The Tropical Look - Zone 8 Gardening

The Tropical Look

Eric Stormer

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Norfolk, Virginia

Design Considerations

The Tropical Look

Creating Space – Frameworks

Frameworks

Creating Space - Patterns

Hardscapes - Patterns

Water Features

Bilateral Symmetry

Asymmetric Balance

Form & Texture

Transitions

Transitions

Viewpoints

Viewpoints - The Approach

Viewpoints – From the House

Viewpoints – Containers

Textures

Creating Space - Allées

Creating Space - Forms

Creating Space - Forms

Topography

Plant Selections

The Tropical Look

FLOWERING HERBACEOUS PLANTS

The Tropical Look

Canna Lily Canna x generalis

Hardy Hibiscus Hibiscus moscheutos

Hibiscus coccinea

Lily of the Nile Agapanthus africanus

Crinum Lily

Crinum x digweedii, ‘Stars and Stripes’

Crinum, ‘Ellen Bosanquet’

Crinum Lily

Crinum, ‘Sangria’

Crinum, ‘Ollene’

X Crinodonna corsii ‘Fred Howard’

Peruvian Daffodil Ismene festalis

Rain Lily Zephyranthes

Eucomis, ‘Sparkling Burgundy’

Japanese Iris Iris japonica

Garden Dahlia Dahlia x hybrida

Hardy Begonia Begonia grandis

Hardy Orchid Bletilla

B. ochracea, ‘Chinese Butterfly’ B. striata

Curcuma zeodaria

Crepe Ginger, Spiral Ginger Cheilocostus speciosus

Ginger Lily Hedychium

H. ‘Daniel Weeks’

H. ‘Dr. Moy’

H. coronarium

Red Spiral Ginger Costus comosus

Variegated Japanese Ginger Zingiber mioga cvs.

Z. mioga, ‘Dancing Crane’ Z. mioga, ‘White Feather’

FOLIAGE PLANTS

The Tropical Look

King Sago Cycas revoluta

Cycas revoluta

Ceratozamia latifolia

Taro Alocasia macrorrhizos

Colocasia

C. ‘Black Coral’ C. ‘Blue Hawaii’

Angel Wings Caladium x hortulanum

Honey Bush Melianthus major

M. ‘Purple Haze’

Century Plants Agave spp.

A. americana

A. flexispina

A. ‘Silver Surfer’

A. neomexicana A. ovatifolia

Prickly Pear Opuntia gosseliniana

Opuntia, ‘Mesa Melon’

Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'

Opuntia erinacea var. ursina

Yucca gloriosa

Castor Bean Ricinus communis

Rice-paper Plant Tetrapanax papyrifera

Umbrella Plant Schefflera delavayi

Japanese Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira

Musa basjoo

Musa sikkimensis

Musa sikkimensis, ‘Red Tiger’

Musa textilis

Musa velutina

Japanese Aralia Fatsia japonica

New Zealand Flax Phormium tenax

Hardy Tapioca Manihot grahamii

Aucuba japonica, ‘Mangetsu’

Umbrella Plant Cyperus alternifolius

Spiny Rhubarb Gunnera manicata

Spiny Rhubarb Gunnera manicata

GRASSES

The Tropical Look

Japanese Forest Grass Hakanachloa macra ‘Aureola’

Bamboo Phyllostachys

P. aureosulcata spectabilis

P. nigra P. nigra, ‘Henon’ P. aureosculcata

TREES

The Tropical Look

Large Leaf Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla

Japanese Yew Podocarpus macrophyllus

Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora

Japanese Blue Oak Quercus glauca

Trifoliate Orange Poncirus trifoliata

Mimosa Albizia julibrissin

Mimosa, ‘Summer Chocolate’

Catalpa Catalpa speciosa

China Fir Cunninghamia lanceolata ‘glauca’

Cunninghamia, ‘Chason’s Gift’

Empress Tree Paulownia tomentosa

Dogwood Cornus elliptica

Sweet Viburnum Viburnum odoritissimum, ‘Awabuki’

PALMS

The Tropical Look

Windmill Palm Trachycarpus fortunei

Trachycarpus wagnerianus

T. takil

Trachycarpus takil

Needle Palm Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Washington, DC

Pindo Palm Butia capitata

California Desert Palm Washingtonia filifera

Sabal spp.

Sabal minor

Sabal palmetto

Mexican Fan Palm Washingtonia robusta

European Fan Palm Chamaerops humilis

VINES

The Tropical Look

Confederate Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides

Evergreen Wisteria Millettia reticulata

Trumpet Vine Campsis radicans

Flame Lily Gloriosa superba

Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, ‘Tangerine Beauty’

FLOWERING SHRUBS

The Tropical Look

Lantana Lantana camara

Flowering Maple Abutilon

A. ‘Bartley Schwarz’ A. ‘Canary Bird’

Abutilon ‘Pink Charm’ Abutilon, ‘Orange Hot Lava’

Princess Flower Tibouchina urvilleana

Cestrum

Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’

Cestrum auranticum

Smoke Bush Cotinus coggyria

Pineapple Guava Acca sellowiana

Chaste Tree Vitex angus-castus

Nerium oleander

Anise Illicium spp. and cvs.

Cape Leadwort Plumbago auriculata

Angel’s Trumpet Brugmansia hybrid

Devil’s Trumpet Datura metel

Crepe Myrtle Lagerstroemia hybrid

Chaste Tree Vitex angus - castus

Chaste Tree Vitex angus - castus

GROUND COVERS

The Tropical Look

Ground Covers

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra elatior cvs.

Lilyturf

Liriope muscari ‘Majestic’

Mondo Grass

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ Golden Variegated Sweet Flag

Acorus gramineus, ‘Ogon’

Ferns

Autumn Fern

Dryopteris, ‘Brilliance’

Hart’s Tongue Fern

Asplenium scolopendrium

Japanese Painted Fern

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Christmas Fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

The End

Questions?

eric.stormer@vt.edu