A virtual visit to the Mediterranean region

ON GARDENING

Giant sea squill (Urginea maritima). Develops a bulb 12 inches wide or more that rests partially above ground and produces 12-18 inches long by 4-inch wide, glaucus blue-green strap-shaped leaves that emerge in late fall and last into the following summer. During the summer, the leaves diminish, and in late summer, 3 to 4 feet stalks rise, with an inflorescence of tightly clustered pink-tinged white flower buds that open from the bottom up to expose the star-shaped white flowers. COURTESY TOM KARWIN

Bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosus). This herbaceous perennial plant has spiny leaves and flower spikes bearing white or purplish flowers. The size varies from 1.3 to 6.6 feet in height. The Acanthus genus includes several species. A. spinosus and A. mollis are grown as ornamental plants. Acanthus leaves were the aesthetic basis for Corinthian capitals. COURTESY TOM KARWIN

Rockrose (Cistus argenteus “Silver Pink”). A vigorous, dense upright shrub reaching 5 to 6 feet tall and narrower than wide, with sticky, slender dark green leaves grayish on the undersides and fragrant in the heat of summer. Rock or sun roses comprise 19 species from Mediterranean countries, particularly Spain and Portugal. They have hybridized naturally in the wild, and many new forms have been bred in cultivation since gardeners first became interested in these plants in the 1860s. COURTESY TOM KARWIN

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This column includes the next stop on our virtual tour of the world’s five Mediterranean climate regions: southern and southwestern Australia, central Chile, coastal California, southwestern South Africa and around the Mediterranean Basin. These regions are characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. They are typically found on the western sides of continents, between 30 degrees and 44 degrees latitude north and south of the equator.

Familiarity with the plants of these regions readies Monterey Bay area gardeners to include them in their gardens, where those plants will grow with compatible conditions. Our virtual tour brings us to the Mediterranean Basin, the largest of the five regions with similar climates and named to refer to the group with botanical similarities. This region extends into portions of three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia. It includes parts of about 17 countries, but those sociopolitical entities do not define the botanical nature of the region’s plant life.

The Mediterranean Basin has an area of 2,085,292 square kilometers, about 21% of the United States’ area of 9,833,520 square kilometers. This region has been designated a biodiversity hotspot, with 22,500 endemic vascular plant species. Its diversity includes scrublands, shrublands, savannas and grasslands, woodlands and forests.

Plants of the Mediterranean Basin’s north side

• Olive tree (Olea europaea). Iconic Mediterranean trees known for silvery foliage and edible fruits.

• Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens). These tall, narrow, evergreen trees are often used for formal gardens and windbreaks.

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Known for fragrant purple flowers and drought tolerance.

• Rockrose (Cistus spp.). Flowering shrubs with papery blooms.• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Versatile herb with aromatic foliage and tiny purple or pink flowers.

• Bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis). Known for its large, glossy leaves and tall flower spikes.

• Common grape vine (Vitis vinifera). Cultivated extensively for its fruit and ornamental foliage.

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). A hardy herb with culinary and ornamental uses, often found on rocky slopes.

Plants of the Mediterranean Basin’s south side

• Oleander (Nerium oleander). An evergreen shrub with pink, white or red flowers, tolerant of dry conditions.

• French lavender (Lavandula dentata). A fragrant herb with soft, gray-green foliage, native to North Africa.

• Algerian thyme (Thymus algeriensis). A low-growing aromatic herb used in cooking and traditional remedies.

• Syrian oregano (Origanum syriacum). A drought-resistant herb used as a spice and in traditional medicine.

• Aloe vera. Found in arid regions, aloe is widely cultivated for its medicinal properties.

• Spurge (Euphorbia regis-jubae). A shrubby succulent native to North African drylands. A species of a large and diverse genus.

• Stonecrop (Sedum sediforme). A drought-tolerant succulent with fleshy leaves, often growing in rocky habitats.

• Sea squill (Urginea maritima). A bulbous plant with dramatic flowering stalks, thriving in rocky, coastal areas.

Sources of Mediterranean region plants

Garden centers and plant catalogs typically combine all Mediterranean climate plants in a single category based on their cultivation needs. They do not differentiate Mediterranean Basin plants from plants native to the other climate regions.

Monterey Bay area gardeners can grow all Mediterranean climate plants (given appropriate microclimates) and need not be concerned by their native region. Still, some gardeners are interested in grouping plants by their native region, even selecting native plant communities, i.e., plants that grow together in nature.

There are two strategies for identifying the native area of Mediterranean climate plants. One strategy begins with searching for a plant’s botanical name on Wikipedia, which consistently indicates the plant’s native area. Plants with wide distribution will be associated with several areas.

Another strategy involves searching Wikipedia by the geographic area of interest. For example, a search for “Wikipedia native plants from Italy” opens an extensive webpage, “Flora of Italy.” Another online resource is Gardenia’s flowers and plants by region (gardenia.net/plants-by-region). For example, a search for plants native to Italy leads to gardenia.net/plants-by-region/europe/italy. This online resource is limited in scope.

Increasingly more effective online resources include the growing number of artificial intelligence applications. As noted, we have used an early application, ChatGPT, to search for specific categories of plants defined by a well-worded inquiry. Other online resources are becoming available. For example, a Google search for “native Italian plants” opens an information page with a link for “Tools.” Clicking on that link leads to a link for “Advanced Search,” supporting detailed search options. Gardeners seeing more about plants have increasing access to powerful online resources.

This week in the garden

When cold or wet days discourage time working in the garden, other garden-related activities are available.

Bird feeding: Maintain bird feeders to support local bird populations, significantly as natural food sources dwindle. For related info, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (allaboutbirds.org/news).

Garden journaling: Reflect on the past year’s successes and challenges, and note crop performance and pest issues to inform future garden decisions.

Seed ordering: Review seed catalogs and order early to ensure availability for the upcoming planting seasons.

Landscape designing: Review your garden to identify areas you wish to improve, and consider design to develop and plants to install to achieve the improvement.

Enjoy your garden!

Tom Karwin can be reached at gardening@karwin.com.