Have you ever looked at your garden in a cooler climate and wished it had a tropical feel? I have, and have found that there are many tropical plants that are quite cold hardy.
There’s a certain aspect of tropical plants that many of us crave, especially when we’ve just returned from tropical vacations in our cold spots.
If you plan carefully and use the right plants, you can have a tropical garden in a cooler climate that you can be proud of.
If that floats your boat, let’s get started so you can get out there and create your own tropical garden paradise.
Contents
Cold-tolerant tropical plants
A tropical environment is hot and humid, and the plants that grow there are lovers of that heat and humidity. Tropical environments also often have a lot of rain.
Due to the climate, tropical environments are usually lush and colorful. In these regions, nighttime temperatures do not drop below 50°F.
It is this constant heat and humidity that makes tropical plants grow seemingly overnight.
This list is by no means exhaustive, so by all means, see what’s available in your area. These are some of my favorite tropical plants that are cold hardy.
As a side note, don’t rely solely on plants to get the tropical vibe. Build a pergola, use hammocks or well-placed outdoor chairs and beds.
1. Hardy Banana
I started with the hardy banana tree because I don’t know of a plant with leaves as tropical as this foliage. The leaves will freeze and die in temperatures below 28ºF, but the underground rhizomes will survive if you mulch them heavily.
This will allow the plant to come back every year and in some cases grow over 20 feet tall. The tropical leaves can reach 12 feet in length. The spikes of yellow, banana-like flowers are inedible.
To ensure that the hardy banana survives even in the coldest regions, try the following to protect the stem:
Choose two or three stems to protect and cut off the leaves. Wrap the stems with old lightweight blankets or insulation, then wrap them in plastic. Tie the plastic because you don’t want to get the covers wet.
Cover everything in a plastic garbage bag until all danger of spring frosts has passed. This will give the hardy banana a head start and hopefully the resulting growth for the year will be twice as much as if you let the plant die above ground or cut it down.
2. Clumping bamboo
When people hear the word bamboo, they think of the type that takes over the whole garden, as well as that of the neighbors.
It’s running the bamboo. We are talking about clumping bamboo. It’s tall, tropical, and doesn’t spread like wildfire. Aim for a mountain variety that is hardy down to -15ºF.
Upright canes of bamboo are called culms. Cut away any tired, dull stubble at ground level. If you want a really striking effect, cut off any drooping, bent, or damaged stubble, leaving only those sticking up.
3. Elephant Ear
Elephant ear leaf size is tropical, to say the least. Amazingly, this spectacular looking plant is grown from tender tubers.
You can plant them in any type of soil, and there is only one rule for growing elephant ears in a cold area. This rule is to dig up the tuber at the first frosts and store it indoors until spring, when you can replant it.
4. Giant Rhubarb
Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) is perfect for growing in a large container in your tropical garden so you can move it inside a garage or shed to let it sleep.
This plant is only hardy down to zone 7, but it’s worth it for its tropical appearance. If you plant it in the ground, you will need to lift it and store it in peat over the winter.
5. Rustic Hibiscus
Plate-sized blooms are your reward for planting hardy hibiscus (Moscheuto Hibiscus, H. laevi, and their hybrids). Give it full sun and plenty of water and you’ll be rewarded with flowers that can be blue, purple, red, pink or white.
This plant-like tropical plant is actually hardy down to zone 4. How good is that?
6. Caladium
Where hardy hibiscus is your tropical sun lover, caladium (caladium spp.) is your tropical color that grows in more shady areas. Available in many different colors, the caladium likes moist soil and is a bulb that can be dug up and stored indoors until the following spring.
The time to weed caladium is when daytime temperatures reach the mid to 50°F. Dig up the bulbs and put them indoors. Let them dry for about a week before removing the tops. Store the bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated place at a constant temperature of 60°F.
7. Rustic Fuchsia
The tender variety that most people are familiar with is not the same as the hardy fuchsia (Magellanica Fuchsia). This species grows up to 10 feet tall and almost as wide. One thing that is the same as Tender Fuchsia is the attractive, pendulous flowers, but the main difference is that Hardy Fuchsia is perfect up to USDA growing zone 6.
