General List E-O
Ebenus cretica 5€/20seeds
My garden plants have finally grown into flowering size and have produced seeds. One of the most beautiful Mediterranean shrubs, this shrubby legume from Crete is topped with bright pink flowers in spring, over shiny silver leaves. Takes about 3-4 years to flower from seed.
Echeandia texensis 4€/20seeds
Growing fast and flowering in its first year from seed, with daylily like foliage and tall stems of shooting star yellow flowers. And it gets even better! It flowers at the end of summer and autumn when most of your other perennials have past their glory! Needs summer water and a sunny or semi shady position.
Echinops graecus 5€/10seeds.
One of the spiniest of the genus in all its parts (leaves, stems and flowers) but what a sight when well grown and flowering profusely in the middle of the summer. Needs excellent drainage and is rather only suitable in a Mediterranean garden or it will easily rot.
Echium angustifolium 4€/20seeds.
The leaves and stems of this are covered with spiny hairs giving it a silvery appearance especially when backlit but that makes the perfect background for its bright red flowers. Enjoys a summer drought and can be short lived.
Echium fastuosum dark blue form 3.5€/20seeds
If you are frustrated from growing light colored forms of this popular plant, I offer seeds from a dark blue form – and that’s the only one I have,so your chances are good. Flowers from the second year with big fat flower spikes.
Echium onosmifolium 3.5€/20seeds
A Canarian species, forming a small shrub with green leaves with a greenish cast, and in spring covered in long inflorescences of white flowers.
Echium virescens 3.5€/20seeds
Similar to fastuosum but with flowers more towards pink instead of purple.
Echium wildprettii 4€/20seeds
An unfortettable sight when in flower, this monocarpic perennial from high elevations of Mt.Teide in Tenerife, takes Mediterranean conditions well. The huge spike of pink flowers is the most impressive sight in any garden it is grown.
Encelia farinosa 3€/20seeds
A desert shrub from Southwestern US with silver leaves and big yellow daisies. Very drought tolerant.
Ephedra californica 4€/20seeds
I kind of love all Ephedras for their plant forms , although it does take a few years to achieve that. This species from desert southwest US forms low shrubs that are spreading in time.
Ephedra foemina 4€/20seeds
This Mediterranean widespread species starts as a small shrub but can grow into big proportions especially if it manages to grasp onto a supporting surface or another woody plant. Very decorative pinkish red berries throughout winter into spring.
Erica arborea 3€/30seeds
A shrubby heather, that eventually grows into a big shrub, this will do well only when your soil is on the acid or basic side. Do not try it in alkaline soils. Gets covered in spring in white flowers.
Eriogonum arborescens 3.50€/20seeds
One of the giants in the genus, this big shrubby has a beautiful natural rounded form, grey leaves and big infloroescences of white flowers that turn to brown and are decorative over a long period.
Eriogonum fasciculatum 3€/20seeds
An easy shrub from California, covered in white flowers in late spring and summer that slowly change to brown as they age. Let it grow big or cut it back as soon as you like, it will take everything.
Eriogonum fasciculatum subsp.flavoviride 3.50€/20seeds
A bit more compact and upright compared to the one above, but they both are good summerdry garden plants.
Eriogonum giganteum 4€/20seeds
An excellent shrub for the summer dry garden, with silvery white rounded leaves and huge flowerheads of white to pink flowers that turn to an also decorative brown. Give it space, it’s not called giganteum for nothing!
Erodium gruinum 5€/20seeds
A small perennial from the Mediterranean but with relatively big purple flowers in spring. Looks great in a meadow composition.
Erysimum cephalonicum 3€/20seeds
Great for the rock garden, this tiny wallflower creates of mat of up to 20cm that turns golden in spring when in flower. A very well drained spot ensures longer life.
Erysimum rhodium 4€/20seeds
A species endemic to Rhodes, this forms small bushes that are covered in clear yellow blooms all spring long. Can very drought tolerant in well drained soils. Best replaced from seed or cuttings every 2-3 years. Grown alone to avoid crossing with other species/cultivars.
Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado' 3€/30seeds SOLD OUT
The classic California poppy but red instead of orange.
