
Spanish lavender + cvs
Lavandula stoechas
Lavandula stoechas

Marina strawberry tree
Arbutus 'Marina'
Arbutus 'Marina'

Jerusalem sage
Phlomis fruticosa
Phlomis fruticosa

Green lavender cotton
Santolina rosmarinifolia
Santolina rosmarinifolia

Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Nepeta x faassenii

Pink muhly
Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist'
Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist'

Lion's tail
Leonotis leonurus
Leonotis leonurus

Rosemary + cvs
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosmarinus officinalis

Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Nepeta x faassenii

Mexican daisy
Erigeron karvinskianus
Erigeron karvinskianus

Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Nepeta x faassenii

Moonshine yarrow
Achillea 'Moonshine'
Achillea 'Moonshine'
Description
Its an easy-to-combine palette of a tree, shrubs, perennials, and grasses, that provides a wide range of colors and the wonderful smells of lavender, rosemary, and catmint. If you are looking for a classic European cottage garden, while keeping things low water, or want to incorporate low hedges and formal elements with pops of looser color, the Simple Mediterranean Garden is a choice to consider.
This plant palette is available as an option for the Waterwise Community Center's Landscape Design Assistance Program. Visit cbwcd.org/desgin for more details.
Plant List

Marina strawberry tree
Botanical Name: Arbutus 'Marina'Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 20 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.
Shrubs

Jerusalem sage
Botanical Name: Phlomis fruticosaPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Lion’s tail
Botanical Name: Leonotis leonurusPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 5 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Mexican bush sage + cvs
Botanical Name: Salvia leucanthaPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 6 ft.

Rosemary + cvs
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalisPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 12 ft.

Sweet lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula x heterophyllaPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.
Perennials

Catmint
Botanical Name: Nepeta x faasseniiPlant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 15 in. Width: 2 ft. - 4 ft.

Green lavender cotton
Botanical Name: Santolina rosmarinifoliaPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 3 ft.

Mexican daisy
Botanical Name: Erigeron karvinskianusPlant Type: Ground cover, Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 6 in. - 15 in. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Moonshine yarrow
Botanical Name: Achillea 'Moonshine'Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Spanish lavender + cvs
Botanical Name: Lavandula stoechasPlant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.
Grasses

Pink muhly
Botanical Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist'Plant Type: Grass
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 4 ft. (to 5' with flowers)
Horticultural Preferences
The plants in this palette are easy to care for and generally do not require any pruning more than once or twice per year, but it is important to do that at the right time of year for each plant. Refer to the “maintenance” entry for each individual plant.
Aesthetic Character
Moisture Needs
In most situations, recently installed plantings in their first year will want a deep watering of approximately one inch per week during dry weather, until they begin to become established, usually approximately one year after planting. Then, begin to increase the time between watering events, keeping an eye on how the plants are doing, until you reach your “established” irrigation schedule.
The chart shown below provides a baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth. Several winter months noted by an asterisk (*) indicate when rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. It is important to note that these plants can successfully grow within a range of supplemental moisture each month; the actual irrigation schedule should be adjusted to reflect specific soil, slope and exposure conditions to achieve best plant performance.
Irrigation Schedule and Graph
Low Water Use Plants
Irrigation Schedule 2
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runs per Month | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 1x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x |
Inches per Run | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" | 1" |
Inches per Month | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 1" to 2" | 0" to 2" | 0" to 2" |
Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
1"-2" |
0"-2" |
0"-2" |
|
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.