Tropical Landscaping Ideas for Front Yards

Trees

• The most identifiable tropical tree is the palm. The palm tree most often seen is the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Grown throughout tropical regions, this tree is cultivated for use in construction of local villages. This tree grows from 60 to100 feet in height, and the trunk will be about 1 foot in diameter. A Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) is a good alternative as a smaller tree. It is very slow growing and takes some time to reach 50 to 60 feet tall. The Mediterranean or European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) palm grows to 15 feet and its leaves create a symmetrical top about 8 to 10 feet wide. These palms grow well in containers or create barriers by planting in small groups.

Bushes

• Some options for tropical bushes include ferns, Firecracker, Ixora Maui and the Kaleidoscope. These plants produce vibrant blooms and survive frost as well as summer heat. The Firecracker can be led to grow up a trellis or wall or allowed to spill over raised planting beds. The Ixora Maui is most commonly seen in landscaped areas of Florida and produces red or yellow flowers. The Kaleidoscopeoffers flowers and has leaves that change throughout the season.

Flowers

• The hibiscus is the flower commonly associated with tropical climates. The hibiscus flowers with colors such as pink, yellow, purple, red and white. With careful pruning, this flower can be cultured into a bush. Bushes can grow to be 10 to 15 feet in height. Other tropical flowers are canna lilies, bird of paradise, jasmine and pulmeria. Each plant has its own full grown size and should be planted with this in mind. When creating planting beds, space each plant so they don't choke each other.

Pathways

• Create a pathway to the front door from crushed rock, sand, pebbles or large, irregular stones. Intermixing these creates a unique walkway that fits best with the plants around it. To intermix these elements, set irregular pieces of stone into beds of sand or pebbles. This provides a stable surface for your pathway and promotes good drainage when it rains.