Hello everybody,

I have time this year to think about giving my garden a tropical aspect. I thus have a very general question : do you have suggestions for tropical looking plants?

constraints :
- Have to survive zone 9 winters (I live in zone 9b, but I'd prefer zone 9a plants, as one never knows...)
- Broad and/or showy leaves
- Flowers and fruits is of course a big plus

I already thought of Bananas, Strelitzias, Alocasias, Cannas, ... other suggestions?

Many thanks! Rajesh.

Hi Rajesh,

Quote:

May I suggest :

Catalpa sp. and Paulownia sp. both very hardy

Eriobotrya japonica, the loquat. Hardy to zone 7b.

Fatsia japonica

Gunnera manicata (huge leaves)

Phormium sp. long lanceolate leaves, many colored cultivars.

Cheers,
-- Laurent

Regards,
Laurent

Hello Lrey,

Thank you for the suggestions. I also thought of a loquat, which is showy, frost hardy, and that can provide shade to more tender plants.
Phormium is a very good suggestion too, I did not think of that. I'll see if my local nursery has some to sell.
As for Gunnera, I'm afraid my zone is a bit too dry for it... We have big droughts every two years!
Thank you, Rajesh

Some info : Bought some Musa varieties, 2 loquats, Phormiums, and 2 Cordyline species (one green, one variegated).
Everything is know in place, regularly watered and fed. Now I just can't wait for shade in my garden
Musas seem to grow like crazy.
Rajesh

Rajesh. Your last post on this subject was some time ago now, so you may already have enough plants by n ow,but how about....Tetrapanax papyrifer[T.Rex],not for the feint hearted, but Massive leaves; Or Sasa/pseudosasa,bamboo's Regards Nij.[A UK.gardener].