Tropical Garden
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A tropical garden is a type of
garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...
that features tropical plants and requires heavy rainfall or a decent irrigation or sprinkler system for watering. These gardens typically need
fertilizer A fertilizer or fertiliser is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or other non-nutrient soil amendments. Man ...
and heavy
mulch A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving soil fertility, fertility and health of the soil, reducing Weed control, weed growth, and enhancing the v ...
ing. Tropical gardens are no longer exclusive to tropical areas. Many gardeners in cooler climates are adopting the tropical
garden design Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of garden, gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expe ...
, which is possible through careful choice of plants and flowers. Main features include plants with very large leaves, vegetation that builds in height towards the back of the garden, creating a dense garden. Large plants and small trees hang over the garden, leaving sunlight to hit the ground directly.


Tropical plants

The following are some examples of tropical plants to be used in tropical gardens or as indoor plants.


Hoyas

Hoyas are known as the “Wax Flowers” due to their texture and almost unreal appearance. They need relatively warm and humid conditions, but depending on the specific variety of Hoya, they can endure heavy rainfall for some months during the wet seasons just as they may also be exposed to long dry periods. They are commonly used indoors. They need indirect
light Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be visual perception, perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400– ...
, but the amount or required light depends on the variety. They need small amounts of water and the
soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...
is to be kept slightly dry since a very wet soil can end up killing this kind of plant. They can be grown in pots that are not too big or in hanging baskets. They grow better if kept at a minimum temperature of 15 degree Celsius (59 Fahrenheit).


Banana plants

Contrary to common belief, growing banana trees is not that difficult and allow people to enjoy their own bananas. Also these plants can be used as
windbreak A windbreak (shelterbelt) is a planting usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are commonly planted in hedgerows around the ed ...
s. They need fertile soils, large
mulch A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving soil fertility, fertility and health of the soil, reducing Weed control, weed growth, and enhancing the v ...
and organic matter, large amounts of
nitrogen Nitrogen is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a Nonmetal (chemistry), nonmetal and the lightest member of pnictogen, group 15 of the periodic table, often called the Pnictogen, pnictogens. ...
and
potassium Potassium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol K (from Neo-Latin ) and atomic number19. It is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to easily cut with a knife. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to ...
, warm temperature, high humidity, large amounts of water, and shelter from other banana plants. Banana plants are not to be exposed to strong
wind Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...
s and extreme weather conditions (too hot or too cold weather) with an ideal temperature being 26-30 degree Celsius (78-86 Fahrenheit). They stop growing below 14 degree Celsius (57 Fahrenheit). Banana rhizomes are planted upright and their roots have to be well covered with soil.


Bird of paradise

Among the many species commonly called birds of paradise is '' Strelitzia reginae'', a plant indigenous to
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
and
South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...
. As a tropical plant, it grows in warm, humid climates. This exotic, colorful plant with evergreen
leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
resembles a bird's beak. It is an outdoor plant, provided the weather is not too cold. Otherwise, it is better to keep it in a pot indoors. It needs rich soil as well as full sun or partial shade. Another requirement for this plant is good
drainage Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of a surface's water and sub-surface water from an area with excess water. The internal drainage of most agricultural soils can prevent severe waterlogging (anaerobic conditions that harm root gro ...
.


Ferns

Ferns are commonly used to give gardens a great foliage. Most ferns are easy to take care of. They basically cannot be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. Moreover, their soil should always be moist. One way to keep ferns moist is by misting them.


Papaya tree

Papaya trees should be planted where they can be kept warm and free from wind and freeze. They need enough water to support their leaves, but it should not be excessive, which can lead to
root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
rot. They also need a well-drained soil.


Orchids

Night temperatures between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius (55-65 Fahrenheit), and day temperatures between 23 and 26 degree Celsius (75-80 Fahrenheit) are fine temperatures for orchids. Orchids need sufficient amounts of light as well as humidity. However, there are many varieties of orchids and each of them features specific care needs.


Maintenance

A tropical garden is one of the most difficult types of garden to build and maintain; it becomes more difficult the more the local climate differs from the plants' natural
habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...
. The keys to a healthy tropical garden are plentiful light and water. The large leaves that feature in tropical plants require the soil to be humid at all times, so
irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering of plants) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has bee ...
is essential for some gardens. Over-watering causes the roots to rot, killing plants. A tropical plant that is not cold-hardy should be brought indoors during the winter and returned to the garden for the summer.


