suggestions for planning tropical garden?

We are designing a colorful tropical styled garden. We are at the stage where we have planned the shape of our beds and have chosen trees, shrubs, architecturally plants and perennials. My husband is a bit scared we are going for a too tropical a garden and as a compromise we are trying to find some more english looking evergreen shrubs to compliment the very tropical theme. Can anyone recommend any plants that would tone down the tropical theme?

Here is a list of the shrubs we have chosen:

Fatsia Japonica
Hosta
cordyline australis
yucca_filamentosa
phormien tenax
Banana tree
Japanese acer
yucca_filamentosa
stipa arundinacea
Dwarf palm
Big palm

And perrenials

sour grapes
primula-bessenia
phlox_volcano_white/purple variety
penstemon-cardwellii
Onion bulb
lobelia-erinus
iris confusa
globe thistle
edging lobelia-rosy pink
echineacea
allium

 

Hi Emily, I started A Tropical Border this year, Heres a link to my thread, Hope it helps


http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13669

 

Good evening, Emily, and welcome to the site. The list of plants you have drawn up is a very good mix of tropical looking and BRITISH plants, You and your husband have chosen well.

 

Nice list of plants Emily.

In my opinion though you dont create a tropical looking garden and then try to tone it down.

Just go for it.