Lush gardening: getting green in the subtropics

My thumb is not very green. I appreciate lovely gardens, but struggle to create them. With the passing of each season, I admire competent gardeners more; yet I am no further progressed with learning botanical names or the care needs of plants.

My surprising saviour has been moving states. I have discovered, to my delight, that gardening in the subtropical band that spans from Sydney to Brisbane suits my limited talents much better than temperate Melbourne.

I love gardening in the lush subtropics for four reasons:

1. Nature over nurture: Subtropical gardens are sturdy and robust. Plants tend to look after themselves. Indeed, what they need is containment. This suits me, because I can do the hackwork of gardening – I can weed, mulch and cut back growth. In summer, when mowing is needed every two weeks, I’m less keen. But for the rest of the year, the garden can be attacked when I have the time and inspiration. This suits me so much better than Melbourne gardening, which is all about nurturing. I am no good at raising fledgling plants or tending to fragile shoots, especially in an environment where a few days of missed watering can lead to kissing even established plants goodbye, and where the focus needed to raise new plants is akin to having a new pet.

Forget falling coconuts, Palm fronds are what you need to look out for in a subtropical backyard. Photo: Ken Irwin KEN

2. The natural look is in: In the suburbs of Melbourne, leaf blowing was a major weekend occupation. The leaf litter look just isn’t in. In the subtropics, I like to leave leaves where they fall. I don’t know the origin of the word “littoral rainforest” but I like to think that this is my style of garden – littered with leaves. Palm fronds are more of a worry – they randomly crash to the ground with surprising weight and force. I love rubbish day in the subtropics. Green waste bins turn into comical sculptures thanks to the ineptly disposed palm fronds waving hello to the neighbours.

Vivienne Pearson’s garden is as bountiful as your local green grocer. Photo: Robin Powell

3. Edible wonders: My garden is a veritable fruit salad. With basically no effort, I have reaped paw paw, mulberries, mangoes and, the ultimate, pineapples! I know that most of these fruits are not native to my region, but man they grow well. Who knew that you grow a new pineapple simply by shallowly planting the top of the fruit you’ve just eaten – and then ignoring it for a year or two. In Melbourne, I managed a lemon tree, but all other attempts to grow fruit were a waste of time. I’m sure others can manage it but, up here, it’s happening without me even trying. Ditto with herbs.

4. Green is the new black: There are so many different shades of green among the subtropical plants, native and otherwise. I love the bright green of the larger palms. I especially admire the staghorns and other epiphytes, which develop such luscious leaves despite growing on other trees rather than in the ground.

There are parts of temperate gardening that I do miss; particularly the amber leaves of autumn and the glorious pink blossom that heralds spring.

Jacaranda trees in full bloom. Photo: Dallas Kilponen DAK

In the subtropics, I have transferred my joy to the purple jacarandas and the red flame tree flowers. I am also quietly in love with frangipani trees, especially watching them move from bare, sculptural branches to budding leaves then flowers.

So, in the subtropics, my thumb is becoming greener. Oh yes, and there’s the weather. Not that I wish to rub in the joy of having left Melbourne weather behind, but more warmth definitely means more time outside enjoying my lush subtropical garden.