{"id":18915,"date":"2021-08-14T17:17:10","date_gmt":"2021-08-14T06:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/?p=18915"},"modified":"2024-01-04T14:04:41","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T03:04:41","slug":"tropical-garden-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/tropical-garden-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing a tropical garden: tropical garden ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The best tropical garden designs recreate the calm, warm and lazy vibes of exotic destinations. Hawaii, Bali, Fiji and Tahiti or even local holiday hotspots like Byron Bay or Noosa. We\u2019re talking bold landscapes and dramatic, bright foliage with pretty bursts of flowers.<\/p>\n<p>The overriding feature of a tropical garden is that it\u2019s designed to be abundant and dense. Teeming plants crowd each other and jostle for attention. Tropical gardens can appear as if randomly planted but usually a lot of thought has gone into their design. Plants are selected for their purpose. Certain ones are best suited as a canopy or a backdrop, while others make the perfect fillers, climbers or groundcovers. Others you might choose simply for their luxuriant foliage or gem-like blooms. Layering up the planting palette this way creates a dynamic display of shapes, textures, contrasts and colours.<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32678\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32678\" style=\"width: 1379px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32678\" src=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-flower.jpg\" alt=\"tropical-gardens-flower\" width=\"1379\" height=\"920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-flower.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-flower-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-flower-1200x801.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32678\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/L-OYNYSlsJg?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditShareLink\"> Photo by Olena Shmahalo on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>Choosing plants that thrive in a tropical climate<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to emulate the lush gardens of a tropical retreat at home. There are so many wonderful choices of tropical garden plants that suit our climate. Hiring a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/garden-designer\/\">landscape designer<\/a> is naturally your best bet to get your planting palette just right. But here\u2019s a (very) short list of my favourite exuberant, vibrant tropical plants with fantastic growth rates:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>heliconias<\/li>\n<li>banana leaf plants<\/li>\n<li>canna Lillies<\/li>\n<li>pink cordylines<\/li>\n<li>bromeliads<\/li>\n<li>giant bird of paradise<\/li>\n<li>frangipani,<\/li>\n<li>crotons<\/li>\n<li>bamboo<\/li>\n<li>phododendrons<\/li>\n<li>bougainvillea,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And, of course, for tropical vibes you can&#8217;t beat\u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>palm trees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<p>You can also add Asian herbs and spices. Lemongrass, coriander, kaffir lime and cardamom are ideal for fragrance, pest deterrence and the kitchen!<\/p>\n<p>So let\u2019s take a wander through some ideas for evoking the languid and lush environs of an island resort. When you can&#8217;t travel to a tropical destination, why not make sure the heat is on in your own backyard?<\/p>\n<h3>1. Surround yourself with lush greenery<\/h3>\n<p>The aim of great tropical garden design is to create a sense of being enveloped by a rainforest canopy. For a truly immersive experience, you want to feel you&#8217;re surrounded by wild, untamed foliage.<\/p>\n<p>Set up a relaxing space for outdoor entertaining with swaying plants and hanging lights overhead. Keep it contemporary with a chic black, green and silver palette, wood and cane elements and charming hanging garden lights.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Colour and contrast<\/h3>\n<p>Bursting with colour and texture, a tropical-inspired garden should be exuberant. Juxtapose brightly coloured oversized plants with exaggerated physical forms for interest and drama.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32673\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32673\" style=\"width: 1379px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32673\" src=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-foliage.jpg\" alt=\"tropical-garden-foliage\" width=\"1379\" height=\"919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-foliage.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-foliage-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-foliage-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/JnpuuExh72Y?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditShareLink\"> Photo by Ruth Enyedi on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>3. Verdant pathways<\/h3>\n<p>Density is a vital part of tropical garden design since tropical plants grow entwined and entangled with one another in the wild. To replicate the jungle look, plant your tropical plants closely together. Fill gaps between taller plants with clumping and spreading plants.<\/p>\n<p>Densely planted jungle walls add a sense of mystery and adventure to a winding pathway. Keep things neat with low-growing ferns and grasses to line the sides of the path &#8211; it&#8217;s a great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/garden-edging-ideas\/\">garden edging idea<\/a>.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Feeling overwhelmed about designing your garden? Instead of doing everything on your own, why not consider hiring a garden designer? This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/costs\/garden-designer\/garden-designer-cost\/\"><strong>Garden Designer Cost Guide<\/strong><\/a> should help you decide!