IN THE GARDEN
A LUSH LIFE Tropical plants come in a variety of striking shapes, such as the Colocasia esculenta var. fontanesii (top), Epigeneium triflorum (below left) and beehive ginger ( Zingiber spectabile , below right)
through hosts such as the Darth Vader plant ( Aristolochia salvadorensis ) and the Aristolochia arborea . Epiphytic plants can also be found here. Orchids in various sizes and colours from rainforests all across the globe nestle among the limbs and the foliage of host plants, and Spanish moss ( Tillandsia usneoides ) from the Americas hangs curtain-like from tree branches. These are just a few of my favourites to whet the appetite, but there is always something to capture the imagination in these verdant houses. Bringing the tropics home Chances are, if you grow houseplants, you might already be growing a tropical plant. Asian moth orchids ( Phalaenopsis species) adorn many kitchen windowsills, often with little horticultural attention, though lots more tropical orchids are available. Other popular tropical houseplants include the herringbone plant ( Maranta leuconeura ), the money tree ( Pachira aquatica ) and the fiddle-leaf fig ( Ficus lyrata ). While we are fortunate at the Botanic Garden to be able to dedicate space solely to the cultivation of tropical plants, most of us don’t have that luxury in our homes. But there is still scope to grow elephant’s ears ( Alocasia species and cultivars), parlour palm ( Chamaedorea elegans ) and many other tropical plants if you can provide the correct conditions. All will thrive in indirect light, a minimum temperature of 15°C, a humid environment provided through regular misting, well-drained compost and watering when the compost surface dries out. Many of these will also relish spending a summer in your garden, providing they aren’t in bright sunlight, which may scorch them. If you’re encouraged to start growing tropical plants at home, now is a good time to dip your toe in, with garden centres and
over summer, but will need the protection of a greenhouse or conservatory in winter, or wrapping with fleece or hessian if left outside. Alternatively, try adding pineapple lilies ( Eucomis pole-evansii ) or arum lilies ( Zantedeschia aethiopica ) to a warm, sunny corner to bring a hint of tropical climes to your summer garden. If you’re really not inclined to test your green fingers, a visit to the Botanic Garden is sure to provide a taste of the tropics.
online retailers offering a plethora of plants to choose from. What better way to create a horticultural talking point in your home or garden than by adding a touch of the exotic such as a hardy banana ( Musa basjoo ) or a staghorn fern ( Platycerium bifurcatum ) to your plant collection? Many of these will grow outdoors in pots or in the garden
If you’re encouraged to start growing tropical plants at home, now is a good time to dip your toe in
Sally Petitt is head of horticulture at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
70 AUGUST 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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