Big Leaved Plants Create Drama in the Garden

What is it about big, bold foliage that appeals to gardeners?  Like the  Victorians who wanted to evoke the feeling of an exotic  jungle landscape,  I find I too am drawn to tropical looking  plants with oversized leaves like the Umbrella plant, Bananas, Cannas, Elephant Ears, Castor Bean, and the Chinese Parasol Tree to name a few.    If your garden doesn't have space for one or more of these dramatic plants, you can create a tropical corner with plants in containers or add a single plant to your perennial border for summer flair.  Combining plants with leaves of different sizes and shapes adds variety and helps create a sense of motion.

There are even perennial delights like  Magnolia macrophylla and Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' that offer  interesting flowers and handsome bold foliage.  Unlike most Acanthus, the hybrid 'Summer Beauty' holds up well in summer heat, forming 6 to 8' wide clumps of dark glossy dissected leaves.  This perennial is perfect to create a focal point in the shade garden.  Combine it with Hostas, Ferns, and hardy Gingers. 

 The Umbrella Plant ,  Gunnera manicata, is almost a garden all on its own.  I have seen gardens in  Oregon and Conneticut and in both places it formed huge clumps large enough to provide shelter for small families.  (This must be where the garden fairies live.)  Native to Brazil, this species is  hardy in Zone 8 to 10, although it  prefers cool summer climates and soil that is constantly moist.  Gardeners who want to try their luck, should be warned that according to Allan Armitage, in his book Herbaceous Perennial Plants, "once you see one of these monsters, you might want to flee on winged sandals.  The big species are huge (G. manicata grows 6 to 10' tall and produces massive leaves 8 to 10' across)  and the smaller ones are relatively normal but spread without conscience." 

Easier to grow  than Gunnera but equal in its dramatic effect is Tetrapanax papyriferus, called the Rice Paper Plant.  Plants will grow 10 to 15' tall and the deeply lobed stalked leaves, 1 to 2' wide, are gray green above with white felt on the undersides.  Give the it plenty of space,  as suckers can appear 20 ' away from the parent plant.  Site Rice Paper Plant in a location that is sheltered from high winds that can tatter the massive leaves. 

A carefree annual that makes a big statement in the summer border is the Castor Bean, Ricinus communis.  It can quickly reach 6 to 15'.  The large lobed leaves, 1 to 3' across, add interesting texture to the summer garden and cultivars like 'Sanguineus' offer blood- red foliage.  Be warned that the attractive seeds are poisonous.  Plant Castor Bean with Sunflowers, Dahlias and Ornamental Grasses. 

Whole gardens are  devoted to Cannas but for the tropical flavor  I recommend two different selections.  Canna indica 'Red Stripe' produces 8' tall stalks and nearly 2' long  purple leaves with a contrasting green pattern.  The bright red flowers are almost a bonus with this brazen beauty.  A Canna I have never grown but one that sounds like a winner for its foliage is Canna 'Musafolia.'  The 12 to 14' tall stalks have leaves, green with a purple border, that are more Banana like than Canna.  One plant of this selection will add structure to your summer border.  Combine Cannas with the hardy Banana, Musa basjoo,

 reported to be hardy in Zone 7.  Although it may produce small, 2" long bananas, its foliage, 6' long leaves on 10' tall trunks, is reason enough to grow this species.  Both Cannas and Bananas like plenty of heat, moisture and food, and so are perfect for summer.

With its bold evergreen foliage Fatsia japonica, Japanese Fatsia, is hardy in zone 7 .  The glossy fan-like leaves are up to 16" wide on 5 to 8' tall stalks.  There is also a selection called ‘Spider Web’ with white variegation that is slightly reminiscent of a spider web. 

Create your own tropical paradise this summer and add some drama to your garden by adopting some plants with big leaves.