11 Tropical-Looking Plants That Grow in Cold Climates
Love the look of lush tropical plants but live in a climate where it snows? Turns out, many plants can lend a tropical look to your garden in the summertime! In this article, gardening expert Christina Conner shares some of her top picks for tropical-looking plants that grow in cold climates.
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Who doesn’t love tropical foliage and flowers? Big leaves, colorful flowers, lush fronds – all exude tropical vibes. For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to live in the tropics, these tropical-looking plants can fill the void.
The rhizomes of tender perennials like cannas and calla lilies can be dug up for winter, but I didn’t include these plants in the list. I like to make things easy for myself, and adding another task to my fall to-do does not sound appealing. The plants on this list are true-blue hardy perennial, tropical-looking plants.
Though they may not be evergreen like they are in the tropics, come summertime, these plants will turn your backyard into a lush oasis.
Rose of Sharon
botanical name Hibiscus syriacus | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 8-12 feet | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
Is there a more tropical symbol than the hibiscus? Native to South China and Taiwan, rose of Sharon is also known as the common hibiscus. It’s very forgiving, low maintenance, adaptable to acidic or alkaline soils, and resistant to deer and even salt. Hibiscus syriacus thrives in heat. The only thing this plant doesn’t like is overly dry or wet soil. In the case of the latter, swamp rose mallow Hibiscus moscheutos is your better bet.
Attractive to hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, rose of Sharon is a great pollinator plant. The only thing better than this plant’s ease of care is its beautiful flowers. Blue, white, pink, purple, red, and in single, double, or semi-double blooms, there is something for every color palette. Check with your local extension office to see if rose of Sharon is invasive in your region before planting.
Maypop
botanical name Passiflora incarnata | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 6-25 feet | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
These funky flowers grow on vines in the most surprising places in the southeastern U.S. Summertime walks in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park occasionally reward me with a glimpse of these topsy-turvey flowers. In a family of over 750 species, Passiflora incarnata is the hardiest of passionflowers, though it is a tender perennial in zone five, so protect it with mulch or shelter near a wall. In colder climates, it dies back in winter and comes back in summer.
Their showy purple flowers climb fences, trellis, and walls via tendrils, but they can also grow into a bush form. They tend to climb other plants, so watch out for a hostile takeover. Their intricate flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Maypop is a larval host plant for several butterflies, including the gulf and variegated fritillary and zebra longwing.
Pawpaw Tree
botanical name Asimina triloba | |
sun requirements Full sun to full shade | |
height 15-30 feet | |
hardiness zones 5-9 |
While native regions from Michigan to as far south as Florida, the pawpaw lends a tropical look. A deciduous small tree with large, green leaves, this tree also produces delicious tropical-tasting fruits. In spring, the plant blooms with interesting reddish-brown flowers before fruiting in late summer/early fall.
Pawpaw trees are hardy to -20°F (-29°C) and do best in regions with humid, hot summers, like much of the East Coast or Pacific Northwest. They prefer well-draining and moist soils but also do well in wet soils. Pawpaw is unique in that it lives in both full sun and full shade, though there are some caveats. Ideally, they need to be in partial shade in their youth and full sun as adults to produce the most fruit.
Hardy Fig Tree ‘Chicago Hardy’
botanical name Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 10-15 feet | |
hardiness zones 6-10 |
As you might guess from the name, this fig tree is hardy down to zone five, which makes it the hardiest of figs. For reference, the city of Chicago is in zone six A. Though hardy to that zone, some garden experts recommend treating it as a tender perennial in zones six through seven. In climates where wintertime temperatures drop lower than -10°F (-23°C), protect it with a thick layer of mulch during dormancy. While this tree can grow to 15 feet tall, it only grows to three or four feet tall if it dies back in colder climates.
‘Chicago Hardy’ has large leathery leaves and produces medium figs in late summer and early fall. Though tolerant of partial sun, like many other fruit-bearing trees, more sun produces more fruit. ‘Chicago Hardy’ is also known as ‘Bensonhurst Purple.’ Other somewhat cold-hardy figs include ‘Violette de Bordeaux,’ hardy to zone seven, and ‘Brown Turkey,’ also hardy to zone six.
Hairy Toad Lily
botanical name Tricyrtis hirta | |
sun requirements Partial to full shade | |
height 2-3 feet | |
hardiness zones 4-8 |
Known as the hairy toad lily for its all-over hairs, this plant blooms in full shade with delicate, orchid-like spotted flowers. The straight species is purple, but some cultivars are variegated or bloom in other colors, ranging from spotted white to pink to other purple hues. Their alternating leaves look similar to ginger leaves, and they typically grow between two and three feet tall. In colder climates, they’re tolerant of more sun but generally prefer shade.
Another common species of toad lily is T. formosana. Some say it’s hardy to zone four, while other literature suggests this plant is only hardy to zone six. Extended temperatures below 28°F (-2°C) will cause severe damage to T. formosana, so protect it in colder climates. That said, many cultivars are hybrids of the two species, such as ‘Tojen’ and ‘Sinonome,’ both hardy to zone five. Toad lily flowers also make great cut flowers for arrangements or to stand out on their own.
