Since the demise of the quintessential Balinese garden that was the craze a couple years back, gardeners today are looking to the neo tropics in charting their gardening style.

Gardening guru Burle Marx seems to be the inspiration as we evolve from lush to lush-but-edgy and experimenting with new - both plant and building - materials.

This article would thus serve as a prelude to my talks at the Alexandra Hospital and National University Hospital to be given in this year's Clean and Green Week. I will discuss on the use of the nouveau exotics, focussing on three key groups as they have great horticultural potential and possibilities.

THE PLUMERIA

In terms of Plumeria, current trends indicate the return of the White Singapore Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa) as Singaporeans have cast away their superstitions and apprehension for years regarding it. It seems now that it is no longer associated with the graveyard but rather as a productive tree, blessing the ground with its many fragrant blossoms.

Left: Plumeria 'Bali Whirl' Right: Plumeria 'Yacht Club White'

A new introduction, albeit still very rare here, is the Dwarf Singapore Pink, a miniature form of Plumeria obtusa. It is of tremendous horticultural value for not only its pale pink fragrant blooms held in huge bouquets which eventually become pendulous, but also for its foliage when not in bloom for its leaves are a leathery, shiny emerald green. We also see the emergence of existing and also new dwarf varieties which could prove valuable to the apartment gardener, with adequate sunlight.

Cultural Requirements § Full sun § Greedy feeder - Osmocote § Half burnt earth, Half sand § Do not prune § Propagate by cuttings (at least 30cm) - dry out for a week, may use a rooting hormone

THE TILLANDSIA

Truly this has been THE plant for bringing people together, making friends and interacting and thus it was during the initial hype when Green Culture Singapore was set up to provide an opportunity for plant lovers, namely at that time, Tillandsia folk, to 'talk'. Left: Tillandsia plants can be aesthetically mounted on just about anything in the garden.

The second wave of Tillandsia imports during the end 2003 meant that these American novelties would be forever cemented in our horticultural history and be, for once, taken seriously and regarded as not just a fad. Truly this has been THE plant for bringing people together, making friends and interacting and thus it was during the initial hype when Green Culture Singapore was set up to provide an opportunity for plant lovers, namely at that time, Tillandsia folk, to 'talk'.

The larger varieties such as Tillandsia xerographica (CITES), Tillandsia capitata, Tillandsia brachycaulos, Tillandsia harrisii (CITES) and Tillandsia fasciculata are good for outdoor use for they can be 'seen' as opposed to smaller varieties. Creative ideas for their implementation include tying them securely with cable ties (not gluing them) to trunks of palms or Plumeria trees which has proven to be very effective both in terms of aesthetic appeal and for the well-being of the plants. It is to note that these trees do not have dense canopies and allow Tillandsia to have just about full sun (they must be acclimatized first) and exposure to rain and adequate air movement. The plants can also be positioned and tied onto large pieces of driftwood and gnarled branches to create an architectural centre piece for the garden. This is especially striking when the branches overhang a pond.

Tillandsia usneoides, Spanish Moss, can be used to give that added "omphh" and drama. The trick with this plant is full sun, lots of water, humidity and air movement. It does not do well in an apartment.

Cultural Requirements § 50-100% sun § Do not feed § Air movement § Propagate by pups § Hang or mount

Above: The violet flowers of Tillandsia duratii are scented.