Make sure the soil stays moist and protect the plant from afternoon sun.
8. Trumpet Vine
Provide trumpet vine (camps spp.) with a solid structure to grow on, and it will give you the bright tropical look you are looking for with bright yellow, orange and red flowers. In full sun, trumpet vine is hardy to zone 5.
It is a vigorous vine that will grow well even in poor soil. It may take a few years to establish and flower well, but the wait is worth it.
9. Toad Lily
The toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta) is another plant that finds its place in any warm and humid tropical garden. What’s exciting though is that it’s hardy down to zone 4. On top of that, it blooms in shade.
The pink flowers look like orchids. It is the perfect plant to grow through and under taller types.
10. Passion Fruit/Passionflower
Although technically not a tropical plant, passionflower is a tropical-looking vine, especially when in full bloom and before fruit develops.
Sometimes called maypop, this vine can withstand temperatures as low as -20ºF. Provide plenty of water and as much sun as possible, and sit back and enjoy the fruit as it falls from the vine. It even tastes tropical.
11. palm jelly
Probably one of the most cold hardy tropical palms, the jelly palm (Butia capitata) is happy down to 10ºF. In cool climates, jelly palms stay reasonably compact, reaching 10 to 20 feet tall. You can even grow jelly palms in containers, making them even more compact.
Like the passion flower, the jelly palm produces a wonderful palm fruit used in jams and jellies or even fermented wine.
12. Fig
Most fig trees are not cold hardy and are suitable down to zone 7. There are, however, two varieties that are hardy down to zone 5 and can withstand very cold temperatures.
Choose ‘Chicago Hardy’ or ‘Violette de Bordeaux.’ Not too picky about soil and conditions, these cultivars will give you tasty tropical fruit in colder regions.
13. Daylilies
Not quite a true lily, daylilies are a perfect addition to a tropical-inspired garden in a cool location. It is a perennial that requires little attention once established, and more modern cultivars are less likely to spread vigorously.
Daylilies aren’t picky about soil either. They are cold and salt tolerant. Plus, they’re edible!
14. Bird of Paradise
Grown best in tropical regions, the Mexican variety Bird of Paradise is cold hardy to temperatures as low as 24ºF. If you have a lot of frost, grow in containers that you can move indoors.
15. Hosta
While hostas are good for more ground cover in tropical gardens, there are cultivars and hybrids that are great for cold areas. ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Lakeside Shore Master’ are two such cultivars.
They like moist soil and are content with partial shade. Dig in well-rotted manure to give them enough energy to withstand cooler temperatures.
5 tips for growing cold-tolerant tropical plants
The first step is to find the right cold-hardy tropical plants, but there are things you can do to help your tropical and tropical-looking plants survive even in colder climates.
Mulch
Think of the typical tropical environment. Most have thick layers of organic matter on the soil, as fast-growing plants shed their foliage. Mulch retains moisture and keeps the soil warm for as long as possible during cooler seasons.
Mulch can also prevent rhizomes and bulbs from dying if you leave them in the ground.
Water well
In most tropical regions, rain falls quickly and hard, rather than constantly in small bits. When watering your tropical plants, water thoroughly and allow the soil to dry out before watering thoroughly again.
Fertilize
The deep layers of organic matter in tropical environments naturally nourish plants. This means that tropical plants that we grow in cooler areas will benefit from additional nourishment.
Use a fertilizer specific to tropical plants if available and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Talk to experts
Talk to expert growers and sellers of tropical plants in your area. Many tropical plants have specific needs, and you can learn great tips that improve the odds of tropical plants in cooler areas.
Your local extension office is always a good resource.
Winterize your plants
Depending on the cold-hardy tropical plants you choose, some need to be moved indoors when the temperatures really drop. Others, like hardy bananas, may need cutting to ground level and heavy mulch.
Ask about the specifics of your chosen varieties.
Was this article helpful?
Yes No ×
We appreciate your helpful feedback!
Your response will be used to improve our content. The more feedback you give us, the better our pages will be.
Facebook pinterest