The Garden of Grey Plants

We have selected various grey plants for our garden where dryness is not a limit but an extraordinary possibility. The level of rain water is very low and in a Mediterranean garden, the enemy is not the lack of water, but it is summer watering that leads to the death of these plants. When taking care of a dry garden the first thing to do is to look and appreciate the plants that surround us in nature, they are an inexhaustible source for our garden, the Mediterranean flora is quite rich in species and it cannot be compared to other parts of the world!

While having a walk along the small roads in the countryside, along the paths of the southern regions, or along the sea cliffs if we pay attention to the flora around us, we will be overwhelmed by the many shapes, colours and fragrances of the plants. They come from various regions of the world, where the characteristics of the weather can be defined as “Mediterranean”, not only in Italy and in the Mediterranean basin, but in southern Europe, South Africa, Chile, California, Australia and New Zealand.

Achillea filipendulina "Coronation Gold"

NAME: Achillea filipendulina “Coronation Gold”
COMMON NAME: Achillea
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Golden yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: July/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Sowing or division
ORIGIN: Caucasus and Asia

ACHILLEA Millefolium "Cerise Queen"

NAME: ACHILLEA Millefolium “Cerise Queen”
COMMON NAME: Achillea
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: White with red ligule
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Sowing or division
ORIGIN: Europe and Asia

Achillea umbellata

NAME: Achillea filipendulina “Coronation Gold”
COMMON NAME: Achillea
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Golden yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: July/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Sowing or division
ORIGIN: Caucasus and Asia

Achillea x kellereri

NAME: Achillea x kellereri
COMMON NAME: Achillea
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/August
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Sowing or division in march
ORIGIN: California

Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis

NAME: Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis
COMMON NAME: Blue amaryllis
FAMILY: Alliaceae/Liliaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Blue
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Tufts division in winter and spring
ORIGIN: South Africa

Alchemilla mollis

NAME: Alchemilla mollis
COMMON NAME: Erba stella – “Star” grass
FAMILY: Rosaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Greenish yellow
FOLIAGE: Deciduous
BLOOMING TIME: June/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Seed
ORIGIN: Europe and tropical African mountains

Allium giganteum

NAME: Allium giganteum
COMMON NAME: Ornamental garlic
FAMILY: Alliaceae/Liliaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Pink/Lilac
FOLIAGE: Deciduous
BLOOMING TIME: July/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -10°
PROPAGATION: Seed and division
ORIGIN: Central Asia

Alyssum Saxatile

NAME: Alyssum Saxatile
COMMON NAME: Alisso
FAMILY: Cruciferae/Brassicaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: April/May
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed, division and cutting
ORIGIN: Prealps, Central Europe, the Balkans, Galicia, Russia and Asia Minor

Arbutus unedo

NAME: Arbutus unedo
COMMON NAME: Arbutus
FAMILY: Ericaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: September/December
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -10°
PROPAGATION: Basal cutting, grafting and seed
ORIGIN: Europe, Asia, North Africa, North and Central America and Canary Islands

Artemisia absinthium

NAME: Artemisia absinthium
COMMON NAME: Wormwood
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Seed
ORIGIN: Europe, Asia, North Africa

Artemisia abrotanum

NAME: Artemisia abrotanum
COMMON NAME: Aromatic absinthe
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Herbaceous cutting in autumn or in spring
ORIGIN: Mediterranean

Artemisia arborescens

NAME: Artemisia arborescens
COMMON NAME: Silver sage
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Cutting in summer or division in spring
ORIGIN: Europe

Artemisia ludoviciana

NAME: Artemisia ludoviciana
COMMON NAME: Louisiana absinthe
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Seed or cutting
ORIGIN: North America

Artemisia "Powis castle"

NAME: ARTEMISIA “Powis Castle”
COMMON NAME: Silver sage
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Summer cutting or division in spring
ORIGIN: Europe

Artemisia schmidtiana

NAME: Artemisia schmidtiana
COMMON NAME: Silver mound, nana
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Herbaceous cutting in spring
ORIGIN: Asia and Japan

Artemisia stelleriana

NAME: Artemisia Stelleriana
COMMON NAME: Jerusalem sage
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: August/November
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Herbaceous cutting in spring
ORIGIN: Asia

Atriplex halimus

NAME: Atriplex halimus
COMMON NAME: Alimo, Malocchio
FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: July/August
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Herbaceous perennial in spring or sowing
ORIGIN: Europe and Mediterranean

