Dreaming of a lush, tropical garden but living in a cooler climate? Don’t worry you don’t have to give up on those bold, exotic plants you love. There are plenty of cold-hardy tropical plants that can bring vibrant color and drama to your outdoor space while withstanding chillier temperatures. Here are ten gorgeous tropical-looking plants tough enough to thrive in cooler zones while still offering that lush, vacation-worthy vibe.
1. Hardy Banana (Musa basjoo)
Known as the toughest banana plant on the market, Musa basjoo can survive temperatures as low as -10°F when properly mulched. This fast-growing tropical stunner features large, bold leaves that create an instant jungle vibe in any garden. While it won’t produce edible bananas in colder areas, its lush foliage and tropical appearance make it a showstopper. Perfect for adding height and texture to garden borders or patios, this plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.
2. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)
If you’ve always dreamed of palm trees swaying in your backyard, the Windmill Palm is your best bet for cold climates. Hardy down to 5°F, this slow-growing palm boasts fan-shaped leaves and a textured trunk that add a touch of the tropics to northern gardens. It performs best in sheltered, sunny spots and can reach up to 20 feet tall in ideal conditions. Whether planted as a focal point or lining a pathway, it’s a resilient, exotic addition to any landscape.
3. Canna Lily (Canna indica)
Canna Lilies are famed for their bold, tropical-looking foliage and vibrant blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Surprisingly hardy, these plants can survive in colder zones when their rhizomes are dug up and overwintered indoors. Their lush, banana-like leaves and eye-catching flowers make them perfect for creating a tropical feel in summer gardens. Plant them in full sun with rich, well-draining soil, and enjoy a splash of the tropics from midsummer to fall.
4. Japanese Fiber Banana (Musa sikimensis)
Another banana plant that thrives in colder regions, Musa sikimensis adds a dramatic statement with its tall stems and broad, reddish-tinged leaves. Hardy down to 10°F with winter protection, it grows quickly and can reach up to 12 feet tall. While it also won’t bear edible fruit in chillier climates, its towering form and lush foliage provide a tropical canopy effect, perfect for patios and borders alike.
5. Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos)
For those craving bold, tropical blooms in cooler zones, Hardy Hibiscus is a dream come true. This perennial produces enormous, dinner-plate-sized flowers in stunning shades of red, pink, and white. Hardy to Zone 4, it dies back in winter but reliably returns each spring. Its massive flowers and deep green foliage give any garden a tropical flair from midsummer to early fall. Plant it in full sun and moist, well-draining soil for the best blooms.
6. Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta)
Known for their dramatic, oversized leaves, Elephant Ears are ideal for creating bold, tropical-style backdrops in colder gardens. While some varieties need to be dug up for winter storage in Zones below 8, cold-hardy types like Colocasia ‘Illustris’ can handle light frosts. With leaves that can reach several feet across in shades of green, purple, and black, this plant adds an exotic vibe to garden beds, borders, and water features.
7. Hardy Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica)
Unlike its tender relatives, Hardy Fuchsia offers delicate, dangling blooms in shades of pink, red, and purple from summer to fall, even in cooler zones. Hardy down to 10°F, this deciduous shrub creates a stunning, tropical-looking flower display against rich green foliage. It prefers partial shade and consistently moist soil, making it perfect for woodland gardens or shaded borders where it can add a pop of vibrant, exotic color.
8. Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium)
Ginger Lilies are known for their fragrant, showy blooms and lush, strap-like leaves. Some cold-hardy varieties, like Hedychium coronarium (White Ginger Lily), can survive down to 10°F with winter protection. Their highly aromatic white flowers appear in late summer, adding a tropical feel and a sweet scent to your garden. Best grown in rich, moist soil and full sun to partial shade, they create a beautiful focal point in perennial beds or along fences.
9. Yucca (Yucca filamentosa)
Yucca plants might evoke images of arid deserts, but their spiky, architectural form makes them perfect for a modern tropical garden design. Hardy down to -20°F, Yucca filamentosa produces sword-like leaves and tall, dramatic spikes of creamy white flowers in summer. Its low-maintenance nature and drought tolerance make it an ideal choice for sunny borders, xeriscapes, and contemporary outdoor spaces. Plus, its bold texture pairs beautifully with broad-leaved tropical plants.
10. Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)
For a fast-growing, dramatic foliage plant, the Castor Bean Plant delivers towering stems and enormous, lobed leaves with a striking, tropical appearance. Though typically grown as an annual in cold regions, it can quickly reach up to 10 feet tall in a single season. With its glossy, palmate leaves and spiky seed pods, it adds bold texture and height to mixed borders or as a standalone feature. Note: all parts of this plant are toxic if ingested, so plant with caution in pet- or child-friendly gardens.