10 Tips for creating a tropical garden in a UK climate - We often come back from our vacation with memories of palm trees and exotic gardens, which unfortunately we do not have the climate in Northern Europe. But that does not mean we can not imitate the sensation of these gardens with something a little more exotic than our plantation and traditional furnishings.
Here are some ideas from top British designers to create a sense of different garden, sometimes tropical, sometimes dry, but still exotic.
Here are some ideas from top British designers to create a sense of different garden, sometimes tropical, sometimes dry, but still exotic.
Garden Arts
Focusing on every detail
I love this garden because the designer has brought in a fresh tropical feel, despite there being trees and shrubs traditional English behind her. In fact, they borrowed the green backdrop and imposed their own exotic plants in the garden itself.
Best of all, wood screens, water and furniture are all the details that make history in the design and transport us into a tropical paradise. Use dark woods such as Brazilian walnut, also known as ipe (pronounced ee-pay), making sure you buy from a FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) of -Certified suppliers. This strong wood is not only tropical, it has the added advantage of being resistant to mold.
I love this garden because the designer has brought in a fresh tropical feel, despite there being trees and shrubs traditional English behind her. In fact, they borrowed the green backdrop and imposed their own exotic plants in the garden itself.
Best of all, wood screens, water and furniture are all the details that make history in the design and transport us into a tropical paradise. Use dark woods such as Brazilian walnut, also known as ipe (pronounced ee-pay), making sure you buy from a FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) of -Certified suppliers. This strong wood is not only tropical, it has the added advantage of being resistant to mold.
Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer
soft and hard contrast
We designed planting in the garden to have a jungle theme, with many large leaves and foliage hot lilies. The plants contrast with the large stones and gravel and evoke feeling the heat of summer, just before the rains.
This is a way to use those big rocks that we often find in our gardens when we start to their landscape. This means you can avoid the hassle and expense of removing and instead turn them into a great feature.
We designed planting in the garden to have a jungle theme, with many large leaves and foliage hot lilies. The plants contrast with the large stones and gravel and evoke feeling the heat of summer, just before the rains.
This is a way to use those big rocks that we often find in our gardens when we start to their landscape. This means you can avoid the hassle and expense of removing and instead turn them into a great feature.
Garden schofield antonia design
Add shallow areas with large foliage
This garden takes advantage of large foliage plants such as the palm of bananas on the right, to make a strong statement for its small size.
This palm catches your eye in the garden and in a great small seating area. I love the dark foliage under the palm - it is a trick to add depth for planting.
Please note that you need a fairly warm microclimate, as in a place of the city, to remove a planting program like this.
This garden takes advantage of large foliage plants such as the palm of bananas on the right, to make a strong statement for its small size.
This palm catches your eye in the garden and in a great small seating area. I love the dark foliage under the palm - it is a trick to add depth for planting.
Please note that you need a fairly warm microclimate, as in a place of the city, to remove a planting program like this.
The garden builders
Creating drama with lighting
garden lighting can transform large foliage plants into something magical at night. In this garden, just a few lights are used to guide us on the way. The lights highlight mainly the foliage rather than on the surface, which makes for a journey of composition and plant much more interesting.
If you are on a budget, there are some great solar lights available these days that will frame a route. However, the impact of the foliage, you'll need to install the garden-mains connected LED lights.
garden lighting can transform large foliage plants into something magical at night. In this garden, just a few lights are used to guide us on the way. The lights highlight mainly the foliage rather than on the surface, which makes for a journey of composition and plant much more interesting.
If you are on a budget, there are some great solar lights available these days that will frame a route. However, the impact of the foliage, you'll need to install the garden-mains connected LED lights.
Dyer Grimes architecture
Growing walls
Tropical style is all about foliage contrasts. This garden is capitalizing on a small space with a vertical green wall that uses smaller foliage plants such as heucheras and ferns, to interest all year.
green walls can be expensive to install, but you can create your own. There is a range of wall planters living on the market, or you can search for ideas for articles such as pallets upcycling.
It is also worth buying or building a simple irrigation drip system to ensure that all plants get an even watering. It might take some time to establish, but it is much more interesting than a naked painted wall.
