Home » Misc » Mediterranean landscaping designs

Mediterranean landscaping designs


Mediterranean Landscaping - Landscaping Network

Ideas for creating your own Mediterranean garden

Swipe to view slides

Mediterranean Design Sheets

Use these design sheets to get color, décor, materials, plant and fabric recommendations for the four types of Mediterranean style gardens.

Tuscan Landscape Design (PDF)
Spanish Landscape Design (PDF)
French Landscape Design (PDF)
Southwest Landscape Design (PDF)

View all Landscape Design Style Guides

If you find yourself constantly daydreaming of a Mediterranean vacation then this landscape style is for you. With the right plants, materials and accessories you can bring the beauty of the Mediterranean to your own backyard.

Mediterranean gardens are best known for their casual elegance. Inspired by the coastal areas of Spain, Italy and France, this style of garden combines relaxed materials and plants with formal accents and designs. Terra cotta pots, tiered fountains, statuary, Roman columns and bocce ball courts are all hallmarks of Mediterranean gardens. The plant palette of a Mediterranean landscape is made of plants that provide texture, color and structure - think lavender, cypress trees and ornamental grasses.

A Mediterranean inspired landscape will transport you to another world each time you step out your door. The smell of the fragrant herbs, the sound of trickling water and the warm color of terra cotta will make you want to take a seat and enjoy a glass of wine. All that you'll be missing is a view of the glistening blue ocean.

Because of the ideal climate, the people of the Mediterranean lead an outdoor lifestyle. For hundreds of years they have been gardening, socializing and dining outdoors. Three icons of the Mediterranean garden that have developed and spread are: bocce ball, tiered fountains and herb gardens.

Bocce ball is an Italian game that dates back to the Roman Empire. Similar to lawn bowling, the object is to get your ball closest to the jack. The game is played on a long narrow court with two, four, six or eight players. Learn more about bocce ball courts.

Tiered fountains can be found in nearly every European courtyard and plaza. Rome's Trevi fountain is arguably the most famous in the world. Tiered garden fountains may be fairly simple or covered with intricate carvings and statues.

Herb gardens are incredibly popular worldwide. During the medieval era, monks and nuns living near the Mediterranean became experts at growing herbs to use for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Today this practice has become common for individual families. Having an herb garden allows you to easily add the fresh flavors of French and Italian cooking to your meals. Learn more about food gardens.

See all Garden Styles

How to create a Mediterranean garden: design inspiration

(Image credit: Abigail Rex)

Recreating the feel of a Mediterranean garden is easier than you might imagine. Plus, with predictions of continuing hot, dry summers, making our gardens more resistant to drought is increasingly important.

A Mediterranean garden brims with low maintenance, fragrant and architectural plants; gravel and paving takes the places of time-consuming lawns, and seating areas and potted plants abound, so incorporate some or all of these elements into your Mediterranean garden ideas to recreate the feel of sunnier climes.  

The planting palette for a mediterranean garden

(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)

'Herbaceous plantings in dry Mediterranean landscapes are risky; the more herbaceous planting there is, the more hay there will be in the all important summer months. While that spring flush is a real joy, the garden must hang on through the drier months of the year,' explains award winning garden designer James Basson of Scape Design .

'Evergreen shrubs form the bulk of our plantings i a Mediterranean garden; they are the most reliable for interest.  Shrubs may stop flowering but they hang around all summer and show a variety of texture and form. Plants like Pistacia lentiscus or Juniperus phoenicea are really important so that the structure is very long lived,' James adds.

Mediterranean garden plants to include

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

Evoking the feel of a Mediterranean garden involves experimenting with an array of different plants.  

You needn’t live in Italy or Spain to incorporate herbs, shrubs and flowers from such countries into your flower bed ideas – you can recreate the feel in a sheltered spot in a border or on the patio. 

Many drought tolerant Mediterranean plants are those you'll have on a list for planning a dry garden. 

'Mediterranean plants are often short lived, and without a careful eye will die out and fade away. The practice in a Mediterranean garden is to prune, to extend the structural quality of the plants when they grow too fast and to selectively weed out plants that we do not want, to leave plants to self-seed where we want them. The longevity of the vegetation is a real part of the selection process,' explains James Basson.

In late winter in a Mediterranean garden you’ll often see acacias and citrus trees in their full glory; in spring crocuses, ornamental grasses, annuals and cistus take centre stage, and into the summer it’s bougainvilleas, pelargoniums, scented herbs, oleander and olive trees that we’re most familiar with. Then, in fall, there’s a smaller burst of beauty with the likes of cyclamen and fall crocuses, with rosemary often flowering the year round, and architectural palms adding height and Riviera glamor. 

