All too often tropical planting schemes are busy and slightly garish. Multi coloured foliage and bright flowers are competing for attention, resulting in a landscape that is anything but restful.
So on a recent trip to Thailand it was inspiring, to encounter a tropical resort landscape which emanated a calm and serene ambience. The landscape design has been masterfully executed with a few dominant structural elements such as beautiful waterwalls and a lagoon-like infinity pool. Most interesting, the planting scheme does not rely on bright flowers and foliage colour. The plant palette is limited to a few species which have been used to great effect.
Some of the dominant species used are Spiderlily, Dracaena, Tabernaemontana, Birdsnest ferns and of course Palms and Frangipani. The overall effect is that of a calm green oasis.
I absolutely loved the use of Typha angustifolia towering above the high water wall emphasising the height of the structure. White flowering spider lilies at the base of the wall make an elegant statement. Nothing more is needed.
In fact, this wall is my favourite element of the design. A sheet of water cascades over the richly textured wall creating a subtle, peaceful sound and cooling atmosphere.
This would work really well in our in our subtropical climate. Anyone for a water wall?
