Mediterranean Plants for the Mid-South

Create a Mediterranean oasis in your own backyard

I often hear people say things like , “ That flora prefers a Mediterranean clime . ” A Mediterranean climate is often characterise by hot , dry summers and mild winter . It is additionally associated with lean , acutely draining soil . The Mediterranean Sea spans from Southern Europe , across North Africa , and all the way to Western Asia . This orbit is full of garden - worthy plants you may desire to add to your garden . In this regional report , we will explore herbal and edible plant that hail from the Mediterranean area . These are plant many of us in the Mid - South have used to a great extent in our gardens .

Fig(Ficus carica, Zones 6–9)

Native range : Western Asia , southeasterly Europe

I love saucy figs . Growing up in the Great Plains , I was only aware of figs in their Fig Newton class until I arrived in Tennessee . Figs are large shrub that often reach over 15 feet high and wide . After a meek winter , stems will persist , and both a belated outflow and a fall crop of figs is possible . Different cultivars of fig have different taste and slightly dissimilar ripening times , so adding a diversity of common fig tree to the landscape where space permits is recommended .

English lavender(Lavandula angustifolia, Zones 5–8)

aboriginal range : in the main Mediterranean climatical regions of Europe , Spain eastwards to Italy

This lavender is not really English at all but was given that sobriquet by English gardeners . Many cultivars are sold , but few persist well into the bounder days of summertime in the South . All selections require excellent drainage and estimable melodic line circulation for success . I have been impressed with the cultivar ‘ Phenomenal ’ , which is actuallyLavandula×intermedia — a intercrossed cross between English lavender and spike lavender ( Lavandula latifolia , Zones 5–9 ) . Prune prime off as they start to fade to keep plants from becoming leggy .

Bay laurel(Laurus nobilis, Zones 8–11)

aboriginal compass : Northern Africa , Western Asia , Southern Europe

Before growing it myself , I just knew it as the leaf I had to nibble out of my soup . Bay is an evergreen tree or prominent shrub known for its redolent foliage . This plant is well suited for those in at least Zone 8 , but it can be cabbage into Zone 7b if protected well . This micturate a great container plant for those of you in warmer climates .

Pomegranate(Punica granatumand cvs., Zones 8–11)

aboriginal range : mediate and Western Asia

As you move south in the United States , you will encounter people who have successfully grown pomegranate for its fruit . However , I farm pomegranate for its unambiguously slanted flower and beautiful textured foliage . pomegranate are in general a multistemmed shrub that can withstand temperature to around 10 ° F . Often after cold temperature staunch die back , but they will rebound from their existing root system . Several new dwarf decorative pomegranate tree are now entering the retail market and show promise for Southern gardens .

Rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalisand cvs., Zones 8–11)

Native cooking stove : Africa , Europe ( Portugal and northwestern United States Spain ) , Western Asia

I consider rosemary a subshrub . Over time it will reach a height of 2 to 4 feet . It is most impactfully plant near a walkway or sidewalk so that those displace past times can reach out and concern its fragrant foliage . There are many cultivars of rosemary on the market . ‘ Jean Arp ’ is often the standard selection you will encounter . However , you may desire to search other cultivar , because many peak at wildly different time . There are early - season and late - time of year bloomers .

Common sage(Salvia officinalis, Zones 4–8)

aboriginal range : Spain , westerly Balkan Peninsula , Asia Minor , and North Africa

Sage is commonly uprise in mid - South gardens . This is a very hardy plant when give sharp drainage and does well on the border of a cheery molding . salvia is a small , woody - stanch repeated with glaucous blasphemous , highly resinous foliage with wonderful grain . Many gardeners grow it as a simple pot herbaceous plant or for culinary habit . I , however , use it rigorously for ornamental gardening .

There are some universal recommendations to heed if you want to add any of these to your garden . Plant in spring ! You will be more successful if you choose to buy and plant any of these in the bounce ; fall planting is not a great mind because cool , sozzled soil and temperature fluctuations are very hard on unestablished plants . Plant in spring , and you will have the whole growing season for your plants to show . embed each of these slightly above grade , mounding grease up to their roots . This will help with drainage , especially during the winter calendar month . Finally , if pruning is desired , avoid doing so after late summer or before your last icing - free date . Fall pruning can cause new development that can be easily damaged in wintertime , and pruning too too soon in spring is often a death sentence for these warm atmospheric condition – have sex plants . All of the above plant are sun lover , so sight them appropriately is significant .

You may note that I did n’t mention olive ( Olea europaea , Zones 8–10 ) , the presence of which is the quintessential botanical indicator of a genuine Mediterranean clime . I planted one this yr and will see if it hold out . I do n’t have high hopes , but I will enjoy it while it is last . These good word are for the mid - South , but I would love to see those of you in the Deep South gossip below about your achiever and failures with any of these plants . Or perhaps there are others like olive you have been successful with now or in the past ? Do n’t be deter if you plant one of these and it does n’t last eternally . look at where these plants are originally from , if you get five long time out of them , I think we can call that a success .

— Andy Pulte is a module member in the plant sciences section at the University of Tennessee .

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