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37th Issue Vol. 4 No. 10 ISSN 2094-1765 October 2011

Fabulous Urban Landscape at Greenbelt Park inMakati City

Greenbelt Park, located in and around the Greenbelt Mall, is used to be a belt of green, rightlysmacked in the middle of this two city block long area. In the 1970s the south area already had alagoon surrounded by gardens, a chapel and an aviary. Around this area was a supermarket,Max Fried Chicken, Shakey's Pizza and the old Ayala Museum.

A modest-sized building for retail shops and restaurants was built sometime in the early 1980s upto the 1990s. Then it all changed. Through a series of construction booms, the old GreenbeltMall and its peripheral supermarket and restaurants were finally demolished to finally give way tothe Greenbelt Mall Complex.

The lagoon and the chapel were retained. Pockets of Zen-like gardens and water fountains werebuilt around the complex. The lagoon, winding its way through nooks of the park, has become thefocal point of the complex. You can see an extended family of ducks cleaning themselves on agrassy bank while small kids try to feed them with stale bread to the consternation of the parksguards.


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People stop and take in the beauty of the green bushes, exotic flowers and therapeutic watergardens and installations. Although trampling on the grass is not allowed, there are areas withseats that open up to well-lighted water fountains and greeneries. Feel free to sit and relax.

Strolling from one mall to another (there are 5 malls in the complex) is quite relaxing. Althoughthe mall complex caters to the A and B classes, the park itself welcomes people from all walks oflife, taking in their fill of this green oasis in the heart of Makatis premiere shopping mall.


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Tropical Landscaping with Emphasis on Palm Trees,

Cycads and Companion Plants

by Phil Bergman

Creating a beautiful garden is the goal of many, and there are many garden themes onemay follow to landscape the garden. Which landscape design or theme you selectdepends on your tastes. Some people prefer a formal, symmetrical garden withemphasis on flowering plants like roses and annuals. Some like the alpine look of Pines,Fir and Rhododendrons. Others prefer an arid desert type of landscape. Many (if theycould), would choose a lush tropical landscape garden. All garden-themes have theirown appeal. Below is a discourse on the creation and design of a tropical to semi-tropical landscape.

Introduction

We are not going to discuss structure or hardscape, but rather the plants, with someemphasis on the species one might choose for a great tropical landscape. But, first onemust come up with a concept of what they are trying to create. And, in doing this, thereare many things to consider. The plants you select and how you place them is veryimportant. We will be showing you photographs of gardens to give you ideas aboutwhat you could do in your garden.

A driveway leading into a lush tropical garden


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There are a few guiding principals which I would like the readers to consider as theyreview this article and pursue their landscape design: Decide what type of landscapedesign you want to create (Most of the examples in this article are about tropicallandscaping).

(Left) Tropical landscape complimented by a stone pathway. (Right) Taller species of palms in

the rear with shorter species in the foreground (photo BGL).

Plan ahead and select your plants wisely; decide which species will give you the desiredlandscape design you seek. Dont fall into the trap of planting species that wont giveyou your desired landscape design.

Decide on the general design and density of planting that you'd prefer for your garden.Given reasonable growing conditions, realize that anyone can create a beautiful tropicalgarden, but species chosen must be able to survive in your area.

Remember to plan for different layers of plants in your garden and consider canopy-forming species for your tropical landscape. Use companion plants to add to the beautyof your garden and give color.

Use plantings to accentuate and beautify the hardscape when you landscape thegarden. Find solutions for those difficult areas to landscape as part of your gardendesign.

Place individual plants correctly. Apply good culture to your tropical landscape plantings.Be patient and time will reward your efforts.


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Water feature accent in a tropical landscape

(Left) Palms trunks along a garden's edge (photo BGL).(Right) An example of different layers of

height in the garden.


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Planning Ahead

Most people start with their hardscape design and installation. This means you put inthe pool and decks before you plant. This is not absolutely necessary, but is the mostcommon practice. But, planning ahead for your plantings is critical.

