The cultivation of lemon trees in terracotta pots is an ancient Tuscan tradition started by the Medici Family and since that period the parks and gardens of the Tuscan nobles’ villas cannot be without them. The climate here is not suitable for the cultivation of citrus fruit trees, which originate from India in large open spaces, so here it is necessary to construct walls to save the plants from the harsh winter. The building has wide openings with square glass to let the sunlight get into the building and the are doors large enough to move the big potted lemon trees.
The Lemon House
The Lemon Tree House
In order to maintain a comfortable temperature, wood burning stoves were used. In the summertime, these places, were quite often meeting points for a walk, and places of entertainment for the nobles and their guests. The presence of fountains refreshed the air and filled the space with the sound of gurgling water.
Centranthus ruber
- NAME: Centranthus ruber
- COMMON NAME: Red Valerian
- FAMILY: Valerianaceae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Dark pink/Red
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: May/September
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Full sun
- HARDINESS: 0°
- PROPAGATION: Sowing (not on rocky terrain)
- ORIGIN: Mediterranean
Centranthus ruber "Albus"
- NAME: Centranthus ruber
- COMMON NAME: White Valerian
- FAMILY: Valerianaceae
- FLOWER COLOUR: White
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: May/September
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Full sun
- HARDINESS: 0°
- PROPAGATION: Sowing (not on rocky terrain)
- ORIGIN: Mediterranean
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
Citrus aurantium
This kind of lemon tree was cultivated in Tuscany since the seventeenth century. It’s a plant of medium strength with deep green leaves.
The flowers of this tree are big and with an intense scent. The fruits are medium-sized, of orange colour, crossed and lightly pressed at the two sides
. For its abundance and its particular fruits, this is a very interesting tree for the ornamental perspective. The tree survives well in cold conditions, it’s not very vigorous and it has an upright habit, the foliage is dark green, and the leaves have a winged stem and the branches have got few thorns. This kind of tree blooms during a great part of the year, but the most important blossom is in springtime.
Citrus Lemon
The lemon is a sort of tree that reaches from 3 to 6 meters in height. The buds and petals are purple and white. The fruit is yellow outside and quite colourless inside. The skin may be very rough up to quite smooth with the inside spongy and white, which is called Albedo.
The lemon trees are usually grown up for production reasons, but they are very often grown as ornamental plants. The lemon tree with a mild climate, blooms and bears fruit, twice a year.
The blossom lasts at least two months and the ripe fruits remain on trees for about two months before being collected, this allows a systematic harvest. The lemon trees are grown up in every part of the world, in its several varieties. The differences are more remarkable in the external characteristics, while the inner part of the fruit remains the same for its food qualities and economical importance.
Citrus Reticulata
The tangerine is a shrub which is around 2 meters tall, that rarely reaches 4 meters in height.
The leaves are very small and intensely scented. The fruits have a spherical shape, slightly flattened at the joints and easy to harvest.
The flesh is pale orange, with cloves easy to split, juicy and sweet and with several seeds. The skin is full orange, thin and perfumed, with a thin and grainy albedo, that allows an easy peeling of this fruit.
Gaura Lindheimeri sp
- NAME: Gaura Lindheimeri SP
- COMMON NAME: Gaura
- FAMILY: Onaganaceae
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: June/September
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
- HARDINESS: -10°
- PROPAGATION: Sowing in spring, tufts division in winter
- ORIGIN: North America
VAR: Siskiyou Pink
- FLOWER COLOUR: Pink/Red
VAR: The Belleza
- FLOWER COLOUR: Antique pink
VAR: The Bridge
- FLOWER COLOUR: White
VAR: White
- FLOWER COLOUR: White
Helichrysum italicum
- NAME: Helichrysum italicum
- COMMON NAME: Strawflower
- FAMILY: Asteraceae / Compositae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow-brownish
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: June/September
- PLANT CATEGORY: Perennial
- EXPOSURE: Full sun
- HARDINESS: -15°
- PROPAGATION: Clump division, sowing in spring and herbaceous stem cuttings.
- ORIGIN: Italy
Nepeta x faassenii, N. mussinii
- NAME: Nepeta x faassenii = N. mussinii
- COMMON NAME: Catmint
- FAMILY: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Lavander/Light blue
- FOLIAGE: Deciduous
- BLOOMING TIME: June/September
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
- HARDINESS: -15°
- PROPAGATION: Division, cutting and seed
- ORIGIN: Europe and Asia
Perovskia abrotanoides
- NAME: Perovskia abrotanoides
- COMMON NAME: Russian sage
- FAMILY: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Bright blue
- FOLIAGE: Deciduous
- BLOOMING TIME: May/September
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Full sun
- HARDINESS: -10°
- PROPAGATION: Sowing in autumn or herbaceous cutting in spring
- ORIGIN: Iranian mountains, Turkmenistan and the Himalaya
Phlomis fruticosa
- NAME: Phlomis fruticosa
- COMMON NAME: Yellow salvione
- FAMILY: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: June/August
- PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
- EXPOSURE: Full sun
- HARDINESS: -5°
- PROPAGATION: Seed, cutting and division
- ORIGIN: Mediterranean
Pistacia lentiscus
- NAME: Pistacia lentiscus
- COMMON NAME: Mastic Tree
- FAMILY: Anacardiaceae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Emerald green
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: June/July
- PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
- EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
- HARDINESS: -15°
- PROPAGATION: Sowing in spring, semi-hardwood cuttings
- ORIGIN: Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Morocco, Greece and Portugal
Senecio Grey
- NAME: Senecio Grey
- COMMON NAME: Senecio
- FAMILY: Asteraceae/Compositae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Yellow
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: April/May
- PLANT CATEGORY: Shrub
- EXPOSURE: Full sun
- HARDINESS: -15°
- PROPAGATION: Cutting
- ORIGIN: Mediterranean
Senecio Cineraria Marittima
- NAME: Senecio Cineraria Marittima
- 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
Teucrium fruticans Azureum
- NAME: Teucrium Fruticans Azureum
- COMMON NAME: Teucrio
- FAMILY: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Blue
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: July/October
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Sun/half-shade
- HARDINESS: -5°
- PROPAGATION: Rhizome division,cutting and seeds
- ORIGIN: Mediterranean
Verbena bonariensis var. "Lollipop"
- NAME: Verbena bonariensis var. “Lollipop”
- COMMON NAME: Vervain
- FAMILY: Verbenaceae
- FLOWER COLOUR: Purple lavender
- FOLIAGE: Evergreen
- BLOOMING TIME: May/October
- PLANT CATEGORY: Herbaceous perennial
- EXPOSURE: Full Sun
- HARDINESS: -10°
- PROPAGATION: Seed and cuttings
- ORIGIN: Brasil and Argentina