Dreaming of creating a tropical oasis in your backyard or on your patio, balcony, or terrace? Adding a variety of colorful plants will bring that exotic vibe to your outdoor space. There are a number of plant species you can use tp turn your exterior space into a vibrant sanctuary full of diverse and amazing beauty.

Scented blossoms, structural forms, bold colors, and large leaves can create an eye-catching landscape that reminds one of a distant island paradise. Although you may not be able to walk on a sparkling white sandy beach every day or listen to the soothing sounds of turquoise ocean, you can bring a piece of that heaven straight to your backyard or patio by growing tall, colorful tropical plants. With the right choices, you can create a gorgeous outdoor garden even in cooler climates.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. A click and/or purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at absolutely no cost to you. Please be sure to read our Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure.

Dreaming of creating a tropical oasis in your backyard or on your patio, balcony, or terrace? Adding a variety of colorful plants will bring that exotic vibe to your outdoor space. There are a number of plant species you can use tp turn your exterior space into a vibrant sanctuary full of diverse and amazing beauty.

Scented blossoms, structural forms, bold colors, and large leaves can create an eye-catching landscape that reminds one of a distant island paradise. Although you may not be able to walk on a sparkling white sandy beach every day or listen to the soothing sounds of turquoise ocean, you can bring a piece of that heaven straight to your backyard or patio by growing tall, colorful tropical plants. With the right choices, you can create a gorgeous outdoor garden even in cooler climates.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. A click and/or purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at absolutely no cost to you. Please be sure to read our Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure.

Which Plants Are Considered Tropical?

Plants typically native to the equatorial regions of our planet are considered tropical. They thrive in warm climates with high humidity levels and receive an abundance of rainfall throughout the year. They often feature large, glossy leaves, blooms that make a statement, and  more dramatic forms. With their eye-catching appearances, they can quickly become a statement piece in any garden.

10 Low-Maintenance Tropical Plants for Outdoor

Choosing which tropical plants to grow in your garden beds or pots outside depends on what you want to achieve, your personal tastes, and of course, your available space. Here are 10 botanical species that are fairly easy to maintain. With the proper care, which includes keeping them in pots so you can bring them inside for winter when necessary, you can enjoy these magnificent additions to your home, even if you live in hardiness zones below 11.

1. Elephant’s Ear

Photo Credit: Longfield gardens

2. Impatiens (Touch-Me-Not)

Photo Credit: Bell Horticultural Co via HGTV

3. Bamboo

Image credit: Cacti Landscapes

When a bamboo cane dies, you can strip the leaves from it and allow it to dry out so you can have sticks, poles and thatching. If you are the creative type, these can be used to make tropical accents which be used in tiki bars, supports for tiki torches, as planter borders and edging, and privacy fencing among others. There really are a lot of creative uses for bamboo!

Even if you don’t live in a warm or tropical climates, you can still grow bamboo. Several varieties do very well in places which have cool weather and can tolerate occasional winter temperatures into the 20’s and even brief spells into the teens. Other varieties are truly cold tolerant including giant cane or river cane (Arundinaria gigantea). In fact, these occur naturally in zones 5 to 9.

NOTE: Again, be aware that many bamboo species are “running” and can be very invasive. They must be controlled especially if you have neighbors right next door. 

6. Canna Lilly

Image credit: Tesselaar

7. Papyrus (Paper Plant)

Image credit: Lowe’s

8. Crocosmia (Coppertips)

Photo credit: The Middle-Sized Garden

9. Tropical Hibiscus

Image credit: Hidden Valley Hibiscus

10. Cordyline (Ti Plant)

Image credit: Sugar Creek Gardens

Where To Buy

Wondering where to purchase gorgeous greenery? Luckily, there’s no shortage of garden centers, nurseries, plant stores, and online shops. If you want to create your own little tropical paradise at home, there are many places you can check out. Here are just a few examples:

• California Tropicals on Etsy
• Cherry Lake Tree Farm
• Tropical Palms of Florida
• Lowe’s
• Aloha Tropicals
• Walmart

How To Choose Which Plants To Grow

When deciding on which tropical plants to add to your garden, think of the following:

• Soil conditions – Make sure your plant will thrive in your soil conditions.
• Sun exposure – Pick plants that will get the right amount of sunlight in your backyard’s conditions.
• Color scheme – For a more colorful tropical garden, imagine the color scape you would like to see and go for that when choosing flowing plants.
• Safety for kids and pets – If you have children or pets, keep them safe by avoiding plants that may be harmful to them. You can check your preferred selections online to make sure they are safe to have around. But to make things a little easier, we recommend that you treat ALL plants as if they are toxic. Even if a plant is harmless, you don’t want pets destroying them and children need to understand that plants are not toys.

