Tropical Landscape Plants
Tropical gardens are lush and rich with flowers in many colors. Extravagantly shaped foliage in a wide range of greens adds drama to the most simple gardens. In the warmth of the tropics, the difficulty is not in choosing plants that grow vigorously, but in finding plants manageable in the garden landscape. Does this Spark an idea?
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Trees
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Palms and cycads are classic tropical trees. Orange and lemon trees are grown as ornamentals, as well as for their fruit. Many bamboo plants grow to the height of small trees. Flowering dogwood and redbud are also suitable small trees for the tropical landscape. Crape myrtle thrives in sub-tropical regions, and smaller varieties can be grown as shrubs or even groundcovers. Magnolias thrive in warm regions. Twenty species of oak are native to the tropics and are wonderful in the landscape when enough space is available. Cypress and Tupelo trees are also suitable.
Shrubs and Vines
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Plants such as Ixora, hibiscus, hydrangea, oleander and gardenia all grow well in the tropics. Roses bloom year round. Azaleas and rhododendron generally do better in subtropical regions, but certain varieties grow well in tropical regions. Hollies, Japanese pittosporum, privet and junipers are popular evergreen shrubs and are grown as hedges. Clematis, bougainvillea, passionflower, honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, wisteria and coral vine flower profusely in the tropics, and many kinds of ivy provide interesting foliage.
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Flowers
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Poinsettias grow well and flower profusely in tropical and subtropical areas, and orchids and bromeliads are grown as outdoor plants. Geraniums (perlargonium) and begonias are true perennials in the tropics. Also consider pawpaw, caladium, African iris and Louisiana iris, kalanchoe, cardboard plant and pine-cone ginger, as they are all suitable for the tropical landscape. Many ferns thrive in this environment.
Temperate Zones
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While most of the plants grown in tropical and subtropical regions cannot survive in freezing temperatures, it is possible to have a tropical look in a temperate area. The trick is to use species and cultivars of tropical plants that are cold-hardy, mixed with plants that look "tropical" but thrive in cold regions. Many varieties of bamboo are grown in cold areas, and tall grasses often have a tropical look. In the summer, certain tropical plants are grown as annuals. Geraniums, impatiens and begonias are available at garden centers every spring. Bulbs such as elephant's ear comes to maturity in one growing season. Additionally, many tropical plants, like orchids, are grown as houseplants and outdoor plants in the summer. Spider plant, croton, rubber plant, dieffenbachia and pothos are all good candidates.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit palm tree image by david harding from Fotolia.com
