Starting a tropical looking garden

First of all hi to everyone, this is my first thread.

I'm hoping to start a tropical garden area and i'm looking for some advice and help from you all, ive been looking around the site for a while and im really impressed with what everyone has achieved.

I live in the west of Ireland and have a untouched area behind my garden that I would like to do something with. the soil is peat and quiet waterlogged at the minute but im hoping to get it drained in the next week or two.

I have a few plants in pots that I have been gathering over the last few weeks and im looking for some suggestions of what to add to it.
I don't mind if the plants arn't truly tropical if they look the part
I have an unheated dome greenhouse that can be used for overwintering and I can probably get away with bringing one or two indoors for the winter

I suppose what I need to know firstly is where to start, what sort of groundwork do I need to do, should I raise the area with added soil, what direction should I have it facing and anything else you can think of.

The site is rectangular and about 40m by 30m. im going to start with a corner maybe a L or U shaped border.

the site is quiet exposed there is a young leylandii hedge planted around the site

thanks for any help, Ill get a list of plants that I have posted in a bit.

 

here is a list of what I have so far

I have 3 cordylines Green
and 2 small red cordylines
2 canary palms
2 windmill palms
Hemerocallis hybrid orange
Montbretia crocosmia emberglow
montbretia crocosmia George davison
2 gunners gigantica
Fatsia japonica
and a few Paulowni elongate that I grew from seed this year
was also thinking of using houttuynia chameleon for some ground colour

was thinking of getting some Dahlia's to the list and probably a few Hostas, any suggestions for these all welcome along with plants to add to the list

Thanks again

 

Hi TMAK and welcome to the forum.

I would think a good starting point would be to look at this thread http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/the-jungle-garden-nick-wilson-leeds.100821/

This was a garden that I went to a week ago and its brilliant. Its just the sort of thing that you are talking about, in so far that it has the tropical look, but all the plants are actually hardy in Yorkshire (colder than you) - though a few have a bit of help. You can also Google "The Jungle Garden Leeds" and possibly see some more pictures. I would start by listing what plants Nick grows and what aspect of his garden you like best. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

When I said all the plants were hardy - that's not quite true. He kept an Ensete "Maurelii" over winter in his hall, with a few other things.

 

Get this sorted and the sky is the limit!

Arisaema are interesting and great foliage plants;
A.costatum.............


A.speciosum.................


A.tortuosum.................


Backed up with Dracunculus vulgaris..................


Dare to be bold for colour. If you can provide a dry spot you have the space for Lobelia tupa............


This is just one plant...............


Solanum laciniatum is not hardy but if you have a greenhouse second year plants in moist ground make impressive foliage plants.................




Again, not hardy but Impatiens niamniamensis makes a great tropical looking plant in a shady spot................


That is one plant. Just take cuttings in the autumn and plant out in the spring.

Beschorneria (this is B.septronalis)..................


Aloe striatula.................


And of course - Canna. This is C.brasiliensis (my favourite)..................


There are a multitude of tropical vines but I think that Bomarea makes a good hardy substitute scrambling through shrubs. B.edulis...................

 

Can't wait to see your pictures of what you create

 

Hi
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions its great to get imput
Peters Im going to have a look at that thread and garden now,
Longk thanks for the great suggestions and pictures, ive never seen some of these plants let alone heard of them, cant wait to start having a scout around ebay and the likes
Bigbore im afraid it could be a while before I have anything worthy of taking a picture of.

I have a machine coming on Tuesday to take care of the drainage and level off the site a bit.

is it getting a bit late to start doing anything this year or should I try and plough ahead and get a good start for next year.

 

Looking forward to this @TMAK

 

May I suggest treeferns, t rex, chusans , chamaerops humillis, brahea armata, black and yellow bamboo, sago palm, echiums, flax, agave americana, yuccas, ponytails...............

If you cant get the drainage sorted id be inclined to plant the plants on mounds sitting a foot above the soil. Incorporate plenty of sand and grit into the compost or soil so water will drain away from the rootball making them hardier and less prone to freezing.

Have a good quality stash of garden fleece just in case of a freeze and be ready to find a few straw bales in case a prolonged freeze is forecast.

Love palms I do

 

End of season is a great time to stock up on end of season bargain buys from the garden centres and especially diy sheds. Its the only time of the year i buy plants and aim for 75% off only. Big plants cheapcheap and foods too.

 

well due to the rubbish weather this bank holiday I ended up in a garden centre, not a lot of choice locally but I managed to pick up a few bits

phormium yellow wave
dwarf fan palm
a little hosta twilight
a dark leaf dahlia, happy single romeo
canna Tropicana
a regular canna
lobelia speciosa fan
smokebush
a new guinea impatiens strike plum
and a few battered impatiens for cuttings
a deep blue salvia

would have loved a longer look but not really possible with a screaming two year old in tow.

Still that should be enough to get me going...

I might try and get a few pics of the site later on and get opinions on the best area to put it, if I can get out between the showers and gales

 

Regarding palms, I tend to go for Trachys mainly, mostly because they will like the high rainfall.
As would tree ferns, if you can keep them out of the wind, Musa basjoo would do well I think, along with Tetrapanax.
I'd give Nerium oleander a go in a hot spot, it struggles in my garden mainly because its too dry, believe it or not.
Good old Fatsia, you could try Feijoa sellowiana, Leptospermum, Eucryphia, large leaved Rhododendrons, the list could go on.

Me, I've alway just tried things, if they dont survive, you move on, but you get some really nice surprises along the way.
Also look for micro climates within you garden, hot spots, slightly warmer winter places near buildings, or dryer spots, it can make the difference sometimes.

 

Which species/cultivar? Check out our Salvia thread..............

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/super-salvias-2015.89807/

For an exotic looking (but tender) Salvia I would certainly recommend S.discolor.................


It sprawls a bit but is just sooooo good..................

My top tip for Lobelia survival is to not cut the stems down until the spring. L.speciosa prefers it a bit on the moister side during the growing season.

Very easy from autumn cuttings in water. Keep them in water over the winter and pot up in the spring.

Check this thread out. A member got caught by the Canna virus trap..................

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/help-planting-first-border.101194/

Pete has inspired me to do this too (easier when you grow mostly from seed) and it is surprising what I get away with. I've now found Tradescantia palida to be hardy. It's an exotic looking groundcover plant................

 

Hey @longk please dont fall into the trap.

Some things are hardy in the UK, some things are hardy for a few years, but if it doesn't grow as a weed, its probably not bone hardy.
I lost a good few things back in 2009 that people were saying were hardy.
One bad winter can wipe out years of growing.

 

Agree, but when it's from seed I can be more blasé about it. I tend to have back-ups. The fact is that some plants are just so much better in the ground so three or so good years makes it worthwhile. Sue has a Fuchsia Thalia which I gave her to plant out - planted next to the airbrick of the house it has not only survived last winter but flourished. Careful siting is the key.
Anyway, you can talk It may get winter protection but you planted your BoP out!