How To Create a Tropical Garden
- Location is key First, think about where you want to place things in your new tropical garden. ...
- Decking and shelter Think about contrasting soft and hard materials together when it comes to your tropical garden. ...
- Choosing the right plants One of the best ways to create a tropical garden is by picking the right kinds of vegetation. ...
- Don’t forget about water ...
- Magical lighting ...
Can you have a tropical garden in the UK?
You don't need to travel as far as the Caribbean for a tropical getaway with temperate gardens right here in the UK that are bursting with exotic blooms and vibrant colours. Some areas of the country such as the Cornish coast benefit from special microclimates allowing sub-topical plants to flourish.
How do you structure a tropical garden?
To achieve the tropical look, you will need to plant in layers. Large, leafy plants towards the back of the garden will provide structure and a jungle-like canopy, while medium-sized shrubs in the middle will add variety and interest. Finish with shade-loving ground covers and 'mulch' with pebbles to complete the look.
How do you start a jungle garden UK?
Planting in different layers, or 'storeys', is a great way to achieve a jungle-style effect in your garden. Bamboos and bananas can be used to add structure and height, while ferns make perfect mid-level plants. For low-level ground cover, hostas are hard to beat.
What do you put in a tropical garden?
Colourful flowers, such as fragrant frangipani, ornamental ginger, hibiscus, and dramatic canna lilies will warm up the garden and provide further contrast to the vibrant ground-dwelling foliage and green canopy.
How do I plan a small tropical garden?
And with this tips, you are a few steps away from your dream tropical garden.Check your area's climate and soil type. Email. ... Plan the layout and design of the garden. Email. ... Hunt for inspiration. ... Establish a shade cover. ... Fill the area with plants. ... Go for large leaves. ... Add bright tropical flowers. ... Add a water feature.More items...
What is the easiest tropical plant to grow?
Easy Indoor Tropical PlantsRubber Tree. Rubber trees are among the easiest indoors plants, with large, dramatic foliage that can sometimes be variegated. ... Sansevieria. ... Sansevieria Cylindrica. ... Philodendron 'Xanadu' ... Dwarf Shefflera. ... Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema. ... Ribbon Dracaena. ... Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane.More items...
What exotic plants can you grow in the UK?
Here are my top 10 tropical plants:Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan palm) ... Chamaerops humilis (dwarf fan palm) ... Dryopteris filix-mas (male fern) ... Cordyline australis (cabbage palm) ... Hosta (plantain lily) ... Carex comans (bronze New Zealand hair sedge) ... Athyrium (lady fern) 'Ghost' ... Dicksonia antarctica (soft-tree fern)More items...•
Is it legal to plant a tree in a park UK?
You will need permission to plant from the legal landowner.
How do you start a woodland garden UK?
Establishing your woodland edge garden:Plant trees first and keep the soil around them clear while they establish.Add the shrubs, bulbs and herbaceous plants that enjoy dappled shade underneath and between the trees. ... Once the upper layer is strong and tall enough, grow some climbers into the branches.More items...
What flowers do they recommend for a tropical look?
Many of our tropical flowers are fragrant and, if grown outdoors, can also attract pollinators.1 Hibiscus. The trumpet shaped tropical flowers of the hibiscus can bring a summer vibe to gardens. ... 2 Bromeliad. ... 3 Anthurium. ... 4 African Violet. ... 5 Amaryllis. ... 6 Cyclamen. ... 7 Canna Lily. ... 8 Jasmine.More items...•
What is tropical garden style?
The key features of a tropical garden are interwoven layers of lush plants, and bold foliage and bright colour accents in exaggerated sizes. Elements of this relaxed garden style can be incorporated into any size garden and you don't even have to live in the tropics at all – any temperate climate will do.
How do you make a tropical microclimate garden?
Plan Your Garden to Create Perfect MicroclimatesCovering beds with plastic helps dry out and warm up soil.Water-filled plastic bottles will absorb heat during the day and release it at night.Grow cool-season crops in the shade of taller plants.Windbreaks made from willow or hazel filter harmful gusts.
How do you build a tropical backyard?
Six Steps to Turn Your Backyard into a Tropical ParadiseIncorporate Lots of Plants. The key to having a lush, tropical paradise is to have lots of greenery such as plants, trees, and shrubs. ... Put in Bright and Exotic Flowers. ... Add a Water Feature. ... Include Stone Features. ... Integrate Comfortable Seating. ... Put in Soft Lighting.
What is tropical garden style?
The key features of a tropical garden are interwoven layers of lush plants, and bold foliage and bright colour accents in exaggerated sizes. Elements of this relaxed garden style can be incorporated into any size garden and you don't even have to live in the tropics at all – any temperate climate will do.
