I've decided to make a portion of our backyard area into a pseudo "tropical" paradise. Zone 7, partial shade from 100+ degree F days in summer. Shade is from 50 year old, VERY tall pine, douglas fir, arborvitae and other evergreens. I'm trying to give the understory a tropical feel, at least after it emerges from winter slumber each year. I'm in a desert climate but have plenty of irrigation water on short, several-times-a-day cycles due to using heat pump wastewater for irrigation. When the heat pump runs to air condition the house, the yard gets watered somewhere. The hotter the weather, the more water gets put out there. Ought to work, I think. This is just one small area of our 3/4 acre property. I do have a decent area away from root competition, and in other places I can either gradually berm up or put in limited raised beds so as not to suffocate the gigantic pine's roots.
I'm starting with selecting the "bones"...meaning the hardy stuff. After I get a decent amount of hardy plants placed, I'll hopefully have the ambition left to deal with a few tender items that I bring in to protect every winter. For bananas, I'll start with Basjoo. Also want Musella Lasiocarpum for sure. Possibly Musa Velutina. I'd also like to try some fruiting ones, like Texas Star, Golden Rhino Horn and maybe California Gold Hardy, since I have a decent shot at keeping these in the ground through the winter.
I've ready plenty of warnings on nurseries to avoid, so I'm looking for advice on more reputable nurseries. Also, if anyone here wants to sell something I might want, (including non-nanner plants!) I'm happy to purchase from a forum member rather than a nursery. Just pm me. Looking at colocasias, hardier cannas and basically anything with a tropical look. I have a LOT of plants in my cart at Brian's Botanicals, so no need to refer me there. TIA!!!!
