Many varieties of trees and shrubs are valuable in a tropicalesque garden for their tropical-looking foliage, flowers, or general habit. Some trees and shrubs are fully hardy, yet add a tropical aura to a landscape. Certain trees and shrubs that have been traditionally grown in warmer areas, such as the southern United States, are hardier than commonly thought, and are worth trying in a colder climate to achieve a tropical look.

Some of these plants may be valuable for their glossy foliage; others for their large, jungle-like leaves. Others may have finely-divided palm-like leaves, tropical-looking flowers, a unique bark texture, or an interesting trunking habit.

Tropical-looking broadleaf evergreens are notable for glossy evergreen foliage that can extend the garden’s tropical look past the prime season of many deciduous plants.

Broadleaf Evergreen Trees and Shrubs

• Camellia (Camellias)
• Gardenia augusta ‘Grif’s Select’ (‘Grif’s Select’ gardenia) : Zone 6-10
• Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia)
• Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape / Holly-leaved barberry) : Zone 5-9
• Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo) : Zone 6-11
• Pieris japonica (Japanese pieris) : Zone 5-8
• Rhododendron (Rhododendrons)
• Rhododendron (Azaleas)

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Edith Bogue’