A Sparkling Mediterranean Garden with Aloe, Agave and Palms

Plant Combinations, Spring Borders, Summer Borders, Fall Borders, Winter Borders

Garden ideas, Mediterranean garden, Water wise garden, agave americana, agave vilmoriana, Aloe marlothii, chitalpa tashkentensis, cordyline australis Red Star, cycas revolutas, punica granatum, washingtonia filifera

mediterranean Garden, Agave, Palm Tree, Pomegranate, Cycas, Sago Palm

Mediterranean Garden, Agave, Pomegranate, Palm tree

Quite colorful, this Mediterranean garden provides visual impact in the front yard of this California home. Low ground level plantings, under the ravishing canopies of Washingtonia filifera (California Falm Palm) and x Chitalpa tashkentensis (Chitalpa), include a remarkable selection of architectural agaves and aloes. Tall, spiky, dark burgundy Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree) and low Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) serve as focal points. The charming Punica granatum (Pomegranate) is an unexpected element that works well. Variety in foliage color and form is used to excellent effect.

Looking good all year-round, all these plants are drought tolerant.

Garden Information

Hardiness	9 - 11
Climate Zones	14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Maintenance	Low, Average
Water Needs	Low
Soil Type	Loam
Soil pH	Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Showy
Tolerance	Drought
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Mediterranean Garden

Plants In This Garden

Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm)

Very slow-growing and long-lived, award-winning Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) is a palm-like evergreen perennial with a very attractive rosette of shiny, arching, pinnate leaves, up to 2-5 ft. long (60-150 cm), atop a rugged upright trunk. Each leaf is divided into many narrow, leathery, spiny-tipped, deep green leaflets adorned with revolute edges.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Partial Sun
Height	3' - 10' (90cm - 3m)
Spread	3' - 10' (90cm - 3m)

Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' (Century Plant)

Smaller than its giant cousin, Agave americana, ‘Mediopicta Alba’ (Century Plant) is an evergreen perennial forming splendid rosettes of thick, spiny-edged, gray-green leaves, each with a bright creamy-white central stripe. The fleshy leaves are armed with recurved spines along the edges and a long terminal spine.

Hardiness	8 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm)

Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe)

Adding a majestic presence to the garden, Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe) is a large evergreen succulent forming a dense rosette of fleshy, grayish green leaves, up to 5 ft. long (150 cm), with a broad base tapering to a sharp point. They are covered with reddish-brown spines along the edges and randomly on their upper and lower surfaces.

Hardiness	9 - 12
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)
Spread	4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm)

Agave vilmoriniana (Octopus Agave)

Prized for its graceful foliage, Agave vilmoriniana (Octopus Agave) is an evergreen succulent perennial adding great interest in the landscape. It forms a solitary rosette of long, slender, gray-green leaves that arch and undulate, resembling the tentacles of an octopus. The toothless edges of the leaves curl inward, particularly around the tips.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	5' - 6' (150cm - 180cm)

Aloe petricola (Stone Aloe)

Perfect for rocky areas, Aloe petricola (Stone Aloe) is an evergreen succulent forming a stemless solitary rosette of long blue-gray leaves with broad bases and narrow tips. The fleshy leaves curve inwards, giving a rounded appearance to the rosette. They feature scattered thorns on their upper and lower surfaces as well as sharp, brown teeth along their margins.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe)

Native to South Africa, Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe) is a large and showy, evergreen succulent forming a dense rosette of blue-green, lance-shaped leaves, often flushed with rose, up to 3 ft. long (90 cm). Each leaf is adorned with dark brown spines along the edges and on the leaf surfaces, especially on the lower surface.

Hardiness	9 - 12
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	6' - 9' (180cm - 270cm)
Spread	3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)

Punica granatum (Pomegranate)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a vibrant superfruit prized for its juicy seeds, antioxidant-rich juice, and stunning ornamental value.

Hardiness	7 - 10
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	6' - 20' (180cm - 6.1m)
Spread	4' - 15' (120cm - 4.6m)

Cordyline australis 'Red Star' (Cabbage Tree)

Showy and vigorous, Cordyline australis ‘Red Star’ (Cabbage Palm) is a palm-like, sub-tropical tree with arching, sword-like, dark burgundy leaves. Adding drama year-round with its bold color and tropical look, this beautiful palm introduces substance to the garden.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	10' - 20' (3m - 6.1m)
Spread	5' - 10' (150cm - 3m)

x Chitalpa tashkentensis (Chitalpa)

Fast-growing, x Chitalpa tashkentensis (Chitalpa) is a small to medium-sized, deciduous tree adorned with a low, rounded, umbrella or vase shaped canopy of narrow, pointed, medium green leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm). From midsummer until early fall, ravishing conical panicles of 15-40 trumpet-shaped, pink to white flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm), bloom dramatically at the branch tips.

Hardiness	6 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	20' - 35' (6.1m - 10.7m)
Spread	20' - 35' (6.1m - 10.7m)

Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm)

Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) is a medium to large evergreen palm with a tree-like growth habit. It has a sturdy columnar trunk crowned by beautifully shaped, fan-like, waxy gray-green blades, up to 3-6 ft. long (90-180 cm).

Hardiness	8 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	40' - 60' (12.2m - 18.3m)
Spread	10' - 20' (3m - 6.1m)

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Agave Aloe Cordyline Punica (Pomegranate)

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Aloe arborescens (Torch Aloe)

Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm)

Agave victoriae-reginae (Queen Victoria Century Plant)

Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Aurea’ (Century Plant)

(c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.