Corsica in bloom, landscapes of Corsica

Landscapes of Corsica - what flowers can I see?

Many people return from a visit to Corsica with deep and lasting impressions of the island, and one of the stongest is the aroma of the maquis that perfumes the island from early spring until late autumn. The distinctive sweetly spicy scents that emanate from the wild shrubs and plants which cover much of the island, gives Corsica the well justified name of the Perfumed Island.

The landcapes of Corsica vary greatly from region to region. Unlike many a more barren Mediterranean island, Corsica is rich in vegetation and as you move from sea level to the high mountains - rising to over 2,700 metres - you pass through an amazing range of different plants. Here is just a small selection of the flowers and plants you can expect to see during your holiday in Corsica;

Sea level to 500 metres
Prickly pear, aloes, eucalyptus, and the maquis plants: wild cistus covered in pink and white flowers in spring, yellow flowered brooms and gorse, arbutus or strawberry tree, juniper, myrtle, wild olives, heathers, wild laburnum, clematis and honeysuckle, and the strongly perfumed wild herbs - thyme, marjoram, sage, mint and curry plant.

In March and April you can find wild asparagus. This tumble of wild plants covers every non-cultivated corner, giving off a strong perfume which caused Napoleon to remark that he could recognise his birthplace island blindfolded. The trees which grow wild at these altitudes are the evergreen oak, the cork oak and the olive.

From 500 to 1500 metres
This is the domain of the chestnut tree and the laricio pine, together with beech, birch and maritime pine. The helleborus corsicus - often seen in English herbaceous borders - grows in abundance here, as well as many wild flowers - lavenders, cotton lavenders, poppies, daisies - and herbs, more delicate than their robust cousins from the lower slopes.

Above 1500 metres
Perfumed alders, wild grasses, prostrate junipers and alpine flowers - violets, cyclamen, wild crocus, a kind of chrysanthemum with white flowers and many more.

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You can create a 'Mediterranean corner' in your garden. The obvious first choice is the green flowered helleborus corsicus, but the curry plant (Helychrysum italicum sun serotinum), wild or creeping thyme (thymus serpyllum), common sage (salvia officinalis), the creeping Corsican mint, French lavender (lavandula stoechas), Cotton lavenders (santolina chamaecyparissus), and even a Corsican pine - (Pinus nigra sub laricio), will bring back memories of Corsica.

You can buy any of these plants, and many more, on our sister website www.greenwheelbarrow.co.uk.

CREATE YOUR CORSICAN GARDEN

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	Sea level to 500 metres Prickly pear, aloes, eucalyptus, and the maquis plants: wild cistus covered in pink and white flowers in spring, yellow flowered brooms and gorse, arbutus or strawberry tree, juniper, myrtle, wild olives, heathers, wild laburnum, clematis and honeysuckle, and the strongly perfumed wild herbs - thyme, marjoram, sage, mint and curry plant. In March and April you can find wild asparagus. This tumble of wild plants covers every non-cultivated corner, giving off a strong perfume which caused Napoleon to remark that he could recognise his birthplace island blindfolded. The trees which grow wild at these altitudes are the evergreen oak, the cork oak and the olive.

From 500 to 1500 metres This is the domain of the chestnut tree and the laricio pine, together with beech, birch and maritime pine. The helleborus corsicus - often seen in English herbaceous borders - grows in abundance here, as well as many wild flowers - lavenders, cotton lavenders, poppies, daisies - and herbs, more delicate than their robust cousins from the lower slopes.

	Above 1500 metres Perfumed alders, wild grasses, prostrate junipers and alpine flowers - violets, cyclamen, wild crocus, a kind of chrysanthemum with white flowers and many more.