Palms, Ferns & Tropical

WHY CHOOSE TROPICAL PLANTS? Palms, ferns, and tropical plants bring bold structure, lush texture, and a resort-style feel to landscapes. They’re ideal for creating layered, tranquil spaces in both sun and shade. 

Instant resort-style appeal: Palms and tropical plants instantly evoke feelings of relaxation and luxury. They’re perfect for creating a tranquil, resort-style setting in both residential and commercial landscapes. Palms such as Dypsis lutescens (Golden Cane Palm), and Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm) feature lush fronds that create an inviting, holiday-like vibe, and large leaf, tropical plants such as Heliconias bring instant lushness and retreat feel to any space.

Lush green texture & layering: Ferns and broad-leaved tropicals add a soft, textural contrast to more structured planting. Use Asplenium australasicum (Bird’s Nest Fern), Blechnum gibbum Silver Lady [Silver Lady Fern] or Alcantarea imperialis Silver Plum [Imperial Bromeliad] to create cool, shaded layers beneath canopy trees or in rainforest-style gardens.

Versatility in design: From dramatic foliage of plants such as Calathea lutea [Cuban Cigar Plant] to colourful highlights such as Cordyline fruticosa cultivars and Ginger or Heliconia varieties, tropical plants work across a wide range of garden styles. Use them as architectural features, vibrant fillers, or screening plants to define outdoor spaces.

Shade-loving & hardy options: Many ferns and tropicals thrive in low-light or dappled light conditions. Plants like Philodendron Xanadu, Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm), and Cordyline species adapt well to tricky corners, indoor-outdoor transitions, or sheltered courtyards. With good drainage and regular water, they can perform beautifully in temperate climates as well as subtropical zones. 

10 SMART WAYS TO USE TROPICAL PLANTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGNS

Palms, ferns, and tropical plants are incredibly versatile and lend themselves to a wide range of design styles – from architectural and contemporary gardens to lush, layered rainforest-inspired spaces. Here’s how to incorporate them in your next project:

1. Create a layered, rainforest feel

Combine tall canopy palms like Bangalow Palm with mid-storey plants such as Cordyline fruticosa or Philodendron Xanadu then finish with groundcovers to create immersive, multi-tiered planting.

2. Add colour and foliage contrast

Break up green plantings with tropicals that offer striking colour and bold form. Use Cordyline fruticosa varieties for their rich burgundy, pink or bronze hues, or add flowering Heliconias or Canna Lilies for seasonal interest.

3. Frame entrances and pathways

Use slender palms like Kentia Palm or Golden Cane Palm to line paths or frame garden entrances for a soft, welcoming touch. Their arching fronds create movement and guide the eye through the space.

4. Soften built structures

Plant large-leaved tropicals such as Alocasia macrorrhiza [Giant Elephant ear], Strelitzia nicolai [Giant White Bird of Paradise], or Heliconia Rauliniana [Macaw Flower] around the base of retaining walls, along fences, or beside pool surrounds to soften hard lines and add an organic feel.

5. Enhance courtyards and shaded corners

Ferns and shade-tolerant tropicals like Blechnum gibbum Silver Lady thrive in low-light conditions, making them perfect for sheltered courtyard gardens, balconies, or under large canopy trees.

6. Use in pots & planters

Palms and tropical plants are ideal for containers, making them easy to reposition or style as needed. Use large statement pots with plant such as Strelitzia nicolai, Chamaedorea atrovirens [Cascade Palm] or Cordylines as accents on patios, decks or entrances.

7. Screening & privacy solutions

Create green privacy screens or windbreaks using clumping palms like Golden Cane Palm or large-leaved tropicals such as Heliconias planted densely. Our native Waterhousea floribunda [Weeping Lilly Pilly]  and other Lilly Pilly varieties have glossy leaves and dense habitat making them ideal for lush screening with a tropical feel. And don't forget Bamboo varieties such as Slender Weaver Bamboo for creating a screens in tight, narrow spaces. The growth habit of these plants helps define boundaries while keeping the space feeling lush and natural.

8. Poolside & resort-style planting

Use a combination of palms, vibrant foliage plants, and ferns to build a resort-style escape around pools or outdoor entertaining areas. Choose hardy, low-mess varieties that can withstand occasional splashes and reflected heat. 

9. Native garden themes

Incorporate tropical native plants such as Dicksonia antartica [Soft Tree fern] and Licuala ramsayi [Australian Fan Palm] into rainforest and bush-style gardens and add plants such as Asplenium australasicum beneath native canopy trees for an authentic layered understorey effect.

10. Indoor–outdoor integration

Many tropical plants transition beautifully between indoors and out. Create a seamless flow by using plants like Cascade Palms, Bird’s Nest Ferns, or Philodendrons in both interior and exterior spaces, especially in courtyards or patios.

PLANTMARK – YOUR GO-TO FOR TROPICAL PLANTS

Whether you're designing a private tropical garden, a commercial courtyard, or a public green wall, Plantmark has a broad selection of hardy and visually striking palms, ferns, and tropical plants to suit.

Visit our Trade Markets in Melbourne, Brisbane, or the Gold Coast to explore the full range, or contact our Quotes & Orders team for expert advice and availability.

Let Plantmark help bring your next tropical-style landscape to life.