There are five plants you can grow in your garden to create a tropical heaven, according to one expert.
Gardening is a rewarding hobby for many people but with so many plants and flowers out there, it can be hard to decide what kind of plants and flowers to grow.
Gardeners also have to consider how much space they have in their gardens and think about pet safety if they own any animals.
Michael Griffiths is a gardening expert and brand ambassador for Dobbies Garden Centres.
Known as The Mediterranean Gardener online, he regularly gives gardening advice, tips and tutorials on social media. He recently posted a video on TikTok naming five plants to create a “tropical vibe” in your garden.
1. Musa basjoo
Starting off his video, Griffiths said: “Number one is the hardiest of banana plants, musa basjoo. You can grow it in a pot or the ground in full or partial sun.”
While commonly known as the Japanese banana or hardy banana, Musa basjoo is now thought to originate from the Sichuan province of China, according to GardenersWorld.Com. The hardy banana plant grows to the size of a small tree so gardeners are “often shocked when the foliage dies back when the first frosts arrive.”
The gardening resource adds: “This is nothing to worry about, though – think of it as an enormous herbaceous perennial that, in the UK climate, dies back in winter to the roots and will quickly produce new growth in spring. In the UK, when temperatures warm in spring, Musa basjoo will grow quickly to produce large, exotic leaves and will thrive with regular watering and feeding to sustain this growth.”
2. Phoenix palm
Griffiths then moved on to discuss phoenix palm which he described as a large palm tree with deep green leaves and a stout trunk. He mentioned that in a hot summer, the plant will produce “drooping bunches of creamy yellow flowers.”
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises to grow phoenix palm under glass or as a houseplant in a peat-free loam-based compost in bright, indirect light. It says when in growth, water moderately and feed with a balanced fertiliser once a month.
The plant should be watered sparingly in winter and if moved outside during summer, put it in a sunny sheltered position with some midday shade.
3. Dicksonia antarctica
Griffiths continued: “Dicksonia antarctica is an incredible evergreen tree fern that’s comfortable in the shade. Its thick mass of roots form a trunk from which long fronds appear.”
The RHS’s description of this plant on its website reads: “Evergreen tree fern, but deciduous in colder areas, growing slowly to 4m in height, with a stout reddish-brown stem and a terminal rosette of arching, deeply divided, glossy dark green fronds to 3m in length.” The gardening charity recommends growing Dicksonia antarctica outdoors in a moist but well-drained humus-rich soil.
4. Canna lily
After this, the Dobbies brand ambassador discussed canna lilies, which offer height and “fantastic foliage.” Griffiths elaborated: “These impressive tender perennials flower from June to October.”
The RHS describes canna lilies as “vibrant tender perennials that produce bold leaves and showy flowers in shades of red, orange, yellows and pinks.” It notes that it is a “useful summer bedding plant for both containers and borders, but does well in cool conservatories in summer.”
5. Red hot pokers
The final plant Griffiths named were red hot pokers which he admitted are not technically tropical but give that “vibe.” He said this plant has “amazing blooms that come in a range of fiery colours”, has a long flowering season and “look incredible when planted on mass.”
According to the RHS, red hot pokers flower from March to November and make “rewarding and often long-lived garden plants.” It adds: “Their distinctively-shaped blooms are among the most spectacular of hardy flowers, and their long season means that by careful plant choice gardeners can enjoy them between spring and late autumn.”