Blue cycads at the base of taller palms trees

Often a landscape designer or architect is hired to come up with a basic plan regardingthe structural aspects of your garden. His or her main contributions will include thedesign of features like a pool, fountains, walls, walkways, decks, water features,irrigation, etc. And, such an architect might select and specify species of plants for you.If you know that you want a tropical garden, it is best for you to select a professional whohas experience with the tropical types of plants that you like. Designers and architectsmay have their own personal preferences that they recommend and these might notmatch your goals. Or, they might have limited knowledge about palms and cycads. So,either hire a designer with experience with these plants or do research on your own.

And, insist that beautiful species are utilized in your plans. Demand otherwise or buy

your own plants and have them installed after you select them. Once youve signed fora contractor to provide and plant the common species, its often difficult or expensive toalter the plants when the day comes for installation of the softscape material. So, planahead and you'll get that tropical garden that you want.


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An assortment of palms planted right up to the pool's edge

Getting Started

Now, lets jump forward and assume that your basic hardscape is done. Perhaps youbought a house with a pool, deck and sprinklers. Lets say these items are there but

everything looks sort of plain and empty with no nice plants. Or, perhaps you hiredsomeone to install the hardscape and now you are ready to plant. Or, it's just a"backyard" that you've never landscaped. It doesn't matter. Its what you do with it nowthat makes all the difference in the world. Its the plants you select and how you plantthem that will determine the eventual beauty of your landscape. The exact same yardwith the same hardscape can either become gorgeous or remain boring just based onthe plants that are selected and put into the yard. So often people spend a small fortuneon the hardscape and then save money at the tail end their project by skimping on theplants. This is quite a mistake because the plants are what really makes the landscapeand are (typically) a small fraction of the overall cost of the project. My point here is touse the same diligence in selecting your plants as you did to select the beautiful tilearound your pool. You really can turn a boring yard into a tropical paradise with the right

plant material and basic horticultural care. And, you can make that landscape projectlook like a million bucks with the right selection of plants.

With these things in mind, hopefully by now I've at least put the idea that anyone canimprove the looks of their yard by just putting a little effort into what they are doing andby selecting the right material to plant. So, lets begin talking about specific topics andgive you ideas of how you can change your yard into a unique and beautiful garden.


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Density of Planting In the Garden -- Sparse Planting of a Few Specimen Palms

Major variables in planting out the garden include:

1) Selection of species to plant

2) Creation of vertical height to the garden (a variable of the species you select)

3) Placement of specimens and

4) Density of planting

Lets first talk about density of planting. There are a lot of approaches to density. Onemight want a very minimalist type of garden with a few plants here or there. Or, onemight only want only one big palm tree in front of the house. Its really a matter ofpersonal preference. Minimalist gardens often have expansive areas of lawn or simpleground cover over these areas. If you go this route, consider plants that get large and

are stately. Certain Phoenix species, Bismarckia, Jubaea, and others satisfy thissituation. But, be aware that one huge plant in the center of the yard can be a bit boring.In contrast to this, one can do a central planting of a larger species and thencomplement this with perimeter plantings closer to the house or fence. And, one can putcompanion plants like smaller cycads, Philodendron, Alocasia, etc. near the base of thelarger plants to add interest. It is quite common to see homeowners pay dearly to cranein a few big Canary Island Palms. But, without additional plants to offset the magnitudeof the big Canaries, the yard looks out of balance and is not really appealing. So, becareful if you just plan to put in "one big palm".

(Left) Nice pathways are good for viewing thegarden.

Lightly Planted Tropical Gardens

With a little bit more density of planting, onebegins to see yards that are commonly seen inSouthern California. This includes some plantsnext to the house and driveway with scatteredplants elsewhere, typically along the fence orperimeter of the yard. To most eyes, suchgardens are more appealing than theminimalist garden discussed above. With theright choice of species, this approach can be

appealing and not overwhelming to thehomeowner. It would be considered easymaintenance and preserves space for a lawnor other features. One must still chooseinteresting species to add character to theyard. If one has deck areas, tropical plants canbe added to decorative pots.


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A dramatic Brahea armata in flower in the garden.

