Thread: What plants and trees would be in an 'essential' Thai garden?

I'm looking to get to a list of plants that just shout 'Thailand', AND would work well in a garden.

Note that they don't need to be originally native to Thailand, but they need to be common and/or have a special meaning.

For starters, it's common to have a Mayom Tree in front of the house and a Jackfruit tree at the back. Lilawadee is also essential both in appearance and smell. I would also include a Jampee/Jampaa (Champaca) tree and Dok Ratree again for smells.

Then palms of course, and a set of Wasana plants for good fortune.

What else? Any ideas on how to arrange it all?

got to have banana trees, love the way they move when its windy

as for layout, start with bigger taller stuff at the back and work down, also try to create circles or 3/4 circles in the corners to creat another outdoor space

the best plants to have, esp for a beginner, are ones that thrive on your soil

so have a look around the neighbourhood to see what looks good and healthy

What we did originally was buy several books about Thai gardens and landscaping. Thai or English, who cares? We were just looking at photos.

Saw what we liked, called someone the wife found and the adventure started. Now we have learned quite a bit and know what we want and where.

Also like Dr. Andy suggested I drove the motocycle around and took pics I liked. I did this both in BKK and upcountry. Probably wasted a bunch of ink, but the end result has been worth it. Just an idea.

Originally Posted by WhiteLotusLane

What plants and trees would be in an 'essential' Thai garden?

Ones that won't die if they miss getting watered for a day or two, which they will.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

the best plants to have, esp for a beginner, are ones that thrive on your soil

so have a look around the neighbourhood to see what looks good and healthy

Good advice. Look for the local ones that you like, preferably quite mature so you have a good idea of their eventual size.

Originally Posted by Bung

Ones that won't die if they miss getting watered for a day or two

i.e succulents, preferably in pots, so you can move them around until you find the right spot. A good and 'simple' example is Adenium obesum. Some nice Euphorbia and erect cacti in a corner or in a place where there's not much 'traffic'.

Once the big trees and palms are in place, you will have a lot of shadow. Nice to sit or a place for a hammock... and plants that thrive in the shade: ferns, orchids, Rhipsali, Hoya, Nepenthes and bromeliads.

Some nice waterplants like a few waterlilies, a lotus of course and something in a different color, like Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'...

Ornamental grasses like Pennisetum setaceum and lemongrass are beautiful, once big... Gingers, heliconia and tropical vines make great ornamental plants too.

And don't forget some nice smelling ones: Plumeria as you said, but also have a look at gardenia, jasmine and Cananga

Thailand 'only':

Vascular plant species restricted to Thailand include the orchids Paphiopedilum exul (rspg.org) and Pecteilis sagarikii(dnp.go.th), Magnolia sirindhorniae (flickr), Mallotus glomerulatus (Flora of Thailand),Sapria ram (rspg.org), Begonia pumila (dnp.go.th), Rhododendron ludwigianum (rspg.org),Bauhinia siamensis (dnp.go.th), Delphinium siamense (rspg.org), Gardenia saxatilis (rspg.org), Wrightia sirikitae (WNS Stamps), and Impatiens phuluangensis (dnp.go.th). A rich endemic cycad flora includes Cycas nongnoochiae (Cycad Pages), Cycas pranburiensis (Cycad Pages), Cycas elephantipes (Cycad Pages), Cycas petrea (Cycad Pages), Cycas tansachana (Cycad Pages), and Cycas chamaoensis (Cycad Pages). Endemic genera include the White Elephant Palm (PACSOA), an orchid Lesliea (orchidspecies.com), Santisukia (rspg.org), Khaosokia (dnp.go.th), Thepparatia(dnp.go.th),Marcania (dnp.go.th), Remirema (dnp.go.th), and the gingers Cornukaempferia (rspg.org) and Siamanthus (botany.hawaii.edu pdf file).

And whatever you choose, first have a look how big they all will become... some nice knee-high pots on the flower market will be 6, 7 meters high within a few years.

For pictures have a look i the "Flowers in Thailand" thread: https://teakdoor.com/farming-and-gard...tml#post327560 (Thai flowers, your pictures)

Originally Posted by Gipsy

Some nice waterplants like a few waterlilies, a lotus of course and something in a different color, like Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'...

I wish

we put in some waterlilies, with a protective net, and they did OK, flowering and getting bigger

once we thought they were mature enough we removed the net (ugly) and within a couple of months they died; the fish just ate them

Koi (many other fish as well) eat the roots, plant and all of anything you put into a pond. No barrier - No plants.

I almost forgot. This is a great thread. Wished there was some photos. I like the links Gipsy provided.

