23 Tropical Plants to Grow for a Beautiful and Productive Garden
Transform your garden into a lush paradise with vibrant tropical plants. Whether you’re striving for a backyard oasis or hoping to add exotic charm to your space, tropical plants deliver unrivaled beauty and even practical benefits. Here are 23 tropical plants, each with its unique features, growing requirements, and zones, to help you create a stunning and productive garden.
1. Cannas
Features: Cannas are all about drama, with bright, bold flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, or pink. Their large, paddle-like leaves, often tinged in green or bronze, give gardens a lush, tropical feel.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil.
Size: 2-8 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide.
Zones: 7-10.
2. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Features: This iconic plant is named after its flowers, which resemble a bird in flight. With vivid orange petals and blue centers, it’s bound to be the highlight of your garden.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; prefers well-draining but consistently moist soil.
Size: 4-6 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide.
Zones: 9-12.
3. Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Features: Tropical hibiscus dazzles with large, funnel-shaped flowers in vivid hues of red, yellow, pink, and orange. Its vibrant blooms can last season after season in the right climate.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and regular watering.
Size: 4-8 feet tall, 4-6 feet wide.
Zones: 9-11.
4. Banana Plant (Musa spp.)
Features: Famed for their large, lush foliage, banana plants add height and texture to any garden. Some varieties produce edible fruit, while others are best grown ornamentally.
Growing Conditions: Full sun; rich, moist soil.
Size: 6-14 feet tall, 6-10 feet wide.
Zones: 7-10, depending on the variety.
5. Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta)
Features: Known for their huge, heart-shaped leaves, elephant ears bring a bold silhouette to your garden. They thrive in water gardens or as borders.
Growing Conditions: Partial shade to full sun; thrives in moist soil.
Size: 3-7 feet tall, 3-6 feet wide.
Zones: 8-11.
6. Bougainvillea
Features: Bougainvillea bursts with striking, paper-like bracts in shades of magenta, red, orange, yellow, and white. It’s a fast-growing climber that thrives on fences or trellises.
Growing Conditions: Full sun; they tolerate drought once established.
Size: 15-30 feet tall; climber width is variable.
Zones: 9-11.
7. Plumeria (Plumeria rubra)
Features: This fragrant stunner features spiraling flowers in shades of white, pink, yellow, or red. Growing these plants will transport you to a tropical paradise.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil.
Size: 15-25 feet tall, 10-15 feet wide.
Zones: 10-12.
8. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
Features: Crotons bring a splash of color with their brightly variegated foliage in shades of orange, red, and green. Their leaves often have striking patterns.
Growing Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-draining soil.
Size: 2-8 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide.
Zones: 9-11.
9. Bromeliads
Features: These exotic plants have bold, striking rosettes and can be potted or grown on trees. Their colorful centers create a festive, tropical vibe.
Growing Conditions: Bright, indirect light; well-drained soil mix.
Size: Usually 1-3 feet tall and wide, though some can grow larger.
Zones: 10-12.
10. Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)
Features: With its small, delicate flowers and heady fragrance, jasmine is the ultimate tropical vine. It’s a terrific choice for arbors or trellises.
Growing Conditions: Partial to full sun; rich, moist soil.
Size: 6-15 feet tall and wide.
Zones: 6-10 (climate can vary depending on the species).
11. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Features: This climbing beauty features intricate, alien-like blooms in stunning purples and blues. Some varieties produce sweet passionfruit.
Growing Conditions: Full sun or partial shade; fertile, well-draining soil.
Size: Vines can reach up to 30 feet.
Zones: 6-10.
12. Caladium
Features: These shade-loving plants boast heart-shaped leaves splashed with pink, red, white, or green. They’re perfect for shady corners or potted arrangements.
Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade; consistently moist, rich soil.
Size: 12-30 inches tall and wide.
Zones: 9-11.
13. Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata)
Features: Exotic and bold, red ginger produces long-lasting, showy flower spikes. It’s a common sight in tropical bouquets and makes a brilliant garden centerpiece.
Growing Conditions: Partial shade to full sun; well-drained soil.
Size: 3-15 feet tall, 3-6 feet wide.
Zones: 9-11.
14. Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
Features: This dramatic plant boasts trumpet-shaped, hanging flowers that can grow up to 12 inches long, filling the garden with a rich perfume.
Growing Conditions: Full to partial sun; moist, well-draining soil.
Size: 6-20 feet tall, 3-5 feet wide.
Zones: 9-11.
15. Heliconia
Features: Known as “lobster claw” for its striking bracts, heliconias boast vivid hues of orange, red, and yellow. These dramatic plants scream “tropics!”
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; fertile, moist soil.
Size: 3-15 feet tall depending on the variety.
Zones: 9-11.
16. Coleus
Features: While grown mainly for its colorful foliage, coleus comes in vibrant shades of pink, red, and gold with intricate leaf patterns.
Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil.
Size: 12-24 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide.
Zones: 10-11 (grown as an annual elsewhere).
17. Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior)
Features: With its waxy, red flower spikes and large, bold leaves, this plant is as spectacular as it is statuesque.
Growing Conditions: Partial shade and moist, fertile soil.
Size: Flowers atop tall stems can reach 15 feet high.
Zones: 10-12.
18. Hardy Papyrus (Cyperus alternifolius)
Features: Papyrus plants create an eye-catching, fountain-like display of long stems with umbrella-style foliage, perfect for ponds or garden borders.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; thrives in wet soil.
Size: 4-6 feet tall.
Zones: 8-11.
19. Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
Features: Known for their teardrop-shaped flowers in stunning shade combinations, fuchsias are a must-have for hanging baskets.
Growing Conditions: Partial shade to filtered sunlight; moist, fertile soil.
Size: 1-6 feet tall and wide.
Zones: 8-11.
20. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Features: Famous for its decorative foliage, the sweet potato vine is available in vibrant shades of green, purple, and bronze.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; any well-draining soil.
Size: 6-12 inches tall, 1-2 feet wide.
Zones: Grown as an annual in most zones.
21. Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Features: This aquatic beauty thrives in pond settings. Its iconic flowers boast ethereal white or pink blooms that can stretch above its dramatic leaves.
Growing Conditions: Full sun; submerged in water.
Size: Flowers rise up to 4-6 feet.
Zones: 4-10.
22. Jasmine Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)
Features: This fragrant plant produces tube-shaped flowers that appear after sunset, giving off a sweet, tropical scent.
Growing Conditions: Full sun or partial shade; moist, nutrient-rich soil.
Size: 3-5 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide.
Zones: 9-11.
23. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
Features: This hardy climbing vine comes with luxurious, lace-like white flowers and glossy green leaves, making it ideal for trellises.
Growing Conditions: Partial shade to full sun; rich, well-draining soil.
Size: 30-50 feet tall as a climbing vine.
Zones: 5-9.
Creating Your Tropical Paradise
With these tropical plants, your garden can be as vibrant and lush as the tropics themselves. Choose combinations that suit your climate zone and available space, and watch as your backyard transforms into a beautiful and productive haven.
