10 Best Plants for a Mediterranean Landscape Design in Arizona

10 Best Plants for a Mediterranean Landscape Design in Arizona

When it comes to creating a Mediterranean landscape design in Arizona, finding the right plants is key. The climate in Arizona is hot and dry, with long, hot summers and mild winters. This means the plants native to the Mediterranean region are often an excellent choice in Arizona, as they are adapted to similar conditions.

Here are ten of the best plants for a Mediterranean landscape design in Arizona:

1. Swan Hill Olive Tree

The olive tree is an iconic symbol of the Mediterranean region, and the Swan Hill variety is a superb choice for Arizona. It is a fruitless tree, so you won't have to worry about messy fruit dropping, and its silvery-green leaves and gnarled trunk make it a beautiful focal point in any landscape.

2. Chaste Monk Pepper Tree

This tree is another great choice for a Mediterranean landscape design in Arizona. It has a graceful, weeping form and small, fragrant flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. It is also drought-tolerant and can handle the hot Arizona summers.

3. Rosemary

Rosemary is a classic Mediterranean herb well-suited to Arizona's climate. The Tuscan variety is a shrub that can grow up to four feet tall and wide, while the trailing variety is an excellent groundcover that can be used to fill in gaps in your landscape.

4. Bougainvillea “La Jolla”

Bougainvillea is a stunning, colorful plant that is a great choice for a Mediterranean landscape design in Arizona. The “La Jolla” variety has vibrant pink flowers and can be trained to climb up walls or trellises.

5. Little John Callistemon

This shrub is known for its striking, bright red flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. It is drought-tolerant and can handle the heat of an Arizona summer.

6. Natal Plum

This shrub is native to South Africa but is well-suited to a Mediterranean landscape design in Arizona. It has glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. It also produces an edible fruit that is high in Vitamin C.

7. Heavenly Bamboo

Despite its somewhat misleading name, this plant is actually a type of shrub. It has bright green leaves and clusters of small, white flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. It is also drought-tolerant and can handle the heat of an Arizona summer.

8. Pink Bower Vine

This vine is known for its delicate, pink flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. It can be trained to climb up walls or trellises, like Bougainvillea, and is a great way to add a pop of color to your landscape.

9. Purple Fountain Grass

This ornamental grass has long, thin leaves that are a deep purple. The grass adds texture and movement to your landscape, and its purple color complements the other plants on this list.

10. Gaura Whirling Butterflies

This plant is known for its delicate, white flowers that dance on slender stems in the breeze, hence the relation to butterflies. It is a great filler plant and can be used to add height and movement to your landscape.

If you’d like to see our full collection of plants that are ideal for your landscape design, visit our plant library.

Beautify Your Arizona Landscape Design with These Stunning Mediterranean Plants

When designing a Mediterranean landscape in Arizona, it's essential to choose the right plants that will adapted to the hot and dry climate and provide a dash of color, a unique look, and create an oasis that makes you want to spend more time at home.

If you would like some help designing a Mediterranean landscape on your Arizona property, our team at Wildflower Desert Design would be happy to help. Give us a call today for a free consultation.