Hi Treeza
At first it looks a very difficult place to try and grow plants, but if you try the right species, it can be very rewarding. I know the Zambujeira area quite well, which has a similar climate to the area your garden is, and there is a lot of plants you can try. If you are going there only on holiday, I would advise you to use the most drought resistant types. I can send you a list if you wish.

Hi Joaohilario
Thanks for your reply
I would like if you could send me your plant list
Regards
Treeza

Treeza

My first concern in a location such as you describe, would be to install some sort of irrigation. I find it very difficult to establish plants in our climate without an irrigation system. A drip system or irrigation hoses on a timer are not very costly and will make all the difference in the world if you want to establish a garden in Portugal. These can also be programmed to work even if you´re away, maybe with an occasional visit from a friendly neighbour to check if it´s still running.

Then I would work to improve the soil. Start a compost pile and use the product to improve the soil. Being so close to the beach you can also use seaweed, but compost it first and don´t just lay it in the garden.

The orientation of the garden is very important too. As far as I can understand, the prevailing winds in Alzejur will be from West during Winter and North during Summer. The west ones will be the most difficult ones to handle, since ocean gales and salt spray will come from that side.

On the west side of your garden, assuming you´ll have one, you will need to plant things which resist the wind and salt spray the best. You should consider some sort of wind break, maybe a short brick or stone wall, and plant on the *east* side of that wall. That should provide the plants with some protection and get them started.

You may wish to try things like rugosa roses, lavenders, rosemary, santolina, escallonia, pyracantha, oleander, bottle bush, hibiscus, some ornamental grasses, sea holly, tamarisk and several types of pines, which should be able to grow in the conditions you describe.

I would also like to see joaohilario´s list. Can you please post it here for the benefit of others as well? Thank you.

Last, but not least, the best time to plant a garden in Portugal is Autumn, and not Spring. If you plant in Autumn, the plants will take advantage of the Winter rains to develop a good root system, whereas if you plant them in Spring they get hit by the scorching heat of Summer soon afterwards and have trouble resisting.

Eduarda

Hi Eduarda
Thank you so much for your very valuable advice
I will try to do what you say and get things started
Best Wishes
Treeza

Preparing the soil and planting in Autumn, as Eduarda says, is the best possible start you can give to your plants. The following list features plants that when established will need only occasional deep watering, otherwise they will fend for themselves or cope with the winter rains. I use some of them on my designs, not only for their environmental adaptations, but also because of their aesthetic value:

Trees

Albizia julibrissin
Alnus cordata
Araucaria heterophylla
Arbutus unedo
Brachychiton acerifolius
Brahea armata
Butia capitata
Castanea sativa
Ceratonia siliqua
Cercis siliquastrum
Chorisia insignis
Chorisia speciosa
Chamaerops humilis
Cupressus arizonica
Dracaena draco
Eriobotrya japonica
Euphorbia tirucalii
Eucalyptus filicifolia
Fraxinus angustifolia
Ginkgo biloba
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Juniperus oxycedrus
Laurus nobilis
Myoporum laetum
Olea europaea
Populus alba
Pinus aristata
Pinus halepensis
Pinus pinaster
Pinus pinea
Pistacia atlantica
Phoenix canariensis
Prunus dulcis
Punica granatum
Quercus canariensis
Quercus ilex
Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia
Quercus suber
Trithrinax campestris
Washingtonia filifera
Washingtonia robusta
Yucca filifera

Shrubs

Agave attenuata
Ballota pseudodictamnus
Banksia integrifolia
Buxus balearica
Callistemon viminalis and cultivars
Ceanothus spp. and cultivars
Cistus spp. and cultivars
Choisya ternata 'Aztec Pearl'
Convolvus cneorum
Dasylirion quadrangulatum
Echium candicans
Echium nervosum
Elaeagnus angustifolia 'Quicksilver'
Erica arborea
Euphorbia canariensis
Euphorbia charachias
Euphorbia mellifera
Helichrysum italicum
Helichrysum stoechas
Hesperaloe parviflora
Lavandula angustifolia and cultivars
Lavandula buchii var buchii
Lavandula dentata candicans
Lavandula lanata
Lavandula latifolia
Lavandula multifida
Lavandula pinnata
Lavandula rotundifolia
Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset'
Leucadendron salignum 'Fireglow'
Leptospermum scoparium
Mahinot palmata
Melaleuca uncinata
Myoporum tenuifolium
Myrtus communis
Nerium oleander
Nolina nelsonii
Pelargonium 'Graveolens'
Phygelus x capensis and cultivars
Phormium spp. and cultivars
Pinus mugo 'Mops'
Pistacia lentiscus
Pittosporum tobira
Protea caffra
Protea cynaroides
Protea grandiceps
Protea laurifolia
Protea repens
Protea venusta
Quercus coccifera
Rhamnus alaternus
Rosmarinus officinalis and cultivars
Salvia canariensis
Salvia gregii
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Santolina pinnata neopolitana
Santolina rosmarinifolia
Tecoma stans
Teucrium x lucidrys
Teucrium fruticans
Thymus vulgaris
Ugni molinae
Viburnum tinus
Yucca rostrata

I'll post bulbs, herbaceous, grasses and allies tomorrow. More plants could be add to the list. Please feel free to do so.

Joaohilario Hi
That is a formidible list of plants! There must be something in there for everybody
By the way, what do u think would be the best grass for my garden,(just the front) I've had different ideas, sowing seed or laying turf and 'Bermuda'grass was mentioned
Best wishes
Theresa

hi, a few others I would like to add and dont think I saw on the list, are pomegranate tree (the hotter the better as far as theyre concerned), diosmas, strelitzia and bougainvillias :)

trance