The 15 most exotic-looking lush tropical garden plants

When I first started garden , I exist in London . I was desperate to get a tropic flavour in my garden , even though ( in those days ) the temperature often fell to -5 ° blow and it would have been well-fixed to create a distinctive English garden .

So , to reach the look , I had to usehardy exotics , as you could see in the picturesof this garden .

When I moved to Sydney , nearly all thegardens were tropicalin style . So , in my perverse mode , all I really wanted to create there , was a European or American - styleperennial garden .

Strelitzia reginae byJohn Ruskis licensed under CC BY 2.0

Now that I am back in the UK , I am hankering after the tropical again . So in this situation , I ’m bringing you some of the most gorgeous tropic plant you’re able to find .

Beware , nearly all of these are fully tender , so they wo n’t survive cold or icing , which means I wo n’t be growing them in my Scots garden . Nevertheless , they are beautiful to behold and , hopefully , an inspiration for those of you with the mood to match the plants .

So , below , I explore 15 of the most exotic - looking lush tropicalgarden plantsthat you could grow ( If you are lucky ) , including care baksheesh and ideas on how to display them effectively .

Strelitzia reginae byJohn Ruskis licensed under CC BY 2.0

1. Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

The bird of paradise is famed for its with child , exotic flowers that resemble a brilliantly color bird in flight . The long , leathery leaves sum a tropical tactile property even when the plant is n’t in heyday , and the flowers , with their vibrant orange and drab petals , make a striking focal item in any garden .

Key facts

Display and companion plants

This plant is idealistic for a tropical bottom or a large container . It bring well with fern , heliconias , and palms , where its spectacular bloom are complement by lush greenery .

2. Elephant ear (Alocasia spp.)

Elephant ear plant life have monumental , eye - mold leaves that provide a bold , tropical look . Their farewell can reach out up to 3 foot in length , and they are available in a range of colouration from green to inscrutable violet or variegated varieties .

Elephant ears add body structure and height to borders . Pair with canna or gingers for a jungle outcome , or imbed alongside ferns and hostas for a lush green video display .

3. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)

Monstera deliciosa , also know as the Swiss cheese industrial plant , is famous for its expectant , glossy , split leaves that develop unique hole as the works matures . Monstera is grown frequently as a houseplant , but it is easy to acquire in frost - free conditions and brings a sheer tropical spirit to outdoor spaces .

Monstera thrives in a sheltered garden smudge , climbing up walls or trellises . Pair with fern or calatheas for a lush , gullible backdrop , or merge with flowering plantslike hibiscusfor a tropic contrast .

4. Canna (Canna indica)

Cannas bring a burst of colour and genuine tropical flair to any garden with their large , banana - like leaves andvibrant flowersin shades of red , orangish , yellow , and pink . They bloom from summer to autumn , allow for calendar month of ocular interest .

They are also hardier than most of the plants listed here . They can be cut back in wintertime and , if they are well mulched and the soil is not waterlogged , they will outlive where temperature are below freezing infrequently . Alternatively , the rhizomes can be lifted and lay in over wintertime ( much likedahlia tubersare lay in ) and replant in when risk of frost is over .

Cannas tote up height to the back of borders . Pair them with other declamatory - exit plant like bananas or colocasias for a hobo camp feel . They also combine well withdahliasor zinnias for a colorful display .

5. Heliconia (Heliconia rostrata)

Known for its dramatic , pendulous flowers that resemble lobster claws , heliconia rostrata is native to the Torrid Zone of central and SoCuth America . Its large , banana - like leaves and bright red and yellow flowering bracts make a striking display .

Heliconias work well as a focal plant in a tropical border . They look stunning paired with banana tree plants , colocasias , or pep for a bold , vibrant garden .

6. Frangipani (Plumeria spp.)

Frangipani is know for its highly fragrant , waxy flowers that bloom in shades of bloodless , lily-livered , pink , and red . Its sculptural branches and succulent green leafage tote up a tropical charm to any garden , particularly in affectionate climate .

It is easy to root frangipani branches for cuttings . You just have to allow the cut close to temper off for a few days after it has been cut . Then plunge the ramification in a green goddess of well - drained compost and lead in a sheltered shoes while the beginning develop .

Frangipani works well as a standalone specimen or in a tropical border . duo with jasmine or gardenias for fragrance , or with architectural plant like agaves for line .

7. Ensete (Ensete ventricosum)

Ensete , often called the Abyssinian banana , is a bluff plant with monumental , boat paddle - form leaves that can reach several foot foresightful . The cultivar ‘ Maurellii ’ has dramatic wine - red-faced leave .

This tropical giant adds a dramatic , lush feel to gardens and is often grown for its ornamental foliage . right grown in a sheltered spot , away from unassailable winds which can rip up the leave of absence .

Ensete looks stunning as a focal point in a tropical border . pair off it with canna , colocasias , or smaller palms to enhance the boldness of its large foliage .

