Content
- Mediterranean trees are not hardy
- Keep Mediterranean trees only in pot culture
- Suitable trees for the Mediterranean garden
- Instead of olive tree: willow-leaved pear
- Instead of the real laurel: laurel cherry
- Instead of lemon and orange tree: bitter orange
- Instead of cypresses: juniper or false cypress
- Tips
Mediterranean trees are usually not hardy
Mediterranean trees are not hardy
With a Mediterranean garden you get the holiday feeling of the summer home. However, the variety selection should be very carefully, because tree species from the Mediterranean regions are not hardy for us. Fortunately, however, there are species that can be planted as robust alternatives. Read how to make your garden Mediterranean and winter-proof.
Keep Mediterranean trees only in pot culture
Typical of the Mediterranean garden are trees such as lemon and orange tree, olive, pine and cypress. However, these species are not hardy for us and would not survive even light frosts outdoors. For this reason, you can cultivate these typical Mediterranean trees only in sufficiently large pots that are outside during the summer months and have to be cleared in winter in time for winter. Here, Mediterranean woody plants overwinter best in the bright Kalthaus, d. H. at temperatures of around five degrees Celsius.
Suitable trees for the Mediterranean garden
Those who find the constant influx and clearing of the Mediterranean trees too time-consuming or have no suitable place to spend the winter, instead use very similar but hardy trees on the Mediterranean shrubs. We have compiled a few examples here for you.
Instead of olive tree: willow-leaved pear
The willow-leaved pear stands out above all by its narrow lanceolate, on both sides silver-gray hairy and long-adherent leaves. The slow-growing tree develops into a tree that is up to nine meters tall, mostly short-stemmed, with horizontal to overhanging branches and greyish-white filamentous branches.
Instead of the real laurel: laurel cherry
The real laurel, whose leaves are used in the kitchen as a spice laurel, can in principle be cultivated in Germany. However, the plant is very sensitive, which is why the laurel cherry (also known as cherry laurel) can be used as a substitute. But beware: leaves and berries of this evergreen shrub are poisonous!
Instead of lemon and orange tree: bitter orange
As a substitute for lemon and orange trees, the trifoliate orange or bitter orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is suitable, at least in more sheltered areas. Young trees need winter protection, but with age they gain in frost hardiness.
Instead of cypresses: juniper or false cypress
Instead of the hardy cypress trees, you can plant columnar waxy juniper or false cypress species, such as the rocket juniper.
Tips
In addition to the trees mentioned are also the Judas tree, the boxwood and the black pine for a Mediterranean planting.