Region 04 · Europe, Africa, Asia · Csa / CSb
Horticulture in Mediterranean Basin
Rain arrives in winter and stops in summer; plants here are adapted to drought, heat, fire and calcareous soil. The garden year runs October–May, and summer is a survival season, not a planting one.
ClimateMediterranean (Csa / CSb)
USDA zones8–11
Growing seasonOctober to May
RainfallWinter rain, summer drought
SoilsCalcareous, rocky, low organic matter
Frost riskGrowthRainfall
The climate, read as a season
Peak growth falls in Apr, May, Oct; dormancy in no true dormancy. Hard frost is confined to no hard-frost months, and the driest months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Those three patterns decide the planting calendar more than the annual average temperature.
| Season | Conditions | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Mar · Apr · May | Peak growth drier spell · frost-free | The main planting and sowing window. |
| Summer Jun · Jul · Aug | Slow growth dry season · frost-free | Irrigate and mulch; avoid new planting without water. |
| Autumn Sep · Oct · Nov | Active growth drier spell · frost-free | Maintain, harvest and prepare the next season. |
| Winter Jan · Feb · Dec | Slow growth steady rain · light frost | Maintain, harvest and prepare the next season. |
What the climate demands
- Summer drought is the design constraint: irrigation, mulching and drought-adapted species come first.
- Calcareous soil locks up iron and phosphorus, so acid-lovers fail even when watered.
- Fire and salinity shape coastal planting; keep low-fuel zones around the house.
Signature flora
| Plant | Role | Why it is used here |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Olea europaea | TreeFruitWater-wise | The defining tree; needs heat and drainage. |
| Holm oak Quercus ilex | TreeNativeWater-wise | Evergreen oak; deep roots, drought proof. |
| Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis | ConiferTreeNative | Fast, fire-adapted pioneer. |
| Italian cypress Cupressus sempervirens | ConiferTreeHedge | Vertical accent; needs air movement. |
| Bay laurel Laurus nobilis | ShrubHedgeHerb | Clipped hedge and kitchen leaf. |
| Strawberry tree Arbutus unedo | ShrubNative | Winter flowers and fruit; drought tolerant. |
| Rock rose Cistus | ShrubNativeWater-wise | Short-lived but fast; excellent on hot banks. |
| Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis | ShrubHerbWater-wise | Full sun, sharp drainage, no summer water. |
| French lavender Lavandula stoechas | ShrubHerbWater-wise | Early flowers; prune after bloom. |
| Oleander Nerium oleander | ShrubWater-wise | Toxic; tolerant of heat and poor water. |
| Cotton lavender Santolina | ShrubWater-wiseEasy to propagate | Silver edging; clip after flowering. |
| Winter iris Iris unguicularis | PerennialWater-wiseCut flower | Dry bank; winter flowers. |
| Autumn daffodil Sternbergia | BulbWater-wise | Dry summer dormancy; autumn gold. |
| Anemone Anemone coronaria | Cut flowerBulb | Plant autumn; winter–spring flowers. |
| Geranium Pelargonium | BeddingCut flower | Pots and windowsills; frost tender. |
| Tomato Solanum lycopersicum | VegetableAnnual | Outdoor crop needs heat and support. |
| Artichoke Cynara cardunculus | VegetablePerennial | Deep roots; dramatic architecture. |
| Lemon Citrus limon | FruitTree | Frost-tender; pots or sheltered wall. |
| Fig Ficus carica | FruitTree | Root restriction improves fruit. |
| Pomegranate Punica granatum | FruitTreeWater-wise | Heat lover; fruit in long summers. |
| Grape Vitis vinifera | VineFruit | Dry summer, deep roots. |
| Almond Prunus dulcis | NutTree | Early blossom; frost risk. |
| Bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon | Turf | Warm-season; goes dormant in winter. |
| Zoysia Zoysia | Turf | Dense warm-season lawn; less water. |
| Agave Agave | SucculentWater-wise | Sharp drainage; architectural. |
| Prickly pear Opuntia | SucculentWater-wise | Introduced from the Americas; dry banks; can spread. |
The eight disciplines here
| Discipline | What it looks like here | Taxa | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Design 01 | Shade, stone and the dry-season garden | 17 | Field guide |
| Floriculture 02 | Palette and practice for floriculture in this climate. | 6 | Discipline guide |
| Vegetables & Herbs 03 | Palette and practice for vegetables & herbs in this climate. | 5 | Discipline guide |
| Fruit & Viticulture 04 | Palette and practice for fruit & viticulture in this climate. | 6 | Discipline guide |
| Arboriculture 05 | Palette and practice for arboriculture in this climate. | 8 | Discipline guide |
| Turfgrass 06 | Palette and practice for turfgrass in this climate. | 2 | Discipline guide |
| Nursery & Propagation 07 | Palette and practice for nursery & propagation in this climate. | 19 | Discipline guide |
| Water-wise & Restoration 08 | Fire, grazing and the return of the maquis | 14 | Field guide |
Professional bodies and standards
Mediterranean Garden Society (MGS) · International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)
Design idiom
Courtyard, pergola, gravel, pots.
Sources
Other regions
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