Island-style beach villas, Palm Springs-inspired oases, and balmy poolside retreats. These classic tropical and semi-tropical outdoor design themes have always been prominent in sunny Sydney and continue to grow in popularity. While some of the nuances have evolved over time, the desire to have a tropical beach-style escape in your own backyard still prevails.
When creating a tropical outdoor space in your home, there are several key attributes that set the style apart. Think natural materials, running water, and light, bright finishes. But none are more important than your plant selection to really elevate your space and set that tone of an idyllic island paradise. Incorporating a blend of native, as well as adaptive non-native plants will not only help create the perfect aesthetic but also minimises your maintenance requirements and creates a more sustainable garden.
Focusing on tropical-style plants native to the Sydney region means we're looking for species that evoke a tropical ambiance but are inherently adapted to the Sydney climate. The Sydney region, despite not being a tropical climate, supports a rich diversity of native plants that can give a garden that lush, tropical feel through their foliage, flowers, or general growth habits.
We’ve put together a list of robust natives and adaptive non-natives that can support the look you’re going for, along with the local ecosystem.
Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium australasicum) – Characterised by its large, glossy, and leathery fronds that form a nest-like rosette, the bird’s nest fern thrives in shaded, humid spots reminiscent of a rainforest floor. It’s also an epiphytic plant, meaning it can grow on other plants but is not parasitic. This fern will be commonly found growing on tree trunks and branches as well as rocks and in soil.
Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) - A dramatic plant with sword-like leaves and a towering flower spike that can reach over 4 meters in height, bearing reddish pink flowers at the top. The gymea lily prefers plenty of direct sun and can thrive in dry and nutrient-poor soils. Their dramatic foliage and stunning floral spikes make them a fantastic focal point for your tropical garden, offering a lush, bold appearance.
Australian Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi) – Tree ferns are known for their lush, green fronds that unfurl from a central point. Giving a dense, tropical, even prehistoric, look. They prefer moist, shaded areas and blend well with other shade-loving tropical plants, such as hostas, impatiens, and caladiums, which can be planted around their base to create a layered, understory effect. Australian Tree Ferns can reach heights of up to 15 metres if given the proper space, care and support.
Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos spp.) – This plant features unique, fuzzy flowers that resemble kangaroo paws. Coming in various colours from red to yellow, they add an exotic touch to your tropical garden.
Bangalow Palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) - A tall, slender palm with a crown of glossy, green fronds, bringing an instant tropical feel. It's tolerant of a range of conditions but prefers moisture – perfect for Sydney’s subtropical, humid springs and summers.
Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.) – Bottlebrush is renowned for its cylindrical, brush-like flowers that come in a diverse range of colours, from red and pink to orange and yellow. These Australian natives attract birds and provide dense foliage while maintaining a vibrant tropical aesthetic to your garden.
Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) - Celebrated for its striking bright red flowers that cover the tree before the new foliage appears, the Illawarra flame tree offers a breathtaking display against green surroundings. When not in bloom, the tree provides a lush, green canopy with its large, lobed leaves, contributing to the layered green effect desired in tropical landscapes.
Australian Fan Palm (Licuala ramsayi) - Although more commonly found in Queensland, the Australian fan palm can be grown in sheltered areas of Sydney. The large, fan-shaped leaves create a dramatic visual impact, offering shade and a dense green canopy. While the tree can grow up to 15 metres tall, it typically won’t reach these heights in most garden settings. This fan palm loves humidity and regular watering is essential, especially in dry conditions, to keep the soil consistently moist.
Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistona australis) - A tall, slender palm that can reach up to 25 meters in height. Featuring a crown of dark green, fan-shaped fronds, the trunk is ringed with the scars of shed fronds, adding to its distinctive appearance. It's a hardy palm that grows quickly and adapts well to a range of soil types and conditions. Though it prefers a sunny to partly shaded position and well-drained soil. It’s tolerability to drought once established, makes it a versatile choice for Sydney gardens seeking a tropical feel.
Davidson's Plum (Davidsonia jerseyana) - An exceptional choice for those looking to add a unique and edible element to their tropical garden. Native to the rainforests of Australia, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales, this plant belongs to a small genus of trees known for their deep purple, almost black fruit, which is highly prized for its culinary uses. Davidson's Plum trees can contribute not only an exotic aesthetic to tropical garden designs but also offer the delight of home-grown, gourmet ingredients.
Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) - The Coastal Banksia is a versatile and striking native Australian plant that, while not tropical in the strictest sense, its inclusion in a tropical or subtropical garden can add structural variety and visual interest as well as support local biodiversity. Bridging the gap between exotic appeal and native plant gardening. They are also highly drought tolerant and evergreen, minimising maintenance and providing year-round foliage.
Frangipani (Plumeria spp.) – While the frangipani is not inherently native to Sydney, or Australia, it does thrive in the local warm, temperate climate. Offering a tropical look with its fragrant, colorful flowers and lush foliage, they are quite drought-tolerant once established. One of the more common varietals found throughout Sydney homes and landscapes is the plumera rubra. Traditionally known for its white flowers sporting a yellow centre, there are many cultivars within this species, offering a range of colours from pinks to reds and oranges.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) - Another non-native, the bird of paradise is a hallmark of tropical gardens the world over. Admired for its broad, deep green leaves and striking flowers that resemble a bird's head and beak (in flight not a goofy looking dodo), it adds an exotic touch to any garden. It is highly versatile, setting itself as the hero of a landscape or used to create lush, dense borders around pathways or pools. Birds of paradise prefer full sun for maximum flower production and thrive in rich, well-draining soil. While established plants are relatively drought-tolerant, they do best with regular watering.
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) – While not native to Sydney or Australia, Bougainvillea is so widely cultivated and naturalised that many mistake it as an Australian native. With a breadth of vibrant colors and dense coverage, it is an ideal choice for creating a lush, tropical feel in sunny spots. Extremely versatile and low maintenance, most Bouganvillea varietals can be grown in multiple forms including shrubs, trees, groundcovers and climbing vines.
Invasive Non-Natives
Introducing non-native plants into gardens and landscapes without understanding their environmental impact can lead to unintended consequences for local ecosystems, wildlife, and even other plants. In the Sydney region, and more broadly in many parts of Australia, certain tropical-style plants have become popular for their aesthetic appeal but pose risks to the local environment.
Cocos Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) – Also referred to as the Queen Palm, cocos palms are utilised in tropical garden designs for its elegant, slender trunk and lush, arching fronds that create an instantly recognizable silhouette of the tropics. This visual appeal, as well as its speedy growth rate, has made it a popular choice for Australian gardens. However, it’s considered a significantly invasive species here due to its tough flower spikes injuring wildlife like flying foxes; the unripe fruit is toxic to native animals and can lead to digestive blockages; and they outcompete other native flora in the area. With so many gorgeous native and adaptive palms available in Australia, best to skip this one.
Lantana (Lantana camara) – Offering robust growth and vibrant flowers in a spectrum of hues, lantana became popular in tropical gardens for its bright pops of colour and ease of care. The plant blooms almost year-round in warm climates, attracting butterflies and other pollinators. But its highlights are what make it so dangerous to the local environment. It grows like a runaway freight train and here in Australia it has escaped cultivation and spread into natural ecosystems where it outcompetes native plants and negatively alters habitats for local wildlife. Those striking floral colours also attract other animals, many of which find the plant toxic if ingested. More appropriate alternatives include starflower and jungle flame.
Morning Glory Vine (Ipomoea indica) - These fast-growing vines are cherished for their trumpet-shaped flowers that unfurl at dawn to greet the morning sun, hence their name. The flowers come in a variety of colours, including blues, purples, pinks, whites, and even bicolours, offering a spectacular display that can complement the lush greenery of a tropical garden. While beautiful, the morning glory vine can smother and choke out native flora and vegetation, is extremely difficult to control once established, invades local crops and can be poisonous to livestock, wildlife and even people.
Oleander (Nerium oleander) - Oleander is a highly versatile and drought-tolerant plant that is widely used in tropical and subtropical gardens for its showy, colorful flowers and lush, evergreen foliage. Native to the Mediterranean region, oleander can thrive in a wide range of climates, making it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add a tropical touch to their landscapes. The plant is a strong skin irritant and highly toxic to humans and wildlife, resulting in serious illness or death if ingested. All parts of the plant are poisonous, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, convulsions, irregular pulse, and then respiratory distress. The smoke produced from burning oleander is also toxic.
While these plants can provide certain aesthetic or practical benefits in gardens and landscapes, their environmental impacts underscore the importance of choosing native or non-invasive species that support local biodiversity and ecosystems. In Sydney and across Australia, there's a growing awareness and effort to promote gardening and landscaping practices that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible. With a comprehensive list of native and adaptive tropical-style plants available to Sydney green thumbs of all levels, this is something we should all strive for.
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