From what I have seen, over the years, this is for people (like me) who would like to bring a little bit of the tropics to their yard / deck / pool, even if they don't live in the tropics. The Tropical Plants Forum is about just that, and people who live in the tropics, as well as us others, can ask questions there also.

I agree, it is for people like me that like to grow cold hardy tropicaleque plants like cold hardy citrus, bananas and palms. I do use some tropical plants in pots or as annuals to make the yard look really tropical. I do have interest in both.

I'm thinking that the "Tropical Plants" forum discusses true tropical plants, most of which are frost insensitive and heat loving.

"Tropicalesque" refers to a tropical look using whatever kinds of plants create such a look (big bold leaves, dramatic architectural structure or foliage, bright colors, etc.).

The suffix "-esque" means "having the characteristics or look of".

Joe

There is a big trend for those of us living in colder climates planting plants that look tropical or give a tropical feel and that is what Tropicalismo as I've usually seen it called is all about. The plants do not have to be truly tropical.

tropicalesque is for people trying to grow tropicals further north then they are hardy to.

I would agree that the term 'tropicalesque' would mean 'having the look of tropical'. And that in the strictest sense, it would mean using 'hardy' plants that contribute to this look (bold , colorful foliage, hot flower colors, etc.). But Northern growers can also utilize true tropicals as annuals or wintered indoors, or they can utilize semi-hardy sub-tropicals (with protection) in their gardens. These certainly contribute to the tropical look as well. So I think any of these plants would be fair game to be discussed here.

I guess the two forums are similar, but I agree that the tropicalesque forum is more about trying to achieve a "tropical look" garden in cold climates using hardy plants that look tropical mixed perhaps with real tropicals. For example, plants that have overly huge foliage or plants with fine/ferny foliage often are thought of as looking tropical.

I guess the tropicalesque forum would also include methods of overwintering real tropicals in cold climates as well.

It seems to me that the vast majority of plants discussed in the Tropicalesque forum are plants native to tropical or sub-tropical areas that, due to their growth habit, can be treated as returning perennials in non-tropical areas. For instance, cannas, bananas and elephant ears grow from bulb-type structures. As long as the ground itself doesn't freeze, the underground portion of the plant is safe and regenerates quick enough the next year to be a reasonable part of a landscape design.

Also, people having been growing tropical plants for centuries without even really thinking about it. A large percentage of the annuals grown throughout the US are really tropical plants.

It seems like tropical is really "in" right now. You see it all over the place in interior decorating and even clothing (hawaiian shirts, sundresses with botanical prints). This style is popular in the garden as well.

In the Tropical forum, plants such as flowering trees and large shrubs that cannot be feasibly grown in the ground in cold climates are discussed. Tropicalesque is for those using tricks to grow zone 9 and 10 plants in zones 4-7. Living in South Louisiana, the Tropical/Tropicalesque definitions are further blurred. We can grow so many things in the ground that will live through our rare freezes without damage or will reliably return year after year. Still, there are many plants that aren't truly reliable here that people put in protected places and may fool Mother Nature and beat the freezes.

Cruising through the list of forums, this one caught my fancy. Being primarily a zone 8b gardener, it describes the direction of my plans for our new location in Mobile....I am making a secret garden behind a privacy fence, and a more publicly visible area outside the fence.

I think choosing plants with broad strapping leaves, dark green and growing with reckless abandon, and abundant or generous in size, that would get me to thinking tropicalesque. Especially when you "hide" things that peek out from behind leaves or fronds swaying in the breeze, you use old brick in a casual manner, and have seating to make you want to linger awhile.

Had no idea this forum was here, look for inspiration to come from your concepts.

First time i have seen this forum too. My definition would be if you grow tropical and tropical looking plants OUTDOORS,and worry about winter's cold,then this is forum is for you.