for the Aussie Med' garden include Eureka Lemon, Mediterranean Sweet Orange, Tahitian Lime and Cumquat Calamondin. Add variety and colour with Pomegranate, Fig and Feijoa.
Olea europaea
Tolerant to full sun, poor soils and drought, olive varieties are a versatile option used for balls, shrubs, hedging and feature trees. Consider ‘Del Morocco’ with slightly weeping foliage, or the French ‘Picholine’ variety – a strong upright form with medium sized fruit.
SMALL TO MEDIUM SHRUBS & HEDGING
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Chefs Choice'
A low growing, hardy, woody stemmed, evergreen, shrub with olive green, needle-like foliage that releases fragrant oils when crushed.
Westringia fruticosa 'Jervis Gem'
This is the compact version of Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’. This is a tough, compact shrub with narrow, grey-green foliage and mauve flowers produced all year around. Very hardy and adaptable shrub, perfect for Aussie Mediterranean and coastal gardens. Also great for formal gardens as it clips well into shapes or as a low hedge. Plant with Agonis 'Burgundy', Acacia 'Green Screen' and Leptospermum 'Foreshore'
MEDIUM TO LARGE SHRUBS & SCREENING
Acacia ‘Copper Tips’
Copper Tips will make a fantastic informal screen or feature plant, mixes well with Banksia praemorsa, Elaeocarpus and Agonis Burgundy. Underplant with new varieties of Lomandra and Dianella.
Laurus nobilis ‘Miles Choice’
This compact Bay Laurel variety is drought and salt tolerant and is an effective hedging and screening plant.
Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca'
This classic Mediterranean variety prefers an open, sunny position in a moist, well drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions. A slender growing conifer with aromatic blue-green foliage. Ideal for avenue planting, entrances and containers.
Lagerstroemia
Plant as a feature deciduous tree with beautiful trunk formations and vibrant summer flowers. Look out for ‘Albury White’, ‘Tonto’ and ‘Tuscarora’ and the “Diamonds in the Darkpbr” range
Tract Consultants - "Loggia" MIFGS 2019
For more inspiration:
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See our Plant What Where | Modern Natives for an extended selection
or DOWNLOAD Plant What Where | Aussie Mediterranean.