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>4. Rainbow hues<\/h3>\n<p>Turn up the heat by planting tropical plants that boast multi-coloured foliage in sunset colours. Choose plants with leaves in vibrant shades of reds, oranges and yellows. This will add flamboyance and warmth to your glossy-green foliaged landscape.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Scale and drama<\/h3>\n<p>Palm trees can grow to extraordinary heights. So they provide the necessary scale and drama that defines a striking tropical garden design. If you only have a smaller garden space, you can also find plenty of dwarf species of palms that will still give a fantastic tropical flavour.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32676\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32676\" style=\"width: 1379px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32676\" src=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-palm-trees.jpg\" alt=\"tropical-gardens-palm-trees\" width=\"1379\" height=\"2109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-palm-trees.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-palm-trees-768x1175.jpg 768w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-palm-trees-1004x1536.jpg 1004w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-palm-trees-1339x2048.jpg 1339w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-palm-trees-1200x1835.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32676\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/CucBwqtYtpE?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditShareLink\"> Photo by Vino Li on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>6. Tropical entryways<\/h3>\n<p>Give your front garden a lush makeover with the addition of some luxuriant, colourful tropical plants. Try a set of bromeliads, palms and plumerias, maybe punctuated by striking red ti plants. For more front garden inspo, you may also like to see our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/front-garden-ideas\/\">front garden ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>7. D\u00e9cor with resort vibes<\/h3>\n<p>Your choice of d\u00e9cor and furniture will also help set the tone for a tropical garden. Go for colourful, happy, beachy textiles and a comfy cane or reed sun lounger. Or make a statement with a hotel-style luxury piece of garden furniture.<\/p>\n<h3>8. Modern monochrome<\/h3>\n<p>Oversized, broad-leafed plants create plenty of contrast in a tropical garden. Layering plants in different sizes keeps a limited planting dynamic, while the stepping stone pavers can be added for texture.<\/p>\n<h3>9. Sweet spots<\/h3>\n<p>Adding benches or other seating in secluded corners is a simple way to add tranquil tropical charm.<\/p>\n<h3>10. Splashes of colour<\/h3>\n<p>Go troppo with exotic plants whose foliage comes in vivid colours. Rainbow-hued leaf plants look gorgeous when packed tightly amongst glossy dark green ones. Aim to grow dense, luscious walls of over-sized foliage in clashing colours like orange and pink. While your wall is still establishing itself, you may like to add in a bamboo or reed screen as filler or plant a fast-growing vine up on a trellis behind it.<\/p>\n<h3>11. Raw materials<\/h3>\n<p>Pale, natural-looking timber like recycled tallowwood contrasts beautifully with tropical plants. Decking and bench seats or planters can be made of the same wood.<\/p>\n<p>Get some ideas on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/raised-garden-bed-ideas\/\">raised garden beds<\/a> design, or find an expert in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/planter-box-builder\/\">planter boxes<\/a> to help you get the design just right.<\/p>\n<h3>12. Tropical pond<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/garden-pond-maintenance\/\">Garden ponds<\/a> suit the tropical aesthetic really well. Keep the materials natural, even if you just use an interior finish that has a natural effect look. Adding some shimmer to the finish always brings a dash of tropical mystique.<\/p>\n<h3>13. Paths and bridges<\/h3>\n<p>Add a focal point with a little timber bridge over your pool or pond. Laying a path of natural stepping stones is also an easy tropical DIY. Paths and bridges speak subtly of journeys and exploring and help increase the drama of your garden.<\/p>\n<h3>14. Colour inspo<\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re planning your tropical planting, aim to create stunning dense walls of foliage interspersed with bright flowers. For suitable flowers, think hibiscus, birds of paradise, canna lillies and frangipani.<\/p>\n<h3>15. Great heights<\/h3>\n<p>Choose plants for your tropical garden which have an exaggerated size or unusually shaped foliage for maximum impact. Here, towering palms create a showy backdrop for simpler plantings below. This cascading mix of luscious palms\u2014cycads, king, queen and pygmy dates\u2014looks especially authentic.<\/p>\n<h3>16. Native tropical vibes<\/h3>\n<p>For a coastal tropical look, paint from a palette of natural tones from our native and indigenous rainforest plants. They look stunning with landscaping materials like corten steel or stone.<\/p>\n<h3>17. Light the way<\/h3>\n<p>Make your tropical garden really inviting by lighting the way along a path with traditional looking lanterns. Authentic Polynesian-style barkcloth wrapped lanterns work well. But any kind of rustic looking lantern will play the part.<\/p>\n<h3>18. Tropical poolscape<\/h3>\n<p>Tropical garden design favours pools that have a more natural aesthetic rather bright aqua Olympic Pool feels. Selecting tiles, paving and coping materials which are made of natural stone is a good way to achieve this. Exposed aggregate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/paving\/\">paving<\/a> also has that natural pebbly beach look.<\/p>\n<p>Your tropical garden planting should grow so that it impinges on the pool space itself. This creates both atmospheric reflections and that all-important jungle canopy effect. Garden umbrellas in natural materials and colours, comfy sun loungers and a stone statue can complete the look.