What would you plant here?

I have this area at the front entrance. Right in front of the window is an area that has clivias with lava rock for mulch then there is a 35-40 ft wall with Heleri Hollies and I hate them. I want to rip them out(already pulled two out, but have three more to go). I planted an Areca Palm and was thinking about bananas and shell giner but couldn't figure out how to pull it all together. I'll post some more pics so you can get an idea of how the front of the house looks but here is the wall I'm talking about.

Here is the whole entrance, can you see the Black Magic ears on the left by the door?

Here is looking out from the front entrance.

And here is looking from the front yard behind the big BOP and elephant ear/crinum garden with 2 little Phoenix palms.

Gosh, I missed this one when you first posted it. Susie, you have a way with finding the right plant. I'll bet by the time you visit some nurseries down there, you will see something that will be just perfect for that area. I wouldn't even begin to know what to put there since we don't have access to many of the warm weather plants and I just plain don't learn about them when I don't use them.

Forgot to say, your place is so pretty. I love it.

Something with pink flowers perhaps?

How about some tropical color as croton vari. colors with burgandy,yellows ,shades of green,there is so many vareities to choose from.
Don

How about various Cordyine fruticosa (Hawaiian Ti) in various colors, planted to make a mosaic - I just happen to have lots of Ti if you want to trade. Ti require no special care, their color is year round and when too tall you just lop them off and they grow full again! Then for contrast to break the vertical lines of the Ti....something low and fragrant like dwarf Tabernaemontana (sp?) or self heading Philos.

Aloha, Carol

Thinking of Tabernaemontana coronaria...there is a dwarf form. We have it near the front door and even with one bloom the scent is heavenly all through the garden. Tolerant down to 30F, below that it will die back and resprout in the spring.

First of all, I like clivias a lot. In my opinion they look much better massed. I have an area under some Melaleuca trees where about a dozen mature clivias reside (both orange and yellow). When they bloom in the Spring, they are spectacular. Under the window area I would ad maybe a couple of Bird's Nest ferns or some shade-loving hardy mid-level ferns of some sort.

I'm not sure if your long wall is mostly sun or mostly shade, but here goes. Since you are in zone 10 -- I'd do a 'layered' look. Maybe 2 or 3 large Calliandras spread out and interspersed with Agave attenuata and finally a whole slew of Clivias spread along the base. All three plants are simple, low maintenance, and once established don't need a lot of water, but still have a 'tropicalesque' look.

You've also got a lot of room to the walk, so I'd have something 'spring out' from the wall instead of being flat and somewhat static. May make mowing a little more difficult though...

-Ron-

Ron always has good suggestions.

I'm a fragrance girl so I would plant Sarcococca rustifolia in the shady area under the window (awesome fragrance) and then stagger plumerias with Michelia figo's. Another favorite of mine is Aglaia odorata and Osmanthus fragrans. However, I also think that a row of Cala Lilies would look gorgeous there, but you must have already thought of that! It also might be a nice area to plant a row of roses.

Wow, I was wondering if anyone was going to see this! Now I have something to work with. Tropicman, I've not tried any crotons but they are easy to find down here and make big bushes. I hadn't thought of using them. Carol, I love Ti plants and have the red leafed ones with pink down the center. They are cheap here and also a plain green one is available. I hadn't thought of using those there either.
The area is morning sun/afternoon shade with that side getting more sun than the side with the ears. I have these plants already, but don't necessarily have to use them: bananas both dwarf and tall, shell ginger-plain green leaves, elephant ears, purple sugar cane............the ti and crotons I can buy. I have clivias in front of the window and also in another area bordering an octagon shaped patio area. I don't like the row of clivias under the window, but they would probably look nice mixed in with other tropicals. I will see if I can work a curve into the bed, but it's in a rectangle shaped area and will have to consult with DH(unless I want to be the one to mow it forever)
I've got to rip out the hollies then I'll start. I'll take pics of before and after.
Thanks Brugie! I'd forgotten all about this thread!

Susie, check out this link: http://www.plumeria101.com/plunging.html It shows some beds of plumeria.

Oh yeah! I'd forgotten about plummies! I may never get this area planted, I'll still be trying to make up my mind this time next year.

If you planted Ti and Crotons, the Clivias could be grouped beneath/amongst them: the taller plants would provide more shade, the strappy leaves would contrast well as well as their +or- horizontal shapes....

Tho you can find Ti there...I still offer different ones they may not have for trade. Be aware that the Reds and the Greens can take direct sun...anything with white or cream will want shade or min. sun.

Carol

Oh my, there are ti plants with white and cream?
Forgot to mention above that I don't like agave plants. They have a lot of different ones here but I refuse to plant them because they have thorns that are like big needles that hurt real bad when you bump into them! I gave a bunch of big yucca plants to the neighbor because every time I'd get close to them I would get a nasty stick in the arm or shoulder and a couple of times it left a big bruise! He has a bunch of agave and if I go over to their house after dark, I don't cut across the yard!

Something espaliered (?sp) on that wall would look nice.

