Atypical Tropicals: To create a lush look, try these less common tropical plants in cooler climates

摘要

In recent years, the "tropical look" is a very popular theme with landscapes. Lots of people are looking for and using plants with bold or colorful foliage. Landscapes in the southern half of Florida are lucky enough to be able to grow a wide selection of tropical plants. The further north you travel, however, the more limited the selection becomes. Fortunately, though, there is a nice selection of plants that can be used to create a lush look. Here are some more uncommon specimens that can be grownnorth of Central Florida: Aspidistra lurida 'Ginga' is an herbaceous perennial growing only about 1 foot tall. The dark green leaves are covered in creamy spots. 'Ginga' means "galaxy" in Japanese. This plant is usually misnamed in the nursery trade. Itis often sold as the cultivar 'Milky Way.' The "true" 'Milky Way' is very rare and has spots and stripes on the leaves. It is correctly named 'Amanogawa' which means "Milky Way" in Japanese. The spotted cast-iron plant needs a shaded location. A. luridais originally native to southern China and is a member of the Ruscaceae family. It will grow in Zones 8-11.