A Touch of the Tropics

Whenever I travel to Mexico and Florida, I’m reminded of the enchantment of tropical plants. I enjoy seeing all the beautiful gardens filled with banana trees, giant elephant ears and bold drifts of cannas. Their large, colorful leaves add such a dramatic flair that I was inspired to look for ways to incorporate some tropical style into my garden.

The plants lend an exotic and unexpected feel to an otherwise sedate garden. Because they are so easy to find and so reasonably priced, I use them freely when I want to add some visual interest to the garden. Their tropical nature strikes a relaxed and casual tone, setting a lighthearted and festive mood so they are a natural around water or outdoor entertaining areas.

While the plants are often associated with certain styles of homes, such as Mediterranean, Caribbean, Louisiana raised cottage, or Florida contemporary, I find that they also complement traditional architecture. They help shake up the status quo and provide a touch of textural contrast to a border with frilly and small-leafed foliage. In an outdoor room, a single elephant’s ear in a tall vase on a side table is often just enough.


Give an area of your garden a “vacation feel” by adding lots of tropical beauties. Here are some easy ways to blend these bold and colorful plants into your garden:

• Create a tropical corner on your patio — and accent the plants with bright fabrics, paint and accessories.
• Cluster three or more containers of tropicals together.
• Plant them directly into your beds, or place a container of them as an accent in your flower borders. Cordylines and cannas are ideal in large pots, adding vertical height and foliage color to summer compositions.