Drought-resistant planting arrangements to emulate from a French expert in arid gardening
In the picturesque region of Montpellier, France, lies a unique and captivating garden that challenges the norms of traditional horticulture. Known as Le Jardin Sec, or The Dry Garden, this experimental space showcases a stunning combination of drought-tolerant plants, carefully curated by dry gardening expert Olivier Filippi.
The garden's design is characterised by a thoughtful planting combination that incorporates drought-tolerant species and a considerate approach to irrigation. The result is a vibrant and resilient garden that thrives in the Mediterranean climate, showcasing a rich palette of silver, green, and brown tones even during high summer when most flowers have faded.
One of the garden's standout features is the use of Phlomis bourgaei, which borders the garden and interlocks with allelopathic groundcovers such as Centaurea bella and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani. These groundcovers produce negatively allelopathic chemicals, suppressing weeds and contributing to the garden's low-maintenance appeal.
The combination also includes a diverse array of plants, including Pinus pinea, Cupressus sempervirens Stricta Group, Cistus x cyprius f. albiflorus, Euphorbia ceratocarpa, Phlomis longifolia, and Phlomis purpurea 'Torcal de Antequerra'. Each plant contributes unique textures and colours, creating a harmonious blend that offers visual interest throughout the seasons.
Coronilla minima, with its egg-yellow pea flowers, acts as a focal point amidst generous swathes of Euphorbia rigida. Phlomis purpurea 'Torcal de Antequerra' has rising silver stems that contrast well with the greens and yellows in the garden. Euphorbia rigida and Salvia interrupta x Salvia candelabrum contribute colour through their senescing flowerheads and purple verticals, respectively.
Lomelosia minoana, with its pincushion blooms, provides structure and textural contrast in the foreground, complementing the wiry flower stems and papery seedheads of Centaurea bella. Both Centaurea bella and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani produce pale-lilac cornflowers that rise above their mat of silver-green foliage, blurring into Tanacetum densum subsp. amani.
Olive trees and Italian cypresses act as anchor points in the garden, providing a sense of stability and permanence. Rivers of gravel flow between clipped mounds of aromatic shrubs, serving as visual pauses and necessary channels for flood water diversion during autumn storms.
Early May offers one of the richest flowering moments at Le Jardin Sec, with a variety of plants blooming simultaneously. By high summer, almost all the flowers in the garden will be gone, leaving a subtle palette of silver, green, and brown.
Le Jardin Sec is more than just a garden; it is a living testament to the beauty and resilience of Mediterranean plants, collected by the Filippis on their travels. The garden is developed to test these plants in a real-world setting, providing valuable insights into their suitability for various conditions.
For those seeking inspiration for their own dry gardens, a variety of drought-tolerant plants can be found in similar gardens. These include sedums, Russian sage, anthemis, salvias, santolina, osteospermum jucundum, nepeta, linaria, Santa Barbara daisies, Sonata White Cosmos, and firefly peach yarrow. Each of these plants offers unique textures, colours, and blooms, making them ideal for creating a beautiful and resilient garden in dry conditions.
- The vibrant and resilient Le Jardin Sec, located in Montpellier, France, showcases a lifestyle choice that embraces home-and-garden design focused on gardening drought-tolerant plants.
- The landscaped gardens of Le Jardin Sec feature a diverse assortment of plants, including flowers like Phlomis purpurea 'Torcal de Antequerra' and Euphorbia rigida, which contribute unique textures and colors throughout the seasons.
- In this unique garden, drought-tolerant species such as Pinus pinea and Centaurea bella are carefully combined with a considerate approach to irrigation, resulting in a stunning garden that remains vibrant in the Mediterranean climate even during high summer.
- By visiting gardens like Le Jardin Sec and incorporating plants such as sedums, Santa Barbara daisies, and firefly peach yarrow into their own home-and-garden designs, gardening enthusiasts can create beautiful and resilient gardens suitable for dry conditions.
