Wealden Times | WT244 | September 2022 | Winter Interiors Supplement inside

Garden
Canopy Plants
The use of vertical planting to give height will create
a more intimate atmosphere, increase humidity and
define the space. Choose fast growing canopy plants
– and the great thing about big leaved, soft-stemmed
trees and tree-sized herbaceous perennials, is that they
tend to grow quickly – racing upwards and spreading
out to claim their share of the sunlight. There are
masses to choose from, but, as with specimen trees and
shrubs in a traditional garden, there may only be room
for one or two impact plants – so don’t go bananas.
There are plenty of exotic looking, (but hardy)
woody trees that will look the part. For big leaves
there’s evergreen Magnolia grandiflora, which also
has enormous, pale cream scented flowers, Almost
evergreen is Tetrapanax ‘Rex’ – or rice paper tree. With
its enormous palmate leaves it looks very exotic, but
is usually fairly hardy. Catalpa bignonioides, the Indian
bean tree, will grow enormous left to its own devices,
but looks spectacular when cut hard back each year,
as this makes the leaves even bigger, while dwarfing
the tree. Palms are impressive and many are hardy
in a sheltered situation. Or you could try a Fig tree,
which in a good year, will also bring luscious fruit.
Mid-sized leaves can be just as exotic looking – Ginko
biloba has really unusual fan shaped leaves that turn a
wonderful deep butter yellow colour in the autumn.
It is an ancient plant that’s been around since the time
of the dinosaurs and is a bit slow growing, but makes
up for that by being low maintenance and pest free.
Mid Layer
From head height down to just above the knee, the mid
layer in a tropical scheme will have to work hard – foliage
will be mainly green, often dark, packed with chlorophyl
and glossy, to make the most of the dappled light under
the canopy. Sword-like leaves are useful here to punctuate
and contrast – colourful Phormiums work well, Cordylines
will do a similar job, but will eventually grow very tall.
Euphorbia mellifera or Honey spurge, looks exotic, with
honey scented flowering bracts in spring. It can get
quite large, but is easy to prune and keep to scale – just
watch out for the irritant sap that all Euphorbias have
and wear gloves/long sleeves when cutting back. Another
plant that smells of honey is Melianthus major. It is a bit
sprawly – but in a gentle jungle way and has beautiful,
glaucous leaves, softly serrated, the greeny-blue colour
makes a lovely contrast with other foliage. Melianthus
will need a sunnier spot than some of the darker leaved
and will be cut back, but rarely killed, by the frost.
Verbena bonariensis
with Crocosmia
Morning Glory ‘Grandpa Ot’
Alstromeria
“Indian Summer’
Exotic Blooms
Tender, fabulous, but worth it, tuberous perennials like
Cannas, Dahlias and Agapanthus will provide gorgeous
flowers from early summer until the frosts. They have
jungly foliage too – in contrasting shape and form –
105 priceless-magazines.com