General Seeds L-M

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.

 

Lantana trifolia 4€/20seeds

Not your typical Lantana, this is an upright growing plant with very erect stems that I collected in Argentina, in fact I cut it back hard every winter for a fresh growth of stems that from late spring to autumn are topped with pink flowers that are followed by pink fruit that are clustered in elongated infrutescences and look like little jewels! They enjoy some water in the summer to perform well and as a subtropical plant they sprout easily from fresh seeds.

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Larrea cuneifolia  5€/10seeds

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Larrea nitida  5€/10seeds

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Larrea tridentata 3.50€/10seeds  

It doesn't get any tougher than the creoscote bush! Widespread in desert areas of the wester US states, it easy a beautiful shrub with leathery small leaves, yellow flowers in spring and loves heat and drought as no other. Slow to establish in the beginnig but then it can grow faster. 

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Lathyrus macropus  4€/10seeds

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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. 

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Lavandula canariensis, green leaves/dark purple flowers   4€/20seeds

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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.

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Leonotis leonurus 3€/20seeds

The classic lion's tail shrub, producing orange flowers in whorls during summer or autumn, according to the climate. Better with some summer water. Sow in spring.

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Leonotis menthifolia 4€/20seeds

A much smaller species than L.leonurus, with mint like leaves. Sow in spring.

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Lavatera nepetifolia 4€/20seeds

An annual giant species, with a few upright stems - pinch it to produce more in the early stages and orange flowers in whorls in autumn and winter. Can reach heights of 2 meters and more. Sow in spring.

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Leontice leontopetalum  5€/20seeds  SOLD OUT

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.

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Lepechinia calycina   5€/20seeds

A big shrubby species from California, that in late spring and early summer will produce copious amounts of white flowers that are just adored by bees. Fragrant sticky foliage.​

Drought tolerant when established. No special treatment for sowing, but that is better done in autumn in our Mediterranean climate.

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Lepechinia fragrans 4€/10seeds  

syn.Salvia fragrans

A drought tolerant shrub from California, with wonderfully aromatic foliage and pink foxglove flowers in spring. Best in a half shady position. Seeds germinate readily with no special treatment.

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Lepechinia hastata   4€/10seeds

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Leptodactylon pungens  4€/20seeds   SOLD OUT

The granite prickly phlox is a small shrub from western USA requiring sharp drainage and summer drought to perform well. Is is also very sensitive when kept in a pot in the first year of its life as it can easily rot so pay attention to soil mixture and watering. But when a mature plant is covered with white/pink flowers it is a sight to behold.

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Lessertia montana  5€/10seeds

A magnifiscent small shrub from South Africa with feathery leaves and many red flowers in spring. Very easy from seed with some hot water treatment in either autumn or spring.

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Lessingia leptoclada   4€/20seeds

An annual from the Sierra Nevada of California, with little lavender daisies in spring. Start in autmn.

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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.

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Linum rigidum 5€/20seeds

A US native flax, with multiple stems ending in yellow and orange flowers. Annual or short lived perennial.​

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Linum tenuifolium  4€/20seeds

A small species from the Balkans, with many wiry stems radiating from a central root at the end of which appear whitish pink flowers in the summer. Requires good drainage and due to its size it is best suited for the rock and crevice garden.

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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. 

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Lobelia tupa   3€/20seeds  SOLD OUT

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Lomandra insularis    7€/10seeds  SOLD OUT

In a genus of tufted perennials, this New Caledonian species differs in its shrubby upright form. Strap like leaves come in whorls in the terminal tufts together with branched inflorescences of fluffy white flowers. A very peculiar collecor's item and remember it won't ike frost.

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Lomelosia spp. - check under Scabiosa 

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Lophospermum erubescens 'Bridal Bouquet'    3€/20seeds

An easy, perennial, fast growing climber with a woody base and many Digitalis like white flowers for long time in late spring and summer. It can take some frost but is not very drought tolerant, requiring occasional summer waterings.

 

Lotus crassifolius ssp.otayensis  6€/10seeds

 

Lotus formossisimus  6€/20seeds

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. 

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Lupinus arboreus lavender form  4€/20seeds

The classic shrub lupin from California, in its lavender form. Beautiful silver foliage and drought tolerant once established. Start in autumn or spring.

