Tropical Plants
Ginger, Fatsia And Angel Trumpet

Tropical plants provide so much beauty in the warmer climates. Many of these plant specimens can grow indoors in colder areas. Here are three of my favorite varieties, Ginger plant, the Angel Trumpet and Fatsia.

The Ginger plant is noted for its large bright green leaves. There are many different varieties of the Ginger.

This plant family can grow fine in zone seven but it can get damaged with harsh temperatures.

It will die off in the winter in this zone seven, but the roots are hardy and the the plant will revitalize in the spring time.

The Ginger does real well in zones eight through eleven. Below are two pictures of the shell variety and the Indian Ginger.

This is a wonderful variegated Ginger plant. It will grow well in zones eight through eleven. As you can see in zone seven the ends are brown due to a couple of frosty mornings. You can bring this plant inside during the winter months.

The Dancing Crane has vibrant yellow flowers that bloom. The flowers bud forms underground and emerges from mid summer through the middle of the autumn season.



This Ginger will grow eighteen to thirty six inches tall. It can take part shade to full shade and is striking with other sub tropical plants. Spacing should be about a foot apart and soil conditions should be maintained at a moist level.
















The Blue Ginger is such a unique plant specimen. The bulb of this ginger plant was given to me by a friend that had been in Hawaii. I germinated the bulb indoors and put it out in spring in the garden for the summer.

The Exotic Garden: Designing with Tropical Plants in Almost Any Climate is a fantastic book worth buying.

Richard Iversen takes you into the world of warmer climate plants and how to create exotic gardens and landscape. Great reviews all the way around.

I did this in 2007, and due to the drought we experienced for a couple of years many of the tips of the leaves were damaged. I decided to bring the plant indoors year around.

The Blue Ginger will grow six to eight feet tall and does excellent in zones nine through eleven. For cooler zones, it can be used as an indoor plant year around.

From mid summer through mid fall, flowers appear in colors of purple and blue tones. This specie is native in tropical areas of warmer regions of North America, as well as Central and South America.

It needs a regular watering schedule. This ginger is a medium fast grower and does well in shade but can take some sun.

This is a great plant to incorporate in a tropical indoor or outdoor theme color garden.
















The Angel Trumpet is a very popular warm climate plant. It grows well in zones seven through eleven and can take sun to part shade. In colder climates it is considered an annual. There are many different varieties and can grow anywhere from four to ten feet.

The spectacular flowers open up from mid summer through late fall or early winter. One of the highlights of the Angel Trumpet is its attraction to different bird and butterfly species.

This plant offers bloom colors in yellow, orange, white, lavender and a golden tone. One word of caution if you are considering this plant for indoors or even outdoors, the entire plant is poisonous.

It needs to be regularly watered don't don't over water, as it will damage the roots. Great specimen next to evergreens and other ornamental plants.

To me, the Fatsia can be a show case in any warmer climate garden. The unique style large leaves create a great focal point in a large or even small area.

The Fatsia will grow in zones seven but the frost will brown out the leaves and kill it throughout the winter months. It will reappear in spring time. This warm climate beauty does well in zones eight through ten. It will mature from six to eight feet tall and six to eight feet wide.

A superb white flowers appear in the fall months of October and November. The Fatsia needs shade as sun could very well burn the leaves. This plant looks great in a container as well as a hedge row with multiple color perennials in front of it.

Variegated or solid Liriope or Mondo Grass can complete this tropical look acting as a border around the garden.

These four plant specimens are only a handful of tropical plants that create wonderful gardens throughout the warmer climates. Take a look in the gallery of plants section for other varieties to compliment these three plants.

The Cana Lilies as well as Begonias, Mandevillas and Philodendrons can all be planted in a landscape area. The plants will create the perfect warm and cozy paradise for you. For you in the cold climates with snow arriving, take the time to learn about these unique specimens. Also, consider taking a trip to see some of the natural beauty that surrounds a tropical location.