Tropical
Garden
"Ole
Yella" hibiscus is framed by
" Australia" canna and "Defiance" coleus.
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It's not a trick.
Flourishing on the grounds of the Virginia Zoo, towering windmill
palms, lush clumps of banana trees, giant-leafed elephant ears,
and brilliant hibiscus make this garden their year-round home.
To create a tropical look, think BIG... big leaves, big flowers,
and bright, bold colors. Use evergreens to form a year-round
framework. Fill in with perennials, annuals, and a few real
tropical plants to spice up the summer season. Starting
at the top: bamboo (Bambusa or Fargesia),
banana (Ensete / Musa / Musella var.), loquat (Eriobotrya
japonica) and windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei).
For gardens with lots of space or creative
pruning: empress tree (Paulonia tomentosa),
large leaf magnolias (Magnolia acuminata, macrophylla,
etc.) and southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Midrange:
angel trumpet (Brugmansia var.), canna lily (Canna
var.), elephant ear (Alocasia or Colocasia)
and ginger lily (Hedychium var.). Annuals:
castor bean (Ricinus communis var.), okra (Abelmoschus
esculentus) and summer poinsettia (Amaranthus tricolor
var.).
You are invited to join a tropical expedition as you explore
the gardens of the Virginia Zoo. From the front entrance to
the far corners of Africa, follow the lure of exotic plants
to exotic animals.
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