Please post a pic of the entire front of your house Susie. The front yard and all.

Are ya sure you want to see it Kell? I have neglected that area and it looks terrible!

Yes, Susie. i was telling a friend at work all about your house and how grand it was. I only have the pic of it before you moved in. I need a new one. I especially loved how the house was framed with palms.

Hey Calalily, What about planting some duranta or plumbago?

Clayton, I might stick one of the new darker blue plumbagos in there, but I'm not crazy about duranta. I guess because everyone plants it as a windbreak. I do have one duranta(the dark blue one) that is trained as a standard and I like it.
Kell, I'll see if I can stand in the neighbors yard and get a good shot. They're gonna think I'm crazy taking more pictures! Be prepared though, I"ve neglected the front while working on the back. The beds need edging really bad.

Here's a link to some wild colors of crotons,might be to colorful,but there sure look tropical!!!

http://www.croton-mania.com/croton_mania.html

OK, I ripped out one holly bush(after digging that one out I was too tired to dig the others out). I stuck two dwarf cavendish bananas in there. It's a start, lol.
T-man, those crotons are beautiful! I meant for my gardens to look like theirs!

Cala,I know what you mean!!
I never seen so much color before in ones garden,I think the bananas and palms and crotons,really give that tropical look and feeling.

Boy, a croton co-op would be one I'd go for. Those are awesome, Don. Thanks for the site and my now severe need to grow them in my garden. LOL!

"They" say crotons are slow growers...but it seems to me that they reach a certain height and take off like a scalded cat!!! Some great colors!

Carol

Susie
there is a new plant that you should put there
its a Karynriggii var. "crestedchik"

I'm telling you it would look great there!!!!

LOL, you are too funny CC. How much is shipping on that plant? I wonder if it would live in the heat down here?

Have you considered castor bean plants? There are some beautiful varieties of those, and they grow well in your area.

The the karynriggii is much better than a castor bean and doesent cost much to feed.....
Ahhhh....I don't think it can get shipped I know UPS won't let me...oops, I mean IT, go.....too delicate
I'm thinking southwestern airlines.....

Calalily,
I might try a mix of the butterfly gingers, croton, and Ti plants, then somthing frilly or flowering to edge it with like trailing lantana??
I don't know if you know or not but your standard Shell Ginger would take over that area in just a few years...it is a booger to dig out and redo so...you might consider putting it in some big deco pots and then planting around it if you still want to use it. We use shell ginger down here for privacey fences..lol

Whatever you decide it will be beautiful I'm sure.

MsC

OK, I saw an established bed of shell ginger today, I have changed my mind about where I'm going to plant it! This poor lady's AC unit was in danger of being uprooted by the shell ginger!
Karyn, there is a Southwest terminal about 10 miles from where I work, if you'll pay shipping, I'll come pick up the package.

You'll freak ........LOL

Glad you checked out the shell ginger before you planted it.lol
I love mine and it serves it's purpose as a cheap privacy fence.
I don't relish havingto go keep it in line ,tho, but it was the cheapest thing to use at the time. The flowers are very lovely when it blooms and they have an orchid like apperance...since I can't seem to grow orchids, this worked fine..lol

I'll be intersted to see what the final plant selections are.Your place is lovely.

MsC

MsC, I gave up on orchids. I get tempted every time I go to a nursery that has them, but I resist the temptation.
CC, I dare you to fly yourself down and see if I freak out!

Calalily,
You wrote: "...but I resist the temptation"
Ah yes.. "resisting temptation"... I must take that class next time it's offered..lol
I have NO WILL POWER and somethings are just a matter of principal.
I know I can, I Know I can.. but someone forgot to tell THEM I could grow them.. I'm currently killing off 3 nice cattleyas.:) oops.


MsC

1st of all let me say I love your yard! I am a big Cycad fan and wondered if you had any Cycads other than the King Sago's? As for the space in question might I suggest a ginger named, Scarlet Fever. It is a Curcuma type that loses it's foliage in the winter time, but always comes back the next year. It would add a splash of color and fit in very well with your tropical garden.
http://cycadjungle.8m.com/cycadjungle/logo%20background%20page.html

A second choice would be some tree ferns. I think dicksonia antarctica (known as the "Tasmanian treefern") would be a good choice for your area and they also would fit in well with your tropical yard.
http://www.angelfire.com/bc/eucalyptus/treeferns/antarctica.html

A third good option could be Pink Fruiting Banana (Musa velutina). they also would fit right in and add some color.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/979/index.html


I am very interested to see what plant you deside to put in that spot. You are obviously very good at planing a garden because everything already goes together so well.
George in San Antonio.

Jester, the only other cycad I have is cardboard palm. I'm not real crazy about the sagos but they are old and I'd hate to just rip them out and throw them away. I have a pink banana in the back, I want to get more and hope to find some in the spring. Tree ferns don't do well here, they kind of hang on, but don't thrive. I will have to check into the red ginger, I like it and it would add some color there. Those red stems are so pretty.
MsC, it's not easy to resist. Sometimes I'll walk by the orchid display three or four times, even pick them up..........