<\/p>\n<h3>19. Green screens<\/h3>\n<p>Vigorously growing tropical plants can help conceal walls and fences. They also help give the illusion of having a larger garden space extending beyond your borders. Even when you are planting with density in mind, you\u2019ll want to keep things a bit neater around the seating.<\/p>\n<p>So, perhaps consider enlisting the help of an experienced gardener who can help you keep your urban jungle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/garden-tidy-up\/\">garden tidy up<\/a>. I\u2019d love to chill on this relaxing timber bench snuggled into densely planted heliconias.<\/p>\n<h3>20. Heaven scent<\/h3>\n<p>Shade your tropical garden by studding it with dwarf and larger palms as well fragrant trees and shrubs, like lemon trees. Lemon trees have a sweet, light scent. But if you struggle to grow citrus trees, you could also add lemon-scented herbs to your garden. For example, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lemon balm and lemon mint!<\/p>\n<h3>21. Woven decor<\/h3>\n<p>If you have a water feature in your tropical garden, why not float some little woven decorations? You&#8217;ll often find them used as d\u00e9cor for tropical-styled weddings. But little woven decorative elements are also perfect for everyday tropical charm.<\/p>\n<p>Source authentic garden decor from an Asian garden supplier. Or just copy the look and DIY some pieces using easy-to-find craft materials and foliage from your garden. It\u2019s an easy way to add interest and tropical flavours.<\/p>\n<h3>22. Water feature<\/h3>\n<p>Whether a small waterfall or pond, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/water-feature-installation\/\">water feature<\/a> is always another way to make your tropical garden complete. Even if you can only add a simple concrete water bowl, you\u2019ll have an instantly cooling focal point. And it looks beautiful filled with floating aquatic plants like lotus flowers or water lillies.<\/p>\n<h3>23. Tiki torches<\/h3>\n<p>Their relentless appearance on TV show <em>Survivor<\/em> may have dimmed their appeal a little. But traditional island-style garden torches do suit the tropical garden aesthetic perfectly.<\/p>\n<p>In search of tropical landscape lighting ideas other than torches or lanterns? Why not have a chat with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/landscape-lighting\/\">local expert in landscape lighting?<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>24. Tropical green wall<\/h3>\n<p>If order and neatness in the garden is more your cup of tea, you can still enjoy a lush tropical planting arranged into a defined space. Fill your vertical containers with low-maintenance plants. For example, small parlour palms and Ctenanthe (aka \u2018the never plant\u2019). This has gorgeously coloured variegated foliage. It&#8217;s a great way to spruce up your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/privacy-fence-ideas\/\">privacy fence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32674\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32674\" style=\"width: 1379px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32674\" src=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-lush-foliage.jpg\" alt=\"tropical-garden-lush-foliage\" width=\"1379\" height=\"2068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-lush-foliage.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-lush-foliage-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-lush-foliage-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-lush-foliage-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052450\/tropical-gardens-lush-foliage-1200x1800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/pOmdTPT_qq4?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditShareLink\"> Photo by Coen van Hasselt on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>25. Tropical deck<\/h3>\n<p>Decks are perfect for relaxed outdoor living and entertaining. And by reducing the amount of lawn in your yard space, they\u2019re lower maintenance. A natural timber deck has plenty of tropical vibes. And the orderly, linear look of decking contrasts well with the unruly, riotous aesthetic of a dense tropical planting. Need more ideas for how to design a stunning decking area for your garden? You can also see our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/decking-ideas\/\">decking ideas<\/a> for your garden and\/or pool.<\/p>\n<h3>26. Meditation pavilion<\/h3>\n<p>A little thatched wooden hut or a pergola that can be styled as a meditation pavilion will give your tropical garden design all the holiday feels. It doesn\u2019t need to be an elaborate or expensive structure\u2014in fact, the simpler and more rustic, the more Zen. Just add some sheer white curtains. Add your comfiest garden furniture and you have an instant tropical-style outdoor living room.<\/p>\n<h3>27. Tropical decorative items<\/h3>\n<p>Enhance your tropical garden aesthetic with traditional decor from tropical destinations. For instance Balinese <em>penjor<\/em>. These long bamboo poles are seen lining the streets of Bali outside homes and establishments. They droop down holding little cage-like structures at the ends and are often decorated with coconut leaves.<\/p>\n<h3>28. Carved wooden elements<\/h3>\n<p>Traditional wooden carvings add little bursts of interest and uniqueness to your garden and set the tone. Here, a carved door signals tropical style, amplified by the sprawling frangipani. Natural stepping stones in the lawn add to the beach house feels.<\/p>\n<p>Other tropical garden decoration ideas, include items made from natural materials like stone or wood. Paths, benches, sculptures and carvings, firepits, garden furniture and even little thatched huts.<\/p>\n<p>These features break up the plants and create atmosphere while bringing your outdoor entertaining to life. Adding lanterns or torches is also a popular way to amp up night-time drama.