By Susan Martin, Proven Winners
Photos courtesy of Proven Winners
Wondering how to make your garden look and feel more tropical? We’re sharing some ideas for tropical garden design elements in this fun article.
We would all love to take a tropical paradise vacation, but if hopping on a plane to Hawaii isn’t in your near future, consider designing your own tropical garden right at home. Tropical-themed gardens can be grown in any region of the country by adapting the plant palette to fit a few key themes which we’ll show you below.
Cultural Considerations for a Tropical Garden
Before you begin, there are a couple of cultural considerations to keep in mind when trying to make your garden look and feel more tropical.
First, tropical plants thrive in warm, humid conditions. If you live in a cooler climate, wait until after your last frost date (which is May 15 in Northern New Mexico) to plant your tropical garden. In warmer areas, some tropical plants can grow nearly year-round.
Second, many tropical looking plants don’t just crave humid air — they also want the soil to be consistently moist. Site your tropical garden near the hose or sprinklers, or plan to use self-watering pots or drip irrigation to keep your plants happy.
Ten Common Elements of Tropical Gardens
Use bold foliage.
Bold, flamboyant foliage, as well as an exuberant mix of textures, leaf sizes and shapes are the hallmark of a tropical-themed garden. Think of what you might see if you walked around a park in Florida. Understory plants with broad, bold leaves like caladiums receive relief from the hot sun by the tall trees and swaying palms overhead.
You can create a similar look in your own tropical garden by creating layers like you see in these photos. Your shade may not come from palm trees, but a colorful patio umbrella or towering oak can be just as effective.
Surround yourself with plants.
Part of the appeal of tropical gardens is their jungle-like atmosphere which transports us mentally to a more tranquil, oxygen-rich space. Surrounding yourself with plants, whether you use pots on your patio or garden beds filled with fantastic foliage and flowers, is a key element of making your garden feel more tropical. Imagine resting in this chair, surrounded by gorgeous plants (featured is our Brick Road recipe), looking out into your flourishing garden. Can’t you just feel the day’s stresses melting away?
Include a water feature.
Water is an essential element of every tropical garden. If you imagine walking through a rainforest, the sound of raindrops or a trickling stream would have an instant calming, cooling effect. The same is true of the backyard tropical oasis you are creating. Water features can be as small as a tabletop fountain, as grand as a large pond with a waterfall, or anything in between.
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