• High altitude gardens
• Keep your plants healthy
• Longevity of Mediterranean plants
• Pests on Mediterranean Plants
• Plants in pots
• Stabilizing gardens on slopes

High altitude gardens

A few months ago we discussed the importance of chosing the correct types of plants for garden on steep slopes, plants that will stabilize and hold the soil. The topic this month is one of similar importance, the plants that we can use in gardens in high altitude areas. If you are living in such an area, you may have probably realized by now that there are some, more delicate plants that just will not survive, usually because of the three reasons, the exposure to the wind, the low temperatures in winter and the poor soils. However, it is very strange but you may think that high altitude plants will grow anywhere in high altitude places but there may be particular plants that you can grow in places like, for instance, Psada that you cannot grow in areas such as, say, Kathikas or Troodos. If in doubt the rule of thumb is to try to stand in your garden and if you see a view of the surrounding countryside try to study the types of trees and shrubs that are growing happily in the immediate vicinity. First of all you should see quite a few indigenous plants such as, Carob trees, Pistacia trees, or even Olive trees. If you can see these then you can probably be sure that a lot of more delicate plants will not survive in your garden. The indigenous plants are usually considered to be very hardy and can usually tolerate any type of climatic conditions and poor soils. The main reason for avoiding the more delicate plants is due, usually to the low temperatures in the winter months. The temperatures can drop considerably sometimes reaching to frosts or snow conditions. We are therefore limiting the type of plants that you can use that will tolerate these conditions, and, to be on the safe side, it is better to chose to use more hardy evergreen shrubs and trees, ones that will tolerate the cold. Here are a few that should do very well; one of my favourite evergreen trees is one that can be used for cooking, the pepper tree, sometimes in Cyprus called Artimathkia or the Latin is Schinus molle. It bears these lovely small red berries in August or September, which when dried can be crushed and used in your pepper mills. Also the leaves of the pepper tree can be crushed in your hand and rubbed on your skin to prevent the mosquitoes, (what a tree!). The other great advantage of this tree is that it has lovely pendula branches so once it matures it looks a little like the shape of the weeping willow. Another evergreen tree that is ideal for high altitude conditions is the tall Cyprus conifer or Italian conifer, Cupressus sempervirens. If you have ever been to Italy you will have seen these dotted around the countryside, they are extremely dominant, with their tall, pencil-thin evergreen foliage, and placed accurately in a garden design, they can really give you a perfect architectural display. Staying on the theme of conifers, there are quite a few selections of lovely dwarf conifers that are perfect for high altitude gardens such as the lovely spreading Juniperus horizontalis with its grey/blue foliage and Pinus Mugo nana, its bold needle-type leaves are perfect for a dominant splash of green foliage. Also try Thuja aurea nana and Juniperus stricta mixed with a lovely selection of dwarf and tall grasses such as Festuca glauca, Ophiopogon, Bambusa nana aurea, Miscanthus zebrinus, Penesetum rubra and Cyperus alternifolius and other Cyperus species, all will give a perfect permanent bold evergreen colour, even in the dullest of winter months. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize that these high altitude gardens still need to have some colour in order to contrast and brighten up those more stable evergreen plants. Lavenders are perfect because they are very hardy plants but they continue to flower month after month. There are now quite a few different varieties of lavenders that are ideal because each variety will flower at different times of the year. London Road supermarket, (paphos garden centre), always have a good selection of lavenders, they also supply a lovely climber called Sandevilla, it is in the same family as the Mandevilla with its large leaves but it has lovely smaller glossy evergreen leaves and a very strong trumpet bright-red flowers. Another climber that will do well in high altitudes is the Pandorea, it also has smaller trumpet shaped pale pink/mauve flowers but it is very strong and will grow in poor soils and cold exposed conditions. Last but not least, try planting an evergreen shrub called Decomaria, it will survive in high altitude areas because it is a hardy evergreen shrub, one that can be used to disguise a wall as it can be classed as semi climber, you cannot mistake this plant with its dark glossy green leaves and a vibrant orange/red, pea or trumpet shaped flower. More on high altitude fruit trees next month.