12 KEY PLANTS
1 Rhodanthemum catananche ‘Tizi-n-Test’ A mound-forming perennial, also sold as Catananche caerulea ‘Tizi-n-Test’, that has cornflower-like flowers and papery seedheads. Hardy to -12°C, it needs sun and free drainage. 15cm. USDA 7a-10b†. 2 Thymbra capitata A shrubby thyme that is tolerant of maritime exposure and is an excellent source of food for bees. Hardy to between -10°C and -12°C, it needs full sun and very good drainage. 40cm. USDA 6a-9b.
3 Euphorbia rigida Bright, acidic-yellow flowers in early spring and evergreen silver foliage. It has allelopathic properties that suppress weed germination. Hardy to -15°C, requires sun and free drainage. 40-50cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 7a-10b.
4 Melica ciliata A short-lived, adaptable grass, happy to gently seed in sun or light shade. Hardy to -15°C. 60-80cm. RHS H6.
5 Achillea coarctata A low groundcover that offers a long flowering period, even in heat and drought. Hardy to -15°C, it requires sun and free drainage. 15-30cm. 6 Cotinus coggygria The smoke bush is a shrub that offers smoky panicles of flowers in summer and spectacular autumn colour, which becomes stronger when grown ‘hard’ in poor, free-draining soils. Hardy to -15°C. 3m. RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b. 7 Tanacetum densum subsp. amani Low, evergreen groundcover, silvery white foliage and pure-white flowers. Allelopathic, but happy to live among tree roots. Hardy to -15°C, it requires sun or light shade. 20cm.
8 Ballota pseudodictamnus Low, evergreen mounds of grey-green, felted foliage with allelopathic properties, which suppress competition. Hardy to between -12°C and -15°C, requires sun or light shade and free-draining soil. 30-40cm. AGM. RHS H4. 9 Lomelosia cretica Forming a dense, evergreen mound 80cm wide with scabious flowers. It is allelopathic, so suppresses competition, and is easily grown in full sun with free drainage. Good pollinator. Hardy to between -10°C and -12°C. 60cm. 10 Sedum sediforme Low, evergreen groundcover with erect flowering stems and soft yellow flowers to 30cm. Easy in rubbly conditions in poor soils. Hardy to -15°C. 11 Lunaria annua ‘Corfu Blue’ A short-lived perennial form of the usually biennial honesty, seeding easily in sun or shadow. Its beautiful violet-blue flowers, from April to June, are followed by attractive, purple-tinged seedheads.
Hardy to -15°C. 60cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-7b.
12 Origanum laevigatum An airy, deciduous perennial, that offers clouds of nectar-rich flowers, much loved by butterflies. Hardy to -15°C, it needs sun and free drainage. 60cm. AGM. RHS H6.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.
Delos must have felt very forwardthinking in its echoing of a real place and with its mood of somewhere wild and foreign