We Love The Plants of Santorini

Santorini has no rivers (which means potable water is in high demand) and the soil is mixed with volcanic ash (which can be helpful– in controlled quantities). Gardeners have to get creative with how and where they squeeze in green (like with these border flower boxes). In spite of these drawbacks, the farmland of Santorini is known for its signature produce: extra-sweet cherry tomatoes, white eggplants that can be eaten raw, and cucumbers that turn yellow and taste like melons.

A lot of Santorini’s charm comes from the mismatched flora. Since there aren’t proper dirt gardens, greenery grows up along walkways and across patios, creating a patchwork of plants. But what Santorini lacks in garden beds, it more than makes up for in sunlight and incredible weather– which is why palm trees and cacti are such popular choices.

We’ve already declared our love of bougainvillea in the past, but it bears repeating. The fuchsia flower is endemic to the Aegean sea– especially in Santorini– because of its hardy disposition, resistance to pests, and year-round blooms. Though the plant was imported to Europe from Brazil, nothing quite captures the beauty of Santorini like the stark clash of bougainvillea against the endless blue of skies and sea.

Sea fig is a very hardy succulent shrub that grows along beaches, thriving particularly well in sand dunes. Unfortunately, it’s also a highly invasive species. But kept in beautiful ceramic pots, you can enjoy its textured, almost prehistoric appearance while keeping your native plants safe.

Trees– like this mimosa– find roots where they can, growing up between buildings and offering a path of desirable outdoor shade. Mimosa trees are a rapid-growing ornamentals that can thrive just about anywhere (our Editor-in-Chief grew up climbing them in Massachusetts) and they don’t need too much water, which makes them an ideal pairing for a Santorinian climate.

In Greek mythology, the nymph Clytie was so in love with Helios, god of the Sun, that she spent her days watching him pass through the sky, and her nights were spent waiting for his appearance on the horizon again. At last, she turned into a sunflower; even today, her gaze still follows him as he moves across the sky. Set against Santorini’s white walls, the sunflower looks even more intense and dazzling.

Bougainvillea is often praised for its bright flowers– but bougainvillea’s true flowers are the small white buds at the center of its bright papery bracts. We love the look of a few clipped branches tucked into a bright bouquet of peonies and bells-of-Ireland— that, or try wrapping them around a trellis at a wedding. (Just be sure to clip their spiky thorns!)

Across the world, geraniums are one of the most popular plants for gardens because their cuttings adapt easily and they’re nearly impossible to kill (making them a great plant for new gardeners to start with). To bloom fully and realize their true splendor, geraniums need full sun– no surprise, then, that Santorini’s landscape is dotted with splashes of vivid geranium flowers.