Think big: Impressive plants for show-off gardeners

Some gardeners like to go for impact. Think of the money spent on the pristine lawns of Versailles back in the day, or a streetscape lined with 20m palms compared to the average roadside oleander.

I tend to think there’s a show-off in all of us, so whether you’re trying to impress your neighbours or your future wife/husband/partner, the biggest statements these days are made with greenery.

There are certain plants that naturally make a statement. In my experience, they’re beautiful, extravagant or need an entourage of expert green thumbs to keep them living.

Some of the showier plants I’ve come across in my travels include mature Canary Island date palms transplanted along driveways and hydrangeas kept hedged in all shades of blue, lavender and pink, serving as a front fence.

Lawn itself is an extravagance in our day and age. Roll some out if you’ve got the space and the inclination, as it’s a sure-fire way to grab attention in the gardening stakes.

Indoors, it’s a different story. Fiddle leaf figs have been the designer’s tree of choice for some time now. These trees are adored for their big leaves, skinny trunks and photogenic impact.

But, like many beautiful things, they’re fussy and come with a checklist of dos and don’ts as long as your arm: Don’t place in direct sunlight; don’t keep the soil wet; do play classical music and keep the leaves well dusted…

The secret to being a successful show-off gardener, I think, is knowing what you like and how to achieve it. Here are some of my suggestions for the next ‘it plants’ and garden trends.

Vertical gardens

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way – or at least an opportunity for a vertical garden.

Vertical gardens pop with lush greenery and can be used outdoors, perhaps in a courtyard, or indoors for dramatic effect. There are many options when it comes to wall gardens, from simple structures fitted with terracotta planters to fully integrated systems with their own irrigation.

In protected situations, try working with mixed plantings of ferns, philodendrons, peace lilies and even anthuriums.

Plants everywhere

Why stop at two or three plants when you can establish your house as the ultimate indoor jungle?

A solo indoor tree just isn’t enough to impress anymore. Instead, become a collector and dedicate every surface to unusual and hard-to-find plants. To start with, track down a Pilea peperomioides (the Chinese money plant), some tassel ferns, and a few lesser-known aroids (type that term into your next eBay search and be prepared to enter the rabbit hole).

Variegated anything

Variegated plants are natural attention-seekers, so they make an obvious fit for show-off gardeners. Variegation in plant terms simply means a variety of colour, usually seen in the foliage but also possible in branches, trunks and flowers.

You see it in everything from green and white ivy, to incredibly bright caladiums and two-tone succulents. My pick for impressing friends, family and your Instagram audience is the white variegated Monstera. But be prepared; healthy plants can sell for over $500 in online auctions.

New indoor trees

Show-offs always have the next big thing. Fiddle leaf figs have definitely reached their pinnacle of popularity, so focus on finding a new ‘it’ indoor tree for your home.

Try a Norfolk pine (Araucaria excelsa), some arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica), an avocado tree, or even a treelike bougainvillea for a hit of colour.

Staghorn shields

Staghorns and elkhorns are showstopper plants and double as living, green artworks when mounted on wood and placed strategically indoors.

Be inventive with your backing material: Try recycled timber, driftwood or lightweight timber cut into a shield or trophy shape. Stags and elks are easy-to-care-for Australian natives that will get everybody talking about your indoor greenery.

Giant Monsteras

Standard Monsteras may not be rare or hard to come by, but a mature example is a must-have for the show-off gardener.

If you have the patience, start with a medium-sized example from your local nursery and train it up a totem in a bright position at home. If you can’t wait, mature examples are available on the market for instant green at home.

SOURCE: www.realestate.com.au