The Plant Lady: Need a tropical oasis? Here are tips for the best at-home respite

As temperatures reach the century mark and humidity drops to 20 percent, most of us crave a tropical oasis. When creating a tropical vibe in your garden, consider a few key points when selecting plants. Aim for large leaves, bright vibrant flowers and fragrance. While most tropical plants don’t make it through our winter and suffer in the dry heat of summer, there are numerous plants that give a tropical ambiance while handling our Mediterranean climate.

Canna

The easiest plant to grow for a tropical effect has to be the Canna lily Tropicanna. The foliage is vibrant hues of orange and red that make a great backdrop to many plants. The orange flowers simply add to the pizzazz of this cultivar. Plant in partial shade for the best growth. The foliage will die down in winter, so maintenance is simply cleaning up the spent leaves. If and when the plant gets crowded, dig up the rhizomes when dormant and divide.

Brugmansia ~ Angel’s Trumpet

This plant is a show-stopper when in bloom. The long (8-10 inches), fragrant, pendulous flowers hang down in clusters in spring and sporadically until fall. When grown in a protected winter location (i.e. a south-facing wall), it can become a woody tree/shrub. When in a more open area, it will die down and regrow from the base in spring. Cultivar colors range from white, peach, yellow, pink, orange and doubles. Charles Grimaldi is one of the most popular cultivars for its fragrance and peach-colored flowers.

Pruning is minimal – just shape and remove broken and dead growth. For a more thorough pruning, do so directly after flowering or in fall, as blooms are produced on new spring growth. Avoid pruning below the “Y” junction of branch formation.

Note: The leaves and seeds of Brugmansia are toxic, so if you have young kids that like to forage, use caution.

Hedychium

The fragrance of this ginger relative will take you away to the coast of a tropical island. Cultivars include white and peach/yellow flowers, but it is the fragrance that really sets it apart. Plant along an east wall to protect it from direct afternoon sun and to provide some winter protection. The plant will spread by rhizomes, so to maintain and thin, simply dig them up.

Justicia carnea ~ Brazilian plume flower

The Brazilian Plume Flower is surprisingly hardy in the Sacramento region. The bubblegum pink flowers cover the whole plant (3-4 feet tall) sporadically midspring through summer and act as a hummingbird magnet. To prevent sunburn, Justicia is best grown among other plants for midday shade. Justicia does well either in a pot or in the ground, but needs more frequent watering than Mediterranean plants.

Colocasia esculenta ~ Black Magic

This large-leafed taro plant has a beautiful dark purple foliage that stands out among most green plants. Growing to 3 to 6 feet tall, this Colocasia does best in a shady location. It can also handle being grown in a pot in a pond. When the plant gets crowded or too big, dig up and divide when dormant. And yes, the corms are edible on this species.

Begonia argenteo-guttata

The large red-and-white spotted leaves of this Begonia give a tropical feel to any garden. While it is a reliable houseplant, it does just fine growing outside in Zone 9 in a dappled shady spot. The canes reach upwards of 4 feet tall, but can easily be pruned down to keep the plant compact. The orange flower clusters add to the aesthetics of this beauty. During winter it may die down, but will come back in spring. This Begonia is easily propagated by stem cuttings.

Cycas revoluta ~ Sago Palm

Not a true palm — it’s a cycad — this plant will eventually reach 12 feet tall in 40 years. Sago palms do best in well-draining soil and a bit of afternoon shade. They have a low water requirement — twice a week at most during the summer. They will eventually produce offshoots which can be cut/dug off and potted up. Maintenance is minimal. Simply remove lower aging leaves.

With age, cycads will produce either a female or male cone from the center of their growth point. The seeds produced on the female cone are highly poisonous to humans and most animals (foliage is as well, but at a lower toxicity). If this is a concern, cut the cone off at the base before seeds mature.

Philodendron selloum

Of all the Philodendrons, this species handles USDA Zone 9 gardening the best, while being an easy plant to grow. With its large (18-24 inches) glossy green leaves, it will turn any spot in your garden/patio into the tropics. Grow in a pot on a protected patio or plant close to the house for winter frost protection. Over time, this plant will get tall — 20 feet if allowed to scramble up a tree. To maintain shape and size, prune at any growth point. The sections cut off can easily be rooted in pumice or soil.

Passion Vine

The intricate flowers of passion vines are always a showstopper. Give a bit of afternoon shade to allow the vine to grow to its full potential. The most common edible fruiting species that do well in USDA zone 9 climate are Passiflora edulis and Passiflora caerulea. Make sure to eat the fruit when fully ripe — in fact, let them fall off the vine for optimum sweetness.