Tropical Gardening: Gardens of Portugal are colorful and bright

We enjoyed the rugged beauty of Scotland but decided to thaw out in subtropical Portugal.

Portugal is like going back in time compared with Spain or France, so it is a real treat. We are spending our time mostly in and near Lisbon. Folks have somewhat limited space for gardens in more urban parts, so they use vines on walls or fences to add a bit of green and color.

Bougainvilleas are interesting, popular and drought-tolerant, with some plants being very old. We use them in Hawaii as well, but could use them more. They can be kept as beautiful hedges or topiaries or allowed to become colorful vines climbing high into a large tree.

Some of the best uses are as screening plants along roads to hide unsightly views such as those used at the entrance to the airport in Kona. Bougainvilleas also can be used on wide median strips such as the entrance to Kailua-Kona. Bougainvillea plants are drought-tolerant and flower best in dry, sunny climates. Visualize the drive from the Ellison Onizuka Kona International airport to Kailua-Kona as an 8-mile riot of color like no other in America and perhaps the world. It would be far less expensive to maintain than grass that takes constant mowing and usually is full of weeds. Probably the main negative is that the plants are often quite thorny. When used in a median strip landscape this is an advantage because it keeps pedestrians and cars from crossing traffic.

In Lisbon and other urban communities in Portugal, screening on smaller home-sized landscapes might require fences to keep animals or children in bounds. However, concrete block and many other fencing and wall materials do look kind of harsh and unsightly. They just don’t give that luxurious, tropical feeling. So here is where vines make ideal companions, and we can use this to our advantage in Hawaii.

Concrete and chain-link fences make ideal supports for the many types we have available, such as the red passion flower, jade vine, Kuhio vine, potato vine, creeping fig and many others. Bird lovers enjoy types such as flame vine because they attract birds. Others like the privacy vines give them when sitting on the lanai.

Many folks like vines because they harbor chameleons, anoles and geckos. Many song birds like vines because they are good nesting locations. Last but not least, vines are fine because of their attractiveness in foliage and flowers.

Vines lend contrast and character to landscape plantings. They accentuate architectural lines, especially the closely clinging species. Many creepers are adept at introducing color, form and texture onto otherwise uninteresting objects, fences, shrubs or trees.

Many gardeners say vines are the best plants to give their homes an air of tropical living by using them to cover passageways or form patio walls. Ornamental vines, as a group, are well-adapted to a wide range of soils.

Most of them thrive in sand, clay or rock land, provided plant food and moisture are adequate.

When two or more vines growing side-by-side become hopelessly entwined, the effect can indeed be attractive. Vines can complement one another in several ways. An evergreen vine hides the barrenness of a deciduous vine. Vines blooming during different seasons extend the flowering season. Vines blooming at the same time can display handsome color contrasts or blends.

There are dozens of tropical vines available in Hawaii. The Bengal clock vine, with its sky blue flowers; the garlic vine; the exotic passion flower vines; confederate jasmine; creeping fig; and philodendrons are just a few.

Portugal and its people are a great place to visit. You cannot do it in a few days, so we definitely plan to come back to see more of the country and explore more gardening concepts to bring back home.

Our next stop will be the Madeira islands off the coast of Morocco, where we hope to find even more ideas that can apply to Hawaiian gardens.