‘Go big or go home’: Plants that can live large in your garden

Chanticleer, a renowned public garden in Delaware County, is celebrated for its distinctive use of large, often tropical, plants, many of which are typically found in warmer climates. Dan Benarcik, the head gardener, emphasizes the importance of foliage over flowers, believing that a strong foliar background is key to a successful garden. His plant selection criteria focus on "enthusiastic," "explosive," or "exaggerating" plants, embodying the philosophy of "go big or go home." While many of these are tropicals, which thrive in bright, warm conditions year-round, Pennsylvania's warm and humid summers provide an ideal environment for their growth for about five months annually. Though they require indoor protection during winter or will perish, their summer display offers significant visual impact. Several plants are highlighted for their ability to add an "explosive" element to gardens, whether in pots or in the ground. Bananas, for instance, despite not producing ripe fruit in the region, are valued for their robust growth and giant leaves, capable of reaching over six feet in a single season. Dark-leafed varieties are particularly striking. Elephant ears are another significant foliage plant, known for their enormous, ear-shaped leaves that emerge from softball-sized corms, with some varieties featuring glossy, nearly black foliage. Cannas, emerging from bulbs, produce large, upward-facing leaves in a vase-like formation, reminiscent of an exaggerated corn plant. Many varieties offer burgundy or orange-variegated leaves, complemented by bright red, orange, or yellow lily-like flowers that bloom for weeks in mid to late summer. Caladiums, also tropical bulbs, resemble smaller elephant ears but are distinguished by their beautifully variegated leaves in combinations of green, white, cream, pink, and burgundy. These typically grow to one to 1.5 feet, making them suitable for containers, especially in shaded areas, where they can be paired with flowering plants. Agave, a desert native, is noted for its imposing presence despite its spiny edges. The "century plant" variety, in particular, features upright, strappy, blue-tinted succulent stems that are exceptionally large. Fatsia, an Oriental native, is an evergreen shrub in its native habitat, but its lobed, hand-sized leaves and umbrella-like white flowers make it an attractive ornamental in temperate climates, though it may not survive harsh winters. Coprosma, or "mirror plant," from the South Pacific, is prized not for its size but for its vividly colored, glossy leaves that come in various blends, thriving in full sun to partial shade and being deer-resistant. Copperleaf offers showy, larger-than-average leaves with brilliant copper, peach, and dark burgundy hues, creating a dense, bushy appearance. Gunnera, known as "giant rhubarb" or "dinosaur food," is a Brazilian native with leaves as large as typical kites. While it flourishes as a perennial in the UK, it is generally too tender for outdoor overwintering in Pennsylvania. Rhubarb stands out as one of the few large-leafed plants that can be grown as a perennial in central Pennsylvania and is also edible. Its thick, celery-like stems and huge, ribbed, heart-shaped leaves, often with red veins, make it an impressive ornamental, especially with its showy white flower stalks. Finally, Hostas are a familiar leafy perennial, with varieties like 'Sum and Substance,' 'Empress Wu,' 'Gentle Giant,' and 'Blue Angel' offering exceptionally large leaves that can rival rhubarb and elephant ears in size, making them impactful additions to the garden where deer are not an issue. #Gardening #TropicalPlants #LargeFoliage #ChanticleerGarden #GardenDesign #ExoticPlants #OrnamentalPlants #PlantSelection #SummerGardening #Gardening #TropicalPlants #LargeFoliage #ChanticleerGarden #GardenDesign #ExoticPlants #OrnamentalPlants #PlantSelection #SummerGardening

78 months ago

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