Looking to make an impressive display on the deck or patio this season? Tropical plants, while not hardy to our area, offer dramatic, non-stop blooms through the summer. Producing an endless parade of flowers in dazzling colors, here are our must-haves for the Spring and Summer season.
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HIBISCUS
Possibly the most recognizable of the all tropical flowers, the sun-loving hibiscus has come a long way in recent years. With new, colorful introductions that bloom more often and perform better in containers, we carry the latest and greatest so your patio looks beautiful all summer long. Find small window box sizes or grand 10″ pot sizes to make a statement. Check out our collection of Tradewinds Hibiscus, bred for beauty and performance. Available in single and double blooms, we love them for their many flowers all season long. The compact plant habit is perfect for both container and landscape. Look for varieties like ‘Tortuga Wind’, ‘Cayman Wind’, ‘Antiqua Wind’ and more! A steady supply of water is essential to keep flowering hibiscus healthy looking and full of blooms through the summer. Never let the container of a Hibiscus get so dry that wilting of the plant occurs. (Take note rooftop and balcony gardeners) Dry, hot, and windy conditions require more frequent watering.
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MANDEVILLA
Perhaps the most sought-after flowering tropical plant is the mandevilla. The fast-growing climber can adorn fences, trellises, mailbox posts and arbors over the course of the summer months. Producing abundant trumpet-shaped blooms in pink, white, or red, mandevilla is our go-to tropical plant. Often, mandevilla is thought of as a vine, but if you love the blooms and have no place to trellis, you can still enjoy! New varieties offer attractive mounding habits that do not require supports to climb up. These look beautiful in container gardens, window boxes or as hanging baskets.
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BOUGAINVILLEA
Native to coastal Brazil, bougainvillea first made its way to Europe in the early 19th century, and onto the islands and southern parts of America shortly thereafter. Many recognize the beautiful blooms of a bougainvillea as a staple of the Mediterranean and Caribbean coasts, but it’s certainly something that can be enjoyed in your backyard this summer! With heaps of beautiful, bright blooms, bougainvillea can be found in hues of pink, purple, orange and white. Known as vining or trellising plant, our bougainvillea is grown already established on trellises, as a topiary or in hanging baskets. Use in containers planted by themselves or with other bright colored annuals for a splash of color. Bougainvillea are drought-tolerant, but don’t let it get too dry or the flowers will drop. Be sure they are planted in well-draining soil as the root systems do not like to sit in wet soil. Bougainvillea thrive in the sun and prefer 6+ hours of sun per day to maintain their beautiful blooms.
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FOLIAGE TROPICALS
Who says your tropical plants have to have blooms? There are many foliage plants that offer graphic shapes and textures, and even color to make your patio feel like a resort! Here are our favorites. CORDYLINE: Don’t have enough sun for flowering tropicals? No problem! Cordyline fruticosa, also known as the Hawaiian Ti plant, offers incredible color and texture with its unique foliage. As an indoor plant, cordyline prefers bright, indirect light. Outdoors, the hot summer sun can fade the leaves so partial sun is best. With varieties like ‘Kiwi’, ‘Hot Pepper’, ‘Bolero’, ‘Dark Wine’, ‘Red Dragon’, ‘Tropical Red’, and ‘Exotica’, you will want more than one! ALOCASIA : One of our favorites to add drama to any garden! Alocasia, also known as elephant ears, is a summer favorite. The enormous sculptural leaves look beautiful in a container or looming over a bed of flowers. Alocasia prefers partial shade and looks beautiful with other shade annuals like begonias, impatiens and ferns. Look out for our different varieties this year boasting different color and leaf textures – ‘Calidora’, ‘California’, ‘Dark Star’, ‘Regal Shields’ and more! BANANA PLANT: Unfortunately, we don’t live in a climate warm enough to grow bananas but we can enjoy their beautiful leaves for the summer! Banana plants look stunning in a brightly colored container garden, especially when planted with colorful tropicals or blooming annuals. Plant in full sun, water consistently and enjoy!