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

Classic plant choices for a Mediterranean garden include:

'Ornamental grasses are useful as they create the glue that can help blend the herbaceous and the shrubby plantings. Good summer structure grasses, such as Hyparrhenia hirta, will give year round interest even once they have gone over to dormancy in the summer months,' says James Basson.

How to plant in a Mediterranean garden

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Spring is an ideal time for planting a Mediterranean garden, when the soil has warmed up a little, and to avoid the root rot after wet, cold winters.

Select the right plant for the right place, considering both soil and aspect. The closest you can mimic a plant's native growing conditions the more chance it will thrive with little maintenance required.

'Mediterranean plants have evolved to enjoy long, sunny days, where excellent light quality is key, so avoid planting in the shade of large trees,' advises Peter Jones, garden manager at RHS Wisley .

Peter offers the following tips for planting:

Many drought tolerant plants will form communities of plants and a key to this style is repeating planting of just a few choices, rather than lots of variety.

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

A sunny slope is ideal for creating a Mediterranean garden style as the drought tolerant plants prefer free-draining soil, but any sunny area will work well, with a gravel mulch to keep the crowns dry and to provide an appropriate background. 

Consider evoking romantic, windswept sand dunes by weaving a wooden boardwalk through your Mediterranean garden. Take inspiration from rock garden ideas and edge with rugged rocks and gravel to reflect the coastline. Plant ornamental grasses and shrubs that mimic the wild scrubland found in arid areas. 

Make the most of dry soil conditions by planting a combination of Stipa gigantea (golden oats), Santolina chamaecyparissus (cotton lavender), nepeta (catmint), salvia and small hebes. 

Landscaping a Mediterranean garden

(Image credit: Miriam Heppell/Alamy)

When designing a Mediterranean garden, 'we are keen to work with the natural conditions that make up the surrounding landscape, which we feel helps link our gardens to their sense of place,' explains James Basson of Scape Design.

'The natural landscape of the Mediterranean is mineral; there is a lot of stone. The presence of stone for us breathes space throughout our plantings. It is the pause, the silence between the notes. The irrigated lawn has no place in the Mediterranean, so it is stone, sand, gravel that creates this breath. We use gravel to help manage the competition for space by the plants,' he adds.

Gravel and warm-toned paving are typical of Mediterranean garden style, with terraces created for outdoor dining.

To avoid plants self-seeding in a gravel garden, place landscape fabric over the soil and cut crosses to insert the plants, then add a layer of gravel between. Choose a gravel color to complement that other elements and materials of hard landscaping in the garden.

For a small garden idea this is a practical option, dispensing with high maintenance lawns and instead using gravel or paving as the basis for the design, softened with ground cover and an assortment of containers.

Create relaxed, informal spaces, surrounded by textural, fragrant planting and rustic detailing. It takes some planning to create this weathered atmosphere, with structure and planting working together.

(Image credit: Future / Nicolas Saphieha)

Terraced levels with stone walls, natural stone paving and limewashed walls are also common, or inject some color and pattern with mosaic details in walls, step risers or patios.

'The dry stone wall speaks of the landscape, it is the product of the material to hand. It is without doubt a significant part of the budget for any Mediterranean garden but it is worth doing properly. These walls breathe life into a garden creating level changes and shaping the space,' explains James Basson.

Creating shade in a Mediterranean garden

(Image credit: Future / David Cleveland)

The Mediterranean climate is defined by the summer sun so structures in the garden that offer shade are crucial.

'Pergola ideas and places in the shade are an important part of the Mediterranean garden, without which there is no respite from the intense bright light and heat,' explains James Basson.

'Reed or ‘split cane’ covers, and vegetation perform best in this climate as they create shade but allow for the air to circulate,' he adds.

Flowering climbers or evergreen climbers can be trained to scramble over a pergola or arbour to add both shade, scent and beautiful blooms to enjoy.

Water features in a Mediterranean garden

(Image credit: Mark Bolton)

Many Mediterranean gardens include pool ideas. 

'Water in the garden gives real value to the quality of space, we feel soothed, and without the presence of water we are soon baked by the summer heat. Pools are in themselves very alien environments to the landscape, so we try to include them by using natural materials and colors,' says James Basson.

