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Foliage plants feed

Tropical foliage plants make up the bulk of a tropical garden. They provide that lush green backdrop that tropical gardens are famous for, and can be used to create overhead protection for the more tender understory plants that prefer filtered sunlight.

Some tropical foliage plants have stunning coloured foliage, such as Cordylines, Alpinea (Native Ginger), Bromeliads and Croton. Others grow huge leaves of over a meter wide, such as Philodendrons and Anthuriums. There is a huge variety of various foliage plants available, and there is sure to be one suitable for your garden.



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Galangal Ginger


In Stock: 9
Edible Galangal Ginger
For sale: rootstock/rhizomes 
Product Details...


Arrowroot (Canna edulis)


In Stock: 8
The edible vegetable Arrowroot is a very hardy plant from the Canna family. Canna is very easy and fast growing and is an excellent food plant to grow in any frost-free part of Australia.
Please visit our blog post for more information on Arrowroot: http://www.nationaltropicals.com.au/site-news/growing-eating-arrowroot-canna-edulis
For sale: rhizome 
Product Details...


Pine Nut (Pinus pinea)


In Stock: 6
Pine nuts are a very ornamental, edible tree, growing 10-15m tall. They bear edible pine nuts, which are great in salads, pesto, baking, as a snack, and many other dishes. We particularly like pine nuts in pasta, with roasted pumpkin, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese.
The Pine Nut tree grows best in cooler areas, in a dryish spot. They will not perform in permanently wet soil. Pine nuts can be produced as early as 4 years of age, but generally around 6 years. For more info click on 'product details' or title.

Plants for sale: 40-50cm tall 
Product Details...



Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates)


In Stock: 19
Edible Lemon Grass often used for Thai cuisine. Tall grass-like plant with strong root system, native to India and Tropical Asia. It has a beautiful citrussy taste and scent and can be used dried or fresh.
Lemongrass oil is also made from this plant, smells beautiful and used as a pesticide and preservative. Very fast growing in warm areas and very drought hardy. Lemongrass needs well draining soil and full sun position, although they will thrive nearly anywhere.
Usable parts of the plant are the bottom of the stems for cooking, and the leaves for tea.
Plants for sale: rootstock, foliage cut back. 
Product Details...


Heliconia psittacorum Strawberries & Cream


In Stock: 10
Heliconia psittacorum Strawberries and Cream is a tropical plant related to Ginger and Bananas can be grown from seed or rhizome generally from rhizome as propagation from seed is not as reliable. They do not like cold weather and are only suitable coastal Qld, Northern NSW, Topend of NT and north western WA.They will grow in full sun but are better in part shade. Plant in well draining soil consider a raised garden bed or slope, mulch well . Fertilize regually and water them often . After each stem has finished  flowering cut that stem out to encourage growth in other stems.
For more plant info click on 'product details', photo or the title.
Supplied as: Rhizome (usually with beautiful new growth) 
Product Details...

Growing Tips(1)



Philodendron Selloum (Whole Leaf)


In Stock: 9
This is a beautiful Philodendron with thick, aerial roots. It is a member of the Arum family, also called ‘aroids’, such as Anthurium & Monstera. It is evergreen and grows to around 3m tall. It has an
upright growth habit, and is not a climber like most other Philodendrons.
Leaves are very large and dark glossy green. Each leaf can grow
to almost 1m long! Being an aroid, this plant produces a long spathe, which is greenish white.
This Philodendron is native to Southern American rainforests.
Click on 'more details' for further growing info.
Supplied as: Plants 15-30 cms tall 
Product Details...

Growing Tips(1)



Cocos/Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)


In Stock: 50
Syagrus roanzoffiana (Cocos/Queen Palm) is a native of Brazil and Argentina. It is a tall slender palm with grey trunk, large yellow green leaves which will fall of when dead but takes a few months. Large attractive foliage and is easy to grow, both drought and frost tolerant. Plant in full sun, young plants are able to withstand full sun from an early age.
For more plant info click on 'product details' or the title.
Supplied as: plants 30-50 cms tall. 
Product Details...

Growing Tips(2)



Kaffir/Orange Lily (Clivia miniata)


In Stock: 6
For more info click on title or 'product details', including sizes & photo's. Click Clivia grow notes for grow notes.
45cm tall. Stunning orange flowers. Easy to grow. Deep green leaves. Good for pots, gardens, indoors.
Supplied as: Plants 15-30 cms tall 
Product Details...


