Today we’re visiting Marilyn in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where her landscape is filled with an impressive collection of tropical plants. Here’s what Marilyn has to say:
Started 27 years ago with nothing! Now it’s a tropical paradise, loaded with banana plants (Musa cvs., generally Zones 8–11), elephant ears (Colocasia cvs., Zones 8–11), curcumas (Curcuma cvs., Zones 8–11), gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides, Zones 8–11), angel’s trumpets (Brugmansia cvs., Zones 9–11), and more. There’s even a koi pond! It’s my pride and joy.
Welcome to Marilyn’s backyard, where a brick path framed by mature trees and lush plantings invites visitors into the garden.
Xanthosoma ‘Mickey Mouse’ (Xanthosoma sagittifolium ‘Mickey Mouse’, Zones 9–11) adds striking variegated foliage near the koi pond.
Bold tropical foliage layers throughout the borders, where giant curcuma, ‘Maui Sunrise’ elephant ear (Colocasia ‘Maui Sunrise’, Zones 8–11), and ‘Coal Miner’ elephant ear (Colocasia ‘Coal Miner’, Zones 8–11) create dramatic texture and scale.
A garden arch covered in morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea, annual), vibrant ‘Cleopatra’ canna (Canna ‘Cleopatra’, Zones 8–11), and plumeria (Plumeria rubra, Zones 10–12) creates a colorful focal point leading deeper into the garden.
Angel’s trumpet fills this part of the garden with oversized, pendulous flowers that become especially fragrant in the evening.
Blooming pitcher plants (Sarracenia cvs., Zones 6–9) provide another unexpected point of interest.
Thank you, Marilyn, for walking us through your tropical paradise!
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