Creating a Tropical Garden
Tropical plants have long been a part of the New Orleans garden. Often providing color during the sweltering summer heat. Because freezing temperatures can be occasional, we can find success in using tropical plants as accents and to provide lushness to the garden.
I visited South Florida recently and was shocked to see many plants that we use as house plants or window plants. Crotons used as hedging, rubber plant as a street tree? Tropical hibiscus up to 8 feet tall? These same plants are used as trees, landscape shrubs and groundcovers in South Florida and Key West. Keeping in mind that in our area, tropical plants are best planted in early summer to have more time to become established for winter. You still can add some tropical plants to the landscape. Many garden centers begin to have discounted prices for tropical plants towards the end of summer. Prepare planting areas as you would in spring, Plant tropical plants in rich organic, well-drained soil.
To design a tropical garden, pick your prominent architectural plants such as palms, banana shrubs, tall ginger or cycads. Next, fill in the gaps with flowers and foliage. Keep it simple with not too many different plant types and flowers. However, be creative as there are always exceptions to the rule. Use green foliage plants as fillers to guide the eye to strong shapes. Create breathing spaces using ferns and grasses and other groundcover. Pots of specimen and special plant arrangements will add interest to any garden. Adding tropicals in pots is a good ideas as tender plants can be moved to a garage or indoors during freezing temperatures. Finally add some art and hardscape to the tropical garden for a tropical oasis.
submitted by Karen Blackburn