I've been trying to achieve a semi-tropical look in my yard, mixing it with mediterranean because of the extreme heat and arid climate. Given my climate, i've planted mostly drought tolerant tropicals and sub-tropicals, and have limited myself on the cannas/gingers/bananas...Instead,i've used aloes, agaves, succulents and various palms to achieve the tropical look. Here are some pics of my attempt at tropical. Please feel free to post your attempt. That way we could borrow ideas from each other. Thanks!

One more thing, nothing in my yard has been inground for over three years, and some have just been planted this year or last, which is when i began to do most of the landscaping, so many plants are still very young.

Orange BOP & Bougainvillea and Giant BOP



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A couple of pics of my yard, a bougainvillea with New Zealand Flax, some Yucca Elephantipes...



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And a shady corner where i grow the more water-demanding plants: Spathiphyllum lilies, Cyathe Cooperi (australian tree fern), Clivia Miniata, Kentia palm, Blechum Gibbum (dwarf black tree fern)



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And some of the small aloes, agaves and palms that will dominate the landscape within a couple of years.

Dypsis Decipiens (sun-burned, not frost damaged)

Monstera Deliciosa (Mexican Breadfruit)

Aloe Polyphylla

Brugmansia Frosty Pink

Pomegranate Tree

Jubaea Chilensis (Chilean Wine Palm)

Aloe Ciliaris

Aloe Microstigma

Aloe Ferox (Tree Aloe)

Queen palms

Aloe striata



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