More Densely Planted Tropical Gardens

Now imagine a garden that is planted either medium or heavy in terms of density ofplants. It is designed like a botanical garden with more emphasis on the plants than the

lawn and utilizing a good variety of species. Often lawn areas are minimal (reserved foraccent or viewing) or eliminated altogether. One might imagine that such gardens aremore maintenance, but when you eliminate the need for mowing and edging, lessmaintenance may result. Such gardens do not have to be a jungle. One justremembers that the ultimate size that a palm "will" become as opposed to the size it iswhen first planted. Palms, when young, may look nice crowded together but with timewill compete with each other and overlap. Remember, ultimate size is a verypredictable thing with palms and cycads. Thus, you space accordingly. Also,remember that taller palms grow vertically and in time, the crown of the plant isoverhead. Therefore, two plants five feet apart are only touching above, but give plentyof distance between each other on the ground. Such a garden, in time, will offer lots ofspace for miniature plants and companion plants. Such gardens tend to remind one of a

tropical island like Hawaii and are very aesthetic. Remember, on the floor of a tropicalrain forest, there's lots of room to walk around. It's in the overhead canopy that thingsare a bit more crowded.

The Jungle Look

Some people prefer the "jungle look" with very dense plantings in their tropicallandscape theme garden. This can be very appealing, but is overwhelming for others.This style gives one large trunks next to the walkway and the definite feeling of being in


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the rain forest. As plants grow overhead, ground levels open up for planting withunderstory companion plants and shady loving color. If you plan this type of garden,review ultimate size projections for the species utilized so you are not taken by surpriselater.

Eventual Height of the Garden

Now lets talk about the ultimate height of the garden. Of course, culture has somethingto do with this but it is more determined by the species one puts into the garden. Abasic principal of tropical gardens is the canopy. This includes crowns of plants that areoverhead. With palms, typically high canopy would be above thirty to forty feet orabove. Mid canopy would be fifteen to thirty feet. Some tropical hardwood treesproduce tops of canopies that are well over one hundred feet. Canopy offers thehomeowner protection from cold, cooler summer temperatures, and dappled light nearthe ground for growing more shade-loving, smaller species. Not only is such filteredlight appealing, but it also gives the feeling of being in a tropical rain forest. Canopyforming genera might include species of Caryota, some Syagrus, Archontophoenix,Washingtonia, some Ravenea and various other palms. Under the canopy in the filtered

light, there are many species of palms and cycads and smaller companion plants thatone can utilize. Included would be Chamaedorea species, Rhapis, Geonoma, Licuala,and many other exciting smaller plants. And, between the understory plants and theupper canopy rise the mid-story species. Such plants might include Pritchardia , Howea,Rhopalostylis, various Dypsis, Burretiokentia, Chambeyronia, and lots of other beautifulpalms. In time, these three layers of understory plants, mid-canopy and upper canopyare quite stunning and very aesthetic.

(Left) covered tables and chairs function as a little retreat within the rain forest. (Right) a

densely populated tropical garden forest.


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One looks at the ground and its beautiful smaller plants, then looks up a bit to see themiddle layers of plantings and is immediately drawn upward to the overhead tallerplants. Its a really thrill to see such a garden. Its beyond the scope of this article toinclude all the species that would qualify for each layer of this type of garden ( a fewhave been given above), but there are many choices of palms and cycads to utilize.

Beautiful palm trees with colorful trunks and crownshafts (photo BGL).

Vary the Species and Utilize Unusual Plants

Another important factor is creating a great tropical garden that shows diversity andsomething different at every point of the garden. Here we are talking about differentshapes of leaves, different trunks, different colors, and a whole mixture of plants thatgives interest to the garden. Most people have seen the garden where theres just awhole bunch of Queen Palms, nothing else. You might admire that someone got a verygood deal on Queen Palms, but the overall appeal of the garden is lacking. Its justrepetitive and boring. There are over 3000 species of palms and most are quitedifferent. There are nearly 300 species of cycads. Some palms are huge, while others

are tiny. Some have fan leaves. Others have pinnate (feather) leaves. Some sucker(have additional trunks from the base), while others are single trunked. Some havecrown shafts (the slick trunk below the crown), while others have fibrous or hairytrunks. Some palms have blue leaves while others, especially species fromMadagascar, offer all colors of the rainbow in their upper trunks and stems. Still otherspecies have beautiful burgundy-red newly emerging leaves. The same is true withcycads. All these differences add a mystique to the garden. The variety of species


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utilized adds aesthetics to the garden. And, this variety is fun! It is highly advisable thatyou select from the diverse palate of species that Nature has offered to you.

