Tropical type plants

[porschebabe]

I am planning to do a small area of my garden with a tropical theme. Its round the corner of my bungalow, get the sun from about 9.00 until about 3.00 in the afternoon. I would like things like bamboo and hardy tropical looking plants. I already have a shed/summerhouse which I am planning to paint a nice bright colour to add to the theme. Planning on having bark or shells to keep the weeds at bay. Any ideas for plants. It is quite sheltered too, so no real problems with chilly winds except in depths of winter. Suggest away please!!

[woofgang]

Lucky you!! Try Fatsia japonica for large lush leaves and a big plant, Trachelospermum jasminoides for a glossy leaved climber with small starshaped jsmine scented flowers. Both of these are easy to grow, fairly easy to find in garden centres and not to expensive to buy

[porschebabe]

Thanks Woofgang, You are a mine of information. Do you know anything about what type of palm I could safely plant?? Porschebabe

[woofgang]

sorry, i'm not a palm person. You could go to the website www.expertgardener.com and ask there.

[quattro]

Bamboo is easy to grow and is hardy palms need to be protected from frost and are best suited to being in a container as they like neutral soil and that way you could move them inside your shed in the winter . Staying with that theme you could try orange and lemon trees as they are available for conservatory use as long as they are kept indoors when the first frosts come .Passion flowers are very exotic looking and can be grown outside against a sunny wall . To tie in with the the tropical theme you can get coconut mulch to put on the ground to keep the weeds at bay.