Popular Tropical Plants for Gardens and Containers

Overview

Tropical plants bring lush, exotic appeal with thick, waxy leaves. Many thrive outside the tropics with proper care. Includes banana, mango, coconut, begonias, passion flowers, hibiscus, and more.

Elephant Ear (Colocasia)

Heart-shaped leaves up to 3×2 feet; plants reach 8 feet in tropics. Easy, but can shade out neighbors. Best in moist, partial shade. Dormant in winter; regrows in warmth.

Alpinia Zerumbet Variegata

Low-growing ginger relative from India, ~6 feet tall with 2-foot leaves. Summer flowers: ivory with red/yellow. Needs well-drained moist soil, 50% shade.

Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea)

South American tree to 25 feet with tomato-like fruit. Prefers cooler, lower elevations. Fertile, well-drained soil. Fruits at ~2 years.

Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

Madagascar native perennial with summer blooms in white, pink, purple. Medicinal properties but risky side effects (hair loss, nausea).

Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)

To 30 feet with palmate purple leaves and spiny seed pods. Seeds contain deadly ricin. Used medicinally but extremely toxic.