48 Michigan a May 2008

Tropical in Michigan

Each year in her backyard, Ruth Chosid creates an exotic setting with an array of both hardy and tropical

Tucked away and hidden from the The cast of tropical plants PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHON HOFLEY street in an Oakland county subdivision Mingled amongst the permanent lies a pleasant surprise—truly a unique plants are the tropicals. Awesome-sized and secret garden and landscape. Yes, Florida, California or the Caribbean. And banana plants, angel’s trumpets, elephant Ruth Chosid’s avocation of feeding wild walking along the curved bluestone paths ears, Abyssinian bananas, copperleafs and birds has developed into a private haven that meander throughout leads to de- specimen “shrub-like” coleus predomi- for her fi ne-feathered, four-legged, and signed settings, one after another. Candy nate here. There are also trials of other furry friends. But there is more to this for the eyes! The butterfl ies and occasion- tropicals from year to year. ten-year story. Coupled with her amazing al hummingbirds add even a bit more to The banana plants with immense foli- array of hardy ornamental shrubs, trees the ambience. age on towering 8- to 15-foot, trunk-like and perennials grow lush and brilliantly The backbone of the garden is formed pseudostems are grouped as if in a planta- colored tropical plants. They are out- by permanent hardy plants such as vibur- tion in Central America. They are strictly standing compliments to the fl ora already nums, pawpaw, magnolias, boxwoods, ornamental and non-fruit bearing. Sev- Top: Two immense banana trees anchor there to attract the wildlife. hydrangeas, witch hazels, hardy hibiscus, eral named varieties of banana (Musa the garden. Above: Ruth Chosid has An unaware visitor can literally stand ferns, hostas, bergenia, Joe pye weed, acuminata) are planted: ‘Dwarf Caven- created a stunning garden that resembles in the middle of this paradise, do a 360- chokeberry, holly, rose of Sharon, astilbe, dish,’ ‘Blood ’ (‘Rojo’ or ‘Sumatrana’) those found in tropical climates. degree turn, and view what would be ex- fountain grass, serviceberry, Japanese and ‘Gros Michel.’ ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ is a pected to be growing in Hawaii, southern angelica tree, castor aralia, ligularia, false stout grower to 6 feet tall with dark green up to 12 feet with 4- to 5-foot long cordu- indigo, Japanese forest grass, and um- . It can potentially produce tasty roy-textured green leaves—a tropical gem. brella pine—just to name a few. While sweet 6-inch fruits if continually grown Another tall, rugged and stately one these particular plants are not actually by overwintering indoors. With highly Chosid grows is the Japanese fi ber ba- tropical, many of them help evoke the de- decorative foliage, ‘Blood Leaf’ has strik- nana (Musa basjoo) with practically sired look. (See the sidebar “Hardy peren- ing burgundy blotches (variegations) “woody” pseudostems. Having long sti Jim nials, shrubs and trees that enhance the splashed on the green upper surface. The green leaves, it is also touted as being Slezinski tropical-looking garden” for an even more undersides of the 3-foot leaves are awash “ hardy” in zones 5 and 6 provided it comprehensive list.) in a wine-red color. ‘Gros Michel’ reaches is sited in the proper microclimate area. I  Michigan Gardener a May 2008 45

A striking combination of a tender The burgundy-blotched leaves of the blood (Cordyline terminalis) being cloaked by leaf banana are gorgeous when backlit. Fun sculpture like this playful pachyderm adds a light-hearted touch to the garden. the hardy golden Japanese forest grass.

Hardy perennials, shrubs and trees that enhance the tropical-looking garden

Characteristics: Big, bold flowers and foliage; (Hibiscus moscheutos, H. coccineus, H. ‘Kopper King’) • Castor aralia (Kalopanax pictus) bright hot colors; variegated foliage; and taller plants. • Hellebore (Helleborus) • Golden chain tree (Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’) • Hosta (Hosta ’Sum and Substance,’ ‘Krossa Regal,’ • Horsechestnut (Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotii’ and ‘O’Neill’s Perennials: ‘Guacamole,’ H. sieboldiana ‘Northern Exposure,’ Red’) • Giant astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. taquettii ‘Superba’) H. montana f. macrophylla, and many more) • Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens, H. quercifolia, H. • Bee balm (Monarda didyma) • Iris (Iris ensata ‘Variegata’) anomla subsp. petiolaris) • Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) • Joe pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) • Japanese angelica tree (Aralia elata ‘Variegata’) • Bugbane (Cimicifuga) • Ligularia (Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket,’ • Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) • Crambe (Crambe cordifolia) L. dentata ‘Britt-Marie Crawford’) • Kentucky coffee bean tree (Gymnocladus dioica) • Daylily hybrids (Hemerocallis) • Myrtle (Vinca minor ‘Illumination’ and ‘Ralph Shugert’) • Magnolias (Magnolia hypoleuca, M. virginiana, M. ‘Eliza- • False indigo (Baptisia australis) • Ornamental rhubarb beth’, and M. ‘Butterflies’) • Ferns: Japanese painted (Athyrium nipponicum var. (Rheum palmatum ‘Atrosanguineum’) • Forest pansy redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’) pictum), Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) • Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Sheen’) • Smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’) • Fountain or silver grass (Miscanthus) • Spiderwort (Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’) • Staghorn cutleaf sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata,’ and R. • Golden creeping Charley (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) • Yucca (Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’) typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’) • Golden Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra • Leatherleaf viburnum (V. rhytidophyllum) ‘Aureola’) Shrubs and Trees: • Allegheny viburnum (V. rhytidophylloides ‘Allegheny’) • Hardy hibiscus • Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) • Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea or C. lutea)

