A Tropical Paradise -- Outside the Tropics

By: Sandra Nelson

June 13, 2020

By Sandra Nelson

Lush, vibrant, idyllic. — A place to kick back and relax in luscious, green surroundings. . The gentle murmur of falling water and the perfumed fragrances of summer flowers — the perfect vacation spot, but in your own backyard! The key to creating this personal tropical paradise — no matter where you live — is choosing the right plants, then using them in the right way.

Before you begin buying your plants, it pays to spend a few minutes thinking about what a tropical rainforest really looks like. Understanding the basic structure can make it easier to recreate an authentic look on a smaller scale.

Layering is an essential element of a jungle. A true jungle has four interconnected layers, the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory and the floor, each teeming with its own forms of vegetation and wildlife. The emergent layer is the brightest level, rising high above the others and is usually characterized by the tallest trees with mushroom shaped crowns. While not absolutely necessary for a backyard paradise, a few small, ornamental trees like Korean dogwoods and American redwoods can provide a beautiful backdrop to your private retreat.

The canopy is a dense layer, forming an “umbrella” that protects the plants below from the unrelenting sun of the tropics. Canopy plants, grow quite close together and tend to have longer, thinner trunks with their branches and leaves at the very top. Foliage is typically wide and has a waxy surface that allows water to easily drip off.

The canopy layer is often tied together by epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) and vining plants. Banana trees and rubber trees are common canopy plants, while orchids are typical epiphytes.

The understory, because of the dense vegetation above, is darker than the canopy, providing a cool respite from the harsh summer sun. Plants are not packed quite as tightly together, allowing the eye to absorb the unique, individual character of each plant. Bright colors attract beneficial pollinators and humid conditions suit frogs and salamanders. Many of today’s houseplants originated in the understory. Passion flowers, zebra plants and ferns are among the plants that grow there.

The forest floor is the darkest level, with less than 2% of the sunlight reaching it. Plants that do grow on the floor are well-adapted to extremely low light. species such as mosses, ferns, ginger and fungi are rampant, but turf grasses simply will not grow. The ground tends to be covered by decaying organic matter.

The vast majority of the land area of the contiguous United States experiences wintertime temperatures that routinely fall at or below freezing, eliminating the use of tender tropicals as part of in-ground planting beds. Instead for those living in colder areas, exotic tropicals need to be containerized and brought inside during the winter frigid months. Since some can become large and heavy over time, using containers with wheeled bases can help make the process of moving plants in and out a little easier.

Another option is to choose plants that are suited to a cold climate, but have characteristics that mimic those that are native to the tropicals. Look for irregularly shaped leaves, interesting textures, rich shades of green and brilliantly colored blooms.

15 Plants for a Tropical Paradise — Outside the Tropics

To get you started, the design staff at Embassy Landscape Group has gathered together a short list of some of their favorite choices for creating a tropical paradise in a cold weather climate.