Cold Hardy Tropicals

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

A young needle palm

About Rhapidophyllum Hystrix
Rhapidophyllum hystrix, the needle palm, is generally considered to be the most cold-hardy palm. It is a slow-growing palm with a shrub-like form, and usually does not form a large trunk. It is indigenous to the coastal southeastern United States, from Mississippi to South Carolina.
Hardiness
Conservatively, the needle palm is hardy [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]