Tropical plants are a great way to make a big statement. Their large leaves and bright colors create lush plantings that will make your porch or patio feel like a tropical getaway.

In addition, tropical plants are well-adapted to hot conditions, making them an excellent investment for a gorgeous summer display. Tropical plants can really vary in price. They will usually cost considerably more than other annuals (cost increases with size). However, splurging on even one plant is worth it for the visual impact its large lush foliage creates.

Keep in mind that many tropical plants will require a large container, and plan accordingly.

Tropical Plants: Bananas

Most Banana plants are not hardy in my Zone 6 climate. They are considered ornamental since they will not produce fruit. So, I grow them as annuals and love them for their large showy leaves. Many Banana plants have perfectly nice green leaves. However, there are also a handful of varieties that show gorgeous variegation in reddish-purple tones. These are my favorite and they are perfect for adding a tropical flair to your porch or patio. Especially when combined with other red and purple annuals! Be sure not to overwater Banana plants as they are subject to rot and won’t tolerate soggy roots for long. I have never tried to overwinter a Banana plant indoors, but think this is possible with a lot of light and a little water.

Cannas

While Cannas have shockingly bright blooms, I like them even better for their foliage. Their large waxy leaves range from dark purple to bright green and include a number of wildly variegated varieties. They add instant verticality to any container and are pretty tough overall. Of course they prefer consistent moisture and will flower more if fertilized regularly, but they can also stand up to occasional neglect. Remove spent blooms and the occasional ugly leaf to tidy up appearance. Cannas are gorgeous alone in a large pot or when combined with other annuals. They can also be sunk just below the surface of a pond or water feature in a container and used as a water plant. To reuse Cannas from year to year in colder climates, bring them inside and overwinter as houseplants, or you can let the foliage die back and store the tubers in slightly moist soil.

Elephant Ears

Most of the plants lumped under the common name of Elephant Ear are from the genus Colocasia or Alocasia. Grown for their large waxy leaves, Elephant Ears come in a wide variety of leaf shapes, colors, and sizes. I like to use a larger variety and underplant them with other annuals like Coleus or Impatiens.

They can be used in sun or shade and, besides regular watering, are pretty low maintenance. Like Cannas, they can also be used as a water plant by sinking their container into a pond or other water feature. In Zone 6, I have seen Elephant Ears come back year after year when planted in the ground. But, for container grown plants, I let the foliage die back in fall. Then I dig up and store the bulbs in a cool, dark, and dry place over winter. If you live in Zone 7 or higher, it should be safe to overwinter them outdoors as long as they stay fairly dry while dormant.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus come in shrub or standard form (e.g. tree form, often with braided stems). Their large trumpet-shaped blooms come in a wide variety of colors and dapple the shiny green foliage throughout the summer months. Bloom production will slow if the soil is allowed to dry out, so regular watering is important. Bloom production can be increased by feeding regularly with a balanced fertilizer. I like to use water-soluble fertilizers because they can be applied to the foliage as well the soil.

Japanese beetles are the only insect pest I’ve had a problem with on Hibiscus, but they are easily hand-picked off, their destructive chewing put to an end with a dunk into a bucket of soapy water. I prefer not to spray insecticides on Hibiscus (or any flower for that matter) since bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are quite fond of the blooms and may be unintentionally affected by the chemical ingredients. Hibiscus can be overwintered indoors, but some of their leaves will yellow and many will drop off.

Tropical Plant Palms

Palms are perfect for adding height to containers without fuss. There are many varieties of Palms, but some that I have tried and liked include Areca, Sago (actually a Cycad, not a palm), Chinese Fan, Roebellini, Ponytail, Kentia, and Foxtail. Palms make up for their unimaginative colors (shades of green) by bringing lots of texture to containers. Their fronds can be feathery, fan shaped, palmate, etc. and vary widely in size, just make sure to purchase one that will fit your space. They are generally very easy to grow and can withstand occasional neglect. Palms are great houseplants and can easily be overwintered indoors (well, “easy” as long as you have room for them and the muscle to move them inside).

Honorable Mentions: Bougainvillea, Ginger, Mandevilla