Introduction

Creating a tropical or exotic garden is a great way to make your small space more interesting, unique and appear much larger.  In urban gardens wind and frosts are normally less of an issue, so within their small microclimate tropical plants can thrive in south England, a well as European plants that have an exotic look about them.

What is a tropical garden?

Tropical gardens are bright and bold spaces which try to recreate the feel of tropical environments in a planned garden setting. The key to successfully replicating this feeling in your garden is to draw upon the main characteristic tropical areas are known for, their lush and colourful foliage, a diverse range of plants and dense layering of vegetation, as well as bing largely evergreen.

Things to think about in small spaces:

When it comes to planning your garden it’s important to assess the space you have and how you intend on using it. This could be a balcony or a small courtyard, both of these spaces have potential to be a tropical jungle but should also be functional for your lifestyle as well (e.g. still space to dry your washing outside!). Another important thing to think about in the planning process is the particular conditions of your garden: Does it get full sun? is it sheltered? What’s the soil like? Tropical plants often prefer spots that are more sheltered from the weather and are in indirect sunlight reducing the risk of their leaves getting scorched.

Ways to make your small space into a tropical garden:

The main advice I give clients is to be bold- go with large palms rather then small ones, think about over planting so the tropical leaves weave in amongst each other, and think about achieving colour through the leaves of the plants rather than relying on flowers.

Here are some other ideas on how to transform your small space into a tropical garden.

Layered dense planting is really important in getting that tropical feel into the space. When choosing what plants to add, use a range of heights to create that layering you see in tropical environments. Soft shield ferns are a good option for low ground cover whilst Japanese banana, Trachycarpus palms and Dragon Head Bamboo can represent the upper canopy, creating more shade for the plants below. Using vertical space is a way to maximise the available area for planting, particularly in small gardens as well as adding a more exotic atmosphere through the use of climbers. Trumpet vines (Campsis) which produce beautiful orangey red flowers in the late summer and Passion flowers with their blue and white blooms are great at adding some vibrancy, as well as hiding any unsavoury walls or fences which distract from the tropical vibe. Have a look at Meulenbergia complexa from NZ.

Investing in bigger, more established plants will make your garden seem larger and a more thriving tropical space. Instead of planting a row of small shrubs which can make the space feel more enclosed, vary the ultimate height of plants. In a tropical space the Canary Island date palm is a great suggestion as it can also be grown in a pot for courtyard or balcony gardens.

Containers can be really beneficial, by choosing larger pots it can make the space feel less crowded and more organized compared to lots of small pots huddled together.  Additionally you can group together plants with similar needs such as soil type or water intake to make caring for them an easier task.

From a small bird bath to a sunken pond, incorporating a water feature into your garden can make such a difference to the space. The sound of running water and the reflection off its surface can create a dynamic element making the space feel bigger as it pulls you further into the tropical retreat.

Being playful and drawing on a range of different inspirations mean that even small gardens can be transformed into unique and beautiful escapes giving that tropical sanctuary feel.

Here are some other must have tropical or unusual exotic plants: Persicaria Red Dragon, Euphorbia myrsinitis, Fatsia Spider Web, Cannas, Agapanthus, Chamerops humilis, Bergenia Bressingham Ruby, Nandina range of plants, Abutilon, Tetrapanax, Melianthus, Phormiums and Fatsia Green Fingers.

What to do in July:

Deadhead perennial flowers as they will often create a new flush of buds as you inhibit the energy of the plant going into seed production. Plus the first flush of Hybrid and Patio roses may have finished so deadhead them back to a couple of new, outward facing buds

It is safe to bring any tender plants out from your conservatory now and let me get a good dose of sun now as who knows how long it will last!

Make sure any ponds don’t get swamped with blanket weed

Any shrubs that flowered in June can be cut back eg Weigelia, Choysia and Philadelphius

Any new plants that went in this year will dry out much faster than established plants as their roots are not as plugged into the surrounding soil.

Keep pinching out side shoots on your tomatoes

Keep sowing salad for a continuous crop

Where to go this July:

The National Garden Scheme is still running.

Founded in 1927 the scheme encouraged people to open up their gardens to the public to raise money for the newly formed district nurses role in poor urban areas. It has moved on since then, from “a shilling a head” to raised over 20 million pounds for a variety of charities in the last 10 years.

If you go to the NGS website and type in ‘Sussex’ the dates you are free and you will find many gardens that are opening their gates in July though each garden is just open for a day or two only. Most serve tea and cakes.