Create a tropical oasis

Take a leaf out of this lush landscape to turn your outdoor area into a colourful oasis

full of life and colour, this coastal suburban garden was designed to look like a disorganised Hawaiian-esque jungle, but is very much a family backyard. There are plenty of places to sit and relax, but also more than enough lawn for the kids to play on – or to destroy, as the owner says! The garden is abundant with canna, plumeria, hibiscus and ginger, but that’s it for flowers! Year-round colour is also achieved with foliage plants – cordyline, coleus, alcantarea, vriesea and calathea. Come and take a look at this green thumb’s creation and pick up a few ideas to try at your own place.

Being greeted by a frangipani

at the front door of your house will make you feel like you are always on a tropical holiday!

Wow! Packed full of colour and barely a flower to be seen! To create the same look, stagger plants of different heights and foliage textures, sizes and colours. PS, add a couple of hanging baskets, too.

I don’t do fussy plants – if they don’t like it here, well, see ya! I tend to let the garden grow on and through itself… I let the scramblers do their thing and scramble!

Forget the rules! This yellow-flowered rudbeckia – normally found in cottage gardens – doesn’t look out of place in this tropical-style garden. It’s proof that if you love a plant, and it works, you should just go with it.

Contrast a dark wall colour with bright white trim and natural timbers to set the tropical theme. Hexagonal planter boxes mounted on the wall are a quirky take on the usual vertical garden. Add a day bed for lounging and your at-home resort is ready!

Nothing says Hawaii quite like the hibiscus. This unusual cultivar is absolutely striking, but you can easily find your own favourite – in pastels or bolder and deeper tones – online through Australian plant suppliers. Grow it in a pot or create a gorgeous hedge. It’s up to you!

Block out the neighbours with a mini jungle. The trick is to layer plants to make it look like the vegetation goes deeper than it does. As privacy boosters go, it’s more creative than a hedge and more effective than a screen.

Croton and cordyline

are two of the best plants you can choose for foliage colour and are a must-have in any tropical-style garden. The leaves can be strappy, broad and even spiral!

A pair of bespoke tables made from seasoned wood slabs holds a collection of pot plants. You can use any timber stools to do the same, just treat softwoods to protect them from the elements.

Centred around a crepe myrtle, the garden has space for a trampoline and a lawn for the kids to trample! An established tree is a great starting point for your garden design.

Build a greenhouse like this one with recycled materials for rustic chic and use it to grow plants year-round. And take note of the outhouse – a bit of paint and it looks too good for an outdoor loo. What needs a lick of colour at your place?

Frangipani

Hibiscus