Achieving that Mediterranean look in your UK garden.
UK Tropical Plants
The mildness of the Mediterranean climate makes it possible to cultivate a rich and varied vegetation such as olive trees, pines, cypresses, lavendar, laurels and tropical flora imported into the French Riviera during the 19th century.
It was in the 19th century with the arrival of the English that palm trees were acclimatised on the Cote D’Azur and they have now become a symbol of the region. You will also see Gerbera, Carnations, Citrus trees, Cacti, Succulents, Aleppo Pines and of course Bougainvillea.
You can also create a tropical look in a UK garden by planting evergreen trees to provide a canopy cover thus creating a micro climate. Add to this hardy palms, banana plants, tree ferns and you have the beginning of a tropical garden.
To resemble a tropical garden you will need plants with large leaves and a mixture of shapes. Tree ferns, varieties of hardy palms, banana plants and canna are examples of plants providing structure and colour to the garden.
Many large plants can be left out in the garden during the winter providing they are given suitable winter protection. If you have a greenhouse you can also add container plants such as succulents to you summer tropical garden. Dense layered planting will add to that jungle look and can turn even a small space into a relaxing tropical garden.
In the evenings you can provide a dramatic effect by up-lighting palms and tree ferns. Solar energy lights are excellent for this. Pathways should blend in with the tropical plants. Sometimes a clean edge to the path can work and resemble some of the more formal tropical gardens you can often find the Mediterranean resorts such as Cannes and Monaco. At other times it’s good to have the folage spilling over the edge of the path to create a more informal look.
UK Tropical Plant Specialists
You don’t necessarily need to go to a specialist nursery. there are many online gardening sites that provide all kinds of plants including those required to start a tropical looking garden. Otherwise specialist nurseries can provide the best hardy exotics in the UK and also provide plenty of advice.
To help protect your tropical plants from the UK weather it can be a good idea to create a tree canopy. By strategically planting trees in your garden you can provide shelter for some of the more tender plants. The tree canopy can provide dappled shade, protect from the wind and during the winter can help to trap warm air which would provide some protection during cold spells.
Below the canopy you can layer your plants and include evergreen plants such as Fatsia, Cordyline Yucca and hardy palms.