Re: A hedge by the sea

If the hedges are to be trimmed by local (Italian) authorities and 
gardeners they will do a thorough job of it so you could think about 
the following for hedges by the sea - olive, carob, paliuris 
spina-cristi, duranta repens, NZ Mirror plant - Coprosma sp), holm 
oak, cork oak, pomegranate, kermes oak. These have all been used 
here, with a long summer drought and no watering, for hedges since 
the 1840's and are considered very successful. I was intrigued when I 
was in Italy and Greece in 1997 to discover that those of this list 
that are native to Europe have never(?) been thought of there for 
their potential as hedging plants. Some are thought of as weeds while 
others are thought of as productive plants and yet others are 
regarded as small trees - the potential is there, if it can be seen. 
Interplanted maybe with some wild roses, cistus, rosemary and wild 
clematis and honeysuckle they would make a delightful semi-wild hedge 
and require only one haircut a year - enough for any authority to 
manage - pehaps?

trevor n
-----------------
Trevor Nottle
Garden Writer, Historian,     
Lecturer and Consultant 
       
    'Walnut Hill'                          
     5 Walker St       
     Crafers SA 5152 
     AUSTRALIA

Phone: +618 83394210
Fax:   +618 83394210
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