Mediterranean Garden Design in Arizona - Desert-Adapted Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

Choose the most drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants: lavender, rosemary, santolina, Jerusalem sage, and Mediterranean herbs that thrive on minimal water. Combine with desert-adapted succulents like agave and prickly pear for a Mediterranean-Southwest fusion. Group plants by water needs in hydrozones.

Feature extensive decomposed granite, gravel, and stone surfaces that reduce water needs while creating authentic Mediterranean aesthetic. Use local stone in warm tones. Minimize lawn areas completely. Create gravel courtyards, pathways, and dry garden beds that never require irrigation.

Build pergolas, ramadas, and covered patios that provide essential afternoon shade for outdoor living and protect understory plants. Use traditional Mediterranean structures adapted with Southwest materials. Create microclimates that moderate extreme heat while maintaining open, sunny character.

Embrace warm terracotta, desert sand, sun-bleached white, and deep blue that unite Mediterranean and Southwest traditions. Use warm ochre, rust, and copper tones. Add vibrant accents in magenta, purple, and yellow from blooming plants. Paint walls in traditional Mediterranean hues.

Create enclosed or semi-enclosed courtyards that provide shade, trap cool air, and define outdoor living spaces. Use walls for heat protection and privacy. Include fountain or water feature for evaporative cooling. Design around courtyards as traditional Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial gardens do.

Feature heat-loving Mediterranean herbs as borders and focal points: rosemary hedges, lavender masses, santolina edging. Plant near patios where heat releases fragrance. Use herbs extensively in place of traditional thirsty perennials. Harvest regularly for kitchen and to maintain compact growth.