Here’s a quick look at adding tropical flair to your garden:
- Discover how non-hardy tropicals and hardy plants with a tropical look can transform your summer garden.
- Learn about favorite plants like Colocasia, Brugmansia, Cannas, and Perennial Hibiscus.
- Get tips on overwintering tropical plants in colder climates (outside their hardiness zone).
- Find inspiration to add bold foliage and vibrant flowers for a dramatic summer display.
Gardens are truly personal spaces, reflections of our tastes and passions. And if you’re anything like me, you have a soft spot for the “extras” of the plant world – those dramatic, eye-catching specimens that make you stop and stare. I love weaving tropical plants into my garden beds and containers, even here in a cooler climate. There’s something undeniably thrilling about a splash of lush, oversized foliage or an exotic bloom that feels a little unexpected. These bold elements don’t just stand out; they make the softer, more familiar plants in your garden look even better by contrast. While too much drama can be overwhelming, strategically placed tropical plants offer that perfect touch of intrigue and satisfy the craving for a bit of paradise right outside your door, proving you don’t need to live in the tropics to enjoy their beauty during the summer months.
My fascination with tropical plants really bloomed after reading about Christopher Lloyd and his incredible garden at Great Dixter. Seeing how he incorporated bold, exotic plants into a classic English garden setting was a revelation. His garden is much warmer than mine (Zone 8 vs. my cooler zone), allowing many tropicals to stay in the ground year-round. While I don’t have that luxury, I’ve learned there are absolutely ways to bring that tropical feeling to a cold-climate summer garden. It might require a little extra effort, especially when the seasons change, but the vibrant impact these plants bring is absolutely worth it for the thrill they provide all summer long. By selecting the right species and understanding how to care for them, especially regarding overwintering, you can successfully grow stunning tropical perennials for summer display, even if they aren’t perennial in the ground where you are.
Incorporating tropical plants is about creating moments of awe in your garden. Placing a giant elephant ear leaf next to a patch of coneflowers or letting a banana plant tower over typical Midwestern garden inhabitants creates a delightful surprise. Visitors often react with amazement, and it’s fun to share the story of these plants that seem to defy their climate. While they might require a bit more attention, especially when it comes to watering and feeding – they are “big drinkers and eaters,” after all! – giving them what they need results in incredibly rewarding growth and a truly spectacular summer show.
Let’s explore some of my favorite tropical and tropical-looking plants that deliver fantastic summer drama.
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Why Go Tropical? Adding Drama and Interest
Tropical plants, or those with a strong tropical aesthetic, bring unmatched drama to the garden. Their large leaves, vibrant colors, and exotic flower shapes create a striking contrast with more temperate garden plants. They add texture and structure, drawing the eye and making the landscape feel more dynamic and exciting. They are perfect for creating focal points, filling large spaces, or adding a touch of the unexpected to borders and containers.
Our Favorite Tropical & Tropical-Look Plants for Summer
Many plants offer that sought-after tropical look for your summer garden. Some are true tropicals requiring overwintering, while others are hardy perennials with a naturally bold, exotic appearance. Here are some tried-and-true favorites:
Colocasia (Elephant Ears)
A true staple for that lush, jungle feel. Colocasia brings incredible foliage size and shape to the garden, instantly transporting you to a warmer climate. Cultivars like ‘Coffee Cups’ have leaves that uniquely hold and then dump water, while others like ‘Heart of the Jungle’ offer gigantic, deep green impact.
- Scientific Name: Colocasia esculenta
- Common Name: Elephant Ear, Taro
- Zone: 8-11 (typically grown as annual or dug/stored in colder zones)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade (prefers some shade in hottest climates)
- Water: High (loves consistently moist to wet soil)
- Humidity: Prefers high, but adapts well in garden settings
I love planting ‘Coffee Cups’ Colocasia in containers where their unique “pouring” action can be easily observed. ‘Heart of the Jungle’ colocasias quickly grow from small starts to massive specimens in just one summer, making them a must-have for bold statements. The huge leaves create a fantastic juxtaposition with plants that have finer foliage or delicate flowers, adding layers of texture and interest.
Large, dark green Heart of the Jungle elephant ear (Colocasia) leaves frame a garden gate, creating a dramatic tropical entrance.
Pairing dark-leaved Colocasia with contrasting plants, like a ‘Stained Glass’ Hosta (another big-leaved beauty, though hardy), can really make the colors pop and enhance the tropical feel.
Up-close view of 'Coffee Cups' Colocasia leaves in a container, showing their unique shape that collects and pours water like a cup.
Brugmansia (Angel’s Trumpet)
These stunning plants offer not just dramatic, hanging trumpet-shaped flowers but also a heavenly evening fragrance. Growing into large, elegant, vase-shaped shrubs or small trees, they make a spectacular statement.
- Scientific Name: Brugmansia spp.
- Common Name: Angel’s Trumpet
- Zone: 9-11 (must be overwintered indoors in colder zones)
- Light: Full sun
- Water: High (especially in containers)
- Humidity: Prefers high, but adapts
Important Note: All parts of the Brugmansia plant are poisonous. Exercise caution if you have young children or pets.
I grew a Brugmansia from a small plant into an eight-foot-tall beauty in just one summer! I’ve grown it both in a pot on the patio and sunk the potted plant into the ground. While sinking it might offer slightly more moisture retention, I prefer the look of the tree in a decorative pot on the patio, where I can sit beneath the canopy of fragrant blooms in the evening. Regular feeding with a liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion and consistent watering are key to keeping them happy and flowering continuously until frost. Overwintering involves bringing them indoors to a dormant state in a cool, dark place like a basement after the first frost.
A large Brugmansia or Angel's Trumpet plant growing in a pot, displaying its elegant vase shape and fragrant, hanging trumpet flowers.
Perennial Hibiscus
While not a true tropical, Perennial Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos and its hybrids) boasts enormous, dinner-plate-sized flowers and often dark, attractive foliage that screams “tropical look.” These are fantastic tropical perennials for summer color in colder climates because they are genuinely hardy.
- Scientific Name: Hibiscus moscheutos and hybrids
- Common Name: Swamp Rose Mallow, Hardy Hibiscus
- Zone: 4-9 (hardy perennial)
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate to High (prefers moist conditions)
- Humidity: Adaptable
After losing a ‘Summer Storm’ Perennial Hibiscus, I replaced it with ‘Perfect Storm,’ a slightly more compact variety with similar dark foliage and striking flowers. They are late to emerge in the spring, often making you wonder if they survived the winter. A key tip is to leave the old stalks standing over winter to mark their location and resist the urge to dig them up too early. Once they get going, they grow quickly and put on a spectacular show of massive blooms throughout the summer. They can get quite large, so choosing cultivars with a more manageable size is helpful for smaller garden beds.
Striking dark foliage and large pink flowers of a Perennial Hibiscus cultivar add a tropical flair to the garden border.
Canna Lily
Cannas are classic tropical garden plants, beloved for their bold foliage (often striped or bronzy) and fiery, vibrant flowers. They are fantastic for adding vertical interest and attracting pollinators.
- Scientific Name: Canna spp. and hybrids
- Common Name: Canna Lily
- Zone: 7-10 (tubers dug and stored in colder zones)
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate to High
- Humidity: Prefers high, but adapts
‘Pretoria,’ also known as ‘Bengal Tiger,’ is a favorite with its striking orange flowers and dramatically striped leaves. Hummingbirds absolutely adore Canna blooms, providing an extra layer of garden entertainment. I like pairing the bold leaves and bright colors of Cannas with plants that have a softer, more ethereal look, like Calamintha nepeta, creating a dynamic and long-lasting combination that works year after year. Like dahlias, canna rhizomes need to be dug up and stored indoors in a cool, dry place before the first hard frost in colder climates.
Coleus
While known more for its stunning foliage color than leaf size, Coleus is a true rockstar for adding vibrant, tropical color and texture to shady or partly sunny spots.
- Scientific Name: Plectranthus scutellarioides (formerly Solenostemon scutellarioides)
- Common Name: Coleus
- Zone: 10-11 (grown as annual or overwintered indoors)
- Light: Varies greatly by cultivar (shade to full sun)
- Water: Moderate to High (dislikes drying out)
- Humidity: Adaptable
The range of colors, patterns, and leaf shapes in Coleus is astounding. A few small plants purchased in the spring can grow into large, bushy specimens by the end of summer with just a little care. Regular pinching of the growing tips encourages them to branch out and become dense and full. While you can overwinter cuttings indoors, buying new plants each year allows for experimentation with new and exciting varieties. Coleus adds a pop of tropical-inspired color even without the large leaves typically associated with tropicals.
Colorful Vino Coleus plants provide lush underplanting beneath a Hydrangea tree, showcasing the texture and color variety of coleus.
Datura
Similar in flower shape to Brugmansia, but with upward-facing blooms and a more sprawling, shrub-like habit, Datura is another dramatic addition. It’s incredibly easy to grow, even from seed.
- Scientific Name: Datura spp.
- Common Name: Devil’s Trumpet, Thorn Apple
- Zone: Annual in most climates (perennial in zones 9-11)
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate
- Humidity: Adaptable
Important Note: Like Brugmansia, all parts of the Datura plant are poisonous. Exercise caution.
