Cold Hardy Tropicals » tropical-looking

Cannas, Gingers, and Elephant Ears

admin — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:53:42 +0000

Cannas, gingers, and elephant ears are generally hardy to zones 7-8, and should be treated as annuals in colder climates. They share the common characteristic of having a large underground rhizome or tuber. Their cold hardiness can be increased by topping them with a heavy layer of mulch in the winter. In climates where the ground freezes solid, their tubers can be dug up and stored for the winter. This allows them to be utilized for their tropical effect year after year. As an added bonus, the rhizomes will become bigger each year, creating larger, more robust plants even if dug up and replanted each new season.

Canna ‘Stuttgart’

Tropical-Looking Annuals

admin — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:59:38 +0000

While many annuals share a tropical origin, certain plants are especially useful for giving the tropicalesque garden a certain punch. They can be mixed in as accents with hardier plants. Even using just a few of these annuals along with other cold-hardy tropical looking plants can provide a dramatic effect in the garden. Try using contrasting color combinations of red, lime green, or deep purple to accent masses of green foliage.

Begonia. x hybrida ‘Dragon Wing’
Caladium
Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’
Tradescantia zebrina

Strobilanthes dyerianus (Persian Shield)

Tropical-Looking Shrubs and Other Plants

admin — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:51:17 +0000

These tropical-looking plants don’t quite fit into the other categories – small, tropical-looking deciduous shrubs, hardy citrus, eucalyptus, and yuccas. They work well with evergreen trees and shrubs, and deciduous trees to create a permanent framework for your tropical garden.

Dediduous Shrubs, Yuccas, and More:

Buddleia davidii (Butterfly bush) : Zone 5-10
Hibiscus syriacus (Rose-of-sharon) : Zone 5-9
Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf hydrangea) : Zone 6-10
Spirea x bumalda ‘Goldflame’ (Goldflame spirea) : Zone 4-8
Eucalyptus Neglecta (Omeo Gum) : Zone 7-10
Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange) : Zone 5-9
Yucca ‘Bright edge’ (Bright edge yucca) : Zone 4-10

Yucca ‘Bright Edge’

from Variegated Foliage Nursery

Tropical-Looking Deciduous Trees

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:29:42 +0000

Tropical-looking deciduous trees are valuable because they are typically large and easy to grow, creating a framework around which other tropical-looking plants can be arranged. The tropical effect may come from large, exotic-looking leaves; palm-like, finely-divided leaves; or some other feature, such as interesting flowers, fruit, bark, or branch structure.

Deciduous Trees

Albizia julibrissin (Silk tree / Mimosa tree) : Zone 6-9
Aralia elata (Japanese angelica tree) : Zone 3-8
Asimina triloba (Pawpaw) : Zone 5-9
Catalpa bignonioides (Southern catalpa / Indian bean tree) : Zone 5-9
Cladrastis lutea (Yellowood) : Zone 4-8
Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin tree) : Zone 6-9
Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust) : Zone 4-9
Juglans nigra (Black walnut) : Zone 4-9
Kalopanax pictus (Castor aralia) : Zone 4-8
Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ (Golden chain tree / Golden rain tree) : Zone 6-8
Lagerstroemia indica (Crape myrtle) : Zone 6-10
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree / Tulip poplar / Yellow poplar) : Zone 5-9
Magnolia macrophylla (Bigleaf magnolia) : Zone 5-9
Paulownia tomentosa (Royal paulownia / Empress tree) : Zone 5-9
Quercus fusiformis (Escarpment live oak / Scrub live oak) : Zone 6-10
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) : Zone 4-9

Common Laburnum

Tropical-Looking Broadleaf Evergreen Trees and Shrubs

admin — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:32:54 +0000

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’

Tropical-Looking Grasses

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:10:01 +0000

A dramatic, tropical-looking grass can make a great accent or mass planting in your garden.

Arundo donax (Giant reed) : Zone 6-10
Arundo donax ‘Variegata’ (Variegated giant reed) : Zone 6-10
Carex muskingumensis (Palm sedge) : Zone 4-9
Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern sea oats) : Zone 4-8
Erianthus ravennae (Plume grass, Hardy pampas grass) : 5-9
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Japanese forest grass) : Zone 4-9
Liriope spicata, Liriope muscari (Lilyturf) : Zone 4-10
Miscanthus giganteus (Giant silver grass) : Zone 5-9
Miscanthus sinensis (Silver grass / Maiden grass) : Zone 5-9
Ophiopogon japonicus (Mondo grass) : Zone 6-10
Pennisetum alopecuroides (Fountain grass) : Zone 5-9
Saccharum arundinaceum (Hardy sugar cane) : Zone 6-10

Tropical-Looking Vines

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:53:07 +0000

Adding a backdrop of climbing vines will give your garden a lush, tropical rainforest look.

Actinidia kolomikta ‘Arctic Beauty’ (Hardy kiwi vine) : Zone 4-8
Akebia quinata (Chocolate vine) : Zone 4-9
Aristolochia macrophylla (Dutchman’s pipe) : Zone 4-8
Bignonia capreolata : Zone 6-9
Campsis radicans (Trumpet creeper) : Zone 5-9
Clematis x hybrida (Clematis): Zone 4-8
Humulus lupulus ‘Aurea’ (Golden hops) : Zone 4-8
Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing hydrangea) : Zone 5-7
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle / Trumpet honeysuckle) : Zone 4-9
Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower / Maypop) : Zone 6-9
Wisteria spp. (Wisteria): Zone 5-9

Tropical-Looking Ferns

admin — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:46:32 +0000

Cold-hardy ferns, especially the larger varieties, can add a tropical look to your garden.

Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair fern) : Zone 2-8
Athyrium filix-femina (Lady fern) : Zone 2-9
Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) : Zone 5-8
Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Hayscented fern) : Zone 3-8
Dryopteris filix-mas (Male fern) : Zone 4-8
Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich fern) : Zone 2-6
Osmunda regalis (Royal fern) : Zone 2-10

Tropical-Looking Groundcovers & Flowering Perennials

admin — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 06:50:39 +0000

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 4-9
Hemerocallis (Daylily) : Zone 3-9
Hibiscus moscheutos (Rose mallow) : Zone 5-9
Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ (Chameleon plant) : Zone 3-9
Iris ensata (Japanese iris) : Zone 4-10
Iris pseudacorus (Yellow flag iris) : Zone 5-8
Ligularia stenocephala (Ligularia): Zone 5-8
Lilium x hybridum (Lily) : Zone 4-8
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower) : Zone 2-9
Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ (Red Dragon Persicaria) : Zone 5-9
Petasites japonicus ‘Giganteus’ (Japanese Butterbur) : Zone 5-9
Rodgersia aesculifolia (Rodgersia) : Zone 3-9
Sedum ‘Matrona’ (Matrona sedum) : Zone 4-9

Photo courtesy Tom Murphy VII