Hi We're new here too, we would love to make our Denver yard into a tropical paradise. Well as tropical as Colorado gets. The local nurseries haven't been helpful. They just poo-poo it and tell us to plant Aspens, spruce & columbines or move. So if any of you could suggest plant lists for zone 5B or 6A (with heavy winterize efforts). And we would like them to conserve water, if possible. It's a tall order, but if anyone knows what to do- it's you guys.

We'd like perenials, shrubs, trees, annuals, container plant species ideas we would be sooo appreicative. Thanks this looks like a great place, nice people, & good resources

Thanks a bunch,
Tiki Jim & Sonja

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Paradise is a state of mind

There are several species of Bamboo that will grow in Colorado, I don't know if that's what your looking for but it's definitely tropical. It might also be something that's easier to find as I just saw some Bamboo for sale at a nursery just south of Denver in Littleton. You can also see Bamboo growing outdoors at the Denver Zoo. Beyond that, I have seen websites, and heard about people growing palm trees in Colorado but I've never personally seen one. Finnally if you don't live in the Mountains I would definitely recommend, not getting Aspens as they don't do well on the front range.

Thanks, for some great advice. Yes We're looking for bamboo, palms, flowers really everything since we are starting with almost blank slate. Have you heard what specfic palm genus. Grows in zone 5-6a. I'd like to find clumping (not running) bamboo for zone 5.

What's the name of the nursery, we're are in the south metro area so probably not far from it.

Totally agree with you regarding the Aspens, but yet the plant sales people push them.
Some HOA's have Aspens on the approved plant list. Our HOA doesn't have plant list restrictions as long as we are non-commercial agriculture.

Thanks

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Paradise is a state of mind

The Nursery where I saw the Bamboo is called Wilmore Nurseries I'm not sure whether it was a clumping or running species as the price tag kept me from taking a closer look. Anyways Wilmore nursery is at 711 E. County Line Road, Littleton Colorado 80126.

As far as the palm species go this website might help you: http://hometown.aol.com/fitzroya/myhomepage/cooking.html

Visit www.gardentia.net, Free onlineEncyclopedia of tropial plants.
Nandan

If you're looking at hardy palms, Trachycarpus Fortunei / Trachycarpus Takil or Sabal Minors are your best bet. The larger the plant the better and the keys to safely over wintering them would be to keep the crown dry and mulch heavily.

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Regards

Hi. My name is Jason and I live in Greeley. I have my Bachelor's in urban horticulture. I have just been waiting to do a tropical garden here. Problem here is that most people don't believe that you can have a tropical-looking garden in CO. THAT IS NOT TRUE. As a matter of a fact, depending on the amount of maintaince you are willing to give, you can have a garden that looks just like a jungle. One particular plant that I have been very interested in is Musa basjoo, Japanese Fiber Banana. It is the most cold hardy banana in the world. It is reported to grow in CO with winter protection. You just prune the pseudostem 2ft. above ground after the first dyeback and completely cover it with mulch during the winter. Before covering it with mulch though, I would apply a fungicide. After covering it with mulch, I would cover the mulch with clear plastic. This would sunlight to penetrate through the plastic and trapping the heat inside. Also, this banana needs to be in an area that is protected from wind.

Other palms I may consider is the Sable palmetto, the Sable Palm and Chamerops humilis, Meterannian Fan Palm. I would use the same mulch/plastic covering technique.

You can also use Dahilas, Cannas, and Elephant Ears which will just have to be dug up and stored inside during the winter.

One tropical-looking tree is the Western/Northern Catalpa. This needs little care and no winter protection at all.

Some cold-hardy tropical-looking perrenials that do not need any protection at all include:
pampas grass, hostas, mundo grass, parry's agave, hardy hibiscus Hibiscus moscheutos, rose of sharon, trumpet vines. passion vines, clamatis, hardy gladiolus, crown imperials and many types of ferns.

Tropical-looking annuals include: lantana, impatients, and geraniums.

Don't be affraid of experimenting with different types of plants. If you would like, I would love to help consult you for free on a project like this.

You may also want to try Rhapidophyllum hystrix, needle palm. I think it will need a little winter protection.

The denver Zoo's website has a complete listing of the bamboos and other plants the have growing. The Author gives a good evaluation and description of each variety and how it has performed.

Cheers

I just remembered that there are "Northern Hardy" Figs also. They prefer a sandy soil. and are either wrapped for protection, or dropped for the winter. These are fruiting varieties.

Bamboos can be bought at Nick's in Aurora on Chambers, and at Tagawa's (South of Arapahoe on Parker road. Tagawa's and the Denver zoo emphasize that the mid-day and afternoon sun can be too intense for many varieties of bamboo. They recommend east or north sides of buildings.

Cheers

Ok, One more that I just found.

This is a Rocky Mountain News article about hardy bamboos.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/garden/article/0,2777,DRMN_23954_4777739,00.html

Eyvind