If you are looking for plants to give more curb appeal to your property, here are a couple that I personally recommend to help give your garden beds a cleaner and more tropical look.
Flax lilie
The flax lilie initially comes to mind for many reasons. You can find them at a local nursery, generally costing around $5 to $10 for each 1 or 3-gallon potted plant. They are an ornamental grass, so the upkeep on them is minimal. They are very drought-tolerant and can grow in environments where a sprinkler system is not present. Once big and established enough, you’ll be able to separate this plant into smaller sections that can be utilized elsewhere if necessary. The blades consist of two shades, one being white and the other a very light shade of green. This plant complements palm trees, can withstand the heat of rock beds, and would create an eye-popping contrast if you were to lay black mulch around it. It is one of my go-to plants when it comes to designing, and that’s why it made my list.
Date palm tree
The date palm tree, or robellini, is our go-to when it comes to installing an attention-grabbing focal point. People will typically recognize them due to their three branches that pertrude from the same root ball. Not only is the foliage very appealing, but the growth rate is very slow, which allows you to plant it closer to your home than the average palm tree, which may become too large for the area where it was installed. They are relatively cost-effective, as you can purchase a 7-gallon for approximately $75 and a 15-gallon for approximately $150, give or take, depending on your local nursery. Again, this plant is one of my go-tos when it comes to needing a focal point for my designs, as no other plant screams tropical more than a palm tree.
Red sister
While this plant is sometimes known for burning leaves due to the Florida heat, once established, this vertical-growing plant is your best bet if you’re looking to add more red to your landscaping beds. This plant is very drought-tolerant and even grows at my house, which, to put it nicely, gets minimal upkeep in the landscaping department. What is that phrase again? “The cobbler’s kids have no shoes”? Anyway, this plant is so durable that if you were to cut off a branch and stick it in some soil, there’s a chance it might create its own root system and start growing. The red sister is here to stay, makes for a great corner piece, and accents the pillars your home may have.
Liriope
While this plant may not look like much on its own, it gives your landscaping beds that missing piece you were looking for. Liriope is an ornamental grass that is also very cheap, like its fellow plant at the top of this list, the flax lilie. While the flax lilie has a very light tone to it, the liriope foliage is a very dark green. Like the other plants on this list, liriope is very drought-tolerant and, again, also grows at my house, which is where plants go. This plant is a necessity when I’m designing, and due to its size, it makes for a perfect front row piece that will even sprout little purple buds when blooming.
Agave
You’re going to want to put some gloves on; this spiky plant is no joke. This succulent has poked me many times, but its stiff and almost unreal-looking leaves keep me coming back. They are perfect plants if you plan to install rock in your landscaping beds, as they can withstand hot and dry environments. Some agave species can grow up to 2 meters tall, so make sure you’re familiar with which one you are installing, as you may not want it too close to your house or other plants. When maintaining or trimming this plant, watch out for the liquidy substance that can secrete from the leaf when cut, as it will make you itchy for the remainder of your day. Trust me, I’ve been there and done that! Other than that, this plant is a no-brainer if you are looking for a singular plant to accent your tropical landscaping bed.
Hopefully you were able to take some value away from this list, as it results from my 7 years of experience in the green industry. If you’re interested in getting a tropical landscape installed for your home, you can call or text us at 352-410-2586 or visit our website at https://baldonislandscaping.com/.