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Lupinus arizonicus  5€/20seeds

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Lupinus caudatus   3.50€/20seeds

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Lupinus concinnus   4.50€/20seeds

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Lupinus densiflorus var.aureus   3.50€/20seeds

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Lupinus hirsutissimus   3.50€/20seeds

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Lupinus luteolus   4.50€/20seeds​

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Lupinus nanus  3.50€/20seeds

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Lupinus sparsiflorus   3.50€/20seeds

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​Lupinus succulentus 3€/20seeds
A tall, winter growing annual species from western USA, with beautiful spikes of purple/blue flowers in spring. Best sown in situ. It will gently self sow in the garden.

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Lupinus succulentus 'Rodeo Rose'  5€/20seeds

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Lupinus stivesii  5€/20seeds

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Lupinus texensis   3.50€/20seeds

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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.

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Lycium andersonii 4€/20seeds   SOLD OUT

Native to western USA and Mexico, this wiry stemmed shrub in the Solanaceae, is easily adapted to summerdry conditions in the Mediterranean. 

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Lycium exsertum 4€/20seeds

Similar to the above but with more thorny stems, this is commonly known as wolf berry in its native arid regions of western USA.  Extremely drought tolerant.

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Lysiloma thornberi  3.50€/10seeds

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.

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Lysimachia minoricensis  4€/20seeds

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Malacothamnus fasciculatus   3.50€/20seeds

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Malcolmia orsiniana 3.5€/20seeds   SOLD OUT

A Balkan native, this is a great small perennial for the rockery. Turns into a mat of purple in spring. 

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Malosma laurina 4.5€/20seeds

The laurel sumac from California is a beautiful evergreen shrub with big leaves that will make a great green backdrop in your Mediterranean border. Extremely drought tolerant and in late spring it produces clusters of pink flowers at the top of its stem.

 

 Malva unguiculata (Lavatera bryoniifolia)   3.50€/20seeds

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Manihot grahamii 8€/5seeds

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.

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Marrubium velutinum   4€/20seeds

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  SOLD OUT

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 longipetala ssp.bicornis  5€/20seeds

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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.

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Melampodium leucanthum 4€/20seeds  SOLD OUT

A tough small perennial from the Mountain states, this produces a copious amount of white flowers when water is available. Give it a few deep waterings in the middle of the summer to keep the flowers coming, otherwise it can be very drought tolerant when established. No pretreatment needed for germination. So in spring. 

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.

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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!

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Melinis nerviglumis 4€/20seeds

Even if you don't like ornamental grasses much, this will change your mind. From a blue fountain of fescue like foliage rise pink plumes in spring. Easy, tough, not very long lived but it will reseed itself. Commonly known as Ruby Grass. Sow in spring.

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Menodora scabra 3€/20seeds

An Arizona native, this upright subshrubby perennial will remind you more of a Linum than a member of the olive family to which it belongs. It loves heat and drought. Once it is done flowering give it a good shear back to produce new growth and flowers. An occasional deep watering will benefit and prolong the flowering period.  No pretreament needed, sow in spring

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Mentzelia decapetala 3€/20seeds

Treat this and the following species as a biennial or a short lived monocarpic perennial. Sow in spring and keep in pots for the first summer, then put it the ground. When the rosette develops into a good size, it explodes into a branching stem topped by oversized starry white flowers that attract moths.  Easy to germinate, once you sown them in autumn and let some cool moist conditions affect it.

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Mentzelia involucrata   4€/20seeds

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Mentzelia laevicaulis 5€/20seeds

One of the most beautiful species in this genus, with big yellow flowers that look like stars, hence the common name of smoothstem blazingstar.

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Mentzelia lindleyi   3.50€/30seeds

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Mentzelia multiflora 4€/20seeds SOLD OUT

Similar to M.decapetala in life cycle and sowing needs, but the flowers are yellow! Sow in autumn as well. 

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Meryta sinclairii   5€/10seeds

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Metrosideros excelsa yellow form  5€/20seeds

The well loved Pohutukawa from New Zealand, loved by Mediterranean climate gardens worldwide, but in its yellow form! Starting as a shrub but can turn into a magnifiscent multibranched tree in time. Suitable to most soils and situations, loves heat, just avoid extended periods of frost because it will damage its leaves or terminal growth and flowerbuds. Easy to germinated in spring as long as the seeds are kept moist and surface sown as they need light.