How do you garden in a tropical climate?
Tips for Tropics GardeningFirst, always make sure that your plants are grown in healthy, well-draining soil, preferably enriched with organic matter and moist. ... Do not go fertilizer crazy, especially when it comes to nitrogen. ... Another helpful trick is to use containers whenever possible.More items...•
How do you make a tropical microclimate garden?
Plan Your Garden to Create Perfect MicroclimatesCovering beds with plastic helps dry out and warm up soil.Water-filled plastic bottles will absorb heat during the day and release it at night.Grow cool-season crops in the shade of taller plants.Windbreaks made from willow or hazel filter harmful gusts.
Invest in a Greenhouse for tropical garden in the UK
Don’t have a greenhouse? Shop these sale greenhouses and pick one up for less than you might imagine. Why? Because it will help you to grow and look after a greater number of tropical plants and flowers than you might otherwise be able to, and really every gardener needs a greenhouse!
For a Tropical Garden in the UK -Find Hardy Exotic Plants
There are lots of exotic plants, including bamboo, Ginger Lily, Agave and Delosperma cooperi, to name a few, which can positively thrive in the average British garden providing they are correctly cared for, and they are probably the most important factor in creating a totally tropical garden that is colourful to the eyes and wonderfully exotic to the nose..
Rattan or Bamboo Fencing help create a tropical garden in the UK
If your garden has a fence, then an easy way to up its tropical vibe is by removing it and replacing it with rattan or bamboo fencing instead. This isn’t a big job, and it isn’t too expensive, but it will have a huge impact on just how exotic your garden looks.
Add Colour
Obviously, you should be adding lots of colour to your garden in the form of tropical plants and flowers, but that isn’t the only way to do it.
Keep Some Koi Carp for a Tropical Garden in the UK
If you choose to install a pond as the water element of your garden design, and if you’re willing to take good care of them, keeping koi carp is a nice way of bringing some colour to your garden. More importantly, they are a joy to watch as they go about their business and they will make you want to spend even more time out in the garden.
Combine Hard and Soft
An easy way to increase the tropical nature of your garden is by installing lots of big, bold green foliage in conjunction with areas of rock, gravel and stone that mimic the kind of scenes you’d see in exotic cities. The foliage will give you shade, and the rocks will heat up in the sun giving you that authentic tropical feel.
Hang a Hammock
Of course, nothing screams tropical beach holiday like a hammock, so plant a few mature palms and hang a hammock between them, where you can lay back, relax and read a good book as you sway in the (hopefully) light breeze. Extra points if you choose a bold, exotic pattern for your hammock.
What is tropical styling?
Tropical styling is all about the foliage contrasts. This garden capitalises on a small space with a vertical green wall that uses smaller foliage plants, such as heucheras and ferns, for year-round interest. Green walls can be expensive to install, but it’s possible to create your own.
What is the purpose of lighting a garden?
Garden lighting can transform big foliage plants into something magical at night. In this garden, just a few lights are used to guide us down the path. The lights mainly highlight the foliage rather than the surfaces, which makes for a much more interesting journey and plant composition.
What wood is used for tropical screens?
Use a darker wood, such as Brazilian walnut, also known as ipe (pronounced ee-pay), making sure you buy it from an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified supplier. This strong timber not only looks tropical, it has the added bonus of being resistant to mildew.
Do ferns bloom in the spring?
Perennials with great foliage provide interesting flowers throughout the spring and summer, while the tree ferns will carry on giving architectural interest during the winter months, even if they’re covered up for protection from the frost.
Do you need to install solar lights on a pathway?
If you’re on a budget, there are some great solar-powered lights available these days that will frame a pathway. However, for foliage impact, you’ll need to install mains-connected garden LED lights.
Do tropical plants grow in the Northern Hemisphere?
Many colourful tropical plants won’t grow in the northern hemisphere, but you can add familiar garden plants, such as crocosmia.
Who is Andrew Fisher Tomlin?
Andrew is a fellow of the Society of Garden Designers, a fellow designate of the Chartered Institute of Horticulturalists and a Royal Horticultural Society Judge and creates gardens worldwide.
What do exotic flowers do?
Bright, exotic looking blooms are also a must. They break up the foliage in a jungle-like garden with splashes of colour – adding a sense of warmth even on the cloudiest of days.
What is layered plant?