Ballota acetabulosa pseudodictamnus

NAME: Ballota acetabulosa pseudodictamnus
COMMON NAME: Cimiciotta, Lumino greco
FAMILY: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -10°
PROPAGATION: Cutting in summer
ORIGIN: Europe

Calamintha nepeta

NAME: Calamintha nepeta
COMMON NAME: Mentuccia, Nepetella
FAMILY: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
FLOWER COLOUR: Mauve/Pink
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/Octover
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Sowing in spring
ORIGIN: Europe and Asia

Cerastium tomentosum

NAME: Cerastium tomentosum
COMMON NAME: Cerastio, Peverina
FAMILY: Caryophyllaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/June
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perenne
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Seed, division and cutting
ORIGIN: Europe and America

Choisya x "Aztec Pearl"

NAME: Choisya x “Aztec Pearl”
COMMON NAME: Mexican orange tree
FAMILY: Rutaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -10°
PROPAGATION: Cutting in summer
ORIGIN: Texas, Mexico and Arizona

Cistus x Purpureus

NAME: Cistus x Purpureus
COMMON NAME: Cistus
FAMILY: Cistaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Purple red
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/August
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed and Cutting
ORIGIN: Mediterranean

Convolvulus cneorum

NAME: Convolvulus cneorum
COMMON NAME: Turkish Vilucchio
FAMILY: Convolvulaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: September
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed and cutting
ORIGIN: Italy

Convolvulus sabatius "Mauritanicus"

NAME: Convolvulus sabatius “Mauritanicus”
COMMON NAME: Fel of the “Riviera”
FAMILY: Convolvulaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Blue
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/September
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed and cutting
ORIGIN: Mediterranean

Eremophila nivea

Silky eremophila

Eremophila nivea (Myoporaceae/Scrophulariaceae)

Australia

Upright, evergreen shrub with silvery, silky-velvety branches and leaves, soft to the touch. It has violet flowers that bloom several times between March and September, it loves dry soil and full sun, sheltered from the cold but with plenty of air. It is sensitive to low temperatures and should therefore be grown in vases.

Erigeron karvinskianus

NAME: Erigeron karvinskianus
COMMON NAME: Daisy of the walls
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: White/Pink/Purple
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: July/August
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -10°
PROPAGATION: Seed in autumn and tufts division in autumn or spring
ORIGIN: Central America

Euphorbia amygdaloides "Purpurea"

NAME: Euphorbia amygdaloides “Purpurea”
COMMON NAME: Purple wood spurge
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow/Green
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Seed, basal cutting and division
ORIGIN: Europe, Africa, Asia and America

Euphorbia characias subsp. "Wulfenii"

NAME: Euphorbia characias subsp. “Wulfenii”
COMMON NAME: Bushy spurge, Mediterranean spurge
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Greenish yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed, cutting and division
ORIGIN: Western Mediterranean

Euphorbia cipariensis

NAME: Euphorbia cyparissias
COMMON NAME: Cypress spurge
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow/Green
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full Sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed, cutting and division
ORIGIN: Europe

Euphorbia cyparissias

NAME: Euphorbia cyparissias
COMMON NAME: Cypress spurge
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow/Green
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full Sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed, cutting and division
ORIGIN: Europe

Euphorbia Epithymoides

NAME: Euphorbia Epithymoides
COMMON NAME: Cineraria
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: April/May
PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
EXPOSURE: Full Sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: cutting
ORIGIN: Mediterranean

Euphorbia myrsinites

NAME: Euphorbia myrsinites
COMMON NAME: Euphorbia mirsinite, Blue spurge
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow/Green
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -15°
PROPAGATION: Seed, cutting and division
ORIGIN: Europe

Euphorbia polychroma

NAME: Euphorbia polychroma
COMMON NAME: Pillow spurgeì
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow/Green
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: May/July
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed, cutting and division
ORIGIN: Europe

Evolvulus convolvuloides

NAME: Evolvulus convolvuloides
COMMON NAME: Convolvolo
FAMILY: Convolvulaceae
FLOWER COLOUR: Azure/blue
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: June/August
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Full sun
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Seed
ORIGIN: South America

Farfugium Baldschuanica

NAME: Farfugium Baldschuanica
COMMON NAME: “Leopard” plant
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: September/January
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Tufts division
ORIGIN: Japan

Farfugium japonicum

NAME: Farfugium japonicum
COMMON NAME: “Leopard” plant
FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
BLOOMING TIME: September/January
PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
HARDINESS: -5°
PROPAGATION: Tufts division in late winter/spring
ORIGIN: Japan

Continues in the next page

The Garden of Grey Plants