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This can be assisted by the presence of existing walls or structures, clad in climbers; but it is best achieved by using small trees to provide a canopy of shade. Beneath this canopy plants used include those with dark, green leaves, colourful foliage and bright flowers or fruits. A water feature is a common element of the subtropical garden and further helps to increase humidity. Shade-tolerant perennials dominate the ground layer, complete with rich, organic mulches. These plants were selected to be suitable for gardens in eastern and southern Australia.
A savewater!® Subtropical Garden is designed to reduce water by using plants that have low water needs. This means selecting plants from low rainfall climates or those with special water conservation features. Water features in this type of garden can be reinvented by using alternatives such as a dry creek bed, mosaic-mirror or rumbled blue glass ‘pond’. Some of the major plant groups used in a subtropical garden includes evergreen trees, tall foliage plants, flowering shrubs, evergreen climbers and ground covers.
This plant list and text was prepared by Burnley Campus, School of Resource Management, University of Melbourne.
Evergreen trees growing up to 15 m in height provide structure, shade, protection and interest in a subtropical garden. They need to tolerate high light levels, have large foliage and either attractive flowers or fruit.
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Blueberry Ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus
The Blueberry Ash is a small tree or large shrub that occurs naturally in eastern Australian forests and adjacent communities. When mature it has a rounded shape with dark green, glossy leaves. Fragrant white pendulous flowers are produced during spring and early summer. Suitable for a range of sites, except those with severe frosts, it responds well to pruning and can also provide a useful hedge or screen.
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Avocado Persea americana
Avocados can grow up to 12 m in height, but are generally managed through pruning to around 4 or 5 m. Best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall, trees are frost-tender until established and need good drainage to thrive. A number of varieties are available and at least two different trees are needed to ensure fruit is produced.
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Wigandia Wigandia caracasana
Growing up to 5 m in height, Wigandia is often a large shrub rather than a small tree. It produces large coarse leathery leaves and terminal heads of mauve-blue flowers during spring and summer. Pruning of unwanted basal suckers is the main maintenance task.
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Native Frangipani Hymenosporum flavum
The Native Frangipani originates from New South Wales and Queensland rainforests. It can grow up to 15 m in height and has a distinctive upright, pyramidal shape when young. During spring it produces very fragrant tubular yellow flowers. Slow to establish, this tree is best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall.
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Bold foliage perennials and palms that grow from 3 to 6 metres in height form much of the character in Subtropical Gardens. Like evergreen trees, they need to tolerate full-sun conditions but also be able to grow in some shade if provided.
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European Fan Palm Chamaerops humilis
Originating from the Mediterranean region, this can grow into a palm with a single, trunk up to 6 m tall. More often, especially in drier locations, it produces a multi-stemmed habit up to 3 m with its distinctive ‘fan-like’ leaves the main feature. Very tolerant of dry conditions once established.
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Gymea Lily Doryanthes excelsa
Native to the northern New South Wales, this clumping perennial with flax-like leaves grows to 2 m in height. When flowering in spring, a stalk rises from the centre of the plant carrying clusters of red flowers and is up to 5 m tall. Tolerates a range of soil and light conditions.
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Abyssinian Banana Ensete ventricosum
This broad foliaged perennial grows up to 6 m tall. From the distinctive long leaves rise a dropping cluster of inedible banana-like fruits. Best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall.
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Chinese Fan Palm Livistonia chinensis
Another Fan Palm, this species originates from southern China. It grows up to 5 m tall and has distinctive floppy ends to the segments of each leaf. Initially slow growing it will develop a stout trunk with age. Best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall.
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White Bird Of Paridise Strelitzia nicolae
Not unlike a Banana, this large perennial can grow to 6 m in height. Initially slow-growing, it eventually produces a slight ‘trunk’, clasped with the bases of the long, sword-like foliage. It is suitable for cooler climates and is reasonably drought tolerant once established.
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Flowering shrubs can provide colour, form and texture in the Subtropical Garden. Plants in this group need to either tolerate the deep shade provided by upper canopy or used on the margins where light levels are higher.
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Pink Hibiscus Hibiscus splendens
A native shrub from coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland, this shrub grows around 3 to 4 m in height. It has lobed leaves and produces large pink flowers, 150mm across, in summer. Slightly frost tender until established, it is best used in only partially shaded areas and can be managed by pruning after flowering.
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Japanese Aralia Fatsia japonica
The Japanese Aralia forms a branching shrub up to 3 m in height. It has distinctive large, glossy, palm-like leaves and is suitable for very shaded locations. The deeper the shade the deeper green the leaves become. It produces branching heads of white flowers in autumn.
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Evergreen climbers provide an additional vertical element in the Subtropical Garden. They can also increase leaf coverage and provide additional interest through form, flowers and fruit. It is best to choose species tolerant of shade and where growth can be managed according to the garden space.
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Kangaroo Vine Cissus antarctica
The Kangaroo Vine originates from eastern Australia rainforests and climbs by means of clinging tendrils. The bright green leaves can form a dense screen and are followed by bright copper-coloured new growth in spring. It can be very vigorous, but is easily maintained by pruning.
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Star Jasmine Trachelospemum jasminoides
A popular climber and ground cover this evergreen plant from East Asia has glossy green leaves and very fragrant white flowers that form during summer. Best used in a part-shaded location, once established it is moderately drought tolerant.
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Ground cover perennial plants provide the floor for the Subtropical Garden. Growing up to 100 cm in height, they need to have interesting foliage and/or flowers and tolerate deep and often dry shade. All will need some supplementary water during establishment.
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Billbergia nutans
One of the Bromeliads, this plant produces a clump of narrow, deep green leaves up to 50 cm long. The spikes of blue-green flowers are held on pink stems, providing dramatic colour contrasts. Useful for very dry and shaded locations, it will take some time to produce a dense ground cover.
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Mondo Grass Ophiopogon japonicus
Mondo Grass forms tufts of narrow, grass-like leaves that are 10 to 20 cm in height. Slow initially, once established it can spread rapidly though vigorous stolons below the ground. Forms a very dense ground cover from deep shade to partially sunny locations.
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Paroo Lily Dianella caerulea
A tufting and spreading perennial with dark green, strap-like leaves, the Paroo Lily is found across a range of habitats in eastern Australia. Because of this natural variation there are many different forms available for sale, growing from 40 cm to 100 cm in height. Used for ground cover in shade and full sun locations, its features include attractive blue, star-like flowers and mauve, glossy berries.
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