There are a number of perennial plants commonly grown in the Mediterranean region that perform very well in the desert.
These perennials blend well with desert landscapes, too.
Here are a few of the best:
● Artemisias are a group of small, herbaceous, shrublike plants that can best be described as resembling Dusty Millers on steroids. They have the same white to silvery gray deeply cut leaves and come in a range of sizes, from the miniature, 8-inch-tall Artemisia versicolor "sea foam" to larger growing types like A. absinthium, which grows to a height of 4 feet.
Artemisias are useful as edging and border plants, in rock gardens and in shrub borders.
As a group, Artemisias require regular irrigation and well-drained soil. They thrive in full sun or partial shade and require little in the way of fertilizer.
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Larger growing types do benefit from being trimmed back in late winter, just prior to spring growth. This will keep them more compact, full and leafy.
● Santolina is a small, herbaceous perennial that comes in two forms, silver and green.
Silver Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus) is a stiff, dense plant with short, needlelike silver leaves. It grows in a low, mounding fashion to a height of 12 to 18 inches and a spread of 2 to 3 feet. In late May, the plant is covered with small, yellow, buttonlike flowers.
Green Santolina (Santolina virens) has much softer, bright-green foliage with a well-rounded form. The leaves are needlelike, but, unlike Silver Santolina, they are long and slender, providing a light, feathery appearance. A smattering of small yellow flowers appear on stem ends in late May. Green Santolina grows to a height and spread of about 2 feet. A more compact variety called "morning mist" is available.
Both forms of Santolina are adapted to full sun and are very heat tolerant. Green Santolina maintains its neat, rounded form without pruning. Silver Santolina looks best with a trimming immediately after flowering. Both do well with weekly irrigation during hot weather.
● Lavenders are the quintessential perennials for Mediterranean gardens. Their attractive gray-green to silver-green foliage also blends well with desert landscapes.
Lavender flower spikes provide one of the most sought-after fragrances of all time.
Spanish Lavender is probably the best choice among lavenders for general landscape use. Its purple flowers are the showiest in bloom and they have a great fragrance.
If you're interested in flowers for cutting fresh or for drying, then choose the French Lavender, also referred to as Lavandin, the Lavender of Provence. It has very fragrant light-purple flowers and attractive gray-green foliage.
Lavenders are well adapted to heat and are reasonably drought tolerant. During hot weather, established plants should be watered every seven to 10 days. During cooler weather, November to March, water monthly.
Unlike many other perennials, it's been my experience that lavenders are not bothered by rabbits, ground squirrels and other wildlife. About the only thing that will cause lavender to fail is overwatering.
● Other distinctly Mediterranean perennials that preform well locally include: rosemary, Germander and Greek Yarrow in full sun to partial shade locations and Agapanthus, Strelitzia, sage and thyme in locations with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Gardening
Advice by John P. Begeman
» garden classes
"How Plants Work" is the topic for this week's garden demonstrations. They will be presented 9 a.m. Wednesday at the UA-Pima County Cooperative Extension, 4210 N. Campbell Ave.; 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road; and 1 p.m. Friday at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive.