If you'd love a slice of paradise, it's yours with lush leaves and layers – and clever design - no matter your climate. Here's how you do it!
Designed by Dennis Hundscheidt in Sunnybank, QLD, this tropical-inspired garden thrives in warmth, but with the right plants and design, you can create the same look anywhere.
You don’t need warm nights or steamy weather to create a tropical-style garden. With a thoughtful approach and the right combination of plants and features, that lush, layered look can be achieved almost anywhere. By leaning into bold foliage, texture and clever placement, even cooler or drier gardens can capture a sense of the tropics – it’s more about the feeling you create than the climate you’re working with.
Ground it with grass
Even where the climate is cool, a lawn creates a lush, green canvas that makes tropical plantings feel abundant. Frame it with foliage and invite barefoot wandering.
Go with the flow
Introduce water in any form –a meandering stream, glazed bowl or bubbling fountain cools the air, reflects light and adds a sense of calm and movement to the garden.
Mix foliage for impact
Place plants with contrasting leaf colours and forms next toeach other for depth and drama. Here, Epipremnum 'Goldilocks' acts as a striking contrast next to anthuriums and ctenanthe.
Add pops of colour
Combine dramatic leaves and vibrant accents throughout your greenery to create visual interest. Bromeliads, coleusand cordylines are adaptable to most climates.
Guide the eye
Place a focal point such as a sculpture, water feature or striking plant at the end of a path to lead you through the garden, creating a sense of stepping inside the greenery. A truly immersive experience!
Layer plantings
Recreate that tropical feeling by planting inrich, dense layers - vary heights, leaf shapes and textures for max lushness. Try palms or frangipanis for height, and cordy lines, cannalilies, dracaena or ferns for the lower layers.
Plant your way
Bold, vibrant foliage is the hallmark of a tropical garden. Here, crotons take the spotlight but in cooler areas, sacred bamboo (Nandina), canna lilies, heuchera or coprosma will deliver a similar colourful impact.
Set in stone
Use gravel, stone and bush rock to define spaces, line border sand paths. Their earthy tones provide a subtle backdrop, allowing the bold foliage to shine while giving the garden a sense of cohesion.
TOP TIP
Place a floating solar-powered bubbler – no installation needed – in a pond, water feature or even a large pot filled with water to add gentle sound and movement.
You'll bring tropical style to any garden through bold leaves, vibrant colours and thoughtful layering
Fill every gap
Tropical style thrives in density. Plant in odd numbers – three or five – to create broad clusters of foliage and texture, filling the garden with drama and depth, replicating a rich, jungle-like atmosphere.
Leaf it to me
Foliage is the backbone of a tropical garden. Large leaves and striking textures set the mood and give structure.Try alocasias, dwarf bananas, ornamental ginger, palms or bamboo to create a leafy retreat.
Build a bridge
A low timber bridge adds structure and interest, even over gravel. It creates a sense of journey, links garden zones and brings natural warmth that complements tropical plantings, textures and layered foliage.
Glaze over it
A single glazed pot can act as a playful exclamation amid a sea of foliage. It adds colour, creates a visual pause and lifts the planting scheme. Use it to anchor a corner or draw attention to a key plant.
TOP TIP
Add a small water bowl, pond or mirror to reflect foliage and light. Even a tiny garden feels larger and more immersive when leaves and sky double back on themselves.
Formality has a place ina tropical garden. Symmetrical layouts and structured features contrast with large, unruly foliage, creating tension, interest and a sense of drama.
Ornaments, cushions and umbrellas add personality and comfort, completing the tropical vibe and making the garden inviting.
Dress the scene
Ornaments give the garden character and style. Here, a thatched Balinese lantern adds warmth and exotic flair. Nestle it among foliage for a lived-in feel but elevate it to a height so it can be seen.
Frame with flair
Balinese umbrellas bring height, colour and texture, serving as decorative anchors that enrich the garden’s tropical style. Position them thoughtfully to create visual impact and highlight key areas.
Step this way
Set stepping stones into the lawn to prevent worn tracks and add playful movement. Each step sparks curiosity, encouraging exploration and guiding you seamlessly from one garden zone to the next.
Take a seat
Add a timber bench and layer with bright cushions.The combination brings comfort, colour and personality, making the garden feel inviting and stylish. Plus, it’s a gentle reminder to pause and soak in the garden.
TOP TIP
Find Balinese-style ornaments at garden stores, home décor shops, craft markets or online retailers which specialise in Southe ast Asian décor.
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