Costa del Sol and other southern Mediterranean coastal gardens now have to contend with even longer hotter summers. It is sometimes difficult for beginner gardeners to maintain an attractive looking garden during those months without excessive use of water which is now expensive.
Few private gardeners are fortunate enough to have access to recycled water for their precious plants. Costal del Sol and Mediterranean gardens will of course be exposed to plenty of sunshine so for the beginner planning a garden it’s sensible to plant a good portion of drought tolerant plants.
Succulents are just one solution and offer great potential and are practically maintenance free. They tend to look striking when planted in small groups rather than individually around the garden and will provide a dense splash of colour at various times of the year.
They can be slow growing but once established will spread and always provide a show.
Here is a first selection of succulents found at local garden centres that will reward a beginner gardener.
The Mediterranean Favourite Aloe Arborescens
This Aloe is seen all over the Mediterranean coastline with its pale green serrated edge leaves and striking red poker type blooms in late autumn and winter. It needs very little care except for the removal of dead leaves when they dry out. It is self propagating with rosettes appearing at base of the stem. Height 60-80cms.
Another Drought Loving Aloe
The Aloe variegata is a smaller but valued succulent easily managed by the beginner gardener. The variegated leaves and stems of pendulous red flowers make it an attractive addition to a drought loving garden. Blooms in winter. Height 40cms.
The Aloe Aristata Forms from Basal Rosettes
This little Aloe has pointed bright green serrated edged leaves with tiny white spots. Orange flowers appear on stems in late winter/early spring and it propagates freely from its basal rosettes. Height 15cms. See photo.
The Aeonium Arboreum has Impressive Yellow Domed Blooms
This bushy succulent from Morocco grows well on the Costa del Sol and all around the southern Mediterranean. The 50-100cms stems have rosettes from where stalks appear to carry striking yellow domed flower heads.
After its spring blooming the rosettes shrink to conserve moisture and then expand again with the autumn rains. See photo.
Agave Attentuata Drought Tolerant and Attractive Succulent
The Agave Attentuata is a large rosette of sword shaped spineless pale green leaves that form at the end of a trunk.
Small rosettes form around the base of this and can be taken off and replanted. When mature a long stem of around 2mts emerges from the centre of the rosette covered with yellow/green flowers. This Agave thankfully has no spikes. Height 50-60cms. See photo.
Some Agaves Need Plenty of Space
There are many varieties of Agave available at the garden centres including the Agave Americana and the Agave Century Marginata which is a variegated form of the above. These varieties are often seen in the countryside with their huge flowering stems.
Only buy these if you have a large area to plant up that is well away from humans and animals. The central stem shoots up 6 mts when the plant is mature! They also have spikes and serrated edged pointed leaves. Quite dangerous in fact!
Orange and Red Flowers Brighten a Mediterranean Garden
The Cotyledon Orbiculata, from South Africa is a worthy addition to the garden. Pretty tubular shaped orange/red flowers rise on stalks from the thick leaf clusters. The edges of the leaves are tinged with red. Easily propagated by stem or leaf cutting. Height 60cms. See photo
A Useful Succulent for the Beginner Gardener
The Crassula multicava is a bushy perennial succulent. Its foliage is grey/green and pink/white clusters of flowers appear on stems in the summer months. It is a very useful gap filling plant in the Mediterranean Garden, easily propagated and elegant in containers too. Height 30cms. See photo
Succulents will Always Grace a Mediterranean Garden
After the sunshine has scorched many plants in the garden the succulents will soldier on. They are a valuable addition. The ones mentioned in this article are not expensive and easily managed.
Vivien Pelmore - I love travelling, exploring new places and finding out as much as I can. Andalucia in Spain is my home and has been since 1997 although I ...
