Carob is an evergreen, nitrogen fixing tree growing to 12 metres. It can tolerate nutritionally poor soils and is a good shade tree. It also has the characteristic of maintaining its lower branches, making it a useful addition to hedges and screens. Extremely drought tolerant once established, it is grown throughout the Algarve as a seasonal cash crop. Native to the Mediterranean region, the seed pods are harvested in late summer and have traditional culinary and medicinal uses.
Although revered by many for its seasonal crop, it is nevertheless a high maintenance tree, particularly where pavements and under-planting are concerned. The foliage, small branchlets, flowers and fruit can be very messy unless they are cleared regularly, so best planted in open ground. When in flower, it is very important for insects and pollinators. Unmanaged trees are a great source of food and habitat for rats, so any ideas about leaving them to their own devices (au naturale) will probably only encourage a large rat population on your land.
We are a plant nursery in the Algarve specialising in dry mediterranean species. We propagate and grow our own stock in conditions they are likely to endure when they are planted out.
We grow plants that are adapted to the dry land conditions in Portugal and southern Spain, both mediterranean perennials and succulents.
We choose plants that require very little water and maintenance. We produce a range of dry land plants that are typical of the worlds mediterranean regions. These are available to order ready for planting in the wetter months of the year. Please order the plants you need and we’ll have them ready at the best time for planting.
To ensure your new plants adapt and establish quickly, we produce them in special anti-spiral root pruning containers and a range of fibre pots (no plastic waste) with our own tried and tested growing media.
Viveiros Jardimseco
Tavira, Algarve
Please note we have no retail outlet or garden centre and are not open to the public. For more information you can contact us here.
Plantas adaptadas à seca - produzimos plantas adaptadas às condições de Portugal e Sul de Espanha, tanto espécies mediterrânicas como suculentas.
Oferecemos uma gama de espécies típicas das zonas climáticas mediterrânicas em todo o mundo.