Some like IT HOT!
Drought-tolerant plants for Mediterranean-style containers
Warm haven
Gardens from around the
Med are admired for their lush greenery, aromatic plants and hot-coloured blooms.
With similar conditions – a warm, sheltered spot and free-draining soil – you can create your own tranquil oasis, using groups of pots. Choose traditional terracotta to nail the look, or opt for lightweight plastic imitations, brightly glazed ceramics or a collection of upcycled metal cans.
Riviera chic
A single exotic-looking palm will set the tone for this style of potscape. Go for a hardy type, like Chusan palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), which can survive temperatures down to -15C.
Its hairy trunk is crowned with sprays of fan-shaped leaves up to 1m wide, which are strikingly architectural and will cast lovely shadows, especially on a white or painted wall. In summer, yellow flowers droop from below the fronds. Although this palm can reach 7-8m in the ground, it grows slowly in a pot. Position in light shade or in the sun, out of winter winds, and water regularly in the growing season.
Scented sanctuary
Add a fragrant shrub layer using aromatic classics like heavenly lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). A tub of this, rubbing shoulders with other sun-lovers with silvery-grey foliage, will make a deliciously perfumed corner, as well as a nectar banquet for bees and pollinators. Good companions include yellow-flowered cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus), deep-pink rock rose (Cistus x purpureus) and blue-flowered rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus).
Space savers
When space is at a premium, reach for the stars with climbers like potato vine (Solanum crispum) ‘Glasnevin’, a semievergreen with fragrant lilac blooms and annual morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor). Or give a Med makeover to a windowsill or doorstep with a line of metal cans (use a hammer and nail to add drainage holes) planted with resilient succulents or herbs, such as basil or oregano.