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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 benthamiana 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 this 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.

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Micromeria lachnophylla   4€/20seeds

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Micromeria pineolens 4.50€/20seeds

Another beautiful small Lamiaceae shrub from the Canary Islands, with more significant pink flowers compared to others in the genus (even though I find them all beautiful) and of course amazing scent (each of these canarian micromerias has a distinctive scent). Sow in autumn.

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Mimosa dysocarpa  5€/20seeds

I very much like Mimosa flowers, those fluffy pin pom poms, but most of them are tropical things not really suited for the dry garden. Guess again! This Texas native is a big sub shrubby perennial that turns into 4th of July when it flowers with hundreds of pink flowers. It is drought tolerant once established. Soak in near boiling water before sowing in spring.

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Mimulus bigelovii var.cuspidata   4€/20seeds

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Mimulus cardinalis (see Erythranthe cardinalis)

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Mimulus ringens   4€/30seeds

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Mimulus tricolor   4€/30seeds  SOLD OUT

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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  SOLD OUT

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.

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Mirabilis laevis var.crassifolia 4€/10seeds 

We're in a love and hate situation with Mirabilis jalapa, the four o clock plant, since I was a child. But I have realized that the genus included many more species, more refined and dainty and also suitable for the desert or dry garden. As this one, from California, that grows into a small cloud of pink flowers with multibranching stems radiating from a tuber underground. When it doesn't get enough water the plant will simply go to sleep underground. As with Mirabilis jalapa, equally easy from seed. 

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Mirabilis longiflora 3€/10seeds  

A very tall perennial with big leaves and very characteristic long tubed white flowers. Requires summer watering. 

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Mirabilis multiflora 4€/10seeds  SOLD OUT

A ground covering plant with trailing stems dressed in big shiny leaves and big purple flowers, this desert lover will quickly grow and flower when water is available and then dry up when it becomes scarse. So naturally, very drought tolerant. As will all Mirabilis, ridiculously easy from seed.

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Misopates orontium 3€/30seeds

A Mediterranean annual with upright stems and small pink snapdragon flowers in spring. Great for a meadow.

 

Mohavea confertiflora   5€/20seeds

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   SOLD OUT

A perennial Monarda with white flowers with a hing of purple and very aromatic leaves. Give it weekly watering in the summer to perform.

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Monarda fistulosa   3€/20seeds

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Monarda villosa subsp.franciscana 4€/20seeds   

A perennial, drought tolerant plant with purple flowers in early summer. Valueable for its late flowering and the show will be extended if given a bit of water. 

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Monardella odoratissima   3.50€/20seeds  SOLD OUT

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Monardella viminea  4€/20seeds  SOLD OUT

Monarda has very few members in the genus that we Mediterranean gardeners can grow (too much water, too much powdery mildew.. if you've grown them, you should know). Monardella on the other hand is exactly the opposite! Most, if not all, are very drought tolerant plants that resent too much water and grow happily in sunny or semi shady spots in the Mediterranean garden. On top of that, they have very aromatic foliage! This species, the willowy Monardella, named after its willow like leaves, from San Diego country in California, has light purple flowers and is a magnet for butterflies and bees when it flowers. Easy from seed, start this in spring.

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Montanoa grandiflora 4€/20seeds

A Mexican tree daisy, with upright stems and big leaves, getting to a height of 3 or more meters before it flowers with a myriad of white, orange centered daisies in late autumn and winter. Beautiful in leaf and flower but needing lots of water to look at its best. Scented leaves and chocolate scented flowers. A subtropical plant that should be sown in spring.

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Morina persica   3.50€/20seeds

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Muhlenbeckia astonii 5€/20seeds 

We successfully grow M.complexa in the Mediterranean, but there is more in that genus. This easy divaricating shrub grows fast and is adaptable to a variety of soils. Perfect from forming small hedges and topiary. The leaves are green but tiny, so it's the brown twigs that give it its interesting looks and colour. Germinates easily in spring without pretreatments.

 

Myosotis latifolia 5€/20seeds   

A peculiar annual or short lived perennial forget-me-not, endemic to the Canary Islands. Start in autumn. Requires semi shade.

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