Felicia echinata purple/blue form 4€/20seeds
A small shrub from South Africa, perfectly adaptable to summer dry conditions as it won’t survive for long if watered throughout summer. It looks amazing even without the purple daisies, due to its wonderful foliage covering tightly each upright stem.
Felicia echinata white form 4€/20seeds
Same as the above but seeds taken from white flowered individuals.
Ferula communis 4€/20seeds
The ‘giant’ of the Mediterranean Apiaceae, and a valuable architectural plant, for its rich feathery foliage and 2-4m flowering stems that are attractive in flower or seed. It will take 3 years for the first flowers to form, but it flowers dependably almost every year after that. Give it a dry summer rest.
Ferulago nodosa 4€/20seeds.
a smaller version of the giant Ferula, this perennial Apiaceae has typical fat nodes along its flowering stem. Excellent in a summer dry garden and carrying very attractive seed as well.
Fibigia clypeolata 4€/20seeds
A small Brassicaceae perennial with upright stems terminating in bright golden flowers and followed by big flat seedpods later on. Very cold hardy, and can take drought.
Fibigia lunarioides 4€/20seeds
A small shrub rather than a perennial, this loves rock garden or crevice like conditions but is equally adjustable in a summer dry bed. Very early flowers in the middle of winter, when you mostly need it.
Fremontodendron californicum 4€/20seeds
One of the showiest members of the California chaparral, this eventually becomes a small tree ladden in spring with big golden flowers. If you want to grow it you have to restrict your summer watering to zero, as it can easily get fungal diseases and die, especially younger plants that are not established well.
Fumana thymifolia 3.5€/20seeds
A rockrose relative, forming small shrubs with heather like leaves that are covered in spring with small Helianthemum like yellow flowers. Loves heat and drought in the summer.
Gebionis segetum 3€/30seeds
A useful winter annual species for a meadow, with vivid yellow flowers in spring. Or you can boil the young shoots and eat them if you have too many!
Genista aetnensis 5€/20seeds SOLD OUT
One of the most beautiful brooms out there, Mt.Etna broom is a small tree turns into a waterfall of yellow flowers in spring. Enjoys summer drought but does well also in wetter conditions.
Geranium peloponnesiacum 4€/10seeds
A woodland perennial for half shade, but needing a relatively dry summer rest to stay alive for long. Big blue flowers above apple green palmate leaves.
Glaucium flavum 3€/30seeds
The yellow horned poppy that will produce its ephemeral flowers for a long period during spring and summer. Very drought tolerant.
Glaucium hybrids 3€/30seeds
As above, but this will be a mixture of hybrids between red and yellow species, resulting in all shades of colors in between. Self-seeds easily.
Globularia alypum 4€/30seeds
A classic Mediterranean shrub, this might not be the easiest thing to raise from seed (or cuttings) but the blue button like flowers in winter and spring make it most attractive in a summer dry garden.
Globularia salicina 4€/30seeds
Alright, this might not have the great flower impact that other Globularias have, as the small light purple flowers are too small and hidden between the foliage, but after 3 months of dry scorching heat it will have such fresh green foliage as it had forgotten itself in spring! From Macaronesia.
Globularia trichosantha 4€/30seeds
Amazing mat forming species with compact foliage that stays close to the ground and short stems that terminate in blue flowers. Amazingly drought tolerant.
Haplopappus glutinosus 3.5€/20seeds
When I first added this to the dry garden, I didn’t had high hopes, but it turned to be a really tough mat forming shrub that enjoys summer drought looking really good. It flowers in spring with yellow daisy like flowers.
Helichryshum stoechas 3€/20seeds SOLD OUT
Similar to the above but with green leaves and smaller flowers.
Helleborus argutifolius 4€/20seeds
A hellebore for a more Mediterranean climate, this beauty from Corsica and Sardinia will provide evergreen foliage and big lime green flowers in a semi shady spot. Limited, if any, summer water.
Hermannia coccocarpa 4€/20seeds
A south African curiosity, this Malvaceae member has trailing stems that produce for a long time small hanging pink flowers.
