A Rainforest Look
In the Coastal Southeast, it is possible to grow several cold-hardy members of tropical plant families in the landscape. The addition of some bold textured hardy plants and a few fast-growing tropical plants as annuals can create a tropical rainforest look despite our relatively cold winters.
Cold hardy species that grow into zone 8 can be found in the following plant groups.
aroid
bamboo
banana
begonia
bromeliad
cycad
ginger
hibiscus
palm
pandanus
Other tropicals with some cold hardiness
Acacia
Bauhinia – orchid tree
Bletilla
Brugmansia – angel’s trumpet
Caesalpinia
Calliandra
Cordia
Cordyline
Cyathea
Cymbidium
Epidendrum
Erythrina
Excoecaria
Galphimia
Hamelia
Havardia
Jacaranda
Lysiloma
Megaskepasma
Montanoa
Musella
Mussaenda
Odontonema
Phaius
Philodendron
Pseudobombax
Schefflera
Solanum
Sophora
Stachytarpheta – porterweed
Strelitzia
Tabebuia
Tacca – bat flower
Thysanolaena
Tibouchina
Tithonia diversifolia – giant daisy
Zanthoxylon
Cold hardy plants (into zone 8) with bold, tropical-looking foliage.
Aspidistra
Canna
Crinum
Cold tender tropical plants that serve well as annuals
Acalypha hispida (in the photo at the top of the page)
Acalypha armenatacea
Allamanda
Breynia – snow bush
Carica – papaya
Codieaum variegatum – croton
Euphorbia cotinifolia – Caribbean copperleaf
Holmskioldia
Leea
Mahinot
Pachystachys
Pentas
Plumbago
Sanchezia
Spathoglottis
Thunbergia grandiflora
useful references:
Creating the Tropical Look by Texas A&M University