have known it to overwinter outdoors in hedge in the background. Also combined and green all combine for a show-stop- petunia (Ruellia elegans), caricature plant southern Michigan when planted near with these elephant ears are hostas (Hosta ping arrangement of colored patterns on (Graptophyllum pictum), Persian shield the foundation of the house in a sunny ‘Sum and Substance’) and, for whimsy, a the foliage. It is best grown in full sun for (Strobilanthes dyerianus), bloodleaf (Ires- southerly position and heavily mulched reclining pachyderm sculpture with his good coloration. ine herbstii), lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus), with leaves and straw. uplifted trunk, a symbol of “good luck.” Coleus is planted in early June. Ad- castor bean (Ricinus communis), and pi- The most exotic highlights of this seren- A majestic focal point, clearly seen vanced-sized and named cultivars in 1- or geon berry (Duranta erecta). dipitous setting, angel’s trumpets (Brug- from a distance, the red Abyssinian ba- 2-gallon containers are used. Their play- After the clumps of daffodil foliage rip- mansia), boast 1-foot long flared white or nana (Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ or ful, colorful foliage display continues on en in late June, Chosid adds large-potted pink flowers, dangling on well-branched Ensete maurelii) generally grows in a into early October. Some cultivars used orange impatiens as fill-ins to spice up the 8-foot arboreal plants. Chosid revels at place of prominence, fronting the colum- over the years include: ‘Amazon,’ ‘Dipped- summer look. For body and substance, dusk as the flowers’ pleasing powdery nar white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’). in-Wine,’ ‘Japanese Giant,’ ‘Pineapple salvias, fuchsia ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt,’ fragrance wafts through the garden, not The banana’s sometime 10-foot long, deep Queen,’ ‘Raspberry Truffle,’ ‘The Line,’ nicotiana, pentas, variegated geraniums, unlike the famous trademarked perfume green leaves with a reddish midrib and ‘Truth or Consequences,’ and ‘Vulcan.’ morning glory and hyacinth bean com- “Ball of Versailles.” This aromatic delight wine-red underside are the epitome of Other tropical plants are dotted here plete the palette of annuals. In 2006 the occurs only at night, a highly unlikely feat any tropical garden—a real statement! and there in the garden as trials over the pineapple lily (Eucomis ‘Sparkling Bur- from a flowering plant in the same family The soft, fine-textured needles of the 20- years, both for foliage and flowers. Some gundy’) was introduced into this garden as tomatoes, peppers and potatoes! foot ascending pine create a pleasant con- of the noteworthy and novel examples as an annual and was forgotten and left in The huge shield-shaped leaves of the el- trast in the background. are: Oleander (Nerium oleander), shell the ground over winter. Surprisingly, this ephant ears (Alocasia and Colocasia) jump Copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) ginger (Alpinia zerumbet), tropical hi- zone 7 bulb survived and bloomed during out and speak to the eyes. Their bold tex- grows as a medium shrub with varied biscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), gold vein the summer of 2007 to the delight of all! ture contrasts here with the fine evergreen colors on the oval leaves up to 10 inches. plant (Sanchezia speciosa), lantana, sugar foliage of an Emerald Green arborvitae Copper, brown, tan, orange, red, maroon cane (Saccharum officinarum), Mexican continued on page 46 46 Michigan Gardener a May 2008

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Tropical plant growing techniques All of Chosid’s tropical plants are plant- ed directly into the ground, amended with composted cow manure and sphagnum peat moss. The planting occurs according to weather conditions, usually in early to mid June. A light of double-shred- ded hardwood bark covers the open areas around the plantings to prevent weeds and retain moisture. By planting directly into the , the tropicals thrive, producing optimum growth in height and foliage and flowers. The plants to be overwintered are gen- erally dug just before or just after the first heavy frost, sometime in October. Any in- sect pests lurking about by that time are either gone or dead, but as a precaution before bringing them inside, insecticidal soap is sprayed. One of the added ben- efits of feeding the wild birds year-round is having their presence constantly in the garden—they are finding insect pests daily for their appetites. Pachysandra 'Green Sheen' (foreground, left), hostas, coleus, and golden Japanese forest grass (background, right) cover the ground, Depending on the type of tropical plant, while bananas, elephant ears, and a climbing morning glory (background, on arches) make their bold statements. some are repotted to continue growing and some are cleaned of the soil for dry storage in a cool dark area. Chosid overwinters many of the ongoing tropicals in her base- ment under grow lights near a large win- dow with a southern exposure for opti- mum winter sun. The lights are on a timer for 8 hours during the daytime to supple- ment Michigan’s cloudy winter days. Very little watering of the plants under lights is needed, possibly biweekly or less. Watering also depends on the temperature, which is usually kept at 60 to 65 degrees. Chosid has perfected this overwinter- ing system over the years, and it is quite apparent that it is well worth the effort— the results are truly spectacular!

Jim Slezinski is the Vice President and The deep purples and chartreuse greens Senior Landscape Designer/Horticulturist of this coleus perfectly complement the at Goldner Walsh Nursery in Pontiac, MI. As darkness falls, Brugmansia releases its heavenly scent, which always turns heads. leaves of the nearby banana tree.

Caladiums' large leaves provide Hibiscus 'Red Shield' is nestled in at the a tropical look to shady areas. Bird feeders are nestled in among tropical plants like these elephant ears. base of this angel's trumpet (Brugmansia).