Travellers Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) l


In Stock: 20
One of our favourites! A beautiful tree from the Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) family which produces big banana-like foliage. Foliage arranges itself in a fan-shaped form. Though technically not a palm tree, it is often called one because of the short palm-like trunk & foliage. It grows 7-15m tall. The Travellers Palm produces white flowers, followed by brown fruits. Seeds are a wonderful blue colour. It derives its name ‘Travellers Palm’ from the fact that it collects and holds rainwater in its leaf folds and flower bracts. Thirsty travellers knew to seek out this tree to collect water. Ravenala madagascariensis is a stunning tropical plant and would act well as a feature plant, or as back drop for other tropical plants. It is often used to line driveways and property entries, for which the fan shape lends itself very well.
For more plant info click on 'product details'
Supplied as: Stunning plants up to 1m tall.
(not for NT due to size) 
Product Details...

Growing Tips(1)



Majestic Palm (Ravenea rivularis)


In Stock: 10
Click on 'product details' or title for more info including sizes & photo's.
Popular tall palm with smooth, white, self cleaning trunk. Beautiful crown of feathery bright green leaves. Very adaptable palm and quite cold hardy. Good house plant or for pots.
Supplied as: plants, 20-40cm tall (not for NT due to size - contact us to see if we have some smaller plants to suit) 
Product Details...


African Hosta (Drimiopsis maculata)


In Stock: 26
Click on 'product details' for more info.
Leopard spotted groundcover with thick succulent leaves. Good for dry, shady spots. Small white flowers on stalk. 
Product Details...


Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea species)


In Stock: 10
For more information click on product details,photo or the title.
Chunky palm tree look-a-like. Trunks to 3m in diameter. Trunk tapers and branches, with long strappy leaves. Drought & heat tolerant, suitable to most frost-free regions of Australia.
Supplied as: plants, 15-30cm tall 
Product Details...


White/Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)


In Stock: 9
Another favourite! Incredibly fast growing in the right position, perfect for a quick screen! Beautiful plant from Natal, South Africa. Tall, striking foliage plant growing up to 12m high and 4m wide. It is evergreen, with multiple stems that form a dense clump. Very hardy with large dramatic leaves for a true tropical effect. Huge flowers resemble birds’ heads and can be used in floral arrangements. Flowers appear within a year in the right conditions. Excellent indoor and potted plant, even in exposed positions, but provide some shelter from strong winds. Flowers are eye-catching, white and blue. Easy care, mulch garden specimens, provide regular water, and slow release fertilizer in spring and summer.
For more plant info click 'product details'.
See Giant Bird of Paradise grow notes for further growing information
Supplied as: Plants 30-50 cms tall 
Product Details...


Pineapple (Ananas comosus)


In Stock: 8
Grow your own Pineapples! These are the pineapple fruits like you see in the shop. Beautiful sweet fruit. Fast growing, form clumps of 50cm tall by 50cm wide. Very tough and low maintenance.
Supplied as: plants, aprox 20cm tall 
Product Details...

Growing Tips(3)



Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea)


In Stock: 29
The Cardboard Palm belongs to the Cycad family (Cycad is Greek for ‘palm’, as most Cycads bear resemblance to palms). It is native to the warm sandy coastal plains of Mexico. It’s a very distinctive cycad with thick, felty leaves up to 1.2m long that emerge from the middle of the plant, forming a rosette. When grown in bright light, the rosette becomes a 1m high clump of tightly overlapping that can (although slowly) grow to 1.8m in diameter. The leaves are slightly fuzzy and feel a bit like cardboard when rubbed. Foliage emerges from a thick fleshy trunk that serves as water storage in drought.
More under 'product details' or click on title for sizes, photo's etc.
Supplied as: small plants, 10-15cm tall 
Product Details...

Growing Tips(2)



Indoor Dragon Tree (Dracaena hookeriana)


In Stock: 10
This is a very nice, small Dracaena which grows to aprox 1.5m tall. It is fantastic as a house plant, and is often used for that purpose, due to its tolerance of low light conditions. They are definitely best planted in a group of around 3-4 for maximum effect. Foliage is very thick and leather-like, and nice fragrant flowers open at night. Once the berries have formed, this plant will attract lots of birds & insects to the garden.
For more plant info click 'product details'
Supplied as: plants aprox 15x15cm 
Product Details...


Red Edged Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)


In Stock: 1
Multi planted. Dracaena marginata, or Red Edge Dragon Tree, grows to aprox 5m tall. It can easily be maintained at any height by pruning the tops. Wherever you prune a cane, multiple canes will re-shoot, creating a beautiful bushy plant. It is one of the very best indoor plants, and looks great in a pot. Plant them with 3 or more in a pot to develop a nice, ‘full’ looking plant. It develops Cordyline-like canes, with tufts of sword-like foliage. Foliage is green with red margins. Not only is it great indoors, it also fares very well out in the garden, in full sun to part shade. It is a very versatile plant, which needs no water once established & provides a great feature in any garden.
Supplied as: multi-planted (semi-plaited) plants, 40-50cm 
Product Details...