Gardening expert names 5 things you can do to make your garden feel like the Mediterranean

Having just returned from a holiday in Cyprus, amid beautiful swaying palm trees and colourful Mediterranean plants at the Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel, it’s made me think about how we can all make that wonderful holiday feeling last by bringing it back into our plots at home.

So here are my tips if you want to introduce a magical Med feel in your garden.

Set the sunshine scene

Mediterranean plants are well-suited to growing in containers, making them perfect for patios, balconies, or even window ledges, bringing colourful plants just where you need them.

Using terracotta or earthenware pots helps by mimicking sun-baked gardens and landscapes. For colour, choose soft whites, creams, and terracotta tones for walls and fences and add some relaxing furniture. Elevate planting using window boxes and hanging baskets to lift colour to bland walls.

Fragrance can be added too, with jasmine and honeysuckle climbers. This creates layers of interest and makes the most of your space.

Add some scented herbs

No Mediterranean garden is complete without herbs. Mint is perfect for adding fresh ingredients to your summer drinks – particularly in homemade Mojitos and Pimm’s.

It thrives in pots (to limit its energetic spread) with regular watering to encourage plenty of fresh leaves to pick.
Rosemary is brilliant for lamb barbecues. You can use stems/branches as skewers for kebabs, integrating the fresh flavour throughout your meal, perfect for summer.

Grow basil for homemade pesto; keep it in the sunniest spot and pinch out any emerging flower tips. Thyme is another Mediterranean favourite, excellent for seasoning chicken or steak and tolerates drought once established. Most Mediterranean herbs are hardy but prefer dry soil and shelter in colder months.

Proud palms

No holiday garden can be complete without a palm tree such as Cordyline australis, adding instant impact with its bold, sword-shaped foliage.
Green varieties are fairly hardy here and can remain outside in mild areas with good drainage. Red and variegated types are more tender; keep them in containers and move to a sheltered spot or cool conservatory over winter.

Vivid colour from lantana

Lantana is a common plant in the Mediterranean, be it as hedging, edging or bold in a pot. It produces vibrant clusters of yellow, orange, and pink flowers, which change as they age (very favoured for butterflies).

Grow it in a container and treat it as an annual or bring it indoors over winter, as it won’t survive our frosts. It thrives in full sun and brings real holiday flair.

Agave drama

Agave’s spiky, architectural, exotic leaves look stunning in sun-baked pots. They demand full sun and excellent drainage. Grow in containers and move into frost-free areas before and during cold winters – many types won’t tolerate freezing temperatures.

Colourful companions

Add vibrancy with zinnia, canna lilies, and begonia semperflorens. Zinnias are grown as annuals, while cannas can be lifted and stored over winter.
Lovely begonias are really great for pots and borders too and they can be overwintered indoors.
So with the right plants and a few clever tips, you can enjoy that holiday feeling every time you step into your garden on a sunny day.

Find out more about Mediterranean plants for your garden at my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney

Whether you want some inspiration for a garden design refresh, planting suggestions for different soil types or aspects, or step-by-step growing guides, there’s plenty of expert advice available on daviddomoney.com where you can also sign up to my free monthly newsletter.

From seasonal planting combinations and container tips to how-to guides, both offer timely tips for making the most of your garden. You will also find access to my latest YouTube videos, including practical demonstrations, planting walkthroughs, and much more.

And don’t miss the regular prize draws too, from gardening tools to seasonal giveaways. If you head to my website now, you’ll find my latest prize draw – a luxury seven-night escape for two in the Asimina Suites, a stunning five-star hotel in Cyprus, complete with flights, breakfast, and a complimentary dinner. You’ll have to be quick though because entries close on June 30. Visit daviddomoney.com to find out more.

1. Deadhead flowering herbs like oregano, sage, and mint to prolong leafy growth and encourage more flavoursome foliage. Removing faded flowers also prevents self-seeding and keeps the plants looking tidy and productive.

2. Apply a gravel mulch around drought-tolerant plants such as lavender and rosemary. A layer of light-coloured gravel helps to retain moisture in the soil, reduce weed growth, and reflect sunlight onto the plant, ideal for recreating warm Mediterranean conditions.

3. Feed bay trees in containers every two weeks using a general-purpose liquid fertiliser. From mid-spring through to late summer, regular feeding promotes strong, healthy leaf growth. Water the soil before feeding to avoid burning the roots.

4. Check rosemary, thyme, and lavender regularly for rosemary beetles. These small, shiny pests are active during summer and can quickly defoliate your plants. Remove them by hand if spotted and look for larvae on leaf undersides.

5. Water potted olive and citrus trees deeply once every week or two. Allow the top few centimetres of compost to dry out between waterings to avoid waterlogging and support strong, deep root systems.

• Lavender has silvery, narrow leaves that reflect sunlight and reduce water loss, helping it thrive in hot, dry conditions. Its drought tolerance makes it ideal for gravel gardens and Mediterranean-style borders. The aromatic foliage also attracts pollinators and adds structure to sunny spots.

• Around 8% of all plant species in Cyprus are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else in the world. These include the Cyprus tulip (Tulipa cypria) and the Troodos rockcress (Arabis kennedyae). This high level of endemism gives the island a unique botanical identity and significant conservation value.

• Olive trees can live for over a thousand years and continue to produce fruit. Some specimens are thought to predate the Parthenon. Their gnarled trunks and evergreen leaves are famous across the Mediterranean and steeped in history. Watch me produce oil from my olive trees on my YouTube channel, @daviddomoney.

• The golden oak (Quercus alnifolia), Cyprus’ national tree, is an evergreen with glossy green leaves and golden undersides. It grows only in the Troodos Mountains and is legally protected due to its rarity.