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HOME JUNE 2022 4 Nothing seems to relax us more than vacationing in any tropical paradise. There's something about the tropics that appeal to our senses. Wouldn't it be nice if we could create our own little tropical paradise? You might be thinking: Are you crazy? We live in Wisconsin! How is this possi- ble? Just because we live in Wisconsin does- n't mean we can't have tropical looking gardens. By mimicking their characteris- tics, and using the right plants, we can create a touch of the tropics in our own backyard. Size, blooms, foliage, fragrance All tropical gardens have similar char- acteristics. The first one is size. Every- thing associated with tropical plants is big. The plants themselves can be large or they can simply have large leaves or blooms. The second characteristic is plants that bloom profusely. These can be either plants that have long bloom times or sim- ply flower heavily when in bloom. Flower color is also important. Blooms should be bright (red, orange and yellow) and can often exhibit rare and unusual shapes and color combinations. The third characteristic has to do with foliage. It should be deep green, lush, shiny or glossy and interesting on its own. Green foliage is the mainstay of the tropical garden, but leaves with variega- tions of other colors are quite common also. The last characteristic, but not neces- sarily mandatory, is fragrance. Spicy, cit- rus scents are very common because they are associated with the tropics but any strong fragrance will do. Trees, shrubs, perennials and more Let's look at some specific plants. Trees are a logical place to start. Because we can't grow palm trees in Wisconsin, we need to find other alterna- tives. Trees with compound stems and small leaves can give you that tropical feel. Honey locust and Kentucky coffee tree are prime examples. Trees with smooth bark and contorted trunks, such as beech and choke cherry, can also work. Otherwise, there is always the option of growing tropical trees in containers, like palms, bananas and cit- rus trees, and simply bringing them in for the winter. Shrubs can also give us that tropical feel. Shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons and magnolias are prime examples that give that tropical feel. Their intense spring bloom and glossy foliage shout tropical, not to mention, some varieties are actually truly tropical. Roses of Sharon, along with other hardy hibiscus, also make great tropical looking plants. Perennial plants also offer us choices. Foliage plants like ferns, large leafed hosta, hardy bamboos and ornamental grasses are perfect for creating tropical environments. Flowering plants like trumpet and Oriental lilies, queen of the prairie, ligularias and orchid-like plants (toad lilies) can add to the ambiance as well. Perennial vines like clematis, wiste- ria and passion vine are also great selec- tions. Tender perennial bulbs like elephant ears or canna and calla lilies also work great. They definitely give you that feel of the tropics. Annual flowers, most of which are trop- ical to begin with, also have a lot to offer. Plants with large foliage are a given. Flowering plants like New Guinea impa- tiens, lantanas, princess lilies, etc. add bright tropical color throughout the land- scape. Don't forget annual flowering vines. Mandevilla, jasmine, morning glo- ries and lotus vines add a lot of move- ment and color as well. As you can see, by duplicating the char- acteristics of the tropics, and choosing tropical-like plants, we can create our own little paradise. So if you're missing that tropical feel, this is a good place to start. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is chief horticulturalist at Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) Reconstructing a touch of the tropics ... in Wisconsin Photo by Michael Timm Tropical cannas at Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia. They imbue the tropics in every sense — the vibrant color of the blooms, the large dark green leaves are just for starters. And you can grow them in Wisconsin. Photo by Michael Timm Lantanas bring a lot of variety in a small pack- age. The varied colors can add sparkle and a touch of the tropics to a Wisconsin landscape. Photo by Michael Timm The beautiful blooms of dahlias help re-create a tropical scene during a Wisconsin summer, giving us another reason to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors. MICHAEL TIMM Perennial plants also offer us choices. Foliage plants like ferns, large leafed hosta, hardy bamboos and ornamental grasses are perfect for creating tropical environments.

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