How To Incorporate Tropical Flora Into Your Landscape Design

In order to highlight your garden’s features and add lots of interest and colors, consider these ideas:

• Considering adding a pergola if you don’t already have one and you have the space. Decorate it by adding climbing plants or hanging planters
• Get a cool outdoor fountain and plant around it to create a mesmerizing focal point
• Create individual flower bed spaces to create a resort-like feel. If you have a pool, focus on any bedding areas that are closest to it
• Soften patio and hardscape edges with bedding plants and grasses to create visual perfection!

Growing Tips

After you have assessed the conditions in your garden and planted accordingly, it is time to care for them so you can ensure they grow their best.

Here’s a few tips on how to grow them successfully:

Irrigation

Proper watering is one of the most important aspect of plant care. In the beginning, you might need to water a bit more than normal as your plants adjust to their new conditions. After that, follow the instructions provided by the nursery, making sure the soil is moist, but not soggy (unless otherwise specified). If you live in a dry area or one that gets very hot, consider using a misting system. Your plants and your guests will thank you!

Fertilizing

Throughout the growing season which is usually spring through late summer or early fall, fertilize as needed per instructions. You will need to fertilize more often during warmer and wetter weather and less often during the winter. Whenever possible, choose high quality fertilizer which is best suited specifically for your tropicals. Doing a bit of research online is truly worth it when it comes to fertilizers.

Pruning and Trimming

Pruning and trimming are essential parts of plant care. It is vital to remove dead or dying parts so you can help to produce healthy growth. However, to do this properly, certain guidelines should be followed:

• Most plants require pruning in late winter or early spring, prior to new growth and flowering. Some plants require pruning in the fall and winter.
• Clean and sterilize pruning equipment with rubbing alcohol before using to avoid the transfer of any diseases.
• Regularly inspect your plants to check for overall health.
• Prune overgrown areas by 25% to maintain fullness and overall health. Repot plants when they begin to show signs of being rootbound such as thinning growth.
• To create more plants for free (who doesn’t like that!), propagate leafy cuttings when possible. Many cuttings can be place in water to start new roots while others can be planted directly in a small pot to being rooting.

Weed and Disease Control

Whether you have an indoor tropical oasis or an outdoor paradise filled with exotic specimens, plant health must be your priority. Some diseases and pests are hard to detect when they first begin so as mentioned above, regular inspections are a must. Some of the most common pests can seemingly show up out of nowhere and you need to be prepared to fight them off. Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, snails and some caterpillars are very common pests while diseases such as bacterial blight, fungus, and root rot are very common. Carefully research the most effective ways to battle pests and diseases so you can choose the best methods for your personal environments. By regularly inspecting your plants and acting quickly when an issue arises, you can  prevent major problems in the future. Plants can be expensive to replace so give them the attention they need and deserve!

Benefits of Tropical Gardening

The advantages of tropical gardening go beyond the mesmerizing beauty of a lovely garden. Just being around plants offers a lot of health and environmental benefits including:

• Improved air quality
• Absorption of noise
• Natural shade and cooler surroundings
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Lower blood pressure and heart rates
• Boosted positivity and creativity

Final Thoughts

All plants (except for weeds!) are awesome, plain and simple. We just love them and we hope you do too. They really do enhance personal spaces in so many ways, especially when they are happy and doing great. If you are fortunate to live in a warm or even tropical climate, we are envious! There is so much you can do to create exceptionally amazing tropical beauty outside. Here in Houston, the weather is both like San Diego and Miami for most of the year. It is winter here that can be so frustrating. Even when they are mild which for us means to stay above freezing, it takes just one cold snap (or “arctic front” as they call it here) where temps drop into the 20’s or the teens to wipe out all inground tropicals and potted ones that happen to be left outside. So that does make it hard when you want to have big giant tropicals outside.

But don’t let that stop you! No matter where you live, use plants that are native to you area and add in those which are not but which can still thrive to create a lush and full look. Keep your true tropicals portable by planting them in pots and other containers and give them all of the time and attention they need too. Together all of your healthy plant life will come together and help to transport you to your tropical happy place!

For your convenience, here is a list of the products we have recommended in this blog post which can really help to create an amazing and relaxing tropical experience!