<\/p>\n<h3>29. Green dining room<\/h3>\n<p>Darker timbers look especially appealing in a tropical garden design and when wet, they give off steamy monsoonal vibes. And a small table setting tucked into the greenery makes the perfect spot for an intimate al fresco dinner. Punctuating the foliage above with little timber lanterns will add Asian flavour to your outdoor dining setting.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32675\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32675\" style=\"width: 451px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32675\" src=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052449\/tropical-gardens-papaya.jpg\" alt=\"tropical-garden-papaya\" width=\"451\" height=\"677\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32675\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/Ooj1c6fhdFM?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditShareLink\"> Photo by Bon Vivant on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>30. Tropical containers<\/h3>\n<p>They appeal to those of us who favour an organised, neat aesthetic. But keeping tropical plants in containers also just gives you more flexibility. You can move them according to your changing mood or the season.<\/p>\n<h3>31. Bougainvillea<\/h3>\n<p>Fast-growing, drought-tolerant tropical vine bougainvillea is always a brilliant addition to any garden. Its intensely coloured flowers saturate a space with rich, ripe colour. Standalone as a statement plant and allow to creep up your house exterior (they can reach heights of 30m!). There are actually around 250 species of bougainvillea in a range of colours from magenta to white. So you\u2019re sure to find a variety that suits your home and garden aesthetic.<\/p>\n<h3>32. Stone deities<\/h3>\n<p>You can\u2019t go wrong with a statue of Buddha or another deity as they\u2019ll always bring instant tropical garden vibes. If you\u2019re worried about being cliched, don\u2019t be! The trick is simply finding one with an appropriately serene and wise expression. Avoid those that look cartoonish.<\/p>\n<h3>33. Tropical outdoor shower<\/h3>\n<p>If your home is full of water babies, installing an outdoor shower is a practical and pleasing addition to your tropical garden design. For a modern tropical look, juxtapose plants against black timber. Matte black wood just contrasts so well with glossy green leaves and will also retain the heat better than lighter coloured timbers.<\/p>\n<h3>34. Rainforest frame<\/h3>\n<p>Emulate the feeling of the tropics by surrounding your home with densely planted palms and ferns. This will create tapestries of flourishing foliage. Add faded timber walkways to complete the picture.<\/p>\n<h3>35. A touch of the tropics<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, don\u2019t have the space for a sprawling jungle aesthetic? You can still bring the relaxing flavour of the tropics to your patio or sunroom. For a minimalist tropical look, just add a few large potted tropical plants, plenty of woven and wooden d\u00e9cor and lots of bright, white paint.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32679\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32679\" style=\"width: 1379px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32679\" src=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-elephant-ears.jpg\" alt=\"tropical-gardens-elephant-ears\" width=\"1379\" height=\"919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-elephant-ears.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-elephant-ears-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/24052448\/tropical-gardens-elephant-ears-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32679\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/yWs2SRlrKeY?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditShareLink\"> Photo by Kon Karampelas on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Tips for mimicking tropical conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Frost-prone regions will find tropical plants just won\u2019t grow. But elsewhere, you can achieve a tropical aesthetic even in cooler areas provided you follow some simple guidelines.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure you are planting into nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Prep the ground well by layering compost, leaf litter, garden clippings and thick mulch.<\/li>\n<li>Aim to recreate the microclimate of a jungle or rainforest, where plants grow very densely in a way that encourages humidity.<\/li>\n<li>Layer them so that more vulnerable plants are protected by a canopy of hardier, more wind tolerant ones.<\/li>\n<li>If possible incorporate physical structures for added shelter. Consider green shade cloth, or planting near stone or brick walls as this helps retain heat as well.<\/li>\n<li>Finally, expect to spend a little time on maintenance. You&#8217;ll need to regularly feed with mulch and seaweed spray and prune rampantly growing plants. (If you like, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/au\/services\/garden-maintenance\/\">get some local help with garden maintenance<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So there\u2019s my guide to creating sultry, steamy green sanctuaries with all the holiday feels of an equatorial oasis. I\u2019m ready to put on my lei, pull out my sun lounger and fix myself a daiquiri. Which tropical island do you find most inspiring when it comes to tropical garden design? Drop me a comment below!<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tropical garden design is all about creating your very own piece of paradise<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":32673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2634,1582,28],"tags":[1872,1922,1996,2012],"language":["en-AU"],"class_list":["post-18915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardening","category-home-inspiration","category-tips","tag-backyard","tag-garden","tag-pool","tag-tropical"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Designing a tropical garden: tropical garden ideas - Airtasker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tropical garden design is all about creating 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