Non-tropical climates

Tropical and tropical-style plants that work well in milder non-tropical climates include: * '' Abutilon megapotamicum'' * '' Acanthus mollis'' * '' Aechmea recurvata'' * '' Agapanthus'' * ''
Albizia julibrissin ''Albizia julibrissin'', the Persian silk tree, pink silk tree, or mimosa tree, is a species of tree in the Fabaceae family, native to Western Asia, southwestern and East Asia, eastern Asia. Taxonomy It was introduced to Europe in the mid-18th ...
'' * '' × Amarcrinum'' * '' Amorphophallus bulbifer'' * '' Aspidistra elatior'' * '' Asplenium scolopendrium'' * '' Aucuba'' * ''
Araucaria araucana ''Araucaria araucana'', commonly called the monkey puzzle tree, monkey tail tree, pewen, pehuen pine or piñonero, is an evergreen tree belonging to the family Araucariaceae and growing to a trunk diameter of and a height of . It is native to ...
'' * '' Begonia grandis'' * '' Begonia sikkimensis'' * '' Berberis eurybracteata'' * '' Billbergia nutans'' * '' Bletilla'' * '' Butia'' * '' Canna'' * '' Calanthe'' * '' Campsis'' * '' Cardiocrinum * '' Catalpa'' * '' Cautleya'' * '' Choisya ternata'' * ''
Colocasia ''Colocasia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions. The names elephant-ear and ...
'' * '' Cordyline australis'' * '' Corynabutilon'' * '' Crocosmia'' * '' Crinodendron hookerianum'' * ''
Cypripedium ''Cypripedium'' is a genus of 58 species and nothospecies of hardy Orchidaceae, orchids; it is one of five genera that together compose the subfamily of lady's slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae). They are widespread across much of the Northern He ...
'' * '' Cyrtomium falcatum'' * '' Dicksonia antarctica'' * ''
Embothrium coccineum ''Embothrium coccineum'', Chilean firetree or Chilean firebush, commonly known in Chile and Argentina as ''notro'', ''ciruelillo'' and ''fósforo'' is a small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. It grows in the temperate for ...
'' * '' Eriobotrya japonica'' * '' Eucalyptus gunnii'' * '' Eucomis'' * '' Euphorbia mellifera'' * '' Farfugium japonicum'' * '' Fargesia'' * '' Fascicularia'' * '' × Fatshedera'' * '' Fatsia'' * '' Ficus carica'' * ''
Fuchsia magellanica ''Fuchsia magellanica'' – commonly known as the hummingbird fuchsia, hardy fuchsia or chilco (from "watery") – is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family (botany), family Onagraceae, native to the lower Southern Cone of ...
'' * '' Gardenia jasminoides'' * '' Griselinia littoralis'' * '' Gunnera manicata'' * '' Haberlea'' * ''
Hedera algeriensis ''Hedera algeriensis'', the Algerian ivy, is a species of evergreen ivy native to the North African coast, including coastal mountains in Algeria.Verhaeghe, P. 2004. Clef des plantes sarmenteuses rustiques en Belgique. ''Taxonomania'' 11:1-26 D ...
'' * '' Hedychium'' * '' Heptapleurum taiwanianum'' * '' Hibiscus coccineus'' * '' Hibiscus moscheutos'' * '' Incarvillea delavayi'' * '' Jasminum officinale'' * '' Jubaea'' * '' Kalopanax'' * '' Kniphofia * '' Lobelia tupa'' * ''
Magnolia grandiflora ''Magnolia grandiflora'', commonly known as the southern magnolia or bull bay, is a tree of the family Magnoliaceae native to the Southeastern United States, from Virginia to central Florida, and west to East Texas. Reaching in height, it is a ...
'' * '' Manihot grahamii'' * '' Matteuccia'' * '' Musa basjoo'' * '' Musa sikkimensis'' * '' Musella'' * ''
Nelumbo nucifera ''Nelumbo nucifera'', also known as the pink lotus, sacred lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant taxon, extant species of aquatic plant in the Family (biology), family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a ...
'' * '' Paris polyphylla'' * '' Passiflora caerulea'' * '' Passiflora incarnata'' * '' Paulownia'' * '' Phormium'' * '' Phyllostachys'' * '' Pittosporum tobira'' * '' Pleioblastus fortunei'' * '' Pleione formosana'' * '' Podocarpus salignus'' * '' Polystichum acrostichoides'' * '' Pseudopanax'' * '' Rhapidophyllum'' * ''
Rheum palmatum ''Rheum palmatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family (botany), family Polygonaceae. It is commonly called Chinese rhubarb, ornamental rhubarb, Turkey rhubarb or East Indian rhubarb. ''Rheum palmatum'' is a herbaceous peren ...
'' * '' Rhododendron sinogrande'' * '' Ricinus'' * ''
Roscoea ''Roscoea'' is a genus of perennial plants of the family (biology), family Zingiberaceae (the ginger family). While most members of the ginger family are tropical, ''Roscoea'' species are native to cooler mountainous regions of the Himalayas, C ...
'' * '' Sabal minor'' * '' Salvia guaranitica'' * '' Sauromatum venosum'' * '' Saxifraga stolonifera'' * '' Struthiopteris spicant'' * '' Tasmannia lanceolata'' * '' Tetrapanax'' * '' Tigridia pavonia'' * '' Titanotrichum'' * '' Trachelospermum jasminoides'' * ''
Trachycarpus ''Trachycarpus'' is a genus of ten species of Arecaceae, palms native to Asia, from the Himalaya east to eastern China. They are fan palms (subfamily Coryphoideae), with the leaf, leaves with a bare petiole terminating in a rounded fan of numerou ...
'' * '' Wollemia'' * '' Yucca'' * '' Zantedeschia * '' Zingiber mioga''


Gallery

Image:Gatorpl.jp
Gator Pride Hibiscus
Image:Double hibiscus.jpg, Double Hibiscus Image:Canna AugusteFerrier 1679.jpg, Canna 'Auguste Ferrier'


Attractions

Many attractions feature tropical gardens, including: * Alma Park Zoo, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia * Kuranda Scenic Railway, Dakabin, Queensland * Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada * Flor og Fjære,
Stavanger, Norway Stavanger, officially the Stavanger Municipality, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the ...
* Cedarvale Botanic Garden and Restaurant, Davis, Oklahoma, USA * Reiman Gardens,
Ames, Iowa Ames () is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately north of Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines in central Iowa. It is the home of Iowa State University (ISU). According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Ames ha ...


See also

*
List of garden types A wide range of garden types exist. Below is a list of examples. By country of origin *Chinese garden **Lingnan garden, Cantonese garden **Sichuanese garden *Dutch garden *Gardens of ancient Egypt, Egyptian garden *English garden * ...


References

{{Horticulture and Gardening Types of garden