Also consider the inclusion of other water features to add a soothing, cooling and calming element. 'Even in the driest of landscapes water emerges, typically at the base of walls at the end of slopes. We are drawn to water and so we incorporate water into Mediterranean gardens to help bring energy and life to areas. The water features that we create often have a brimming quality – this also helps create a general sense of abundance,' says James.

Using pots in a Mediterranean garden

A lemon tree in a pot in the gardens of the summer residence of Elena Piletra. Villa near Lucca in Tuscany, Italy

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Terracotta pots filled with zingy, vibrant flowers, citrus trees or architectural palms or yucca plants are hallmarks of a Mediterranean garden.

Include containers in various sizes, smaller pots for lining walls and displaying in groups, and large, oversized containers to make a statement as part of your courtyard ideas.

Ensure any containers have good drainage and fill the bottom of the pots with crocs or stones before adding the compost to aid drainage. 

Position the pots in a sunny, sheltered area of the garden, and water only when the compost feels dry. The tender plants can then be moved indoors for winter if you live in cooler climates.

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

What is a Mediterranean garden style?

Mediterranean garden style refers to the garden features of countries that surround the Mediterranean sea – such as Spain, France, Greece and Italy. Some plants that are grown in the Mediterranean are genuine Med natives, while others are from similar climates in California, South Africa or South America, but all are adapted to the Mediterranean climate. 

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

In the wild Mediterranean, plants enjoy damp and relatively mild winters followed by dry, sunny summers. Many grow through the winter, flower in the spring, set seed then take a break. 

In a Mediterranean garden, most plants enjoy sunshine and good drainage and, although they need winter moisture, they hate winter sogginess. Many, especially bulbs, appreciate dry – even parched – summer soil.

What plants grow in a Mediterranean garden?

There are many options for plants that grow in a Mediterranean garden. Many of the plants you see in these summer hot spots will grow quite happily anywhere if given a sunny, sheltered spot and soil with good drainage.

And as climate change starts to have an impact on gardens, more and more areas already have similar growing conditions – low rainfall, summer sunshine and dry winters – to those in the Med, making plants native to this area ideal for a hosepipe-free plot. 

(Image credit: Future / Simon Scarboro)

A few simple terracotta pots – the classic choice for Mediterranean garden containers – planted with colorful pelargoniums and freshly-leaved succulents will recreate the spirit of a Greek balcony. 

Or you could transform a sun-baked seating area into an Italian-inspired terrace, surrounding it with herbs like oregano, thyme and bay. Add a pergola, then plant scented climbers or grow a vine – the leafy canopy will also provide welcome dappled shade. 

How do I make my garden Mediterranean?

Creating a Mediterranean garden is easier than you might think. If you have room to spare and a mild location with free-draining soil, you could easily mimic the style. 

Use a tree, such as an olive or a hardy palm as a focal point, then add shrubs and perennials, such as the Portuguese laurel, euphorbias and genista. Plant fragrant flowers like jasmine and lavender – as their perfumes are released, they’ll conjure up happy memories of sun-baked escapes.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Scarboro)

Mediterranean winters tend to be cold and dry, so native plants can be surprisingly hardy. But when prolonged cold is combined with wet, they will suffer. If your soil isn’t naturally free-draining, be sure to dig in plenty of grit; alternatively, consider building some raised beds to improve drainage.

Growing these plants in containers is another option, particularly if you have heavy clay soil, or live somewhere with high rainfall. Pots also have the bonus of being easily moved under cover in fall.  

Whether you simply want to add a touch of the Med or embrace its planting wholeheartedly, Mediterranean garden ideas are surprisingly easy to create.  

Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.

Mediterranean Landscaping Key Elements

Mediterranean gardens are full of sunshine, warmth and vibrant colors. Every time you find yourself in such a garden, it seems to take you to another world - it envelops you with delicious aromas of flowers and herbs, the sounds of flowing water, and the shady coolness of pergolas entwined with greenery.

Born in the countryside of southern France, Italy, Greece, this style is known for its effortless elegance. Consider 9key elements that will help to recreate the amazing Mediterranean atmosphere in your backyard.

The Mediterranean garden is reminiscent of a small resort town - the same atmosphere of relaxation and carelessness

Follow us:

1. Shaded seating areas

An Italian courtyard cannot be imagined without a patio or sun-drenched terrace. Here they enjoy morning coffee, stay up until dark on warm summer evenings. However, during the day it is so hot in the garden that shading is indispensable. Pergolas are widely used to create shady coolness. nine0003

This is a decorative canopy with slatted ceiling, which also serves as a support for climbing plants. Creepers picturesquely twist the walls and roof, fill the air with an amazing aroma, create an atmosphere of solitude and privacy.