Discover more reasons to develop a living wall in your outdoor space
Tropical style is all about foliage contrasts. This garden is capitalizing on a small space with a vertical green wall that uses smaller foliage plants such as heucheras and ferns, to interest all year.
green walls can be expensive to install, but you can create your own. There is a range of wall planters living on the market, or you can search for ideas for articles such as pallets upcycling.
It is also worth buying or building a simple irrigation drip system to ensure that all plants get an even watering. It might take some time to establish, but it is much more interesting than a naked painted wall.
Discover more reasons to develop a living wall in your outdoor space
Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer
Color your garden
We think of the tropics as being full of large foliage plants, but do not forget to add a little color, too. Many colorful tropical plants do not grow in the northern hemisphere, but you can add the familiar garden plants, such as crocosmia. Its grassy foliage is topped with red or yellow flowers that will give your garden a sunny feeling.
Choose easy plants like these, or even substitution lily pots early in the summer to ring the changes. And do not forget the plants with leaves brawlers like agapanthus, which have a similar appearance to lilies.
We think of the tropics as being full of large foliage plants, but do not forget to add a little color, too. Many colorful tropical plants do not grow in the northern hemisphere, but you can add the familiar garden plants, such as crocosmia. Its grassy foliage is topped with red or yellow flowers that will give your garden a sunny feeling.
Choose easy plants like these, or even substitution lily pots early in the summer to ring the changes. And do not forget the plants with leaves brawlers like agapanthus, which have a similar appearance to lilies.
Nick Leith-Smith Architecture + Design
Add a little luxury tropical
outdoor showers are the epitome of luxury outdoor and are surprisingly inexpensive to install. Choose a private corner of the garden which is not overlooked and do a simple installation to an outside faucet. For the full year of hot water, call a professional to install a solar heating system.
Always check to see if your local authority allows the installation of showers and pools.
outdoor showers are the epitome of luxury outdoor and are surprisingly inexpensive to install. Choose a private corner of the garden which is not overlooked and do a simple installation to an outside faucet. For the full year of hot water, call a professional to install a solar heating system.
Always check to see if your local authority allows the installation of showers and pools.
Fenton Roberts Garden Design
tropical industrial Mix
I really like using these walls of stone filled gabion juxtaposed with tree ferns. There is a gross industrial honesty to the wall, but it is also easily integrated; I saw very effective gabions using the rubble from the garden. The contrast with the foliage of ferns, and you have an urban feel in the tropics.
I really like using these walls of stone filled gabion juxtaposed with tree ferns. There is a gross industrial honesty to the wall, but it is also easily integrated; I saw very effective gabions using the rubble from the garden. The contrast with the foliage of ferns, and you have an urban feel in the tropics.
Silva Landscapes
Big garden in front of your
Our front gardens are often overlooked, but what better way to make a statement with these great kerbside succulents? Agaves need a sunny spot to become that great, but once grown up, they will stop passersby in their tracks.
They are a bit sharp at the ends of their leaves, so do not plant them right next to the place where you could get out of a car, or where there is frequent through traffic.
Read expert advice on how to create a welcoming garden before
Our front gardens are often overlooked, but what better way to make a statement with these great kerbside succulents? Agaves need a sunny spot to become that great, but once grown up, they will stop passersby in their tracks.
They are a bit sharp at the ends of their leaves, so do not plant them right next to the place where you could get out of a car, or where there is frequent through traffic.
Read expert advice on how to create a welcoming garden before
Fenton Roberts Garden design
Partner with familiar plants
Just some tropical style plants can reinvent an existing border. In this garden, the familiar varieties are mixed with tree ferns to transform the plantation into another world.
perennials with large leaves provide interesting flowers throughout the spring and summer, while tree ferns will give architectural interest during the winter months, even if they are covered for protection against the freeze.
Tell us ...
Have you added tropical plants to your garden? Share your tips and photos in the comments below.
Just some tropical style plants can reinvent an existing border. In this garden, the familiar varieties are mixed with tree ferns to transform the plantation into another world.
perennials with large leaves provide interesting flowers throughout the spring and summer, while tree ferns will give architectural interest during the winter months, even if they are covered for protection against the freeze.
Tell us ...
Have you added tropical plants to your garden? Share your tips and photos in the comments below.