A Mediterranean garden that needs little water
Cyprus has hot, dry summers and mild winters, a climate that suits plants adapted to living on little water. A Mediterranean garden is built from these plants: it needs less watering and less work, and fills up with scent, bees and butterflies.
Below you will find the key principles and the plants we grow, by category. Each card shows the typical height and water needs, and links to the plant's page with the sizes available.
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The key principles
- Group plants by how much water they need. Put the thirstier ones near the house and seating area, and the toughest at the edges of the garden.
- Less lawn. Grass takes the most water in a garden. Keep it only where you use it, and elsewhere use gravel, paving or ground-cover plants such as prostrate rosemary.
- Mulch. A layer of bark, wood chips or gravel around plants cuts evaporation and weeds.
- Drip irrigation. Drippers water only the roots, and far less is lost than with sprinklers.
- Good drainage. Mediterranean plants cope with drought much better than with standing water. In heavy soil, mix in sand or gravel and organic matter.
- Plant in layers: trees for shade, shrubs for body, and herbs or grasses in front, for a garden that looks full all year.
Trees and palms
They give shade and coolness, and once established get by on little water. Check their final size before planting near a house or pipes.
The symbol of the Mediterranean garden: evergreen, tough in heat and drought, with fruit for the home.
A slim, vertical line that takes no space. Ideal in a row or to mark an entrance.
Fragrant leaves for the kitchen. Can be pruned into a small tree or a shrub.
Pomegranate with striking red flowers and large fruit. Deciduous, with golden leaves in autumn.
Stone pine, with its wide umbrella of shade. For large gardens and plots.
Peppertree: weeping, airy foliage and pink berries. Takes heat and drought, needs space.
The Mediterranean palm: low, multi-stemmed and very tough.
Blue palm with silver leaves, for sunny, dry spots.
Shrubs
They give body and green all year. Most cope with the summer heat on minimal watering once rooted.
Native mastic: dense, evergreen and almost undemanding.
Myrtle with variegated leaves. Fragrant, tough and bright.
Native Cyprus sage: fragrant silvery leaves for tea, purple flowers in spring.
Flowers all summer on minimal water. Toxic if eaten.
Silver foliage and pink-purple flowers in summer. Tolerates salt, ideal for seaside gardens.
Silver foliage and purple flowers. Needs full sun and minimal water.
Glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers and edible red fruit. For warm, lowland areas.
Red bottlebrush flowers that bring bees. Very tolerant of heat.
Herbs and ground cover
The heart of the Mediterranean garden. They want sun and little water, fill the gaps between shrubs, and most go into the kitchen too. The prostrate ones can replace lawn where nobody walks.
Prostrate rosemary: spreads to cover slopes, low walls and areas without lawn.
Upright rosemary for edging, low hedges and the kitchen.
Lavender: purple spikes in summer, scent and bees.
Fern-leaf lavender with lacy leaves. Flowers for much of the year.
Oregano for beds, pots and the kitchen.
Thyme: a low cushion for edges, between paving and in pots.
Curry plant: silver foliage with a curry scent and yellow flowers in summer.
Silver, fragrant cushion with yellow flowers.
Creeping conifer that spreads like a carpet, for slopes and large areas.
Perennials and grasses for colour and movement
They give colour for months on little water, and the grasses add movement in the wind. They suit gravel gardens, edging and group plantings.
Dietes: upright, iris-like leaves and flowers for months. Very tough.
Gaura: white, butterfly-like flowers dancing in the wind all summer.
Purple flowers from spring to autumn, for edges and pots.
Silver-leaved gazania that opens in the sun. Good ground cover for hot spots.
Large blue globes of flowers in summer. For frost-free lowland areas.
A pink-purple cloud of flowers in autumn. Striking in groups.
A grass with fluffy plumes from summer to autumn.
Fine, silky grass that ripples in the wind.
Low blue-grey tufts for edges and gravel gardens.
Climbers for shade and colour
A pergola with a climber gives summer shade. Bougainvillea takes heat and drought, and a grapevine gives shade, grapes and winter sun once it drops its leaves.
Watering: less, but right
- For the first two summers every plant needs regular watering, even drought-tolerant ones. Drought tolerance comes once they are rooted.
- Water deeply and infrequently, not little and often. Roots then go deeper and the plant lasts longer between waterings.
- Water early in the morning, so less is lost to evaporation.
- Before watering, push a finger 2–3 cm into the soil. If it is still damp, wait.
- Overwatering kills more Mediterranean plants than drought. Yellowing leaves, soft stems and a musty smell in the soil mean too much water. Stop watering and let the soil dry out deeply.
- In winter, with the rains, turn the irrigation off or right down.
When and how to plant
- The best season is from November to February. Winter rains help plants root before the first heat. Container plants can be planted later too, with regular watering.
- Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and mix the soil with organic matter. In heavy clay, also add sand or gravel for drainage.
- Stake young trees for the first years, so they grow straight and the wind doesn't loosen them.
- Leave room for the final size. A garden planted too densely needs more water and pruning later.
Frequently asked questions
- What can I plant instead of lawn?
- Where nobody walks, prostrate rosemary, creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), thyme or gazania. Where you walk, gravel or paving with herbs in between.
- How often should I water a Mediterranean garden?
- Regularly for the first two summers, depending on soil and heat. After that, most plants in this guide need one deep watering every few days or even less often. Always check the soil moisture first.
- When is the best time to plant?
- From November to February. Plants root with the winter rains and cope better with their first summer.
- Which plants bring bees and butterflies?
- Lavender, rosemary, oregano, thyme, Cyprus sage, gaura and bottlebrush are among their favourites.
- Do Mediterranean plants need fertiliser?
- Very little. Some organic matter at planting and a light feed in spring are enough. Heavy feeding gives soft growth that needs more water.
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Planning a Mediterranean garden for a home, hotel or public space? Send us the space and what you need and we will suggest plants, sizes and quantities.
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