Layer plants – in a tropical jungle, layers of dense planting spread from the canopy to the ground cover layer. Dense, lush, diverse planting can definitely help you to get the look you are going for. In the UK, sun is not as intense as the tropics, of course. But careful management of the canopy and pruning away lower branches strategically can help you create a range of different eco-zones in layered planting, with some areas of deeper shade and some sunny spots in between.
What are some good ground cover plants for tropical gardens?
Some great options for ground cover in a tropical garden include: Ground-growing raspberries – e.g. Rubus Tricolor. Pachysandra. Euphorbia amygdaloides.
Can you mix bananas and palms in a tropical garden?
But it will be easier to create a tropical garden feel if you mix a few of these palms and bananas in with other plants which can grow more comfortably in our climate.
Is a tropical garden a food forest?
And in fact, it is worthwhile remembering that a tropical feel garden could easily also be a ‘food forest’.
Can palm trees grow in the UK?
Hardy palms, without a doubt, are the shortcut plants for achieving a tropical garden. Fortunately, there are a number of palms which can be grown in many UK gardens. For example, you can consider:
Do tropical plants grow in cooler climates?
Some are genuine tropical plants, from tropical climates, while others grow in cooler climates similar to our own, but look exotic enough to contribute to that tropical jungle look.
How can I make my garden look tropical?
Create a tropical garden with hardy palms, cordylines, bamboos and evergreen trees and shrubs with big leaves, such as loquat and e uphorbia mellifera. Enhance the display with other leafy plants, like hardy bananas, melianthus major and the foxglove tree, whose leaves can measure up to 3ft (90cm) across when branches are chopped back hard.
How tall is a silver spear?
Underplant taller specimens with spiky yuccas, fascicularia and puya, along with perennials such as acanthus, farfugium and silver spear ( astelia chathamica ), which forms 4ft (1.2m) tall clumps of sword-like, metallic leaves. Inject color with pineapple lilies, red-hot pokers and dahlias.
What to plant in a garden border?
When it comes to garden border ideas, aim for a mix of heights with tall, towering plants like bamboo and bananas providing a protective canopy for lower growing plants such as ferns and hostas. Dense planting will help create the feeling of a jungle. Planting flowers such as cannas, crocosmia and dahlias will give your border vibrancy. Dahlias will put on a dazzling display well into fall.
How to go to town in a tropical garden?
If you want to go to town in a tropical garden, create somewhere to sit and soak up the atmosphere. A pergola dripping with vines, raised decking enclosed with rope balustrades or a patio edged with rendered walls makes the perfect platform for arranging furniture.
How to keep water healthy?
Keep the water healthy with a mix of submerged oxygenator plants to encourage as much wildlife as possible.
What plants can be used to support a vertical garden?
Use walls, fences and other upright surfaces to support a vertical garden of vibrant climbers that possess an exotic air, such as trumpet vines ( campsis ), passion flowers and star jasmine ( tra chelospermum ).
What are some exotic plants?
It’s all about using dramatic, architectural foliage and showy flowers in hot, clashing colors. Some of the best tropical plants include; canna, phormium tenax, musa basjoo, black bamboo and tree fern.
What is an exotic garden?
1) An exotic garden can work with your architecture. Exotic gardens in the UK date back to Victorian and Edwardian times when plant hunters scoured the world. They brought exotic plants back to Britain, the United States and Australia.
What is a tugurium?
Tugurium – a house and garden created from a bare patch of land. Stephen is proud that ‘nothing ever leaves the propery’. Everything is recycled, composted and waste water is reused. There was no house or garden – not even any topsoil – when he moved in. He created the garden from scratch.
What is Stephen Ryan's garden?
Stephen Ryan in his garden. It is all plants, paths and ponds. There are no lawns in the jungle! The big leafed plant on the left is Tetrapanax papyrifer, which is fairly hardy in UK winters.
Where did Dahlias originate?
Dahlias originally came from Mexico, but are now considered quite ‘traditional’ in English gardens. Take them back to their colourful roots by using them to create exotic garden beds. Dahlia ‘Mel’s Orange Marmalade’ in the exotic garden at the Salutation in Kent, along with cordylines, Musa banana palms and ricinus.
Where do Mahonia and Bamboo get together?
Mahonia and bamboo get jungly together in Stephen’s garden.
What does Stephen say about gardening?
Stephen says that every garden has its own patches of micro-climate. Experiment to see where less hardy plants do well. It’s often much warmer near the house, for example.
What is the garden called in Melbourne?
The garden is called ‘Tugurium’ , which is Latin for hovel. He bought the acre of land with compensation money for losing all his possessions in ‘the 1983 fire’. This was a devastating forest fire that swept through this part of Melbourne, taking 300 lives and destroying much property.
