Trees and Shrubs for a Tropical Garden
Trees and Shrubs for a Tropical Garden
Create an exotic staycation destination in your own backyard.
Create a relaxing and convincing jungle atmosphere by planting densely and
diversely to mimic the look of a natural landscape.
Tall Shrubs 5’ to 10’ + for a tropical look
Large hedges made from lacy foliage
will offer privacy, while leaves gently rustle in the breeze. Maximize their
textural impact by planting alongside different leaf shapes and sizes. Tall
growing tree-ferns like Dicksonia Antarctica and Cyathea cooperi offer a unique
palm-like accent ideal to create the illusion of depth in your backyard jungle.
-
Abutilon species (Flowering Maple) *available spring through fall
Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' (Bamboo)
Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess' (Bamboo)
Brunfesia pauciflora (Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow) *available spring through fall
Buddleia davidii (Butterfly Bush) *available spring through fall
Canna (Canna Lily) *available spring through fall
Ceasalpinia pulcherrima (Mexican Bird of Paradise) *available late spring through fall
Cestrum nocturnum (Night Blooming Jessamine) *available spring through fall
Cordyline (some)
Cyathea cooperi (Australian Tree Fern)
Dicksonia Antarctica (Tasmanian Tree Fern)
Hibiscus species *available spring through fall
Plumbago *available spring through fall
Plumeria species (Frangipani) *available spring through fall
Podocarpus elongatus (Icee Blue® Yellowwood)
Podocarpus gracillior (Fern Podocarpus)
Abutilon species (Flowering Maple) *Available spring through fall
Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' (Bamboo) *available early Spring through Fall
Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess' (Bamboo) *available early Spring through Fall
Brunfelsia pauciflora (Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow) *Available spring through fall
Buddleia davidii (Butterfly Bush) *Available spring through fall
Canna (Canna Lily) *Available spring through fall
Ceasalpinia pulcherrima (Mexican Bird of Paradise) *Available late spring through fall
Cestrum nocturnum (Night Blooming Jessamine) *Available spring through fall
Cordyline
Cyathea cooperi (Australian Tree Fern)
Dicksonia Antarctica (Tasmanian Tree Fern)
Hibiscus *available Spring through Fall
Plumbago *Available spring through fall
Plumeria species (Frangipani) *Available spring through fall
Podocarpus elongatus (Icee Blue® Yellowwood)
Podocarpus gracilior (Fern Podocarpus)
Vines for a tropical look
A rainforest would not be complete without wandering vines, growing up trees, over fences, or arbors. These evergreen plants will make your garden a tropical destination year-round, and feature flowers for color or fragrance throughout the year.
- Bignonia species (Crossvine) *available spring through fall
- Bougainvillea species *available spring through fall
- Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper)
- Distictus buccinatora 'Rivers' (Royal Trumpet Vine)
- Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig)
- Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine) *available winter through spring
- Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine) *available late winter through spring
- Jasminum sambac (Arabian Jasmine) *available spring through fall
- Mandevilla species *available spring through fall
- Pandorea jasminoides (Pink Bower Vine)
- Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascar jasmine)
- Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)
Bignonia species (Crossvine) *Available spring through fall
Bougainvillea *available Spring through Fall
Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper)
Distictus buccinatora 'Rivers' (Royal Trumpet Vine)
Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine) *Available winter through spring
Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine) *Available late winter through spring
Jasminum sambac (Arabian Jasmine) *Available spring through fall
Mandevilla species *Available spring through fall
Pandorea jasminoides (Pink Bower Vine)
Stephanotis floribunda (Madagascar jasmine)
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)
Trees for a tropical look
Begin
by choosing trees for upright evergreen structure-- Palms offer dappled shade
and soothing movement growing to 40 feet or more, while Citrus trees are
typically more compact, featuring fragrance and colorful edible fruit to complete
your oasis experience.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (King palm)
Cassia leptophylla (Gold Medallion Tree) *available spring through fall
Citrus species (Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Tangerines, and more)
Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen palm)
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (King palm)
Cassia leptophylla (Gold Medallion Tree) *available spring through fall
Citrus species (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Tangerine, and more)
Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen palm)
Medium Shrubs 3 ft.to 5 ft. for a tropical look
Use these medium height shrubs to create an understory planting, using two to three varieties in alternating sequence. Perfume the air with the sweet-smelling blooms of Pittosporum 'Wheeler's Dwarf' and Gardenia. Add striking upright sculptural accents with Strelitzia reginae 'Bird of Paradise', Cordyline, and Phormium.
- Asclepias species *available spring through fall
- Cordyline species (some)
- Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm)
- Gardenia species
- Phoenix roebelinii (Pygmy Date Palm)
- Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax)
- Pittosporum 'Wheeler's Dwarf' (Dwarf Mock Orange)
- Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise)
Asclepias species *Available spring through fall
Cordyline
Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm)
Gardenia species
Phoenix roebelini (Pygmy Date Palm)
Phormium tenax
Pittosporum 'Wheeler's Dwarf' (Dwarf Mock Orange)
Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise)
Low Shrubs 2 ft. to 3 ft. for a tropical look
Create a dense jungle-inspired border filled with touchable plants like Ferns and Acacia. Be sure to leave a little room to accent your forest floor with colorful blooming perennials and annuals throughout the seasons.
- Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt'
- Asparagus Meyeri (Foxtail Fern)
- Asplenium bulbiferum (Mother Fern)
- Asplenium hybrid 'Austral Gem™' (Bird's Nest Fern)
- Clivia miniata (Belgian Lily) *available late winter through fall
- Pittosporum 'Cream De Mint™' (Variegated Dwarf Mock Orange)
- Rumohra adiantiformis (Leather Leaf Fern)
Acacia cognata ‘Cousin Itt’
Asparagus Meyeri (Foxtail Fern)
Asplenium bulbiferum (Mother Fern)
Asplenium hybrid ‘Austral Gem™’ (Bird's Nest Fern)
Clivia miniata (Kaffir Lily) *Available late winter through fall
Pittosporum ‘Cream De Mint™‘ (Variegated Dwarf Mock Orange)
Rumohra adiantiformis (Leather Leaf Fern)
We can plan & plant your dream garden
Armstrong Home Landscape Design
Let us create a beautiful unique landscape in your home, based on your needs and preferences. A local Armstrong landscape designer will walk your landscape with you discussing your lifestyle while assessing the existing garden conditions. Then, they'll create a custom hand-drawn landscape design diagram & plant list, which we can bring to life with Armstrong certified installers. Receive a $499 design rebate credited to your invoice when you purchase $3,000 of plants and materials from your design.
