With a Mediterranean garden you can bring the holiday feeling of summer into your home. However, the selection of varieties should be done very carefully, because tree species from the regions around the Mediterranean are not hardy in our area. Fortunately, however, there are species that can be planted as robust alternatives. Read how you can make your garden Mediterranean and winter-proof at the same time.
Which Mediterranean trees are hardy?
Mediterranean trees that are considered hardy are the willow-leaved pear (Pyrus salicifolia) as an alternative to the olive tree, the laurel cherry (Prunus laurocerasus) instead of the true laurel, the bitter orange (Poncirus trifoliata) instead of lemon and orange trees and columnar juniper or false cypress varieties as replacements for cypresses.
Keep Mediterranean trees only in pot culture
Trees such as lemon and orange trees, olives, pine and cypress are typical for the Mediterranean garden. However, these species are not hardy here and would not survive even light frosts outdoors. For this reason, you can only cultivate these typically Mediterranean trees in sufficiently large pots, which are left outside during the summer months and must be moved to their winter quarters in time for winter. Mediterranean trees overwinter best in a bright, cold house, i.e. H. at temperatures of around five degrees Celsius.
Suitable trees for the Mediterranean garden
If the constant moving in and out of the Mediterranean trees is too time-consuming or if you don't have a suitable place for overwintering, plant very similar but hardy trees on the Mediterranean trees instead. We have put together a few examples for you here.
Instead of olive tree: willow-leaved pear
The willow-leaved pear is particularly striking because of its narrow, lanceolate, long-lasting, silver-grey hairy leaves on both sides. The slowly growing tree develops into a tree up to nine meters high, usually short-stemmed, with horizontal to overhanging branches and grey-white felty shoots.
Instead of the real laurel: laurel cherry
The real laurel, whose leaves are used in the kitchen as a spice laurel, can in principle also be cultivated in Germany. However, the plant is very sensitive, which is why cherry laurel (also known as cherry laurel) can be used as a substitute. But be careful: the leaves and berries of this evergreen shrub are poisonous!
Instead of lemon and orange trees: bitter orange
The three-leaved orange or bitter orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is suitable as a replacement for lemon and orange trees, at least in more sheltered locations. Young trees need winter protection, but as they get older they become more frost hardy.
Instead of cypresses: juniper or false cypresses
Instead of the cypresses that are not hardy here, you can plant columnar-growing juniper or false cypress varieties, for example the rocket juniper.
Tip
In addition to the trees mentioned, the Judas tree, the boxwood and the black pine are also suitable for Mediterranean planting.