Creating your own tropical paradise

Every good backyard has a space to entertain and host family and friends. whether your home has an inbuilt pergola or if your prefer open air entertaining, a key element is to ensure your guests have plenty of space to relax, shaded away from the harsh UV rays of the Australian sun.

Large, leafy plants like the Bird of Paradise and Heliconia, as well as palm trees, can create shade for those looking for an open-air entertaining area, whereas those who need something a bit more permanent to shield them from the sun may opt for a pergola or gazebo. 

Adding natural elements to your outdoor entertaining area will definitely help it to feel like a tropical resort - stone, timber and textured render will all lend itself to a feeling of luxury and relaxation in your own backyard. 

Upgrade your pergola area by lining your ceiling with timber slats, or adding a timber decking. A stone-clad wall will add texture and warmth, and inbuilt bench seating or an outdoor kitchen in a light colourway will add refreshing brightness to the space. 

A space to relax and breathe in the beauty of your tropical garden is a must - Somewhere calm, quiet, and shaded is the perfect place to read a book, lounge about and truly allow yourself to feel like you've checked into a 5-star resort. 

And this is the easy part - simply choose a quiet part of your garden, near some tall, shady plants, and add some comfy seating! A hanging chair, a built-in bench, or perhaps a recliner - it's up to you! Add some soft cushions, a cold drink and a good book and drift away into peaceful serenity. On cold nights, a fire pit and a hot chocolate can warm the soul!

While your tropical oasis might be calling you for a relaxing nap in the afternoon sun - the rest of the family might have other ideas! The perfect backyard works for everyone - and that includes the kids. 

Nothing quite says 'tropical' like a good swim - and a pool will add a sense of luxury and beauty to your space, and water features like a waterfall or pool fountain will create ambient noise that will truly make you feel like you're in a tropical rainforest. 

Simply look to Bali Villa style pools for inspiration - stone flooring or a warm timber deck, white concrete and clear blue water all surrounded by lush tropical foliage. What more could you want?

One of the biggest letdowns of many Aussie backyards is the side yard - the narrow space between your home and the fence that just seems to be dead space. But that doesn't have to be the case! Upgrade your side yard and use it as an extension of your garden - tall plants along the fence line as well as steppers surrounded by ground cover or light gravel will turn the space down the side of your house into a walkway you'll want to use, and make your backyard appear bigger. 

Timber is a key element of any tropical space. Decking, furniture, ceiling linings and garden beds all benefit from the look, durability and warmth of natural timber. For a coastal look, opt for light finished timbers in shades of blonde and grey, or use deeper chocolate and red tones for more a rainforest feel. Whatever you opt for, consistency is key - while you don't want every thing to be identical, keep to a single colour palette for a more uniform and high end look. 

The key element of most tropical spaces is the abundance of crisp white and rich green tones. Coastal, relaxing and rejuvenating, creating a light backdrop for your beautiful tropical plants and flowers to contrast against is a must!

To create a sense of peace and calm, keep your area simple. Paint perimeter fencing a dark colour to help it disappear behind plants, and when it comes to furniture and decor, stick to the neutrals - warm whites, sandy tones and timber are all you need! Accent with dark green or a hint of black and leave it at that - allow your plants to be the 'pop of colour' you want to see in your garden. Instead of adding colour, look for more ways to add texture for extra visual interest. 

The beauty of the tropical theme is its ability to be free and unstructured, which makes irregular elements like stone and textured concrete the perfect accompaniment to crisp elements like white walls and rich green plants. Sandstone pavers, textured cement and render, and irregular stone flooring and wall cladding are a beautiful way of elevating your space into 5-star territory. 

Similar to textures, there's something calming about the irregular finish that comes with abundance in tropical spaces. Curves can add to that and can be as structured or as free flowing as you like - curved benches, round seating or even an arch feature can add a modern coastal feel to your tropical space. 

If circles aren't your thing, there are many other ways to add shape and intrigue to your space - patterned breeze blocks, rounded stepping stones, or a curved garden perimeter can all elevate the appearance of your garden.

Available in a number of varietals, Bird of Paradise is probably the first plant you think of when you think of a tropical garden. With large, flat, green leaves, Bird of Paradise come in a massive variety of sizes and can produce beautiful flowers. Suitable for many climates (as long as they are watered well in summer!), Bird of Paradise can thrive in all states. Suitable for full sun and part shade applications, Bird of Paradise can also tolerate mild frost and can create the shade needed to help other tropical plant varieties thrive.

