Chiefly in warm southern regions of the United States, tropical landscape design is an increasingly popular means of bringing a taste of the islands quite literally to your own backyard. Tropical landscape design is very much about a laid-back state of mind, so when choosing water and plant elements, make sure they impart a replenishing feeling.

To neutralize intense heat of the sun and air, a tropical landscape design should include ample water features. A scalloped edged pool enclosed with sand is a wonderful re-creation of a tropical lagoon. A flag stone patio, however, is a more sensible pool surrounding and can be studded with ground or container tropical plants. If your landscape becomes cool in the winter, be sure to choose pot plants in rolling urns that can stay indoors for cooler months. Hardier greenery like junipers and cypress can be planted as well.