Shrubland & Scrubland

Climate

• Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters

Rainfall

• 35-90 cm (14 to 35 inches)

Temperature

• Summer conditions being hot and winter conditions typically being mild

Flora

• These areas are dominated by drought-tolerant shrubs and small trees, usually less than 2.5 meters tall 

• The native vegetation of Mediterranean climate lands must be adapted to survive long, hot summer droughts in summer and prolonged wet periods in winter. 

• Mediterranean vegetation examples include the following:

  • Shrubs: rosemary, Erica, Banksia, buckeyes, chamise, Bay laurel and some oaks.

  • Sub-shrubs: lavender, Halimium, grevillea and sagebrush

  • Grasses: grassland types, Themeda triandra, bunchgrasses; sedges, and rushes

  • Herbs: Achillea, Dietes, Helichrysum and Penstemon

  • Evergreen trees: casuarina, melaleuca, pine, and cypress

  • Deciduous trees: sycamore and some types of oak

  • Fruit trees: olive, figs, walnuts and grapes

Regional Expressions

• Known locally as maquis, macchie, or garigue in the Mediterranean region, chaparral in California, matorral in Chile, fynbos in South Africa, and mallee and kwongan shrublands in Australia