Datura’s trumpet-shaped flowers are beautiful and often fragrant, particularly in the evening. They grow quickly from seed and can cover a significant amount of ground, making them useful for filling new beds or suppressing weeds. Cultivars like ‘Ballerina Yellow’ add vibrant color. An added bonus? Rabbits tend to leave them alone. After the first frost, these plants are typically finished for the season in cold climates, but their ease of growth means they can be easily replanted each year.
A large, shrub-like Datura plant with upward-facing trumpet flowers, offering dramatic foliage and evening fragrance.
Dahlias
If you’re seeking huge, jaw-dropping flowers that demand attention, look no further than Dahlias. These are definitely part of my personal “tropical plant club” because of their incredible blooms, even though they aren’t true tropicals botanically.
- Scientific Name: Dahlia spp. and hybrids
- Common Name: Dahlia
- Zone: 8-10 (tubers dug and stored in colder zones)
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate (prefers consistent moisture)
- Humidity: Adaptable
Dahlias produce some of the most spectacular flowers in the garden, with incredible size and intricate forms. ‘Cafe au Lait Royale’ is a perfect example of a dahlia that provides that extra “wow” factor. While many of the large, dramatic dahlias aren’t particularly attractive to pollinators, you can easily plant single-flowered varieties nearby to support bees and other beneficial insects. Like cannas, dahlia tubers are not hardy in colder climates and must be dug up after the first frost and stored indoors over winter. I learned this the hard way one year! Proper storage in a cool, dry place is key to successfully keeping them perennial by ensuring they return year after year.
Stunning, extra-large Cafe au Lait Royale Dahlia flowers display their dramatic size and beauty, adding bold impact to the garden.
Hosta
While a common and hardy perennial in many regions, Hostas, particularly large-leaved varieties, contribute significantly to a tropical aesthetic with their lush, bold foliage.
- Scientific Name: Hosta spp.
- Common Name: Hosta, Plantain Lily
- Zone: 3-9 (hardy perennial)
(See first Colocasia image for an example of Hosta foliage) - Light: Shade to partial shade (varies by cultivar)
- Water: Moderate
- Humidity: Adaptable
Hostas are workhorses in the shade garden, offering incredible variety in leaf size, shape, color, and texture. Cultivars like ‘Empress Wu,’ ‘Sum and Substance,’ and ‘Diamond Lake’ boast truly massive leaves that provide that desirable tropical feel, acting as fantastic low-care tropical perennials for summer shade gardens. Their large leaves pair beautifully with finer-textured plants or contrasting colors. They are easy to grow and multiply over time, allowing you to divide them in the spring to add that lush foliage look to more areas of your garden.
Making Tropicals Thrive in Colder Climates
Growing tropical plants (that aren’t hardy perennials) in colder climates primarily revolves around overwintering. For plants like Colocasia, Cannas, Dahlias, Brugmansia, Musa (banana), and Datura (if you wish to save them), this means digging up tubers, rhizomes, or bringing potted plants indoors before the first hard frost.
- Tubers/Rhizomes (Colocasia, Canna, Dahlia): Gently dig them up after the foliage is hit by a light frost. Brush off excess soil, allow them to dry for a day or two, and store them in a cool (around 40-50°F or 4-10°C), dark, dry place like a basement or garage that stays above freezing. Store in peat moss, vermiculite, or sawdust in boxes or paper bags.
- Potted Plants (Brugmansia, large Coleus, Datura): Trim back foliage significantly. Check thoroughly for pests. Bring the entire pot indoors to a cool, bright (or dormant state in a dark) location depending on the plant’s needs. Reduce watering drastically – just enough to prevent the roots from completely drying out.
During the summer, remember that many of these big, bold plants require consistent watering and regular feeding to fuel their impressive growth. Site selection is also important; most of these thrive in full sun (unless noted otherwise) and benefit from rich, well-draining soil.
Embrace the Exotic in Your Summer Garden
Adding tropical plants and tropical perennials for summer interest is a sure way to bring excitement, drama, and a touch of the exotic to your outdoor space. Whether you’re incorporating true tropicals that you’ll overwinter or hardy perennials with a lush, bold look, these plants offer incredible rewards for minimal extra effort. They break up monotony, create focal points, and invite conversation and admiration. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different textures, colors, and sizes to create your own personal oasis.
What are your favorite tropical or tropical-looking plants that you can’t live without in your summer garden? Share your experiences and discoveries in the comments below! And if you’re curious about specific overwintering techniques for plants like Brugmansia or Musa basjoo, keep exploring our site for more tips and guides.