8. Brugmansia (Brugmansia spp.)

Brugmansia , commonly known as angel ’s trumpet , is famous for its large , nodding trumpet - mould flower , which can be white-hot , pink , icteric , or orange . The salad days are highly fragrant , particularly at night , and contribute an ethereal touch to tropic garden .

Brugmansia works well as a feature industrial plant in borders or enceinte containers . Pair with jasmine or plumbago for a fragrant garden corner , or position near ferns andhostas for a lush , shaded garden area .

9. Angel’s wings (Caladium bicolor)

Caladiums are acquire for their philia - shaped leaves , which are often bright coloured in shades of pinkish , red , white , and green . These tropicalplants add colour to shaded gardenareas and are consummate for create a lush , exotic smell .

caladium are perfect for clear up shaded border or container . They couple well with ferns , begonias , or impatiens for a indulgent , tropical display .

10. Shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet)

Shell ginger is known for its farseeing , arch radical of pink and white , racing shell - similar blossom . Its bamboo - same , glossy green foliage bring anarchitectural element to tropical garden . Some smorgasbord also feature variegated leafage with bluff scandalmongering and green stripes .

Shell powdered ginger is a stark pick for tropic borders . Pair it with palms , ginger , or cannas to make layers of foliage and blooms , or use variegated varieties to brighten shaded street corner .

11. Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa)

Cordyline fruticosa is a stunning tropical plant life with long , lance - shaped leave that come in various colours , from deep purpleness to pink , red , and green . Its bold , architectural form makes it a standout feature of speech in garden or container .

Interestingly . Cordyline fruticosa has pregnant ethnic value in many cultures of the Pacific and south - East Asia . It is often implant on grave sites and used in ritual and healing ceremonial . Theplant also serve practical purposes as decorativeelement , ornament , and boundary markers . The ruby and immature cultivars carry different symbolical meanings : reddened varieties are associate with blood , war , and the connections between the living and the dead , while light-green kind present public security and healing .

Cordyline fruticosa works well as a focal plant in tropic borders or container . Its colourful leaf pairs beautifully with fern , thenar , and other broad - leaved tropical plants like bananas or cannas .

tropical plants

12. Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

Moonflower is a tropic vine known for its large , white , fragrant flower that spread at dusk and stay opened through the night . Its heart - shaped leaves and nighttime - blooming habit add an gossamer quality to gardens , making it a must - have for night garden or moonlit space .

Moonflower looks stunning when trained to climb a trellis , fence , or pergola . Pair it with other dark - bloom plants like jasmine , or with colorful vines like genus Bougainvillea for contrast .

13. Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior)

flashlight ginger is get it on for its striking , torch - like blossom psyche , which bloom in shades of ruby-red , pink , or white . Its large , tropical leafage and dramatic blooms make it a showstopper in tropical garden .

Torch ginger works well as a dramatic focal point in tropical borders . Pair it with turgid - leaved plants like colocasias or bananas to enhance its striking flowers , or plant life alongside canna for a bluff , colourful exhibit .

14. Heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum)

Heliconia psittacorum , or parrot ’s bill , is know for its lissom , upright peak in brilliant shades of reddish , orangish , and yellow . Its smaller height compared to other heliconias makes it perfect for tropical moulding or containers .

Heliconia psittacorum add vibrant color and texture to tropic borders . Pair it with fern or smaller laurel wreath for a superimposed effect , or commingle with bromeliads for a striking , colourful display .

15. Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)

Kahili gingeris a arresting tropic plant known for its towering flush spikes , which are invest with fragrant xanthous flowers and big crimson stamens . The bloom seem in belated summertime and autumn , filling the garden with a sweet , exotic fragrance . The large , riotous , fleeceable leaf add to the works ’s tropic feel , and its vertical , clip-clop habit make it an impressive focal point in the garden .

This plant is extremely desirable for its striking flowers , intoxicating fragrance , and the luxuriant , tropic vibe it brings to temperate garden . It ’s comparatively easy to handle for , provided it ’s grown in a sheltered spot with rich , moist grease .

Kahili ginger makes a bold command intropical or jungle - theme gardens . Its tall blossom spike and large leave-taking wreak well as a backdrop in borders or as a feature flora in a sheltered corner . geminate it with other gingers , cannas , or colocasias for a deep , tropical display . For lend redolence , institute it near jasmine or gardenias to enhance its sensory appeal .

Strelitzia reginae - lush tropical garden plants

Strelitzia reginae byJohn Ruskis licensed under CC BY 2.0

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Martin Cole has been an avid works lover and gardener for more than 20 age and jazz to talk and write about gardening . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition . He is a member of the National dahlia Society .

He antecedently lived in London and Sydney , Australia , where he took a sheepskin course in Horticultural cogitation and is now ground in North Berwick in Scotland . He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The website is aimed at everybody who hump plants or has been prick by the gardening bug and wants to know more .

garden footfall by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s large mail order plant retail merchant , as a website that publishes adept horticulture content .

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