Plants For An Evergreen, Modern Mediterranean Garden

I’ve had so many questions about the planting in our garden and I couldn’t fit it into the process and reveal post last week, so today I’m going to take you through what we put in and where.

That said, you should of course do your own research to figure out what’s best for your garden - I am by no means an expert.

I had a very clear idea of what I wanted - wild, manicured and evergreen. Yes I know wild AND manicured is a clash, but I think it can work. Crazy tall grasses, rosemary and lavender, with topiary balls and lollipop trees? YES PLEASE!

I also didn’t want much colour other than green, and stuck to a tight palette of white and a touch of purple.

Emily Hillier very kindly steered me with my final choices and suggested a few specifics when I was being vague - like ‘ferns’, ‘grasses’ and ‘jasmine’ when there is obviously more than one type. Ha!

She also figured out how many to buy of what, to give us an instantly full-ish look, which was extremely helpful as I’d really have had no clue, and am quite sure I’d have massively under-ordered if left to my own devices, and then been super disappointed.

The day the plants were delivered was without a doubt my favourite day of 2020. Like the best Christmas ever times a hundred.

Because I know you’ll ask, we bought the majority of the plants via Emily’s wholesaler (so you need a trade account to purchase), but I also bought a few things from Primrose, and will probably do that again in the spring.

Some of the buxus didn’t get delivered, and I still want to put a some more in, plus we need some more of the grasses and ferns to fill the nine metre long narrow bed along the side return.

Anyway, I’ll cut to the chase…

Back Garden Bed

Lollipop Bay Trees (Laurus Nobilis 3/4 Standard)

These were not negotiable and I love them so. They make me as happy to look out at as the lights that light them up at night.

Verdict: They still look as brilliant as they did on the day we planted them, and I would 100% choose them again.

Lollipop Bay Tree

Calluna Garden Girls (White Heather)

I loved these when we planted the, but although they’re supposedly evergreen, they all went brown when the weather turned and some have died. Not sure if it was due to too much water / sun / shade as one in almost full shade seems to have died, and some in full sun seem to have too. They all went brown during Autumn, then most started to grow new green growth. I don’t really understand them or what I’m supposed to do with them, but the brown bits are not attractive so I will probably pull most if not all of them out in the spring and replace them with more easygoing grasses. I think I might prefer that anyway.

Verdict: I don’t really love them enough to bother trying again.

Rosemary

Another non-negotiable choice and aside from one plant that randomly died (must have been a dud - I guess that happens?!) these have been great and look lovely.

Verdict: I love it but I need to make sure I read up on how to keep it looking good as it grows. A winner.

Blue Grass (Festuca Glauca Intense Blue)

Did I mention yet that I bloody love grasses? Well I do. I bloody love grasses, and these are no exception. I had a bad start with some of these that I’d planted in a window box for the front of the house earlier last year, and killed them immediately but I’m pretty sure that was my fault due to using weird potting mix that was too dry in the full sun. Unperturbed, this second attempt has been thus far super successful and I love this pop of blue-green. They look gorgeous dotted around the beds and the colour is just so unusual.

Verdict: These are also winners -and the more the merrier as far as I’m concerned.

Calluna / Rosemary / Blue Grass

Side Beds

Box Balls (Buxus Sempervirens, 40cms and 30cms)

Another non-negotiable thing which instagram did its absolute best to put me off due to the blight problem, but I decided to risk it anyway as I’ve always loved them and the idea of not including them in the garden made me sad. All totally fine so far and I can’t wait to give them a little trim when needed with my cool new Niwaki clippers! The plan was to have the next size down too but they didn’t get delivered so I’m going to add some 20cms balls in Spring.

Verdict: No regrets! I love them and wish I had room for loads more.

Buxus Balls

Olive Trees

These were VERY kindly given to us by our neighbours who had three in their garden but the middle one was dominant and they were getting a bit crowded and they felt the outer two needed to come out. What perfect timing for us, as trees this size would cost a small fortune, so we were (and are) so grateful. We were extremely worried they wouldn’t survive being transplanted as one in particular didn’t come out without a fight, and for months we debated daily if they were dying. But they have survived and we are SO happy. They’re huge and so beautiful. And you can’t have a modern med garden without Olives now, can you!

Verdict: I’m obviously thrilled to bits with these, and can’t wait to watch them grow more!

Blue Grass (Festuca Glauca Intense Blue)

See Back Garden Bed section above

Pittosportum Golf Ball (Pittosporum Tenuifolium Golf Ball)

These sit so nicely next to the Buxus and have already had quite a bit of new growth at the end of summer when we planted. I’m looking forward to reshaping these (yes with my swanky Niwaki clippers that I’m desperate to have a proper go with!) so they retain their ball shape.

Verdict: Easy going and a lovely addition along side the Buxus for contrast, would totally recommend.

Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia Hidcote)

Yes, you guessed it, Lavender was also a given, and I’m looking forward to seeing it grow as the plants are quite dinky now, but should start to fill out this year.

Verdict: You can’t go wrong with Lavender!

Verbena (Verbena Bonariensis)

I didn’t know what verbena looked like - it totally wasn’t on my radar at all, but Emily suggested adding it in for height along the sides and I’m so glad she did. I love it, and you can almost see it growing, it doubled at least in size just at the end of summer, so I can’t wait to see what it does come spring. Must figure out what I’m supposed to do pruning wise!

Verdict: Grows like wildfire and I love it. It definitely adds to the wild look!

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)

Added for height, fragrance, and to eventually climb the fences and walls, I know I don’t need to tell you how lovely Jasmine is.

Verdict: Love it, and need to put some wire up for it to climb!

Pony Tail Grass (Stipa Tenuissima)

This is where my limited plant knowledge really ran out, so I totally leaned on Emily for guidance and she suggested this mix. Can not WAIT to see them grow!

Verdict: Love! Wild and crazy - exactly what I wanted.

Moor Grass (Sesleria Autumnalis)

Another wild looking grass that Emily added to the mix and I love it. I’ll be on grass watch from April waiting in excitement to see them all do their thing!

Verdict: Uh-huh, love it.

Side Return Bed

Fern (Dryopteris Arata)

My fern knowledge is also limited and this is what Emily suggested for the darker side return area which is mostly seen from the kitchen window. These have already spread and settled in so nicely and look great.

Verdict: Beautiful and easy going - just how I like it.

Carex Ice Dance (Carex Morrowii Ice Dance)

Another Emily suggestion - this grass looks so gorgeous mixed with the fern in the side return, the mix of this lighter varigated colour with the darker fern is so pretty.

Verdict: Perfect!

Pittosporum / Buxus Balls / Carex Ice Dance / Dryopteris Arata / Calluna Garden Girls

And there you have it! Quite a good variety of plants, and just perfect for my visions of a Modern Mediterranean garden. Now we just need to keep them alive and help them thrive! I’ll be adding a few plants to some pots I bought last year for the front patio and showing you more of that and the side return area when it’s done.

Let me know if you have any questions, and bring on Spring!