Heteromeles arbutifolia 3.50/20 seeds
A most useful shrub or small tree for the dry garden. It will look pleasant and fresh all summer long, with its Arbutus like leaves and upright stature, and in autumn and winter it will be covered with its decorative berries. Perfect for hedges as well.
Heuchera maxima 3.50€/30seeds
A drought tolerant Heuchera from California for dry shady situations (although it can take some sun as well), this is one of the giants in the genus with flowering stems rising to more than 50cm high.
Heuchera pulchella 4€/30seeds
A tiny gem for the rock garden, this running (just enough) perennial slowly creates small mats that send out short spikes of pink flowers. Drought tolerant.
Hibiscus trionum 3€/20seeds
Small lemon-yellow Hibiscus flowers with a dark center are born for a long time on this small species as long as it has a bit of summer water.
Huibodria chilensis 4€/20seeds
From the Atacama desert, this peculiar member of the Loasaceae, forms a small, short living shrub with very sticky leaves and white flowers.
Huibodria fruticosa 4€/20seeds
Much longer lived than the one above, this forms sturdy shrubs with upright stems covered in silver leaves which provide a great contrast for the white flowers.
Hymenoxys scaposa 3€/20seeds SOLD OUT
A beautiful small thing from western US, this has compact green foliage over which yellow daisies are born for a long time in spring and summer. Survives summer without water.
Hyoscyamus albus 3€/20seeds
A poisonous Mediterranean plant - well, don't try to eat it anyways - that has felty leaves and drooping yellow flowers in late spring and summer. Provide good drainage.
Hypericum balearicum 3.5€/20seeds
A small shrub from the Balearic Islands, with tiny golden edges leaves and many yellow flowers in spring. Keep it rounded by trimming. No summer water required.
Hypericum empetrifolium 4€/20seeds
A small shrub from the Mediterranean, with upright stems covered with thyme like leaves and short stems of intenste small yellow flowers in late spring. Very drought tolerant.
Hypericum montbretii 4€/20seeds
A beautiful perennial Balkan species with a central rootstock from which grow radiating unbranched stems and terminate in big yellow flowers. Quite an architectural plant. It does better with some summer water and is very cold tolerant.
Hypericum triquertifolium 4€/20seeds
Of the few Mediterranean plants that will keep on flowering all summer long without water, because of its underground tuber.
Iberis gibraltarica 3€/20seeds
A light purple/pink small Iberis that doesn’t live for years but it will reseed itself in all the right (and wrong) spots but you’ll have to resist to the idea of letting all the seedling survive.
Incarvillea arguta 3.5€/20seeds
A herbaceous perennial for a watered position with a long flowering season, I like to grow it as a companion plant for other plants as its stems like to radiate from its base into all different directions.
Inula verbascifolia 3€/20seeds
Attractive in leaf with its long hairy silver leaves with an added bonus of small yellow flowers in summer. Make sure you through a good bunch of gravel and rocks when you plant it in the garden as it needs sharp drainage.
Iris spp. - Have a look at the bulb list for all Iris species.
Jurinea consanguinea 4€/20seeds
Now here’s a genus that every single member is worth growing. From low feathered foliage rise 2ft high very upright stems that terminate in big thistle like purple flowers in late spring. Needs good drainage and it can be short lived so remember to gather those seeds.
Jurinea mollis 4€/20seeds
Similar to the above but bigger in all parts. Equally worth growing.
Justicia candicans 4€/20seeds
This well mannered upright bush behaves well in either dry conditions or with regular summer irrigation. Forms very upright branches and it can get quite tall so I pinch it back once or twice every summer to reduce the hight and make branch more. The flowering season here is mainly autumn and spring. Will do well in half shade too!
Lablab purpureus 3€/20seeds
Fast and easy climber to cover an ugly feature within ‘minutes’. Easy as an annual.
Lallemantia canescens 3€/20seeds
Small Lamiaceae member with pansy like leaves and purple flowers. Tough plant, great in gravel.
Lathyrus ochrus 4€/30seeds
Now I would not grow it in the flower garden, but a great local vegetable in Crete. You can eat the young shoots fresh as a salad or boil them and eat with olive oil and lemon. It is a winter growing annual.
