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If
you're a keen gardener and are looking to, or have
already moved to Portugal then you will no doubt be
spending a great deal of time in the garden. However the
Portuguese climate can through even the best of
horticulturalists into a frenzy when it comes to
creating a lush garden with year round blooms.
In
Portugal it gets hot and many plants you may have wished
to transplant to your Portuguese home will no doubt not
survive in the serious summer heat. However to ensure
your Portuguese garden lush there are one or two
succulent plants I have found which provide excellent
ground coverage requiring minimal water. |
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Hottentot Fig
(Carpobrotus edulis) |
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The Hottentot Fig (Carpobrotus
edulis) was introduced to Europe from South Africa
and is ideally suited to warmer climes. The Hottentot
Fig is a sprawling plant which can create a dense carpet
of foliage and does well on poor shale-like or sandy
soil. The Hottentot Fig is abundant in Portugal and can
be found in both private gardens and on the edges of
cliffs and within sand dunes. Flowering between April
and July the Hottentot has either a bright cerise, mauve
or yellow flower. |
Baby Sun
Rose (Aptenia
Cordifolia)
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Aptenia Cordifolia
is a fast growing succulent which can provide excellent
ground cover for your garden quickly. Commonly called
the Baby Sun Rose, the Aptenia Cordifolia roots
easily from cuttings and grows well in drought-like
conditions.
The Aptenia Cordifolia
has bright green stems with glossy leaves. They produce
a magenta flower between April and August, though can go
on longer.
Atenia Cordifolia
tolerates sea spray and sandy conditions so ideal for
coastal gardens. It requires full sun and does not do
well with un-drained soil and can rot when over-watered
during the winter rainy season in Portugal.
The Aptenia Cordifolia
also has some medicinal purposes.
*See
Plants with Healing Properties. |
Dewflowers (Drosanthemum
speciosum)
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Another succulent which
provides year round greenery, and in spring and summer a
carpet of delicate cerise, pink lilac and white coloured
flowers.
Dewflowers (drosanthemum
speciosum) is native to South Africa, but has adapted
well to the Portuguese climate. Dewflowers are easy to
propogate and require minimal amounts of attention,
though dead heading mid June can mean a second flowering
late autumn. |
