Tropical Paradise

Tropical landscapes are lush, colorful, and pulsing with life. There are many types of plants suitable for creating a tropical landscaping design whether in beds or in containers. Palm trees (Aceraceae), Plumerias, and Hibiscus are just a few ideas to start with. Sometimes, including very large-leafed plants (like Colocasia, also known as Elephant Ear) creates an optical scale that feels tropical. Also, you can make the illusion of tropical planting with brightly-hued annual flowers like venkas and petunias, all of which are easy to care for, widely available, and suitable for container planting as well.

Because tropical gardens are usually abundant with plants, using rocks as a design element can add some interesting texture and drama. Rocks also hold onto heat, an important factor for regulating the temperature of plants in a hot climate.