Lavandula stoechas 3€/20seeds
The Spanish Lavender in its wild form, which I find the most attractive compared to all those other low and stunted florist varieties. Needs acid soils so don’t try it if you garden on the alkaline side.
Lavatera arborea 3€/20seeds
Very characteristic of seaside locations in the Mediterranean, this upright annual or short-lived perennial can become a giant if well fed and nourished. Attractive in leaf and flower.
Leontice leontopetalum 5€/20seeds
A Mediterranean Berberidaceae species. Slow growing, long lived but once mature it will reward you with its silver leaves, yellow flowers and big seedpods that are pink when fresh.
Limonium aff. binervosum 3€/20seeds SOLD OUT
Great for small scale groundcover or the gravel bed, this mat forming plant has attractive spathulate leaves that hug the ground from which rise 30cm tall flowering stems of purple flowers that turn into attractive silver seedheads. Tough and easy.
Linum arboreum 4€/20seeds
A small shrublet for dry conditions that turns yellow in spring from the abundance of flowers. I like the dry seed heads as well.
Linum leucanthum 4€/20seeds
Similar to the above but somewhat smaller and with pure white flowers.
Linum perenne 3€/20seeds
A long lived herbaceous perennial with a woody base. Many upright stems with tiny grey leaves and beautiful sky-blue flowers for a long time. Takes summer drought.
Lobelia polyphylla 5€/20seeds SOLD OUT
A perennial with a woody base, when I first saw that in Mediterranean Chile I was taken away. A multitude of upright stems topped with dozens of burgyndy flowers. It has proved easy to grow but very slow growing. Goes through drought by dropping all its leaves.
Lomelosia spp. - check under Scabiosa
Lunaria annua ´Alba Variegata´ 3€/20seeds
A different take on the classic honesty, this has white flowers and white edged leaves. Use it in the ´wild´ part of your garden as it will self-sow easily.
Lunaria annua ´Chedglow´ 3€/25seeds
Another honesty but with burgundy leaves and dark purple flowers. The burgundy effect will be more visible in colder climates instead of a Mediterranean one.
Lutzia cretica 4€/20seeds
A small xeric shrub native to Crete, very easy in a rock garden or in flat earth if the soil is well drained. Turns into gold when in flower in spring and then is decorated by round seedpods that stay attractive for a long time.
Lysimachia dubia 3.5€/20seeds
Somewhat similar to the more common Lysimachia atropurpurea but with upright inflorescences of pinkish purple flowers. A really attractive short-lived perennial.
Malcolmia orsiniana 3.5€/20seeds
A Balkan native, this is a great small perennial for the rockery. Turns into a mat of purple in spring.
Marrubium incanum 3.50€/20seeds
Marrubiums are a cool group of Mediterranean herbs, usually with great foliage effect in the winter before the flower show in spring. This one has striking silver leaves that are highlighted by the whorls of white flowers.
Marrubium supinum 3.50€/20seeds
Greenish grey felty leaves and multiwhorled stems of light purple flowers.
Marrubium vulgare 3.50€/20seeds
This is a laxer plant compared to all of the above, but the grey leaves are quite spectacular.
Matthiola fruticulosa ssp. fruticulosa. 3.50€/20seeds
How about a small shrubby stock with thin leaves and myriads of greenish or light purple flowers that can fill you garden with their scent at night for months on end? All of these on a xeric plant that requires no summer water!
Matthiola madeirensis 3.50€/20seeds
Like an old-fashioned single stock but with fewer leaf rosettes and bigger leaves. Peculiar and sweetly scented.
Maurandya barclayana 3.50€/20seeds SOLD OUT
A dainty climber that needs a wire mesh or a shrub to climb into, but when in flower in summer and autumn with its big purple flowers it is highly attractive.
Medicago arborea 4€/20seeds
Unlike other members of this genus containing mainly annual or perennial herbs, this forms big shrubs that flower in winter and spring with orange yellow flowers. It can go completely summer deciduous, to the point you could easily remove it thinking it is dead. If not, a real transformation with the first autumn rains will take place.