Originally Posted by ceburat

Wished there was some photos. I like the links Gipsy provided.

Enjoy. Hope you have a couple of hours to spare.

https://teakdoor.com/farming-and-gard...ml#post1202099 (Thai flowers, your pictures)

Thank you for the link. Too hot to work outside. Good time to look and plan indoors.

Originally Posted by ceburat

Koi (many other fish as well) eat the roots, plant and all of anything you put into a pond. No barrier - No plants.

I just have wild fish, no Koi

but they certainly have appetites for greens

Originally Posted by DrAndy

I just have wild fish

They can be tamed... Here's the proof: (From Ottowo Argus-Press) The Owosso Argus-Press - Google News Archive Search/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19520903&id=STkiAAAAIBAJ&s jid=D6wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4828,263319

or simply save your precious waterlilies by eating more fish!

Fuang Fa ( Bougainvillea ) always look very nice and are very hardy .

Originally Posted by ceburat

This is a great thread. Wished there was some photos. I like the links Gipsy provided.

Same from me, i know sweet FA about plants and trees but would like to learn a bit.

Wow, excellent posts!! what a great forum this is.

Yes I move potted plants around a lot until I learn where they're happy. In the small garden at my house I'm pretty much set, though in soil is an issue (grit & blast hurlage used to raise the land in the development. ) so quite a few plants fail or at least don't live up to their potential.

And then I have a much bigger space (2 rai or so) which to be honest is too big of a project for me to even wrap my head around where to start.. (Won't be planting the entire 2 rai of course, at least not at first.) Financially that's a challenge as well, as the land needs raising; the water level in the irrigation stream next to it is significantly higher than the land. However there's always plenty water, all through the dry season. I wonder if I can get away with doing some furrows (not straight, but curved or whatever) and just letting the water run in when it's time to water.

it's weird to have so much water even right now in April, but I haven't seen it flood yet in teh past two years. So now I wonder if I could get away with only raising a smaller area where a house/shed/shelter needs to get built.

Excellent suggestions on plants, have plenty to investigate. I've got all teh time in the world so I don't even mind growing stuff from seed, or buying plants when tiny, or just get plants for free that the MIL sources around the village. Got three of those fan-banana-like trees for free last week. Tiny, but they'll get bigger.

Originally Posted by WhiteLotusLane

but they need to be common and/or have a special meaning

Found these pages:

Flowers, Fruits and Foliage of Faith, Part 1 | Flowers, Fruits and Foliage of Faith, Part 1

Flowers, Fruits and Foliage of Faith, Part 2 | Flowers, Fruits and Foliage of Faith, Part 2

Flowers, Fruits and Foliage of Faith, Part 3 | Flowers, Fruits and Foliage of Faith, Part 3

Not much 'new' here, just an short explanation and some pictures...

Here's some more, and better...

Superstitions about Trees and Plants - 01 | Superstitions about Trees and Plants - 01 - Thailand Life

Superstitions about Trees and Plants - 02 | Superstitions about Trees and Plants - 02 - Thailand Life

If you got lots of available space, go for a rain-tree (Albizia saman), or other large development trees. I like Ficus trees (micriphylla, or religiosa), beause they provide deep fresh shadow, attract lots of birds, grow fast, and are nearly indestructible. arefull of the roots, and falling fruits (small but plentiful).

For absolute thai style, you need to have some coconuts somewhere (beware falling fruits = no parking, roof or pathways), and may be a traveller's palm (ravenella madagascariensis). A bamboo clump will always come in handy for providing poles, while also providing beauty.

Bougainvilleas, frangipani are a must. Fruits are also a must (mangoes come to mind)



When you plan your garden, on paper, define where you want trees Vs grass. Think about where you want shade (deep or light), and where you want light (and heat). Then place the bigger trees first, then go by descending size order. Make sure you live a lot of space for roots, away from any construction and/or path.
Once you defined the structure of the plantation, you will have time to think more in detail about smaller plants (flowers, ground covers, special garden such as orchids or roses or whats not). That's probably where you will spend more time, and have fun in the future by creating different combinations : a garden is never finished, never beautiful enough


All this is a bit academic without a plan or pictures to see what can be done. Location is also critical : soil type, water, exposure to sun, temperatures, altitude, exposure to salt/pollution...



Forgot to mention, plant trees well away from your land limits, lest your neighbours or city maintenance teams (electric wires) maim your beautiful growing trees. Never underestimate their destroying powers.

LOL..! Excellent tips, thanks!!

I guess I have some work to do first to come up with an initial outline. Also I need to plan for other features, such as a (small) house and a driveway to get there..