Towering Rhopalostylis with their bulging crownshafts.

Planting and Layout of Landscape

Another important factor is exactly where to plant each individual plant and how to layout the different species. Ultimately, it's always a matter of personal taste. One basicapproach is to put larger plants toward the back and have the garden come down inheight (smaller species) as it approaches you and the walkway. This allows you to seeeverything at once. But, scattering the big with the little (mixing it up) does have itsadvantages. In a way, it is more natural. Imagine walking through the garden and ahuge trunk is right next to the walkway. And, you walk by and slap it like a watermelon,looking overhead to the canopy. Another rule is to avoid suckering plants that will get

large right next to a walkway, a deck, a driveway, etc. These suckering plants blockyour view of the rest of the garden. You can see past a vertical trunk, but not through abushy plant. Also, avoid putting spiny or pokey plants where they might hurt someoneon a path. Remember not to block a cherished view with your plantings; nor block theview of your neighbors. Also, carefully select plants that will complement yourhardscape. Cycads near a tumbling waterfall are quite striking. Royal Palms following along curvy driveway are a classic design idea. Some palms can be trained to lean outover a pool. If you have large rocks on your property, take advantage of them by


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planting palms and cycads amongst or between the boulders. Remember to not planttaller species below overhead cables and wires. Also, random planting not utilizing aregular plot is more natural appearing.

(Left) A shady walkway leading through the garden (Rgiht) Another shady understoryarea

Things to Avoid

Avoid a monotonous, repetitive garden. It is really true that a garden with lots ofdiversity is more appealing and interesting. I'd highly recommend that you seek out thisdiversity when you select your planting material. And, a good specialty nursery (such asJungle Music Palms and Cycads) can typically provide you with such material."Basement-bargain" plants probably won't give that award winning look to your creation.But, you still must select species that you actually like. It might take a bit of work, but itcan be done. It is best to select well-grown, high quality material, preferably grown inyour area. Regarding planting, avoid at all costs the "grid" or "checkerboard" approachto landscape. This is where plants (often the same species) are planted in lines, all

equal distance from each other, all in a row. Such plantings can be appealing if it isdone along a long driveway or parkway. But, be careful. It can look very contrived andboring. In the garden, if you plant in perfect rows and columns, the end result will not beappealing. Instead, utilize irregular plantings, groupings, or staggering of species.

Another thing to remember is not to plant a species that will get huge right up against thehouse. Examples would be putting a Phoenix canariensis or Caryota gigas right next toany structure. Also, remember not to put taller species under the eaves of the house.

Avoid spiny plants near the front sidewalk. And finally, do not use too many of the samespecies. Everyone has seen the yard that has nothing but Queen Palms. Yes, this is


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boring, but the same undesirable effect can result from any species. Vary your plantingswith different species, sizes, and shapes.

(Left) An array of tropical plants

in a narrow corridor

Problem Areas

Every garden has a few areasthat seem to perplex thegarden "designer". Examplesmight include the narrow slotbetween two houses, often withtotal shade. Or, theres thatugly area harboring the poolequipment. Or, that low fencewhere the neighbors peer overto see you in the spa. Or, thatugly apartment building nextdoor that looks into your yard.To us at the nursery, solvingsuch problems is a daily affair.

And, there are particular plantsfor every situation. There arespecific species that thrive inthe narrow slot on the northside of the house; others areideal for hiding the unwantedneighbor or the pool

equipment. Still others give privacy to a bedroom window or an ugly wall. Such plant

barriers do solve these problems are a much more attractive than leaving things as theywere. And, when done, one forgets about the problems and looks at amazing garden.


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A collection of cycads under a large old tree

Utilizing Cycads

Cycads offer an alternative to palms

for those seeking rare tropical plantsthat dont get too tall. They can be animportant part of tropical landscaping.