Melianthus comosus 3€/20seeds
A much more refined version than M.major, this has greener leaves and bears the flowers between them. Individual flowers are orange and black and as is common in the genus drip black nectar.
Melianthus major 3€/20seeds
Much bigger than the species above, with big cane like stems with feathery grey leaves and 1m long inflorescences of red flowers that drip black nectar (so plant in a spot where you or your paths won’t turn black). It can grow with or without summer water. Giveit space!
Michauxia campanuloides 3.50€/30seeds
A Campanula relative from Turkey and further east, this is a big biennial or monocarpic perennial but even bigger are its exquisite white flowers that fill the stems when it comes into flower. Takes drought but does also well with some summer water as long as the site is well drained.
Micromeria benthamii 4€/20seeds
The more ‘micromerous’ a Micromeria is, the more I love it! This species from the Canary Islands has tiny grey leaves and even tinier light pink flowers in summer. All in a 20-30cm high multi stemmed tiny shrub. You may need a magnifying glass but undeniably it is the cutest thing in my dry garden.
Micromeria fruticosa 4€/20seeds
A perennial herb from the Middle East, this is one of the main ingredients of zaatar, the spice commonly used there. But it is also an attractive plant for the dry garden with clouds of white flowers all summer long.
Micromeria helianthemifolia 4€/20seeds
I feel very happy to have found this little shrub from the Canary Islands, for its compact shrubby habit, pleasantly fragrant foliage, drought tolerance, and above all for its abundance of pink flowers in late spring and early summer, making it look like a small pink cloud.
Micromeria juliana 3€/20seeds
You’re going to love tiny shrub with, as its name in greek suggests, tiny parts be it tiny leaves, tiny flowers. Very elegant for a gravel area. Takes summer drought.
Minuartia juniperina 4€/20seeds
A Balkan native, suitable for the rock garden, this forms a tight mound of needle like flowers that gets covered with short stems of white flowers in spring. Requires good drainage.
Mirabilis californica 4€/10seeds
A winter dormant tuberous perennial, with trailing stems and purple pink flowers all summer long. Self-seeds easily in my gravel bed. Does best with some summer water.
Mirabilis longiflora 3€/10seeds
A very tall perennial with big leaves and very characteristic long tubed white flowers. Requires summer watering.
Mirabilis multiflora 4€/10seeds
A desert species from Southwest US, this develops a big rootstock and in time it can form big mats of grey leaves and pink flowers. Spectacular when well grown.
Misopates orontium 3€/30seeds
A Mediterranean annual with upright stems and small pink snapdragon flowers in spring. Great for a meadow.
Molucella laevis 3.5€/20seeds
Known as Bells of Ireland, this is a very different but easy summer annual in colder climates, or winter annual in a Mediterranean climate.
Molucella spinosa 4€/20seeds
If M.laevis is Bells of Ireland, then this should be called Bells of the Mediterranean. A relatively rare plant in nature, but easy to grow as a winter annual.
Monarda bradburiana 4€/20seeds
A perennial Monarda with white flowers with a hing of purple and very aromatic leaves. Give it weekly watering in the summer to perform.
Nemesia fruticans, wild form 3€/20seeds SOLD OUT
Much simpler and smaller than your typical hangingbasket Nemesias, but this one will live forever by reseeding itself regularly in your gravel garden and it blends perfectly in a more natural garden. Requires summer water and will flower pretty much all year long.
Nepeta amethystina 4€/20seeds SOLD OUT
A drought tolerant small Nepeta, with attractive leaves with serrated margins creating small mounds that are topped with short spikes of light blue flowers in spring. Very drought tolerant.
Nepeta argolica 4€/20seeds
This Greek native herbaceous perennial species gets its name from Argos, but it can be found in a wide range mainly in the southern part of the country. In time, its stems will reach 1m high and are covered with greyish scented leaves and spikes of white flowers speckled with pink dots.
Nepeta curviflora 4€/20seeds.
Tough, xeric, early flowering, this amazing nepeta has upright stems (in full sun) up to 2 meters high. My substitute for Perovskia in my tough climate.
