Hi, well as nobody more knowledgable has replied here is my input. I live in the south of Spain on pure limestone (an old quarry is about 200 metres away). In summer we are usually about 32 - 35ºC (although the lower 40ºs are not rare) and in the winter I get a lot of wind (but not much rain). I am mad about passion flowers and have about 60 different varieties (you can see some on http://photobucket.com/albums/v409/cincinnata/) I also like any other tropical climber. Bouganvillea and jasmine should do well for you but don't plant the first near a swimming pool as its very messy when its shedding its flowers. You may like to try Thunbergia Grandiflora, does well for me. I also have Thunbergia Mysorensis, Stephanotis, Vigna Caracalla, Jasmin Sambac, Quisqualis Indica, Hardenbergia (lilac and the white - beautiful at the moment). I haven't got much room for trees but in neighbours gardens there are Bauhinia (both the purple and the white) Judas Tree, Mimosas, Jacaranda, Brachychiton Acerifolius, Frangipani, Erythrina - the list is endless. As far as shrubs go - for the scent but it can be overwhelming Cestrum Nocturnum. Others that do well here are all the varieties of Oleander, Hibiscus, Brunfelsia, Datura/Brugmansia, Dombeya, Lantana etc. I have had to replace my trailing geraniums as here they are massacred by the Moroccan butterfly so in their place I have put mauve lantana repens. For bright spots of colour the osteospermums are perennial (and self seeding!) I suggest you tour round your area and see what other people in your zone have and then if you want to be different just try out new plants - you can't always tell what will adapt until you try it! Best of luck.

Probably you have installed your garden untill now, but I just saw your message.

Here is my proposed list of plants suitable for windy positions (w), which are very common on the cyclad islands or places with less wind ( ).

Trees:

Araucaria exelsa (w)
Casuarina tenuissima(w)
Ceratonia siliqua(w)
Chorisia speciosa
Eucalyptus camaldulensis(w)
Ficus aystralis(w)
Ficus nitida
Grevillea robusta
Hibiscus syriacus(w)
Jacaranda mimosaefolia
Koelreuteria paniculata(w)
Lagerstroemia indica
Melia azedarach(w)
Morus alba
Nerium oleander(w)
Olea europaea(w)
Pinus halepensis
Pinus pinea(w)
Punica granatum
Quercus ilex(w)
Parkinsonia aculeata
Schinus molle
Sophora japonica(w)
Tamarix gallica(w)

Palms:

Butia capitata(w)
Chamaerops excelsa(Trachycarpus)(w)
Chamaerops humilis(w)
Livistona australis
Phoenix canariensis(w)
Phoenix dactylifera (w)
Whashingtonia filifera
Whashingtonia robusta(w)

Shrubs:

Acacia constricta

Atriplex canescens
Atriplex hymenelytra
Atriplex lentiformis

Buddleia davidii
Buxus sempervirens
Capparis spinosa(w)
Carissa grandiflora(w)
Caesalpinia pulcherrima(w)
Cineraria maritima(w)
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Cotoneaster lacteus
Dodonaea viscosa
Eleagnus pungens(w)
Euonymus fortunei(w)
Feijoa sellowiana
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Hibiscus syriacus(w)
Jacobinia gheisbreghtiana
Juniperus horizontalis(w)
Lagerstroemia indica
Lantana camara(w)
Lantana sellowiana
Laurus nobilis
Cestrum nocturnum
Ligustrum japonicum(w)
Medicago arborea(w)
Myoporum laetum(w)
Myrtus communis
Nerium oleander(w)
Phillyrea angustifolia(w)
Pistacia lentiscus(w)
Pittosporum microphyllum(w)
Pittosporum tobira 'nana'(w)
Pittosporum tobira(w)
Plumbago capensis
Punica granatum nana
Pyracantha coccinea(w)
Raphiolepis delacourii(w)
Raphiolepis umbellata(w)
Rhamnus alaternus(w)
Ruscus acuelatus
Spartium junceum(w)
Strelitsia reginae
Teucrium fruticans
Thevetia peruviana
Thuja occidentalis(w)
Thuja orientalis(w)
Tulbaghia
Veronica speciosa
Viburnum tinus(w)
Vitex agnus-castus(w)
Yucca aloifolia(w)
Yucca filamentosa(w)
Yucca gloriosa(w)
Yucca elata (w)
Yucca schottii (w)
Grevillea rosmarinifolia
Polygala myrtifolia
Asclepias tuberosa
Convolvulus cneorum(w)
Dimorfotheca calendulacea(w)
Felicia pappei(w)
Gazania x hybrida
Mesembryanthemum(w)
Pelargonium zonale(w)
Pelargonium peltatum
Pelargonium grandiflorum
Penstemon
Russelia juncea
Santolina chamaecyparis(w)

Aromatic plants:

Aloysia citriodora
Lavantula officinalis(w)
Melissa officinalis
Mentha piperita
Origanum majorana(w)
Origanum vulgare(w)
Pelargonium odoratissimum(w)
Rosmarinus officinalis(w)
Rosmarinus horizontalis(w)
Salvia officinalis(w)
Thymus vulgaris(w)

Vines:

Bignonia (Tecomaria) capensis(w)
Bougainvilea glabra
Bougainvilea spectabilis
Campsis (Bignonia) radicans(w)
Hedera canariensis
Jasminum azoricum(w)
Jasminum grandiflorum
Jasminum polyanthum

As we are shortly moving to Rhodes, I was impressed by the list of plants but so far we have not found any good nurseries there. As I see you live in Greece can you tell me where I can buy these plants.
I understand the best time to plant is October so would like to get some planting done as soon as possible.

Thank you