Tropical Border Design: Bold Foliage for Sun-Drenched Gardens

A visit to Orlando's Harry P. Leu Gardens revealed a masterclass in tropical plant combinations that thrive in both torrential rain and intense sun. The secret? Right plant, right place — selecting only species with proven resilience in these extremes.

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The result blends bold tropical and informal cottage styles — a wild combination that works. Oversized heart-shaped caladium leaves balance feathery fennel, while orange bulbine spires shoot skyward from succulent-like foliage. Edibles and ornamentals mingle freely, but the tropical caladium leaves make it clear: this is no ordinary English garden.

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How to Recreate the Look

1. Start with a Ribbon of Bold, Colorful Foliage

Red Flash Caladium, Elephant Ear (Caladium bicolor 'Red Flash')

Most caladiums prefer shade, but the Sun series tolerates full sun (with extra water). 'Red Flash' delivers vibrant red foliage speckled with pink and a deep blue-green margin. Planted at the border front, it creates a colorful frame for looser plants behind.

• Origin: South America
• Hardiness: Zones 9b–11 (to 30°F)
• Water: Average to low; avoid waterlogged soil
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 2–3 feet tall, 2 feet wide
• Plant: Spring after last frost, soil 65–70°F

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2. Fill the Middle Ground with a Long-Blooming Perennial

'Hallmark' Bulbine, Burn Jelly Plant (Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark')

Bulbine mingles effortlessly — wands of color peek between caladium leaves and jostle with taller herbs. Succulent evergreen foliage spreads by rhizomes to form ground cover, topped by bold orange flowers for months.

• Origin: South Africa
• Hardiness: Zones 8b–11 (to 20°F)
• Water: Low
• Light: Full sun or partial shade
• Size: 1–2 feet tall, 4–5 feet wide
• Plant: Spring in well-drained soil

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3. Add Taller Plants with Soft, Feathery Texture

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

More than an herb — fennel's licorice-scented, dill-like foliage adds airiness, a perfect counterpoint to caladium's boldness. Yellow flower sprays echo bulbine's citrus tones while adding height and framework.

• Origin: Southern Europe
• Hardiness: Zones 4–9 (to -30°F); annual in colder zones
• Water: Average to low
• Light: Full sun
• Size: Up to 7 feet tall, 3 feet wide
• Plant: Spring after frost danger passes
• Caution: Self-seeds readily; may be invasive — check local extension office

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4. Extend the Design with "Borrowed" Landscape

False Dracaena, Cordyline, Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis 'Purpurea')

Though not part of the core combo, this cordyline serves as a vital backdrop. Bold burgundy leaves bookend the finer textures, framing the scene. This is "borrowed landscape" — using distant plants to enhance the immediate garden.

• Origin: New Zealand
• Hardiness: Zones 8–11 (to 30°F)
• Water: Average to low
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: Varies by variety
• Plant: Above freezing; spring in cooler climates