Gringo Gardeners in Costa Rica

Hola from Gringo Gardeners in Costa Rica! We’re a Facebook group with over 5,000 members, dedicated entirely to gardening successes and challenges in this wonderfully diverse country that we live in. I started the group eight years ago, after I moved from growing zone 2 in Canada to zone 13 in Costa Rica and found my gardening knowledge doing more harm than good. I needed help! It started with a few of us, exchanging knowledge, asking questions, becoming friends and building community. I never expected the group to grow to what it is now.

Growing conditions are extremely diverse in Costa Rica because of the many micro-climates. Each area of Costa Rica has its own gardening challenges to consider. Instead of four seasons we have two — dry and rainy. A problem solved for one member of our group might not work for another a mere 20 kilometers away.

When I moved to Quepos/Manuel Antonio from Saskatoon, Canada, finicky houseplants suddenly became thriving weeds that grew in ditches. Alocasia (elephant’s ear), anthurium, caladium, philodendron, dieffenbachia, canna lily, monstera, schefflera (umbrella plant) and dracaena were everywhere. The land of petunias and marigolds was left behind and there were so many new and exciting things to try.

Try and learn

by Helen Woodhouse Photos

Gringo Gardeners in Costa Rica

Gardening in a new location is all about experimenting and gathering knowledge wherever you can find it. If you absolutely must recreate what you had before, keep in mind that Costa Rica has regulations regarding the importation of seeds and plants. Permits are required for good reason — we’ve all heard stories of a non-native species taking over with devastating results to the ecosystem.

There are some plants that will thrive pretty much anywhere in the country. Consider croton, which provides a wide range of colorful striped and mottled green, red and yellow foliage. Another favorite is sansevieria (snake plant), which is virtually indestructible. I like to cut off a few leaves at the base and stick them in a vase with water. Not only are they a great filler for floral arrangements, they’ll develop roots and you can replant them outside. Many plants here follow the “stick it in the ground and it will grow” premise.

Shannon recommends vetiver grass for slopes that need erosion control. It’s beautiful and functional at the same time. I like peanut grass (mani) which is also common as a ground cover. The small yellow blooms are an added bonus — just look out for the neighbor’s cows, who would be more than happy to wander over and sample it.

Shannon also favors ixoras (jungle geranium) for a low maintenance, blooming hedge or border. Hibiscus works well as a slightly higher and more dense hedge or privacy screen and the blooms are lovely.

Nel, in San José, can’t say enough about spider plants, wandering jew and butterfly bushes, which grow pretty much anywhere. Her favorite is juanilama (lemon verbena). In her words, “you can't kill those things.” Her perennial herb garden includes basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley (both Italian and curly), tarragon, thyme, verbena and mint.