Edible subtropical plants offer fruit and are handy screens, writes Meg Liptrot.
We're lucky in the warmer parts of Aotearoa that we can grow wonderful subtropicals. On the occasions I've visited the South Island and have been tempted to move to Riverton, or maybe Oamaru, my big stumbling block (apart from it being a little expensive to visit family in Auckland) is "what about my bananas and cherimoya?" What about the warmth and rain we have in the north that allows us to grow the most wonderful array of lush subtropical plants? Which is why I'll be staying in Auckland.
Most of the gardens I've designed have featured subtropicals. They are particularly suited to filling awkward spaces quickly, and make dull fencelines look lush, or quickly block views that you don't want to see. Bananas are perfect in this situation.
At home, our little villa is surrounded by two-storey infill housing, and we get little snapshots of a sea view in between. The overall impression was one of being hemmed in. The best way to deal with this was to create screens of lush foliage in layers, giving a jungle-like quality, creating the illusion the backyard is bigger than it is. The first layer of foliage is viewed from the metre-high verandah so the leaves are at eye level, with another layer in the background against the boundary fence. The chosen plants were relatively simple, not busy, and filter light beautifully. That's when banana leaves steal the show. Their leaves glow when light is viewed through them, so are perfect on the north side of the property.
When planning a subtropical garden, aim to create a moist, humid, sheltered and warm situation to mimic the environment these plants came from. Plant a canopy of sorts, which allows dappled light into the next levels in the garden, but prevents them from being parched in the sun. Choose tall plants such as mountain pawpaw and bananas, or smallish trees such as tamarillo, Tahitian lime or cherimoya to provide a good framework. Under these, plant lower-growing vegetation such as canna lily, taro or ginger. Then use bushy ground covers such as pepino. Some native ground covers work well too, such as the small limey green leaves of Fuchsia procumbens.
