my selection for a mediterranean garden would be:
(caution:I am greek and my perception of mediterannean plants is probably a little bit biased by what is grown in greece)

Jasmin and honeysuckle

grape vines, trained on a high horizontal trellis (I don't think I am explaining this correctly) to provide shade

bougainvilleas

citrus, pomegranate and olive trees

Basil (small leafed bushy basil used for rubbing your hands on, not for cooking)

Sunflowers (although difficult to fit in a garden)

Geraniums (especially red)

Laurel (as a hedge)

Hibiscus (I don't think that is really mediterranean but it fits well with the others, as does gardenia)

Of the above the ones I wouldn't do without are geraniums, citrus trees basil and bougainvilleas. Oh, and I'm sure I have forgotten many.

Katerina

PS: Agnes, the oleander you mentioned is a beautiful plant and definately mediterranean, but I remember those on the the street outside my house were completely covered (year after year after year) with what I know think was blackfly. It was so disgusting that it has put me off oleanders completely.
PS2: sorry I can't do the translation to french but my knowledge of french is very very limited.

I would include everything on Katerina's list and add Lavender and Rosemary (for some olfactory stimulation).

Katerina, I'm growing some sunflowers on container on a balcony ! See ? It can fit in a garden LOL.
I'll add : fig trees, portulacas and gazanias, prickle pear, red chili peppers and watermelons.
I wish I could train my grape vine on the pergola. But as I'm planning to dismantle it for Winter, red runner beans are the second best !
Agnes

Voici un lien qui appartient à ce message: To my balcony ...

Agnes I know you are growing sunflowers on your balcony, I saw the fotos and they are amazing. It is just that they never worked for me, and I have tried because I really really like them.
Are you sure you need to dismantle the grape vine for the winter? Some of them are hardy, I have seen them grown in the south of england.

Katerina

In fact, the grape vine will stay out, but the PERGOLA will go in ! We can have strong gusts here during Winter, and I don't want a neighbor hurt with something flying from my balcony.In case they may sue LOL.
Agnes

I would include Salvias, Urginea maritima (Sea Squill), Aloes, Alyssum and Capers

Hello Everyone,

Just came over from the California forum and am very excited to see you all here. Now I will have to read all of the posts and see what is happening. What is a Mediterranean Garden? Just about every thing that grows in our Northern California garden!

We all share a very small part of the gardening world and perhaps we can share some seeds and plants. Is anyone here a member of the Mediterranean Garden Society?

My name is Shirley, but I use sps for my email name. Looking forward to making some new gardenweb friends on this forum.
sps

I believe Myrtus communis to give a definite mediterranean touch to any garden.

I would also include Thymus, Viburnum tinus, Arbutus unedo, Lilium, Cistus, Pistacia lentiscus... and nobody said roses!!

For some quick fill-ins while you're waiting, how about phlomis spp? But be very strict with them, they can outgrow everything else

It's not just the plants, it's all the garden acroutements right? How about those beautiful terracota pots, stone steps, benches? the pergolas? The well maintained potted trees. It's a combination of all things mediterranean. I'm in Canada and how I wish I could visit the gardens of France, Italy, Spain, Morocco. Any others? Can anyone share websites we can check out.

Ianna

Alot of mediterranean climate plants from South Africa, Australia, California and Chile are already part of the "look" of a classic mediterranean garden, even in Europe. Geraniums and Pelargoniums, Strelitzia, Coleonema, many of the Aloes, bulbs such as Agapanthus, Freesias, Babianas, etc. all come from South Africa. Australia has given us many beautiful plants as well, from Callistemons and Melaleucas to Dianella, Grevilleas, etc. South America has contributed many plants that are actually subtropical, but thrive in warmer mediterranean climates, such as Bougainvillea, Jacaranda, Chorisia, Schinus molle, etc. California contributes many beautiful natives such as our Ceanothus, Arctostaphylos, Fremontodendron, Quercus agrifolia, Washingtonia filifera, Toyon, etc. The Canary Islands have also contributed many beautiful species such as Aeoniums and Sonchus.

I suppose the classic mediterranean landscape would feature only those plants native to the geographic Mediterranean basin, such as Olives, rosemary, lavenders, myrtle, phlomis and many of the others already mentioned. Certain non-native plants have insinuated themselves into the fabric to seem native, such as Bougainvillea and geraniums, and perhaps Jacaranda. My own idealized mediterranean landscape would include many more South African and Australian proteaceous plants such as Proteas, Leucadendrons, Leucospermums, Grevilleas, Isopogons, Banksias, and succulents from around the world, especially the Agaves, Echeverais and Sedums of Mexico. I also love gardening with new world species such as bromeliads,(Aechmeas, Billbergias, Neoregelias, Dyckias, Puyas, Vrieseas), and epiphytic cacti such as Rhipsalis, so many of which are perfectly adaptable to limited water gardens here in coastal California.`

A few plants I wouldn't be without include Protea 'Pink Ice', Grevillea 'Superb', Tabebuia chrysotricha, Chorisia speciosa, Otatea acuminata var aztectorum, Elegia capensis, Leucospermum cordifolium, Isopogon formosus, Senecio mandraliscae, Aeonium undulatum Echeveria imbricata and E. agavoides, and Achmea recurvata varieties.

Helllo
My selection for a portugueses mediterranean garden would be:
Bougainvillea
Hibiscus rosa sinensis
Pelargoniums
Geraniums
Laurus nobilis
Myrtus
Strelitzia
Roses
Nerium Oleander
Lonicera
Lantana
Citrus trees
Olives trees
Vitis vinifera
Phoenix canariensis
Pinus
Ipomea
Tagetes
Basil
Erica
Rosemary
Lavenders