Hi,

I was just wandering if there was a gardening section for relative new comers to the mediterranean.

Does anyone have any reccomendations on what flourishes over here in the summer months. I've been told that the Hibiscus is the regional favourite to bring colour into a drab garden.

Also looking for a fast growing climber for my Pergola... (Not ivy)

Cheers all

James

There are beautiful hibiscus hedges to be seen around also bourganvilla (spelling) is quite spectacular over walls etc. has lovely vibrant colours and does very well here.

At Christmas, our daughters and sons-in-law (who live locally) gave us an orange and a lemon tree in large pots to put on our terrace. We are quite excited to see healthy new shoots on both trees and are looking forward to inviting them all round when picking the first lemon for our G&Ts.

Well James, it dpends what youre looking for?
Ifyou want climber to provide shade on your pergola..then ideally it would be Wisteria sinensis..but this can take time to get going.With this plant youll get shade and lovely mauve flowers but it also allows some sun through.
How about the Passion flower (Pasiflora caerulea)..this is semi-evergreen.
Of course you can use roses ..certain varieties are more or less evergreen in Med climate.I.E : Rosa banksiae-or Rosa xfortuneana.
Or as e-llen suggested-you wont go wrong with bougainvillea-such wonderful colour choice. Theres one called 'Sanderiana' --a 'Loud' shade of blue /purple!
or pretty pink of Boug. 'Apple Blossom' ? There are whiteones too like 'Alba plena'
Or if you want fragrance..Jasminum polyanthum..which like Passion flower is vigorous and attractive.
There is so much choice. I like e-llens idea of lemon or orange trees in pots with the bonus of fruit.
Would you be adventurous and try growing Kiwi---Actinidia deliciosa..but your pergola would need to be strong..its a very strong quick grower and has lots of leaves.
Cosmia and Plumbago would look lovely too..really brighten up corners.
The garden I worked near Porches had a wonderful Acacia ..Mimosa tree ..it seemed permamently in flower..the bright yellow blossom a really cheerful sight.
Theres so much youll be able to grow, youl be spoilt for choice.
Good luck and happy gardening!

Ellie, very interested in your suggestion of mimosa tree, is it large tree or would it be suitable to grow in pots on terrace? As you can tell I'm not very knowledgeable, but keen to learn!!!

Hi e-llen!
Well the mimosa in that garden was a 'dealbata'(spell.?) and was very large --these go up to 50x40ft!
But there are smaller varieties(they can be grown here in UK in pots-as they need to have protection in winter)
Theres Acacia.baileyana which goes to 12x5ft in 5 years
" .retinodes, is 13x8ft in 5yrs
and " .pravissima,10x6ft in 5 yrs
youll need a John Innes 2 type comp.to grow them.theyll need feeding every 2 weeks from late sping to late summer.
Once theyre established,youll need to repot every other year.
Dont know if this is any help Ellen?
But its worth having a go at..theyre beautiful trees aren't they?
Some of them also have nice fragrance!
Good luck!

Thank you Ellie that is very helpful info, I will try and track down a mimosa and have a go. Thing is, that's the name of our apartment and thought it would be nice idea to actually have a mimosa tree.

Then its a 'must' Ellen!
Just to say..even the smaller ones can grow taller ..Im no real authority on Med.gardening..but Id say that the growth would be restricted in pot though.so should be okay.
Do you have any garden to plant a tree ..or is it just a patio ?
If youve no garden as such.could you make a raised bed?
Another climbing plant that was in the Porches garden was the 'potato vine'..Solanum jasminoides...pure white flowers..but buy this in flower to be sure of colour. This looks good up a trellis.
How about an ornamental pomegranate..goes to about 15/16ft..get glorious red flowers in the early part of summer.
I envy you Ellen--wish I was there!
Love name of your house..Casa Mimosa

P.S. Of course..Prunica granatum (pomegranate) is not just ornamental..you get fruit as well..theres a dwarf one 'Nana' --goes to about 3ft..so you could grow that in pot!

Thank you ladies for your help. Just bought a Rafiolepsis today, I have no idea what it is but it looks good !

Best wishes James

Hi Ellie you have given me such good ideas I'd love to try all of them but we just have a terrace, I'll let you know how I get on, maybe I should consider bonsai !!!

Sorry Ellen..i got carried away !
But I now have vision of your terrace with small-ish mimosa-or mimosas in terracotta pots...bet it will look lovely!
James....you gave me a challenge with your plant..but found it..in one of my books:
Raphiolepis-indica (Indian hawthorn)..is yours in flower?
slow-growing. good for coastal areas.also has longlasting blue berries after flowering.

A hybrid of this Raphiolepisxdelacourii has lots of small pink flowers.
Hope this helps James.
Hope Ive got right plant?