15 Must-Have Plants for the Mediterranean Garden

The Mediterranean garden style is still one of the most popular garden styles.

Probably because many people recognize this from their vacations and want to turn it into a lasting memory.

In a Mediterranean garden, the color green often dominates, interspersed here and there with intensely colored flowers. Yet there’s often a striking amount of color to discover—for example, in the use of furniture and decorations—and even gates and entire walls are stuccoed and painted. Terracotta pots are a must, filled with beautiful ornamental shrubs, topiary, or (citrus) fruit trees.

Plants for the Mediterranean Garden

1. Olea europaea (olive tree)

2. Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)

3. Cupressus sempervirens totem or stricta (Italian cypress)

4. Nerium oleander (Oleander)

5. Prunus laurocerasus (cherry laurel)

6. Ficus carica (fig)

7. Mediterranean herbs, such as Rosmarinus, Thymus, Origanum, and Salvia

8. Container plants such as bougainvillea, citrus, agave, and Laurus nobilis

Climbing Plants for the Mediterranean Garden

9. Trachelospermum jasminoides (Tuscan jasmine)

10. Vitis vinifera (grape)

11. Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria)

Trees for the Mediterranean Garden

12. Platanoides hispanica (plane tree)

13. Trachycarpus fortunei or wagnerianus (fan palm)

14. Pinus pinea (pine nut tree)

15. Albizia julibrissin (Persian silk tree)