Plants That Compliment Palm Trees

[Kim]

Do you get much rain? Drier conditions can be challenging, but the wonderful thing is, many kinds of plants complement palms. Nerium oleander, salvia of many kinds, Strelitzia regina (bird of paradise), many kinds of geraniums, Echium (Pride of Madeira), perhaps Agapanthus, Plumeria?  Many of these tolerate lower rainfall, and will need some heat to perform well. 

Visit the Jardín Botánico on Tenerife for ideas -- beautiful old, established garden with a lot of variety.

[Than]

On 4/2/2023 at 5:55 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

Here in the low " subtropical" desert, or in the warmer parts of California,  the " list" of plants one can plant to complement palms is nearly endless..  Having 4K Native species itself, AZ has LOTS of options, As does California.. Being next door to one of the most diverse regions on the planet, ..ahem, Mexico...  that list grows considerably.  Then there is everything else from the Caribbean, Central and S. America..  ..that will tolerate heat and extended periods of drought and look great, if treated right..

 There are more than enough options for any application ..low desert, middle elevation, cloud forest ( Mexican, Central, and S. American stuff  from those elevations for cooler aeas in California / Pac. N.W./ Interior West ( hardiest stuff from those areas for the interior west of course ).. ) to provide color, texture, movement, and seasonality for each and every season.. 

I could list some examples, but ..Think i have laid that out quite extensively already..

In a nutshell, start with Natives / near-natives FIRST,  then consider / extensively research any tame, non native-to-your-hemisphere options.. There are plenty of good ones out there.

Your post made me feel embarrassed. I checked my plant list and I only found two native species (ricinus and carob tree). Everything else is Asian or American with a few African species too. I am trying to think of Mediterranean plants which would complement palms and tropicals nicely but whenever I think of Mediterranean plants I think small, dry looking leaves, spikes, and grey-silver colours. Nothing that would create the exotic-tropical-lush look I am after. Ricinus is a rare exception I believe, with its large, unique leaves and stunning red seeds. Carob also looks exotic, especially when the seed pods are ripe, hanging from the bark.. but nothing else I can think of.😞

[Silas_Sancona]

16 minutes ago, ego said:

Your post made me feel embarrassed. I checked my plant list and I only found two native species (ricinus and carob tree). Everything else is Asian or American with a few African species too. I am trying to think of Mediterranean plants which would complement palms and tropicals nicely but whenever I think of Mediterranean plants I think small, dry looking leaves, spikes, and grey-silver colours. Nothing that would create the exotic-tropical-lush look I am after. Ricinus is a rare exception I believe, with its large, unique leaves and stunning red seeds. Carob also looks exotic, especially when the seed pods are ripe, hanging from the bark.. but nothing else I can think of.😞

Unless you live in the wet tropics, it's going to be quite challenging to perfectly recreate that look in a climate that isn't constantly -wet-  That's just how it goes.. 

That said, you can create a landscape that is durable, but provides obvious hints at the look you're after.  You have everything from Plumeria, Oleander ( Not ever allowed on my property, lol ) numerous exotic trees, some Orchids,  etc to choose from..  Others there have made it work, i'm sure you can too..

[Than]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Unless you live in the wet tropics, it's going to be quite challenging to perfectly recreate that look in a climate that isn't constantly -wet-  That's just how it goes.. 

That said, you can create a landscape that is durable, but provides obvious hints at the look you're after.  You have everything from Plumeria, Oleander ( Not ever allowed on my property, lol ) numerous exotic trees, some Orchids,  etc to choose from..  Others there have made it work, i'm sure you can too..

I know it will never be perfectly recreated. And I know I will spend a lot on water; will need to collect rainwater too. But as long as my garden gives the vibes...

Oleander? Never! Wherever I look here I see oleanders!! 😄 

[Silas_Sancona]

36 minutes ago, ego said:

But as long as my garden gives the vibes...

Yep, That's all that matters.. Plenty of options to do just that.   Big fan of the seasonally dry tropics more than the wet version myself. Much more climate flexibility, and diversity to choose from.  Nice too when the landscape changes roughly every 8 weeks or so ..rather than everything looking exactly the same -all year.