Suitable plants for pergolas:

Read more about garden pergolas and plants for them here.

The seating area is positioned so that it offers beautiful views of the garden. To give authenticity, the surface of the site is made of stone or terraced slabs.

The pergola over the terrace gives it a southern flavor

2. Pot garden

A bright and recognizable attribute of the Mediterranean garden - plants in tubs and pots. This is a plus for the Russian climate, because it allows you to plant not only local, but also tropical plants characteristic of Southern Europe - palm trees, orange and lemon trees, myrtle, figs, silver olives. nine0003

Clay and terracotta pots are best used. They can be of various sizes - from huge amphoras to small garden vases. Plants in pots are displayed in the patio, used as focal points, to create multi-level compositions.

Do not forget that plants in containers need to be watered more often than in a flower bed.

3. Gravel filling

Southern summers are hot and often dry. To save moisture and make their work easier, gardeners reduced the number of lawns and replaced them with paving and stone fill. So gravel became an integral element of the Mediterranean garden. nine0003

But this also has its advantages - the territory is easier to care for, the backfill retains moisture and soil structure well, and inhibits the growth of weeds.

Gravel filling instead of lawn

4. Paved areas and garden paths made of stone

Most often used for paving stone, mosaics of pebbles and cobblestones, antique paving slabs in warm shades - light brown, sand, terracotta.

Patio floors, retaining walls, steps between terraces are often decorated with brightly colored ceramics reminiscent of Moorish mosaics. nine0003

Round decking rosettes are ideal for paving small patios

5. Fountains

Another must-have attribute of a Mediterranean garden is a fountain. In the summer heat, jets beating from it cool the hot air and give life-giving moisture to the garden.

The classic version is a multi-tiered design in the form of a round bowl on a stem, decorated with lion heads. But a small fountain or any other water object is also suitable.

It is usually located next to the recreation area, surrounded by plants in pots. nine0003

The sparkle and murmur of the water gives the garden a dynamic and new dimension

6. Conifers, roses and lavender

Aroma is important for a Mediterranean garden. The traditional mix is ​​the smell of pine needles, citrus fruits, roses, lavender and herbs - sage, rosemary, thyme.

When choosing plants, be sure to plant conifers - pines, spruces, firs, arborvitae, junipers. They will be a great alternative to pine trees, which may not take root in our climate.

From shrubs, pay attention to rhododendrons, tamarisks, boxwood, magnolia. nine0003

The authenticity of the Mediterranean garden will be given by decorative cereals and herbs, which are cultivated in large quantities in their homeland.

Another style feature is succulents and drought-resistant plants that are planted on alpine hills and terraced slopes.

Ideally for a Mediterranean-style garden, it is better to choose a mix of various plants

7. Trimmed hedges

The Mediterranean is the birthplace of many classic canons. And, although the style we are considering is far from the classics, some regular features are visible in it - the same fountains, statues, rectangular patio layout. And, of course, sheared hedges and topiary figures. nine0003

Favorite shearing plants are cypress and boxwood. The first is used to create green screens and box hedges, the second - for borders and topiary forms.

Classical Mediterranean landscape - pergola above the terrace, sheared boxwood in flowerpots, lavender border

8. Raised flower beds

Raised beds and terraced slopes fit perfectly into the Italian garden concept. They are suitable for plants that prefer well-drained soils and make the gardener's job easier - no need to bend over to care for the flowers. nine0003

Raised flower beds are ideal for rock arrangements.

Mediterranean style - a godsend for sites with difficult terrain

Landscaping project
site design by Sad-dizain

Read more

9. White garden furniture and antique decor therefore, a Mediterranean garden cannot be imagined without comfortable garden furniture. Its invariable attribute is white. These can be white-painted garden benches, teak or wicker chairs and armchairs with white cushions, snow-white plastic furniture.

nine0003

The atmosphere of the south coast is accentuated by antique-style accessories and garden decor - amphora-shaped vases, cozy stone grottoes and porticos, statues, planters with flowers against the background of white walls and window shutters.

The main materials of the Mediterranean garden are wood and stone, the main colors are white, sand and terracotta

If you dream of something similar on your site, order a landscape design project in our studio and we will transfer the beauty of the Mediterranean to your garden.

