Garden Designs using Palms, Cycads and Subtropical Plants.

Landcaping Basics Inspiring Gardens INSPIRATION

Landscaping Ideas for Pools and Ponds New Zealand

Tropical Gardens

Three elements combine to create a tropical garden; tall stately palms, dramatic large leaves and bright colours. Such a look is perfect for poolside planting, around ponds and city ‘jungles’.

Here we present different landscaping ideas for New Zealand gardens. All combine palms trees and cycads with other subtropical plants. These aren’t intended to be definitive; merely stimulation to facilitate finding the design that’s right for you. We’d encourage you to tastefully pick and mix ideas from the different styles as well as others you like.

Landscaping with Exotic Plants and Hardy Palms in Cool Climates

South Pacific Gardens

South Pacific gardens are rich in colour; from tropical Hibiscus to Hawaiian Ti Plants. They’re also a wonderful mix of palms, ferns, gingers, bananas, taros and other dazzling hot plants.

Rainforest Gardens

Rainforests are dark and mysterious with shades of deepest green, dripping leaves and an air of solitude. They mix large tree ferns and palms with dainty maidenhair ferns, orchids and occasional flashes of colour.

Himalayan Gardens

Himalayan gardens are cool and tranquil. Stands of bamboo and Trachycarpus provide protection for flowering bushes and gingers. Looming large are the exotic silhouettes of giant Fishtail Palms.

Mediterranean Gardens

We consider Mediterranean gardens in the widest sense; warm, dry gardens reminiscent of southern Europe, California or southern Australia. These gardens combine unusual desert plants, blue/grey palms and bushes with bright flowers such as Bougainvillea, Bird of Paradise and even Geraniums.

Coastal Gardens

If you’re lucky enough to live near the coast then this may just be the garden for you. Big, tough palms, flaxes and cabbage trees along with flashes of bright colour.

Cool Climate Exotic Gardens

Do you live in a chilly spot but long for an exotic garden all the same? Big hardy palms, ferns, bananas, bright flowers and unusual looking things with huge leaves? It’s entirely possible with a little planning.

Landscaping Ideas for City Gardens New Zealand

Landscaping with Himalayan Plants and Palms New Zealand

Landscaping with Mediterranean Plants and Palms New Zealand

Landscaping Ideas for Small Gardens New Zealand

Landscaping with Coastal Palms and Plants New Zealand

Landscaping with Palms and Rainforest Plants New Zealand

Landscaping with South Pacific Palms and Plants New Zealand

Landscaping with Palms and Tropical Plants New Zealand

Maybe you just want a simple garden; a lawn and something easy care that’ll look great, not cost the earth and require little maintenance. Perhaps you’ve a driveway that could do with a bit more than box hedging. Maybe a balcony or courtyard that needs something to give it an edge. Or perhaps you’re lucky enough to have a pool (or a pond) that could do with a facelift.

Here we present some thoughts on plantings for a range of different purposes. As with all our suggestions, they’re starting points only. We encourage you to add to and refine with ideas from other sources.

Plants for Small Gardens

If you’ve a small garden then an attractive tropical border can transform it from boringly suburban to thoroughly exotic.

Plants for City Gardens

City gardens are proving increasingly popular as urban space becomes limited. This calls for something exotic and stylish, small enough to not crowd out a balcony or decking yet tough enough to tolerate being kept in a pot.

Plants for Pools and Ponds

Both swimming pools and ponds offer up a wonderful opportunity for landscaping.