Tips for adding tropical plants to your garden
You don’t have to live in a lush tropical area to create a tropical feel in your garden or even on your deck or patio. Just follow these 10 tips for adding tropical plants to your garden and you’ll feel like you’re in “Margaritaville” (or a tropical garden paradise) in no time!
- Even if you’re limited to a patio or deck, using well-positioned potted plants and a few extra touches, it will be a breeze to create a tropical paradise.
- First of all, think about what a tropical garden looks like. It’s dense, lush and exotic, with flashes of bright colour scattered throughout. It might even have a small structure or festive lights.
- Choose tropical looking plants with bold colours and shapes. Start with smaller plants that are at floor level to create the feel of the forest floor and then add mid-level and then taller plants (see plant list below).
- Add a few pavers, stepping stones or pebbles to create a meandering pathway through your little “jungle”. These can also serve to retain heat for warmth-loving plants and help to conserve water.
- Plan to use large and glossy leafed foliage plants in a variety of tones as the garden’s “backbone”.
- Create areas of shade or partial shade mixed with a few full-sun spots to create a truly tropical feel.
- Grow a canopy of hardier plants to protect the smaller, more tender ones from heat or cold.
- Add a water feature – even if it’s a large bowl or tub, filled with a few water-loving plants. For instance, Tropicanna cannas can be grown in pots and then lowered into water feature.
- Add a few pieces of furniture – anything from brightly coloured wooden benches to more subtle metal pieces.
- If you have a power source nearby, think about stringing some colourful lights for those special evenings, or strategically place a few solar lights to add a festive touch.
Here are some easy-care plants that will create a tropical feel to any space…
Tropicanna® cannas – the name says it all! They’re available in 3 colours and can be overwintered indoors in Zones 6 and colder. With their variegated leaves and bold blossoms, they add an exotic touch to any garden or patio.
Hibiscus – most prefer the tropics but some such as rose of Sharon varieties (hibiscus syriacus) will withstand extremely cold temps. They bloom later in the season, with large crepe paper-like petals.
Cordylines – with their strappy foliage and deep pink and burgundy leaves, low-growing Festival™ Burgundy (Red Fountain™) and Festival™ Raspberry (Raspberry Fountain™) are ideal for adding texture and interest at ground-level. As an extra bonus, these can be brought indoors as well-behaved winter house plants in colder climates.
Palms and Ferns – depending on your location, palms (warmer climates) and ferns (cooler climates) are great additions to any tropical garden. For cold-climate gardeners, many of these can also be brought indoors as house plants if needed.
Alstroemeria – warm climate gardeners can enjoy non-stop blooms from many varieties of alstroemeria. With their variegated foliage and bright red blossoms, Alstroemeria Rock & Roll® will add a tropical touch to any setting.
Agapanthus – also known as “Lily of the Nile”. Pair the brilliant blues of Blue Storm™ agapanthus with bright yellows and oranges to add a sense of tropics to your garden!
Roses – we usually don’t think of roses as being “tropical” but if you mix the bright reds of Flower Carpet® Scarlet with Agapanthus Blue Storm or Canna Tropicanna it’s easy to evoke a tropical mood!
Begonia Bonfire – with its heat tolerance and brilliant blossoms, Begonia Bonfire is the perfect addition to any patio container.
Other plants that will add a touch of the tropics to your garden include:
- Angel’s Trumpets
- Bird of Paradise
- Bromeliads
- Caladiums
- Succulents
- Japanese Fiber Banabas
- Yucca plants
- Elephant ears (colocasia)
- Lilyturf (variegated monkey grass)
So remember, it doesn’t take much to turn your plain backyard into a tropical oasis!
Want to see more inspirational ideas click here!
