Mediterranean Garden Inspiration

Mediterranean gardens are the perfect blend of effortless style and practical planting. Characterised by drought-tolerant plants, soft earthy tones, and sun-soaked terraces, these gardens bring a sense of warmth and tranquility to any outdoor space. From swaying ornamental grasses to repeated drifts of lavender and purple salvias, the planting combinations create movement, colour, and year-round interest.

Terracotta pots, stone paths, and gravel borders are signature features, adding texture and structure while keeping the garden low-maintenance. Herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage provide fragrance and culinary uses, while evergreen shrubs and small trees, like olives or cistus, give the garden a sense of permanence and form.

Whether you are designing a compact city courtyard or a sprawling country garden, Mediterranean-inspired planting offers endless opportunities for creativity. In this collection of garden examples, we explore different themes, colour palettes, and planting ideas to help you create your own dry, low-maintenance outdoor haven.

Click here to see an example of a recent Mediterranean garden I designed and built in North Norfolk and another example in Gorleston.

Formal Mediterranean Garden — Formal Mediterranean garden

Mediterranean-style Garden Examples

Structure in Mediterranean gardens is often provided by trees such as Olive and Cypress, alongside palms, ferns, grasses, and larger shrubs including Cistus, Choisya, Hebes, Sarcococca (sweet box), and Myrtus. Cooler-coloured perennials are used to great effect, with geraniums, lavenders, salvias, and nepetas among a wide selection. Climbers such as Clematis, Wisteria, grape vines, Jasmine, and variegated ivy work particularly well to soften or cover uninspiring walls, adding vertical interest and lush greenery throughout the garden.

The Mediterranean garden style — alongside the classic English Cottage Garden — is one of my personal favourites. Over the years, I have designed and installed a number of these gardens, and I’ve incorporated many Mediterranean features into my own garden at home.

I draw inspiration from some of the finest examples of Mediterranean gardening, including the beautiful plantings at RHS Hyde Hall, the iconic designs of Beth Chatto, and the innovative displays at Pensthorpe in Norfolk. These gardens showcase the elegance, colour, and texture that make the Mediterranean style so enduring, and they continue to influence my designs and planting choices.

Below, you can explore a selection of my project examples that highlight different approaches to Mediterranean garden design. From sun-soaked patios to drought-tolerant planting schemes, these images capture the variety and charm that this style can bring to any outdoor space.

Mediterranean garden_shady corner — Beautiful seating in a shady corner

Mediterranean-style garden featuring ornamental grasses and vibrant salvias, creating a colourful and low-maintenance landscape by Richard Walters — Mediterranean coastal garden

Mediterranean-style garden featuring dianthus, artemisia, and other drought-tolerant plants, designed by Richard Walters. — A Mediterranean garden (Holt)

Mediterranean garden with raised decking and drought-resistant plants in a Richard Walters design — A beautiful Mediterranean garden with raised decking

Terraced garden after completion showing oval lawn and mediterranean plants — Newly installed terraced Mediterranean-style garden

Mediterranean-style garden featuring formal raised beds and planting, designed by Richard Walters. — Mediterranean style planting in raised beds