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a 'shadier' mediterranean garden, help with plants?

20 years ago

Hi, we are moving into a ground floor with a small garden, it has only afternoon sun in the garden, so no sun all day long. Would the typical mediterranean plants work? If not, can somebody recommend something?

At the moment, the garden has roses, bougainvilleas, portulaca, some big south american glossy deep green thing the previous renter planted, sage, aloe and a few hoyas.

Please advice!! Thanks

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Comments (10)

andy_sa
20 years ago
Don't know if this site is of any help. Buena suerte con tu jardin!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mediterranean gardening
The_Passenger
20 years ago
or High Desert Gardens has dry shade plant suggestions
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bahia
20 years ago
If you have blooms on your Bougainvillea, you probably have enough sun for many if not most typical medit plants. Flowering plants that do well with part day sun would include Agapanthus, Clivia(morning sun only), Brugmansia, Strelitzia, Nerine bowdenii, Aloe saponaria, Agave attenuata and A. bracteosa. Foliage plants might include Asparagus retrofractus, A. densiflorus 'Meyers', Fatsia japonica, Tetrapanax papyriferus, Nandina domestica, Tupidanthus calyptratus, Duranta stenostachya, Crinum moorei, Pittosporum tobira, Daphne odora, Helleborus argutifolius, etc. I also like to use Francoa ramosa and F.sonchifolia, Fuschia boliviana, Dianella intermedia, Hebe menziesii,Justicia carnea and Justicia rizzinii, and some of the cold hardy Heliconias such as H. latispatha or H. schiedeana, or the Chinese Banana, Musellia lasiocarpa. Other subtropicals good for part shade might include Russellia equisetiformis,Justicia aurea, Abutilons, Brunfelsia, etc.
mus100
20 years ago
And what about a totally shady corner? What will do well with little water and no sun, where only Hedera helix and Viola odorata dare to grow?
meggs
20 years ago
still clivia miniata, it flowers even in deep shade, plant en masse, it looks stunning, have seen it in Sydney botanic gardens.
bahia
20 years ago
Mus100,
The Clivia miniata is probably a good choice for dry shade, but it doesn't bloom as well without at least bright shade here in California. You might also consider some of the Acanthus species for such locations, they will survive on winter rainfall alone, and still bloom in fairly deep shade, but will go dormant in summer without some water. Some of the Euphorbias such as E. characias also do well in full shade, as does E. robbiae. Aspidistra will grow virtually without any light, but may not be hardy for you if you get much frost in winter. I'd suggest checking out the list of plants for dry shade on the Mediterranean Garden Society web site for many more suggestions. There are quite a few California natives and also South African plants that would fill the requirement, but may not be as easily available in Europe.

David
mus100
20 years ago
Thanks! I can easily get some of them. I'm looking forward to trying them!
SeanO
19 years ago
mus100 -

You might consult the following web page: Plants for dry shade.

Sean O.
Sherill
18 years ago
I moved to Alora in Andalucia 3 years ago from the UK, and became very interested in Mediterranean gardening. I have since learnt a lot, mostly by trial and error.

My choice for your shady garden would include night scented Jasmine, maybe a small Kum kwat, and some of the lovely fragrant summer bulbs that do so well here, Summer Hyacinth, Pineapple Lily, etc.

I keep a Garden diary which may be of interest to you

Here is a link that might be useful: My mediterranean garden
veedear
18 years ago
how about plumbago, hibiscus, roses and butterfly plant(budlei they all grow well on my afternoon sunny side. i am in the costa blanca.

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