Japanese Painted Fern
botanical name Athyrium niponicum var. pictum | |
sun requirements Partial to full shade | |
height 1-1.5 feet | |
hardiness zones 4-9 |
Japanese-painted ferns in the shadows of the garden are sure to lend a tropical look. When planted alongside big-leaved plants like hostas, Astilboides tabularis, or Farfugium japonicum, the delicate silver-frosted fronds of the painted fern add a pop of contrast. These deciduous ferns are hardy to zone four and even zone three if a thick layer of mulch or frost cloth protects their roots.
Another wonderful thing about these ferns is their ease of care. They don’t need much fertilization or any if the soil is rich in organic matter. My favorite tropical-esque Japanese painted fern is the ‘Godzilla’ cultivar, which has a five to six-foot spread, though only cold-hardy to zone five. ‘Crested surf’ is the most cold-hardy of painted ferns, and it’s hardy to zone three.
Hardy Fuchsia
botanical name Fuchsia magellanica | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 2-10 feet | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
I couldn’t contain my excitement when I learned my favorite tropical fuchsia has a cold-hardy variety! Native to the Chilean Strait of Magellan, this plant is cold hardy to zone five if its roots are protected over winter. Like other fuchsias, plant hardy fuchsia in partial to full shade.
Plant hardy fuchsia in containers or in the ground. Eventually, hardy fuchsias grow into small, arching shrubs, or you can train them into a topiary. Their red flowers aren’t quite as big and showy as the tropical varieties sold as annuals, but they’re just as beautiful. A magnet for pollinators like hummingbirds and bees, this plant will have your garden abuzz in summer.
Hardy Banana
botanical name Musa basjoo | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 6-14 feet | |
hardiness zones 5-10 |
Also known as Japanese banana, this plant originates from the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan. This is perhaps the most tropical-looking of them all, with huge, six-foot long and two-foot wide leaves. Sadly, this banana plant is ornamental only, though it does produce small inedible fruits in summer after flowering. It produces creamy white flowers in summer before fruiting, but the main star of the show is its beautiful, lush foliage.
The hardiest banana species, its rhizomes are hardy to -10°F (-23°C). Musa bajoo dies back in winter once the temperature drops to freezing in USDA zones five through eight. When the leaves die back, the best way to protect the plant is to cut the stem to two feet high. Then, wrap the remaining stems with leftover bubble wrap or plastic wrap and apply a thick layer of mulch to the base for root protection. This banana tree is a beautiful tropical focal point in a sunny or partially shady spot.
Shieldleaf Roger’s Flower
botanical name Astilboides tabularis | |
sun requirements Partial to full shade | |
height 3-4 feet | |
hardiness zones 5-7 |
Sometimes known simply by its genus, Astilboides has leaves just as spectacular as its flowers. The leaves of this plant reach two to three feet in diameter and remind me of huge lily pads. A midsummer bloomer, their flower spikes are draping white plumes that resemble those of its namesake, Astilbe.
The ideal location for shieldleaf Roger’s flower is a shady location with rich, moist soil and protection from harsh wind. This plant is big and bold, perfect for a shade garden. In my opinion, any plant with big foliage adds a tropical touch.
Needle Palm Tree
botanical name Rhapidophyllum hystrix | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 3-6 feet | |
hardiness zones 6b-10 |
This list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of a palm. The hardiest of palms, the needle palm tree is native to the coastal floodplains and wetlands of the southeastern US. This tree isn’t so much a tree as it is a shrub. They grow up to six feet tall and between four to eight feet wide and have fan-shaped leaves with a diameter of over two feet.
They’re hardy to temperatures as low as 0°F (-18°C), but heavily mulching the base of the plant is a good idea for additional protection. Be aware, though – this palm didn’t get the name “needle palm” without reason! Their sharp spines make them deer-resistant but pose a danger to children, pets, or anyone trying to move this plant. It’s best to permanently plant this palm in an area where it can establish. Only growing to a maximum height of six feet, this is a great option for foundation plantings far away from where kids or pets play.
Grass Pink
botanical name Calopogon tuberosus var. tuberosus | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 2-4 feet | |
hardiness zones 3-9 |
The grass pink is a hardy ground orchid native to the eastern U.S. and Canada. With grass-like leaves, the grass pink blooms with delicate pink flowers in midsummer. They’re attractive to bees, though the pollination process is deceptive, to say the least.
Unlike the orchids we keep as houseplants which are epiphytic, the grass pink is terrestrial, meaning it grows in the soil. Also known as the swamp pink, this plant prefers moist soils and boggy conditions. Unlike many orchids, the grass pink prefers full sun. When it comes to sourcing these beautiful plants, only buy them from reputable orchid growers, as this plant is endangered due to habitat destruction and unethical collection.
Final Thoughts
If you aren’t lucky enough to live in the tropics but love the look of tropical plants, there is still hope! Whether you love the tropical look of bold foliage or intricate flowers, there is a tropical-looking plant for every garden, even those in the shade. For a tropical pop this summer, try adding some annuals into the mix or interspersing your garden with tropical houseplants (LINK houseplants to move out for summer).