In light of the rumoured approaching summer, and with the hope of warmer weather ahead, I present to you this week a list of tropical plants suitable for a metropolitan environment. City gardens often suffer, not just because of space restrictions or local conditions, but more commonly through lack of imagination. With a little planning you can have your own urban jungle, but of the green kind!
Many inner city gardens have their own sheltered little microclimate, making them ideal for more tender and exotic-looking plants.
The candidates below are all selected based on their compatibility to the urban environment.
1. Dicksonia Antarctica, otherwise known as the soft tree fern. This hardy semi-evergreen, which can grow up to 6 metres in the wild, can survive acidic or alkaline soils, thus immunizing it against the effects of city pollution. Commonly seen in the gardens of Cornwall, this lush-looking species will spore after several years and, due to the unique nature of the plants trunk, it can provide an ecological foundation for epiphytic ferns and vines. With consistent trimming, the shoots of previous leaves will rot and amalgamate as the plant thrives with older generations of fronds sealing the trunk to protect it from weather and desiccation. The Dicksonia is best planted in heavily mulched and watered soil, but can flourish in semi-shade or sun, with a cold margin of minus 5 centigrade. However, additional protection is recommended during severe weather periods or prolonged winters by capping the trunk with a layer of straw. This can be removed in spring along with any old fronds that have turned brown. Spray the trunk and leaves with water during periods of dry weather.
2. Cordlyine australis, or Cabbage Palm, is one of the most prevalent monocot species on earth, originating in New Zealand. The Cabbage Palm is also commonly known as the Torquay Palm throughout Britain as it can be seen all along the mild coastal resorts of the south-west, where it reaches up to 5 metres in height. But we