MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN

Need ideas for a drought tolerant landscape? These plants are perfectly at home in our Mediterranean climate, which is defined by dry summers and mild, wet winters. This climate occurs most noticeably in the regions around the Mediterranean, from where the climate gets its name, but also in coastal areas of California, South Africa and southern parts of Australia and South America. Our coastal Mediterranean climate is moderated by cool ocean temperatures and fog that creates a longer growth period, allowing plants to bloom through the summer.

The cyclical shortage of summer water has led to the development of plant adaptations. The leaves of Mediterranean plant are often tough and persistent, hairy or silver to reflect sunlight, or vertically oriented to reduce water loss during the midday. Some have evolved annual life cycles, going dormant in summer, while others survive the occassional summer fire through stump sprouting, production of fire resistant seed, and propagation from deposited ash and winter rains.