Nepeta mussinii 3.50€/20seeds
This goes around but various names but it is an excellent low nepeta, suitable for groundcovering and with a weekly watering will look excellent even during prolonged droughts.
Nepeta nepetella ssp. aragonensis 4€/20seeds
I’ve only grown this for a year but I’m in love already. Shiny silver leaves and pure white flowers all summer long, aromatic foliage, but most importantly it will produce all of this without summer water.
Nepeta nuda 4€/20seeds
From higher altitudes in the Balkans, another herbaceous perennial Nepeta that flowers prolifically in summer with white to dark purple flowers.
Nepeta trachonitica 4€/20seeds
Very distinctive species from Spain, having few upright stems and fat spikes with magenta flowers. Even the seeds are extra fat.
Nepeta tuberosa 4€/20seeds SOLD OUT
An Iberian species and quite different looking from most Nepetas you've come across. Upright stems clothed in tight leaves and a terminal inflorescence with purple flowers.
Very striking. Will go into summer dormancy after it has finished flowering.
Nicotiana solanifolia 5€/20seeds
A big and bold perennial Nicotiana, obviously not very hardy as it grows in coastal situations in Chile but it should be ok in a Mediterranean climate. Big leaves and hanginginflorescences of green/yellow flowers.
Nicotiana sp. From Brazil 3.50€/100seeds
An annual or short-lived perennial that gets up to 1m high and flowers continuously summer and autumn with long tubed flowers loved by moths as they will stay open up until the first morning hours (or longer if it is a cloudy day)
Nigella damascena 3€/50seeds
The perfect addition for a Mediterranean meadow. A winter growing annual with blue flowers and the typical inflated seed pods.
Oenothera acaulis 4€/20seeds
A ground covering evening primrose with white flowers that turn pink with age. In a Mediterranean garden it will go completely dormant in summer.
Oenothera caespitosa 4€/20seeds
The desert evening primrose forms tight rosettes and big white flowers when it wakes up from its summer dormancy.
Oenothera macrocarpa 3.50€/20seeds
I’m usually not a fan of Oenothera as many are way too weedy for my taste but this one is special. I will form tight clumps from its fat roots and provides low green/grey foliage and huge lemon-yellow flowers all summer long. Do not overwater.
Onobrychis ebenoides 3.50€/20seeds
A small subshrub with grey leaves and orange/pinkish flowers in late spring. Good for the gravel garden.
Ononis natrix 3.50€/20seeds
A small spiny shrub with yellow flowers in summer, without needing summer water – few plants can claim that.
Onopordum illyricum 4€/10seeds
One of the giants in the thistle family, with huge cardoon like flowers on very upright stems. All parts of it are covered in spines.
Onosma fruticosa 4€/10seeds
A small subshrub with pendant yellow and orange flowers. I can live more only with sharp drainage and no summer water.
Onosma graecum 4€/10seeds
An annual species, which should be started in the fall to flower in spring. Spiny like most Onosmas.
Origanum acutidens 5€/20seeds
From Turkey, an Origanum in the O.dictamnus group, with glabrous leaves and big white bracts surrounding the flowers. For a well-drained spot, no summer water needed.
Origanum libanoticum 5€/20seeds SOLD OUT
Another on in the O.dictamnus group, with very peculiar downward pointing inflorescences, with a good pink color on the bracts. Very drought tolerant as well.
Origanum microphyllum 4€/20seeds
My favorite scent of all Origanum foliage, this tiny leaved beauty forms airy little shrublets with dangling purple flowers in the summer. In its homeland Crete, it is used as an infusion.
Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum 3.50€/20seeds SOLD OUT
Supposedly the best oregano for cooking (and Greek salads!) and I may be biased as a Greek but I agree. Grow it on the dry side with no added irrigation for the strongest of scents. Best collected and dried in full flower.
Orthrosanthus multiflorus 4€/20seeds
What a great plant this species is. Grassy looking leathery foliage that looks fresh year-round, but in spring it is totally transformed when the big true-blueflowers appear. It has done well in either summer dry or summer wet growing conditions! And it never requires any maintenance!
