Plant Encyclopedia
Discover plants for your garden — filter by sun, water, bloom time and more.
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15 plants
PerennialsAgapanthus africanus
African Lily
The African Lily produces spectacular globe-shaped flower heads in blue or white on sturdy, tall stems above strap-like foliage. It blooms from June to August and lends a Mediterranean feel to any patio or container planting. In mild climates the plant is evergreen.
ClimbersBougainvillea spectabilis
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a spectacular climber famed for its overwhelming mass of brightly coloured bracts in pink, purple or red. The true flowers are small and white, hidden among the showy bracts. This vigorous plant covers walls and pergolas in a dazzling tapestry of colour from May to October.
TreesCercis siliquastrum
Judas Tree
The Judas tree is a spectacular small tree that bears bright pink flowers directly on the bare branches and even the trunk in April and May — a rare phenomenon called cauliflory. After flowering, heart-shaped blue-green leaves appear, giving the tree a Mediterranean character. The Judas tree slowly develops into a graceful, multi-stemmed specimen.
ShrubsCistus ladanifer
Gum Rockrose
The gum rockrose is an aromatic evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean with sticky, resin-scented leaves and large, papery white flowers with a striking dark blotch at the base of each petal. Each flower opens for just one day, but the plant produces new buds for weeks through May and June.
TreesCitrus limon
Lemon Tree
The lemon tree is an elegant evergreen that can bloom and bear fruit almost year-round. Its wonderfully fragrant white flowers appear in clusters and give way to bright yellow fruits. As a container plant it is popular on sunny terraces and in conservatories.
PerennialsEuphorbia characias
Mediterranean Spurge
Mediterranean Spurge is an architectural, evergreen perennial with blue-green foliage and striking yellow-green flower heads in spring. The columnar flower stems can reach 120 cm and bring colour and structure to the garden early in the season.
TreesFicus carica
Common Fig
The common fig is an atmospheric Mediterranean tree with large, deeply lobed leaves and a characteristic broad crown. The hidden flowers sit inside the fig fruit and are not visible from outside. Given a warm, sheltered position, the tree produces sweet, juicy figs from summer to autumn. Surprisingly hardy with protection.
ShrubsLavandula angustifolia
English Lavender
Lavender is a beloved herb with aromatic silver-green foliage and purple-blue flower spikes. This evergreen plant blooms profusely from June to August and is remarkably drought-tolerant, attracting butterflies and bees to the garden.
ShrubsLavandula stoechas
French Lavender
French Lavender is distinguished by its striking butterfly-like bracts atop compact flower spikes. The plant blooms from May to September, much longer than common lavender, and releases a delightful fragrance. The grey-green aromatic foliage is evergreen in mild climates.
ShrubsNerium oleander
Oleander
Oleander is a profusely flowering evergreen shrub with elongated dark green leaves and clusters of fragrant blooms in pink, white or red from June to September. An iconic Mediterranean plant, it thrives as a container specimen on sunny terraces even in cooler regions.
TreesOlea europaea
Olive Tree
The olive tree is a majestic, long-lived tree with distinctive silver-green foliage and a gnarled trunk that grows increasingly characterful with age. In warm climates it produces edible olives following a modest white bloom in June. As a container plant it can bring Mediterranean charm to cooler regions too.
PerennialsPerovskia atriplicifolia
Russian Sage
Russian Sage is a graceful sub-shrub with silvery-grey aromatic foliage and airy lavender-blue flower plumes from July to September. The plant can reach 150 cm and gives borders a hazy, ethereal quality. Russian Sage is highly drought-tolerant and thrives on poor, dry soil.
ShrubsPittosporum tobira
Japanese Pittosporum
Japanese pittosporum is an evergreen shrub with dense, leathery dark green foliage and creamy-white, intensely fragrant flowers appearing in May and June. The scent is reminiscent of orange blossom. Supremely suited as a hedging plant or specimen in mild climates.
HerbsSalvia officinalis
Common Sage
Sage is a robust, aromatic herb with decorative grey-green, velvety foliage that provides year-round ornamental value. In June and July, purple-blue flowers appear in vertical spikes, beloved by bees. The plant is evergreen and adds structure to the herb garden or border. Sage has been a cherished culinary and medicinal herb for centuries.
ShrubsSantolina chamaecyparissus
Cotton Lavender
Cotton lavender is a compact, silvery dwarf shrub with finely divided, aromatic foliage and round, button-like yellow flowers from June to August. The silver-grey leaves form dense, dome-shaped cushions that remain decorative even outside the flowering season. Excellent as a low hedge, border edging or in a herb garden.