‘I’m a gardening expert and there’s 5 plants you should grow if you want tropical haven’

One green-fingered expert has shared the top five plants to transform your garden into a tropical paradise. Gardening can be an immensely satisfying pastime, tempting enthusiasts with an extensive selection of plants and blooms. The challenge is settling on the perfect flora to cultivate.

Space constraints and domestic animal safety are also crucial factors for green-fingered fans to keep in mind when planning their plot. Gardening expert Michael Griffiths, doubling as a brand ambassador for Dobbies Garden Centres and known digitally as The Mediterranean Gardener, shares his plant wisdom via social media. His recent TikTok highlights five plant types that will inject a “tropical vibe” into any garden.

1. Musa basjoo

Leading the charge in Griffiths’ video is the robust Musa basjoo, lauded as the hardiest of banana plants. Griffiths suggests: “Number one is the hardiest of banana plants, musa basjoo. You can grow it in a pot or the ground in full or partial sun.”

Despite popular belief labelling it as the Japanese banana or hardy banana, Musa basjoo is now recognised as originating from China’s Sichuan region, as reported by GardenersWorld.Com.

Known to expand to the dimensions of a stunted tree, first-time planters may react with dismay upon seeing the foliage wilt at the advent of the initial frost.

According to the gardening resource: “This is nothing to worry about, though – think of it as an enormous herbaceous perennial that, in the UK climate, dies back in winter to the roots and will quickly produce new growth in spring.

“In the UK, when temperatures warm in spring, Musa basjoo will grow quickly to produce large, exotic leaves and will thrive with regular watering and feeding to sustain this growth.”

2. Phoenix palm

Griffiths then turned his attention to the phoenix palm, describing it as a substantial palm with lush green leaves and a robust trunk.

He noted that in a warm summer, the plant is known to produce “drooping bunches of creamy yellow flowers.”

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends cultivating phoenix palm indoors or under glass using peat-free loam-based compost and ensuring it receives bright, but indirect light.

The RHS suggests moderate watering during growth periods and monthly feeding with a balanced fertiliser.

During winter, the plant’s watering needs decrease, and if placed outdoors in the summer, it should be situated in a sunny yet sheltered spot with protection from intense midday sun.

3. Dicksonia antarctica

Griffiths went on to describe Dicksonia antarctica, an impressive evergreen tree fern that thrives in shaded areas.

Its dense root system forms a trunk, which gives rise to long fronds.

According to the RHS website, Dicksonia antarctica is an “Evergreen tree fern, but deciduous in colder areas, growing slowly to 4m in height, with a stout reddish-brown stem and a terminal rosette of arching, deeply divided, glossy dark green fronds to 3m in length.”

It is best grown outdoors in moist, well-drained soil rich in humus.

4. Canna lily

Griffiths next spoke about canna lilies, known for their striking height and “fantastic foliage.”

He detailed that these remarkable tender perennials bloom from June to October.

The RHS extols the virtues of canna lilies, describing them as “vibrant tender perennials that produce bold leaves and showy flowers in shades of red, orange, yellows and pinks.”

The charity highlights its versatility, noting it’s a “useful summer bedding plant for both containers and borders, but does well in cool conservatories in summer.”

5. Red hot pokers

Griffiths lastly discussed red hot pokers, acknowledging they aren’t technically tropical but certainly exude that “vibe.”

He praised the plant for its “amazing blooms that come in a range of fiery colours”, its lengthy flowering season, and how they “look incredible when planted on mass.”

The RHS confirms that red hot pokers bloom from March to November, making them “rewarding and often long-lived garden plants.”

It further comments: “Their distinctively-shaped blooms are among the most spectacular of hardy flowers, and their long season means that by careful plant choice gardeners can enjoy them between spring and late autumn.”