In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Oleander [B][I](Nerium oleander)[/I][/B] grows very well in coastal areas and it whitstands tough conditions. The leaves are toxic, so careful with children and pets.
Bougainvillea [B][I](Bougainvillea magnifica traillii or Bougainvillea glabra)[/I][/B] does also very well and it is a climber.
Jasmine [B][I](Jasmine officinale "Grandiflorum") [/I][/B]is another idea for a climber and the scent is fabulous.
I would also go for lemon trees. Cumquats will liave hapily in a tub for many years, providing the position is sunny.
Coast Rosemary [B][I](Westringia Fruticosa)[/I][/B] should also do very well.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The limiting factor for me seems to be frosts in winter, despite the beautiful summers we have.
Keep an eye out for perennial members of the mesembryanthemum family eg Lampranthus as they are fairly hardy and can exist with hardly any water. As soon as the former owner of our house knew he had a sale he stopped watering everything and one of the survivors was a pineapple guava in a hole in the terrace - there's a tough one!
Agapanthus are great but I find they do better planted out and not in pots as in the UK. They like a restricted root run but do need feeding.
Lemon trees will work in your small holes for a tree -- they are remarkably tolerant of small space (and are grown in pots that come indoors in the North) -- unless you get days of below-freezing weather in winter. They bloom and bear fruit all year long, with buds, flowers & fruit on the tree all at the same time. Woody herbs like rosemary are drought tolerant (less watering needed), as are bulbs -- like agapanthus africanus, gorgeous dark green foliage with large tall flowers once or twice a year. Jasmine or roses for climbers should both do well, depending on full or partial sun.