Cold Hardy Tropicals

These tropical-looking perennials are excellent for filling in your tropicalesque garden with low-maintenance areas.

Aspidistra elatior (Cast-iron plant) : Zone 6-10
Belamcanda chinensis (Blackberry lily, Leopard flower) : Zone 5-11
Bergenia cordifolia (Heartleaf bergenia) : Zone 3-8
Crocosmia (Montbretia) : Zone 6-10
Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ (Purple Pineapple Lily) : Zone 6-9
Euphorbia epithymoides (Cushion spurge) : Zone 4-8
Helleborus (Hellebores) : Zone [...]

A List of Cold-Hardy Bananas
Bananas can add an instant tropical look to any landscape. They are fast-growing, with huge, tropical-looking leaves. Although the cold-hardy temperate varieties listed below rarely fruit in colder climates, they are valuable for their dramatic foliage.

Musa basjoo has long been considered the hardiest banana. It should be hardy to [...]

A surprising number of palms can survive in cold-winter climates. The most cold-hardy palms are usually found naturally growing in high elevations, or in colder inland areas, less moderated by ocean influences. For example, palms in the genus Trachycarpus are found growing in high alititudes in the Himalayas, and native stands [...]

Most bamboos need quite a bit of water. When actively growing, they should be watered deeply on a weekly basis. Supplemental watering during the winter, when possible, will help prevent defoliation.
Bamboo should not be artificially fertilized during its first year in the ground. After that, there are a variety of methods used. Some [...]

Many bamboos can survive lower temperatures than those at which they are rated if extra care is taken during the winter months. Most importantly, the root system must survive. Mulching around the base can keep the rhizomes from freezing. Since bamboo root systems tend to be shallow, heavy mulching is recommended where prolonged periods of [...]

The Hardiest Variety of Black Bamboo
Phyllostachys nigra, or black bamboo, is a cold-hardy, tropical-looking bamboo, with a striking contrast between its jet black culms and bright green leaves. The effect is most pronounced in a mature grove, with bottom branches trimmed to expose the culms.
There are several varieties of black bamboo, including ‘Bory’, ‘Hale’, [...]

Bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Some of its members are giants, forming by far the largest members of the grass family.
Bamboos are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions. They occur from Northeast Asia (at 50°N latitude [...]

Arundinaria
Genus of small to medium size hardy running bamboos, with numerous branches at each node and persistent culm sheaths. New shoots in spring. Most species have been moved to other genera.

Fargesia
Clumping bamboos from the alpine conifer forests of west and southwest China. Medium to small and all very cold hardy, but not tolerant of extremely [...]

Zone 5-6 Bamboos
Certain species of bamboo can survive temperatures as low as -20°F. Below is a list of cold-hardy bamboos compiled by members of the American Bamboo Society. Although the plants will most likely not be killed by the temperatures listed below, they will often die back and regrow from the ground [...]