Plant What Where: Creating a Resilient Mediterranean Garden for Victoria

February Plant of the Month. This instalment bends the rules, because building a resilient Mediterranean garden in Victoria takes more than just one hero! Think drought-tolerant classics, silver foliage, sculptural trees and tough Aussie natives working together to create climate-smart, beautiful landscapes. 

Warners Nurseries | 20 Feb 2026 | 5 min read

At Landscaping Victoria, we love shining a spotlight on the plants that quietly do the heavy lifting in our landscapes. 

The ones that build soil, support biodiversity, and earn their place well beyond good looks.

Our new Plant of the Month series does just that. Each month in 2026, we’ll feature a plant that plays a meaningful role in Victorian landscapes, with insights shared by industry experts who work with these species.

This month’s feature is proudly contributed by Warners Nurseries, sharing their expertise on creating resilient Mediterranean-inspired planting palettes perfectly suited to Victoria’s changing climate.

Creating a Resilient Mediterranean Garden for Victoria

As our summers continue to trend hotter and drier, designers and landscapers across Victoria are seeking planting palettes that deliver durability without sacrificing beauty. A Mediterranean garden offers exactly that: drought-hardy structure, silvery tones, fragrant foliage and sculptural forms: plants that evolved in sun-drenched, coastal climates strikingly similar to our own.

The result? A landscape that feels relaxed yet refined. Practical yet evocative. And importantly, climate-resilient.

These plants thrive where many other styles struggle, making Mediterranean-inspired landscaping a smart, forward-thinking choice for Victorian gardens.

But the modern Mediterranean garden doesn’t need to rely solely on European species. Many Australian natives share the same resilience and aesthetic qualities, making an Aussie Mediterranean planting approach an even stronger, climate-savvy design solution.

Designing a Mediterranean Planting Palette

A successful Mediterranean garden palette is built on:

• Texture and tonal contrast

• Evergreen structure

• Plants adapted to sun, wind and extended dry spells

Pairing classic Mediterranean selections with hardy Australian natives enhances resilience while expanding creative versatility, particularly for designers working across varied Victorian conditions.

Groundcovers That Work Hard

A Mediterranean planting scheme relies on dependable groundcovers to soften edges, spill over retaining walls and reduce heat-reflective surfaces.

Rosemary ‘Santa Barbara’

Not only beautiful, this trailing rosemary is also exceptionally drought-tolerant, aromatic and highly attractive to pollinators. It delivers aesthetics, ecological value and an authentic Mediterranean sensibility, ideal for contemporary Victorian landscapes seeking both form and function.

Small to Medium Shrubs for Structure and Contrast

Strong Mediterranean design depends on foliage contrast, silver against green, fine against bold, upright against spreading.

Three dependable performers currently looking outstanding include:

Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’

With striking variegated foliage and an elegant upright habit, ‘Silver Swan’ brings lightness to a planting scheme. Its pale green and cream tones pair beautifully with olives and cypresses, and it remains tidy year-round.

Lemonicious (Compact Lemon)

Glossy foliage, fragrant blossoms and vibrant fruit create an instant Mediterranean ambience, with the added appeal of edibility. Its compact growth makes it ideal for courtyards, designer containers and smaller urban gardens.

Helichrysum petiolare

While not strictly Mediterranean, its silver foliage, toughness and spreading habit complement the look perfectly. A reliable, ground-hugging shrub that softens pathways and reinforces a cohesive silver-green palette.

Aussie Natives That Strengthen the Mediterranean Look

Blending resilient Australian natives into a Mediterranean garden design creates landscapes that feel authentic while thriving in harsh Victorian conditions.

Westringia fruticosa ‘Jervis Gem’

A naturally coastal species with a compact form and soft grey foliage that echoes classic Mediterranean shrubs. Ideal for hedging, mass planting or clipped geometry.

Acacia ‘Sterling Silver’

A newer selection prized for its luminous silver foliage. Perfect for background planting or informal screening, reinforcing the Australian dimension of an Aussie Mediterranean garden.

Together, these natives enhance drought tolerance while giving Mediterranean-style landscapes a uniquely local resilience.

Statement Trees for Mediterranean Character

In Mediterranean garden design, form is everything. Trees anchor the composition, provide vertical drama and define outdoor rooms.

Warners Olive ‘Picholine’

Selected for strength and consistent shape, these olives offer an authentic Mediterranean silhouette. Their narrow grey-green foliage adds movement and texture, even in tight urban spaces.

Italian Stricta (Cupressus glauca)

Tall, slender and architectural, Italian cypress create unmistakable Mediterranean structure. Whether used as sentinels, avenue plantings or vertical accents, they deliver instant presence.

Punica granatum ‘Wonderful’ (Pomegranate)

A deciduous shrub or small tree with glossy green leaves that turn vibrant yellow in autumn. Bright orange-red trumpet flowers appear in late spring to early summer, followed by large fruit maturing into autumn, adding seasonal interest and edible appeal.

Arbutus unedo

An underused yet highly versatile feature tree or screening option. With year-round structure and textural bark, it has all the makings of a future hero tree for Melbourne landscapes.

Living Sculptures: Clipped Spheres and Feature Forms

Clipped forms bring balance and formality to Mediterranean gardens, contrasting beautifully with looser planting.

Laurus nobilis (Baby Bay Balls)

Available in 40cm and 70L feature forms, bay trees add a taste of Tuscany with glossy leaves and a naturally sculptural habit. Ideal for framing entrances or defining outdoor rooms.

Olive ‘Garden Harvest’

A compact variety producing abundant, well-balanced fruit. Excellent as a shaped specimen and highly productive for home growers.

Viburnum tinus

The quintessential clipped ball in Mediterranean gardens. Deep green leathery leaves, pink buds opening to white flowers through winter and spring, followed by metallic blue berries. Fragrant and attractive to birds and beneficial insects.

The Best of Both Worlds: Mediterranean Style, Australian Resilience

A truly successful Aussie Mediterranean garden blends the romance and structure of traditional Mediterranean landscapes with the toughness and adaptability of Australian natives.

For designers looking to specify smarter across varied planting conditions, the Plant What Where inspiration series by Warners Nurseries offers practical guidance and a curated range ready for specification.

Contributor: Warners Nurseries

At Warners Nurseries, Mediterranean classics and climate-resilient Australian natives are grown with purpose and selected for performance and long-term success in Victorian landscapes.

We’re proud to work with plants that deliver structure, beauty and resilience in even the toughest conditions.

Want to learn more?

Whether you're a landscaping professional or a garden lover, you can explore the full Plant What Where range by visiting the Warners Nurseries website.

👉 Visit: www.warnersnurseries.com.au