Exotic Gardening in Temperate Climates

Tropical plants, while once confined to the warmer reaches of the globe, are rapidly gaining popularity in more temperate climates. People are now realizing that a more exotic landscape can be attained with nothing more than a little extra work on their part. Exotic gardening is possible in most of the United States, Europe and even southern Canada. Warm to hot summers will allow the garden to thrive.

Site Selection and Preparation

Locate a site on your property where a tropical garden will have the best chance of succeeding. Look for a sunny to partly shady area that is preferably free from existing plants and shrubs. Work over the soil and add ample compost. The compost will assist in your soil’s ability to drain as most exotic plants hate wet feet. It also adds nutrients to the ground which will enhance your plant growth.

Banana Plants and Elephant Ears

Now that you found an ideal planting site and worked over the soil, it is time to get your plants. To obtain a lush tropical landscape, look for plants with a lot of foliage. Banana plants and elephant ears really fit the bill here. Both rapidly grow to fill out the landscape beautifully. Look for the cold hardy versions of both. For bananas, look for species like Musa Basjoo, Musa Velutina and Musa Lasiocarpa. For elephant ears, Black Magic, Illustrious and Green Runner are the most hardy. Protection of these plants is simple. If you live in USDA zone 7 or higher, you will most likely have success just cutting them back and mulching after the first frost. Colder than USDA zone 7, when the first frost hits in the fall, cut them back, dig and store in the basement for planting next spring.

Cold Hardy Palm Trees

Cold hardy palm trees are another must-have item in your garden. Some very cold hardy palm trees include the Chinese Windmill Palm, the Dwarf Palmetto and the Needle Palm. These are hardy to at least 5 degrees F and are undoubtedly a staple in any tropical landscape. While recommended for USDA zone 7 and warmer, colder zones do successfully grow these cold hardy palms with more stringent winterizing techniques. One technique is to build a leaf cage around the palm and tarp it to keep the moisture out. Another is mummy wrapping it with insulation and a plastic tarp. Both methods also benefit by wrapping Christmas lights around the palm and trunk to increase survivability odds.

Filling The Beds

Now that you have your site located, amended, and your plants purchased, the easy part has arrived. Lay out the plants in your newly created garden. Take time to ensure that as they mature, they will not crowd each other out. Once the layout is to your liking, you may sow your lovely exotic plants. Once planted, water the garden thoroughly. This will ensure the plants have adequate soil to root contact and reduce the chances of air pockets in the soil. Air pockets lead to root death and plant decline. Lastly, mulch the area. Mulch keeps the soil moist in between watering and keeps the weeds at bay.

Dress It Up

If you desire to give the garden a little more zest, plant colorful annual flowers in between the permanent plants. These colorful flowers will fill the gap between the tropical plants until they become established in your garden. Doing this will certainly help your exotic oasis pop that first year.