Cold Hardy Tropicals

A Tough, Ornamental Evergreen

Mahonia aquifolium is a glossy evergreen shrub native to the Pacific Northwest. It features pinnate leaves on long, irregular stems. The individual leaves are leathery, spiny, and resemble holly. The shrub is somewhat coarse in habit, but is still an interesting and ornamental addition to a cold hardy tropical garden. It will [...]

Akebia quinata is a twining woody vine and a vigorous climber. Its dense green foliage is divided into groups of five leaves. Its flowers, which appear in spring, are small and can be obscured by the foliage. They are chocolate-scented, hence the common name. The flowers of the species are purple, but can vary by [...]

About Sasa Palmata

Sasa palmata is one of the largest-leaved bamboos of genus Sasa. Its common name is the palm-leaved bamboo, and it is widely grown for its tropical effect, with vibrant green, palm-like leaves that can grow up to 15 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. It is potentially a very invasive runner, so it [...]

About Musella Lasiocarpa
Musella lasiocarpa is a great plant for a tropical effect in cooler climate zones. It is not a true banana, but a banana relative, and has a smaller, shrub-like form. It can produce a large, lotus-shaped, waxy yellow flower that will remain in bloom for six months.
The Chinese yellow banana is endemic to [...]

‘Tropicana’, a.k.a. Canna ‘Phaison’, is by far one of the most exotic-looking cannas. Each leaf of Canna ‘Tropicana’ is a combination of dramatic colors which seem to glow in the sun. New foliage emerges in rich burgundy tones, and stripes of red, pink, yellow and green fan out from the vivid central vein as it [...]

A bamboo-like shrub with striking foliage
About Nandina Domestica
Nandina domestica, or heavenly bamboo, is completely unrelated to bamboo. Its name comes from its fine, bamboo-like foliage and its cane-like stems. It is an evergreen to deciduous shrub that will grow to 5 feet tall , 3 feet wide, at a moderate rate. Some sources list Nandina [...]

About Camelias
Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees with attractive glossy foliage. They originate from subtropical regions of China, Japan and neighboring countries. They are known for their dramatic blooms during the off-season – autumn, winter, or early spring, depending on the cultivar and climate.
Typically, camellias have been grown only in the southern United States, [...]

About Musa Basjoo
Musa basjoo is generally considered the most cold-hardy banana.
While it does grow in Japan, the Japanese fiber banana is native to the Ryukyu Archipelago, which lies between Japan and Taiwan. It is also very common in parts of China.
Its large, tropical foliage and fast growth rate make it ideal for a dramatic feature [...]

One of the Hardiest Trunked Palms
About Trachycarpus Fortunei
Windmill palms (a.k.a. Chusan Palms) are native to a large region of southeastern Asia, ranging from India to China, and are found in mountainous elevations above 6,500 feet. They can face extended periods of below-freezing weather as well as heavy snow in their native habitats.
All members of the [...]

The Hardiest Sabal Palm
About Sabal Minor
Sabal minor, the dwarf palmetto, is native to the United States, and is considered to be almost as hardy as the needle palm. It grows naturally in the southeastern United States, and its natural habitat extends west to Texas and Oklahoma. Sabal Minor will eventually form a clump about 5-6 [...]