And, this group of plants is equally asexciting as palms and have a historyall their own. Cycads are Jurassicplants that have shown little evolutionsince the time of the dinosaurs. Theyare quite primitive and at the sametime amazingly unique. They come isall shapes, colors, and sizes. Theyare among the most coveted and rare

plants on this planet. Some almostget large enough in time that youwould think they are a palm tree. Acommon misunderstanding is that theSago Palm is a palm; it is actually acycad and the term is a misnomer.The Sago Palm is quite commonlyused in landscape worldwide.


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Did you know that there are hundredsof other types of cycads? And, eachspecies is unique in its size andappearance. Their adult sizesranges from under a foot to over fiftyfeet tall. Some are spiny; others are

smooth. Some are blue ad othersgreen. And, some prefer shade andhave the most tropical leaves of anyplants. And, they are each differentfrom the other. All are wonderful forthe garden and look great under alarger palm or against a wall orstructure. Utilizing cycads gives areal touch of "class" to the garden.

The Companion Plants

Finally, what about all the othercompanion plants that one can addto the garden to create a tropicallandscape. These include thingssuch as Ferns, Cycads, Bromeliads,

Alocasia, Calocasia, Philodendrons,Anthuriums, Crotons, Tis,Impatience, Begonia, and a whole

myriad of other colorful and delightful types of plants. What such plantings do iscomplete the garden. A well designed garden with proper placement of species withnothing but dirt showing between the plants just doesnt look right. One could plant ashade-loving lawn, but this creates a lot of unwanted maintenance. Companion plants

usually are not high-maintenance. And, the color these plants add to the garden isfantastic.

On left, two Pandanus specimens are quite striking in the garden. Second photo shows

Ligularia in blossom with colorful Ti plants behind it (donated photo from customer).


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A Few More Ideas...

There are a few more things that we should mention regarding garden design. The firstis to take advantage of what your locality and yard provide to you. If you live in a veryhot locality, select species that thrive in the heat. Or, if you are living on a slope goingdown, select species that are aesthetic to view from above. Cycads would be a great

example of this. Or perhaps you have dense shade from a neighbor's tall trees. Thereare species of palms that thrive in the shade. If you are lucky enough to have largeboulders on your property, take advantage of them. They hold heat and increase thesoil temperatures. This can assist in growing many species and cycads love to beplanted amongst boulders. All these things help with your tropical landscape design.

Also, consider creating mounds for some of your plantings. Many species like beingelevated. This can also be asolution for getting away from overlywet soil conditions. If moisture in thesoil is a problem, there are speciesof palms that love wet soil. Anotherpoint is about walkways. These

provide access for viewing yourgarden. Try to make them wideenough for easy passage and don'tbe afraid to give them a few bendsand turns. Curvy walkways fit nicelyinto a tropical garden. Adjacent tothe walkways is a great place toplant colorful companion plants.Pathways are an important part ofthe garden design. A final pointabout tropical garden landscape is toremember that diversity of shapes

and sizes, a variety of colors,changes in texture, and utilizingunusual plant qualities adds to thefun and charm of the garden. A newred leaf, a new colorful cycad cone,or broad fan leaves add a final touchthat leaves a memorable picture forthe viewer of your tropicallylandscaped garden.

A colorful new leaf of Chambeyronia macrocarpa (photo RV).

Summary

In summary, there are a lot of things to consider when creating a tropical garden. But,tropical landscape is not difficult. And, anyone can do it. It just takes some planning andselection of the right species to plant and a good landscape design. At Jungle MusicPalms and Cycads, we would love to help you landscape your garden and attain yourdreams, whether you're just getting started or adding a few final plants. We are atropical plant nursery offering palms, cycads, and other tropical trees. And, we feel


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The Urban Gardener is an official electronic publication (in PDF Format) of the Plant

Biotechnology Project, Research & Development Center, Rizal Technological University, Boni

Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. It is published monthly. For more information, please

inquire thru email: [email protected] [email protected] and landline(+632) 534-8267 Local 135 or Fax (+632) 534-9710.Edited by N.R. Bautista October 2011

The Plant Biotechnology Project Committee is composed of:Alexander B. Quilang, Norberto R. Bautista, & Jovita A. Anit.

confident you will love what you create and before too long be encouraging others to dothe same.

A colorful Bromeliad accenting a water feature.

Source: http://www.junglemusic.net/TropicalLandscape/index.html

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