I'm trying to create a more 'tropical' landscape around my house and I'm gradually replacing the previous owners more traditional plantings with my own. Currently I'm trying to decide what to plant in the place of some boxwood hedges that run the length of my front porch, but I would like something that is evergreen since I'm using a lot of perennial plantings that will be nonexistant come next winter. Moreover, I need something that preferably gets no taller than 36". I've thought of fatsia japonica, autumn fern and/or mass plantings of cast iron plant but wouldn't mind getting some input from you guys. Also, considered mass planting of dwarf palmetto or saw palmetto. As of right now I'm working with Med. Fan palm, Sago palm, various elephant ear, Austrailian tree fern, variegated shell ginger, cannas, musa basjoo, pindo palm, etc. thanks for the help.
tropical evergreens
I'm heading to work now so I'll try and come back later with some suggestions for you, but a lot of the things you're mentioning are going to get taller than your 3' ideal (many of them are more like 10' or so...not just a little bigger than what you want!). I have a 10' tall Fatsia, fan palm will get to that height too, sago palm too (although I think they at least grow slow), Aussie tree ferns are taller, many cannas even are taller than 3'.
The Ixora are beautiful, but I dont think they'd survive zone 8a winters, a lot of things listed as only hardy to zone 9 grow here well, like oleander for example. Ecrane3, I should have been more clear, I meant that I was working with the palms, canna, ferns, etc. to give you an idea of the kind of landscape the tropical evergreen would be going into. I was just considering the fatsia, autumn fern and cast iron plant for the evergreen hedge plantings. I'm kind of going for that New Orleans courtyard look which usually mixes a touch of woodland with tropical. I'm not opposed to azlea, they're just so overused in my area.
You might try Zamia floridana (pumila), a Florida native that is hardy into much colder areas (Sunset zones 21-27). Will grow in sun or shade. Grows faster if given light doses of fertilizer and extra water when dry. It gets up to about 3 feet, but, takes a couple decades to grow that large on its own, faster with good care. It only grows new leaves once a year, in spring, which means the extra care you give the plant doesn't show up until the spring. You might not find a plant outside of Florida, but, it grows from seed very well (slowly) and this is the time of year to get seed, the cones are ripening now.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53667/index.html
OK, got it! Sorry for the confusion. You should still cross the Fatsia off the list, PF says it's 10-12' and mine is 10' at least so I know they're not lying!
Here is another plant, X Fatshedera lizei. It is a cross between Fatsia and Hedera (Ivy) that is hardy in your area. It is kind of ridgid-like a shrub and a little lazy like a vine, grows fast and requires little care beyond pruning once of twice a year after it gets up to the size you desire.
here is one supplier and a good photo to boot http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/03537.html
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/135382/index.html
This message was edited Jan 24, 2007 4:21 PM
I agree with the crossing Fatsia off your list; it can be too sculptural for a background plant.
Your idea of Aspidestra is interesting, there are so many gorgeous varieties out there right now. This site has over 30 varieties, most all very expensive but I bet you could find them locally at a more reasonable price.
http://www.asiaticanursery.com/
Thanks for everyone's input thus far, you've given me some great ideas to think about.
Windmill palms, golden bamboo, and camellia (kinda tropical looking) would definately go off in your zone.
Dwarf (or regular) Nandina? Sometimes called heavenly bamboo. Evergreen, leaves turn wonderfully red during winter with clumps of red berries. There are dwarf varieties but you can prune the taller ones to keep them anywhere between 2 and 6 feet tall. Birds tend to spread the seeds but the volunteers are easily pulled.
Deb
Your canna won't be evergreen, in your zone. Most of them will shrivel up in winter; I've found an exception to be Richard Wallace - it's been blooming all winter here in zone 9.
As for EEs, I've found that alocasias are much more cold hardy than colocasias, and will stay up fairly well through the winter.
Hope this helps.
Steve