The lushness of this sub-tropical scene is created in Dublin’s Botanic Gardens through controlled temperatures and a fine mist spray within their glasshouses. However, a mile away, we created the effect of a tropical oasis through the use of hardy plants with an exotic look  such as fatsia japonica, choisya, bamboo and ferns.

Climbers such as Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ :

And Passiflora  (passion flower) :

all add a certain exotic quality to the planting.

You can see the finished courtyard in our post  “Transforming a tiny courtyard”.

(All photography mine)