Lush tips for backyard bliss

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The Sydney Morning Herald

Entertainment

Date

January 11, 2014

Transform your yard into a private oasis with an abundance of colourful tropical foliage.

Cool change: Foliage in different tints and shades creates a stylish, relaxed look.

A tropical paradise is often top of the holiday wish list, but in the interim, why not create your own haven to escape into every day? Set up a few deckchairs, a small table for cocktails, a hammock – and plant these tropical-looking foliage plants for a garden oasis.

Shade is essential, so if your garden is exposed to the hot afternoon sun, create shelter with a pergola, large market umbrella or by planting sun-tolerant small trees, such as lilly pillies, as green screens to shade lower-growing plants.

Different tints and shades of foliage, from lime green to cool blues and dark purplish-green, can be used to create a stylish, relaxed look. Or use green as the main colour and accentuate with coloured foliage.

For height, the yellow-and-green striped clumping bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’) looks stunning and adds bulk to foliage. Just as striking, and with a bamboo-like appearance, is Thysanolaena maxima ‘Tiger Grass’. This clump-forming, perennial grass reaches a height of 3.5 metres, ideal for a screen. For a palm-like appearance, Strelitizia nicolai is perfect. Many cannas have striking, large, green or purple foliage and are topped by tropical-looking flowers. Canna ‘Australia’ has deep burgundy-black leaves and red flowers. Just as stunning is ‘Tropicana Black’ whose scarlet-orange flowers sit on top of its purple-black leaves. Cannas are very hardy and easy to grow. Simply cut back the stems in late winter and new leaves will appear when the weather warms up. They will grow in sun or semi-shade.

Make use of ornamental gingers with their striking leaves and stunning flowers. Cane begonias, some of which have spotted leaves, are a must as the pretty flowers last for many weeks.

Use cordylines to provide architectural shape. Look out for newly released Cordyline ‘Cha Cha’ whose young strap-like leaves are apricot and brown, changing to yellow and green as they mature. Flax (Phormium) is just as architectural and its leaves come in a variety of shades. Check out Phormium ‘Border Black’ whose black- tinged leaves have a silvery grey reverse.

The very large, bold leaves of taro (Colocasia esculenta) make a statement. The cultivar ‘Black Magic’ has dramatic, large purplish-black leaves. Taro must have rich, deep, moisture-retentive soil, so add lots of compost or leaf mould to the soil before planting. It may also be grown in a water pot or as a marginal plant beside a pond.

At ground level, make use of the colourful leaves of coleus, beefsteak plant (Iresine), acalypha, bromeliads, Tradescantia pallida, maranta, heuchera, Rex begonias, calathea, caladium and crotons.

Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ has beautiful large leaves as does bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus). Both contrast well with strappy-leaved mondo grass, lomandra, dianella, liriope and clivia. Attach bromeliads, Spanish moss (Tillandsia usenoides), epiphytic orchids, staghorn and elkhorn ferns to tree trunks to complete your tropical oasis.