Mediterranean landscape design | GreenMarket

You are on the Mediterranean coast. Around the dense vegetation, lush flowers along the rocky slopes. Arbor, twined with grapes , perfectly protects from the scorching sun of the subtropics. Nearby you can hear the sound of the surf.

Do not be in a hurry to get upset if there is a completely different picture before your eyes. You can bring the Mediterranean style of the garden to your site.

Today we will see what distinguishes it from other styles of landscape design and what plants are typical for it. nine0003

Mediterranean style design

This landscaping style takes us back to ancient Greek and Roman times:

Olive and citrus trees , palms, ficuses , laurels and thujas adorn the Mediterranean style. Variegated flowers are balanced by calm lavender .

White, blue, yellow, terracotta colors predominate in the design.

Mediterranean architecture

What distinguishes the Mediterranean style from others is its architecture. Natural and man-made terraces, open gazebos, pergolas, paved areas connected by paths, fountains, small pools and streams are all elements of the landscape. nine0003

Each of them can be used on a spacious plot. On a more modest square - choose the most interesting and practical ones for the Mediterranean style.

In summer, you want to spend as much time as possible outside and hide from the sun at the same time, so we'll talk about pavilions and terraces.

Mediterranean style gazebo

The Mediterranean style of the garden involves spacious open gazebos, without walls and sides. The supports are made of wood or in the form of columns, the roof is made of reed or soft tiles. With the help of shape, color and drapery, you can beautifully beat the design. nine0003

Arbor in a traditional style and color

Arbor with vine weaving

Arbor looks good with grapes - girlish or varietal. It will decorate the frame and create the desired shadow. They weave well and bloom all summer.

It will be doubly pleasant if the air is filled with the aroma of sage , thyme , lavender , rosemary growing nearby.

Mediterranean terrace

The design of the terrace begins with the walls and the floor. The flooring is made of stone or laid out with tiles. Wooden is used much less often.

The walls should also support the Mediterranean theme. It is better if they are laid out of sandstone or decorated to look like it. Marble finish is also a good solution.

Tables, armchairs, benches and other furniture are made in the correct form and in light colors. Often the furniture is left white, and the mood is created with the help of decor.

Complementing a traditional interior with a hanging wicker chair

Terrace interior in Mediterranean style

Perfect fit here:

Although the terrace offers a stunning view of the garden, flowers in containers in the country house will never be superfluous.

Mediterranean garden

In such a garden grow conifers , flowering shrubs , numerous flowers . The Mediterranean natural zone dictates its own conditions, so the plants must be drought-resistant. In our band, this property is also relevant, but it alone will not be enough.

If you do not live in the subtropics and decide to recreate a Mediterranean garden in a temperate climate, take care of wintering. Heat-loving trees and shrubs can be replaced with their frost-resistant counterparts. nine0003

Blue, purple, red and orange in the garden will create a coastal atmosphere.

What plants grow in the garden

Palm tree , lemon , orange and olive tree plant in a pot or tub, because in our climate they will not survive in the open field. In the warm season, they will perfectly fit into the Mediterranean garden, and for the winter it is better to put them in a bright, ventilated room with a temperature of at least + 8 ° C. nine0003

Potted palm tree

Olive trees

Lemon tree

Drought-resistant trees and shrubs grow in the garden:

Cypress and viburnum laurel will easily overwinter in the open ground, if they are well covered with spruce branches or burlap.

A Mediterranean shrub or sub-shrub like thyme will fill the area with a wonderful aroma. Spicy herbs will support the spirit of coastal regions: sage , lemon balm , mint .

Mediterranean patio

The patio in Spanish houses is an essential attribute of landscape design. The good news is that you can make a patio in the country with your own hands. nine0003

Originally, a patio is a patio adjacent to a house. The site adjoins one of the walls of the house: from the side of the facade or the back of the building. However, you don't have to be tied to the walls. Arrange the site in any place convenient for you.

Think about the purpose for which you plan to use the yard: for romantic evenings, family gatherings, receiving guests. Based on this, determine the desired size and place for the platform. The flooring itself is best done with stone, but tile and treated wood work well too. nine0003

For a patio design that is as close to the south of Europe as possible, use wooden furniture with plain covers in light shades and white and blue stripes, rocking chairs, deck chairs, painted pots and vases.

Traditional style patio

Patio with fireplace

It's not that hard to create a Mediterranean style garden in your summer house.

Learn more