Berty is in South West France, where the summers can be hot and dry (typically high 20s and low 30s) and the winters cold and damp (lowest temperature I've experienced here is -15c). We rarely get snow. But even in winter, the daytimes are often wonderfully sunny and warm, so even in January you can eat lunch on the terrace and garden in a T-shirt. In general, lots of the same plants as in England, though we are at the southern extremity of conditions for northern european species. It's not a Mediterranean climate, so doesn't suit olives or oranges.
Living in an area of limestone hills, our soil is basically chalky with some sand and clay, but we are in a river valley and benefit from a good layer of silty topsoil. The 3 acre garden was a field until about 18 years ago.
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Yucca. Often waits to flower around the time of the first frosts, but seems to survive anyway!
Stag's Horn Sumach - glorious autumn colour and interesting shaped leaves. Relentlessley sends up suckers at some distance from the parent.
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Cotinus (Smoke Bush). We have two varieties, this one and a purple-leaved one (which is tree-sized). Lovely autumn colours and interesting seed heads
Please also see my page of Grasses growing at Berty.