This is our second year here. Last year was a bit of a disaster as far as growing plants in our garden.  Can anybody suggest which plants would survive the heat and the winds.  Planted roses and they seemed to thrive, but everything else just withered and died.
Whilst writing could we ask if anybody could help us with our orange, lemon and mandarin trees.  We planted these 3 young trees, but they did take a bashing from the winds last year.  Now the leaves dont seem to have formed properly - is there a problem ?

Oleanders,  and certain type of hibiscus, as shrubs.
Mimosa, and bottle brush for trees.
Geranium, iris, and osteospermum.
All do really well for us, but not sure where you live, your access to water, and if you have any shelter from the strong winds we get here.
Did you water your young trees in really well when you planted them?
What time of year did you plant them?

Mediterranean plants do well :-)
Check out CultiDelta http://www.cultidelta.com/ they sell to the public on saturdays.
Also check out the 'Mediterranean gardening society'
Forget pretty much any plant you will find in garden centres, Bauhaus etc. or brought from the UK.
Here are a couple of potos of our garden I took 5 minutes ago, all mediterranian plants and we don't need to wáter even in Summer!

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I would try to locate a book called @your Garden in Spain. It has a lot of minor errors in it but it gives info on all the plants, bushes, trees, bulbs etc. which survive in the Spanish climate. It also details which are frost hardy, drought resistant and various other usful info.

I would look in Spanish gardens, fincas, etc to see what the locals grow. Some that I know do well here apart from those listed above by other members are:
Buddlia,
Canna,
Madonna Lily,
English Blue Bells,
Carpobrotus,
Lantana,
Miribiilis,
yucca,
Aloe vera,
narcissi,
Grape hyacinth (muscari)
Foxtail lily
Freesia,
Gladioli,
Dahlia,
anenome
Cyclamen
roses,
jerusalem artichokes (sunflower type blooms,
Sunflower,
prickly pear,
Dandelion (my neighbour thinks I'm mad but I like them!)
poppies
clover
walnut
hazelnut
pomegranite,
figs
cherry
apple
pear


Hope this helps,
John

Hi FM,
Hope you are warm and well!  The key is timing - in respect of when you plant and when you want colour -and watering ie do you have any?  Also look to the wild plants and consider their cultivated cousins and see what is doing well in the public parks. 
Mike

Hi Fleetwood ,
You have brought a smile to my face you sound just like me I' too have had no luck with my Garden at first ...but as they say try and try again . My garden is looking nice now but it came with time and patience and loads of WATER ....so keep going don't give in and enjoy . ::)

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Even if you follow all the advice above, some of your plants will be prone to attack by various beasties but you can tackle them as they arise.