Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/130547
1 9 4 10 tropical 6 7 8 2 BRIEF ESCAPADES TO HAWAII are the perfect antidote 5 3 plant list 1 Golden catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea') 2 Chinese windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) 3 Japanese fatsia (Fatsia japonica) 4 Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus 'Blue River') 5 Red-leaved banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelli') 6 Upright elephant ears (Alocasia 'Calidora') 7 Giant reed (Arundo donax 'Versicolor') 8 Decorative dahlia (Dahlia 'Rebecca's World') 9 Lilyturf (Liriope muscari 'Big Blue') 10 Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) to our gloomy winters, yet our summers offer just enough warmth to create the look of a tropical paradise at home. With full sun exposure and soil as rich as it is malleable, explosive growth and riotous colours can be expected. When selecting plants for this design, gardeners should aim for hardy ones – those that survive our winters. Tender plants will serve only as accents. The jungle effect is achieved by overplanting – perennials are squeezed in, vines cover every fence post. From the far corner, a golden catalpa dominates the scene. Once established, its canopy can be halved in late winter, thus promoting supersized new leaves. While the green-leaved Japanese fibre banana (Musa basjoo) is perfectly hardy in coastal B.C., you can create a more dramatic effect with red-leaved Ensete. It will survive winter frosts in a greenhouse, or it can be used for one summer only, for it is a fast grower with tremendous impact. While cannas and dahlias are put out for the warmer months only, Chinese windmill palm and hardy hibiscus survive the coldest nights. Through this medley of flowers and foliage, a meandering path is hacked clear and marked with mulch, tree ring stepping stones or simple flagstones. Tucked away in a corner is a simple shade structure built of bamboo poles with a slanted roof and open sides. For a more contemporary feel, a suspended shade cloth is preferred. Nestled in the shadows is a round daybed made of synthetic woven fibre and plush cushions reminiscent of iconic German outdoor furniture designer Dedon's Swingcrest. (Middle left) Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelli' PHOTO: GAP/Frederic Didillon (Bottom left) Liriope muscari 'Big Blue' PHOTO: GAP/Visions June 2013 BC HOME & GARDEN | 45 p42-47_Climate Change.indd 45 13-05-01 4:11 PM