Focus on foliage - In my last column Palms featured as the signature plant for subtropical gardens. From tall vertical varieties to bold clumping varieties, they grace the skyline with their striking beauty.

Palms play a star role in a subtropical garden, but there are also many other trees, both flowering and evergreen, shrubs, leafy perennials, bromeliads and colourful climbers to accompany them in the creation of a subtropical garden. In this weeks column, the focus is on foliage.

For designers and gardeners a-like plants with striking foliage offer drama and interest all year round. There is an opportunity to combine them in many interesting combinations to re-create the ambience of the tropics. Leaves vary greatly in structure, size, shape, colour and texture. Foliage plants thrive in both shady and sunny sites. They can bring alive the dullest, darkest part of the garden and they can make the hottest parts of the garden appear lush and restful. The colour green is a refreshing colour and naturally makes for a superb colour to maximize in the garden.

In the rainforests, foliage plants thrive in high humidity, warm, fertile soil and plenty of moisture. Regular mulching and applications of fertiliser ensure fast growing, healthy plants. For a successful flourishing subtropical garden it is important to understand your particular environment and growing conditions before putting any old plant anywhere.

For a ‘jungle effect’ you do not have to just stick to plants from the subtropics. There are many New Zealand natives that mix and mingle happily amongst other subtropical plants, providing an effective green backdrop.

Native plants such as;

Mertya sinclairii - Puka: Its large, glossy leaves and bold form, make it an ideal tree for small gardens.

Griselinia lucida and Griselinia littoralis – Kapuka: A popular choice for landscapers. Its shiny, thick lime coloured leaves make it a superb hardy plant as a hedge or general filler.

Pseudopanax spp. – A versatile shrub, a great filler for a subtropical garden.

Astelia chathemica – Long, silver sword shaped leaves, it makes a stunning accent plant. Astelia’s work well with red foliaged plants such as Iresine herbstii, Cordyline ‘Red fountain’ and Red flax.

Phormium spp. – Flax: Smaller cultivars such as Phormium ‘Greensleeves’ and Phormium ‘Black rage’ are very easy care, making them ideal for massed planting in groups with other coloured flax’s.

Dicksonia spp – Cyathea spp. – Tree ferns: Leafy, tall and graceful, they symbolize lush rainforests. For a shady spot in the garden, you can’t beat our native tree ferns.

Corynocarpus laevigatus – Karaka: Eye-catching native with glossy leaves and fleshy berries which the birds love.

Cordyline australis – Cabbage tree: It’s architectural, striking form fits in nicely with a subtropical garden.

Trees and shrubs
These form the backbone or framework for the rest of the garden. Remember flowers are secondary to foliage. Trees and shrubs in a subtropical garden are chosen for their form and ability to look stunning all year round. Some create a canopy effect and others act as general fillers. They can be edible, as well as ornamental, such as the impressive Musa genus, the banana. Most require a really warm micro-climate and are gross feeders, so regular mulching and fertilising is important. The striking dwarf ornamental species Musa velutina is one of the smallest species and is suitable for the smaller garden. Other edibles that compliment an exotic foliaged garden are; Avocados, Guava, Feijoa’s, Paw Paw, Cape Gooseberry, Papaya, Cherimoya and Tamarillo. There are many other fruiting trees that are worth growing, I would suggest reading a more comprehensive book on the subject.

Here is a list of suggested trees and shrubs I have personally used in Auckland gardens to create a lush foliage garden. It is by no means a comprehensive list. In my next column I will show case plants that not only have fabulous foliage but have flowers also.

Canopy
Mertya sinclairii – Puka
Ensete and Musa spp. - Banana palms
Schefflera actinophylla - Australian umbrella tree
Strelitizi nicolai - Giant bird of Paradise
Cyathea and Dicksonia spp. – Tree ferns
Ficus elastica – Indian rubber tree
Bambusa spp – Bamboo
Cordyline australis – Cabbage tree
Palms

Understory and fillers
Fatsia japonica – Fatsia
Pseudopanax spp.
Alocasia and Colocasia spp – Taro
Strelitizi regine
Astelia spp.
Griselinia lucida and Griselinia littoralis
Monstera deliciosa
Philodendron bipinnatifidum
Ligularia reniformis
Heliconia subulata – Lobstar claw
Phoenix roebelinii - Dwarf date palm

Smaller, groundcover plants
Asplenium bulbiferum – Fern
Fatsia japonica – Fatsia
Pseudopanax spp.
Hymenospernum flavum ‘Gold nugget’ – dwarf Australian frangipani
Philodendron ‘Xanadau’
Iresine herbstii – Bloodsteak plant
Phormium spp – Flax
Ophiopogon spp. – Green and black mondo
Lirope muscari
Clivia miniata
Ajuga reptans

Accent plants
Aloe spp.
Agave attenuata
Beaucarnea recurvata - Pony tail palm
Cycad revoluta – Sago palm
Dracena draco - Dragon tree
Yucca elephantipes - Yucca
Cordyline nigra and Caruba
Dracena marginata
Lepidozamia peroffskyana

Sandra is an award-winning designer based in Auckland.

Sandra Batley Dip LD
FLOURISH

www.flourishgardens.co.nz

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