Strelitzia Reginae is the typical Bird of Paradise you'll probaby imagine first, with a beautiful orange flower and narrower, longer leaves. However, for a lush, rainforest feel, Strelitzia Nicolai, or Giant Bird of Paradise, has the large, wide, glossy leaves you want - and can grow to be several metres tall. Strelitzia Nicolai produce a similar flower to their orange counterpart but in shades of black and white, and can thrive in ground or in a pot. Bird of Paradise need very little maintenance and are naturally fairly resistant to pests and diseases, and are easy to purchase year round (if you're in the northern states) or in the warmer months if you're down south, from most plant retailers. 

Similar in appearance to the Bird of Paradise, Heliconia is a beautiful, leafy plant that grows in tight clumps, rather than fanning out horizontally like the Bird of Paradise. Also known as 'Lobster Claw', Heliconia produces a striking red, yellow and orange flowers reminiscent of its name - and thrives best in warm, humid environments making them perfect for the northern states. For those in the southern states, the slightly more cold-tolerant Heliconia Subulata is a great option, although it can be tricky to find! Growing up to 2.5 metres tall, Heliconia thrive in full or part sun and tend to flower in the winter months. 

Rhapis Palm (or Lady Palm) is a striking, dark green palm with a wide, flat leaf pattern. Happy within the ground or in a pot, the Rhapis Palm is slow growing and low maintenance, but can be a little picky - best suited in partial shade and somewhere with a  consistent temperature, Rhapis thrive in the warmer northern states but may struggle during frosty southern winters and will burn if left in full sun. Plant in shaded areas, such as down the side of your home, or under a taller species (such as the Heliconia) for best results. 

Elephant Ear is a large, lush tropical plant with wide green leaves that can grow to 6 feet tall. Fast growing, Elephant ear can reach size maturity in a single growing season, and thrives best in humid conditions with full or partial sun. Elephant Ear are hardy and will thrive in a pot or in the ground, and can be propagated easily at the end of the growing season. 

Please note that Elephant ears are toxic to both pets and humans when eaten!

Like a miniature heliconia, Canna Lillies grow from a shared tuber in tight, vertical clusters, and boast large, flat leaves in shades of green, yellow and purple. A vibrantly flowering plant, Canna's produce a variety of flowers depending on the variety you choose - from pale pinks through to bright red and orange. 

Able to thrive in most climates, Canna's are seasonal and will sometimes die in winter, but simply need to be trimmed back and will regrow. A very fast growing plant, Canna's will return to their lush, full max heights of 1.2 metres ready for you to enjoy in the summer months. 

Nothing evokes pictures of a tropical rainforest quite like the iconic Monstera Deliciosa - also known as the Fruit salad plant or the Swiss cheese plant! Known for it's rich, green foliage with die-cut leaves, the Monstera can grow to incredible sizes. Thriving best in indirect light, your Monstera will be happiest beneath the foliage of another plant where it is mostly shaded. Native to warmer climates, the Monstera grows at its best in the warmer northern states, however is hardy and survives well even in the colder southern states. 

Cast Iron Plant, or Aspidistra, is a shade-loving plant that can grow up to a metre tall. With broad, rich green leaves that grow in a tight, vertical clump, the Cast Iron plant is the perfect lower-height plant to fill your tropical garden. Lush and slow growing, cast iron plant requires very little maintenance and is perennial, and is suitable for planting in pots or in ground. Simply choose an area with low or indirect light and well-draining soil, and this plant will thrive even with intermittent watering. 

For the more discerning gardener, Ferns are a stunning addition to the rainforest-inspired tropical garden. Slightly higher in maintenance, ferns create a beautiful and luxurious appearance to the gardens of those who are willing to put in the work. 

Lovers of warm, humid environments, Ferns need to be kept in the shade to grow. With a huge variety available, a combination of species will help to create a beautiful tropical space that feels like you're truly in a natural oasis. Maidenhair Fern, Birds Nest Fern and Australian Tree Fern have beautiful foliage that will compliment any tropical style!

At the lowest level of your garden, ground cover plants will add depth to your garden in order to create a more finished and luxurious look. One of the key elements of a tropical garden is the appearance of abundant foliage - there is very little open room within garden beds, instead each square inch is filled with more beautiful greenery! Ground cover plants like Mosses, Dichondra and Kidney Weed create a dense foliage at the ground level to create a truly immersive appearance. If you're planting in pots or raised beds, varieties of Dichondra such as 'Silver Falls' as well as String of Pearls plants (be careful, these are toxic to humans and pets if eaten) can create a beautiful draping effect.