10 COLD HARDY TROPICAL PLANTS (PERENNIAL) THAT WILL TURN YOUR POOLSIDE LANDSCAPE INTO YOUR OWN TROPICAL PARADISE - PROVIDING YEAR AFTER YEAR OF DAZZLING EXOTIC BLOOMS - AND WITH VERY MINIMAL EFFORT
Everyone loves the peaceful ambience of the tropics with palm trees swaying in the breeze. Exotic flowers with beautiful hues and intoxicating aromas. But did you know you can grow cold hardy tropical plants as far north as New York State? By incorporating some of these cold hardy tropical plants in your poolside landscape, you can enjoy your own tropical stay-cation without even leaving your backyard!
Everyone loves the peaceful ambience of the tropics with palm trees swaying in the breeze. Exotic flowers with beautiful hues and intoxicating aromas. But did you know you can grow cold hardy tropical plants as far north as New York State? By incorporating some of these cold hardy tropical plants in your poolside landscape, you can enjoy your own tropical stay-cation without even leaving your backyard!
HARDY BANANA TREE
You can’t get much more tropical than a banana tree. Luckily there are a few varieties of this cold hardy tropical plant that can survive as far north as New England (USDA Zone 5). Sadly, the cold hardy banana plant won’t produce edible bananas, but they do still have a delicious juicy fruit aroma (especially if you break off a leaf from the trunk and let the sap ooze). Can't think of anything more summer appropriate than sipping a Piña colada, under a broad leaf banana tree... poolside! 🍹
PAW PAW TREE
The Paw Paw tree seems tropical—even though it is not. Paw paw is actually a native to North America. Its closest relative is the soursop—a broadleaf flowering evergreen tree that grows in the tropical regions of the Americas. In fact, the paw paw is the only temperate member of a very tropical family of trees.
The large, abundant fruit the Paw Paw tree produces (up to 30 pounds per tree) has a bold tropical flavor. Imagine a mix of mango, banana, and pineapple (with a custard like texture), and you'll have a good idea of what it's like to enjoy a fresh, ripe paw paw. And because this tree originates in North America, it is cold hardy, pest resistant and virtually maintenance free. Grow these bountiful trees for not only a tropical look but a tropical taste, as well. In order to reap fruit from your paw paw, make sure to grow more than one tree for cross-pollination.
Bonus: Paw paws are very nutritious fruits. They are high in vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese. They are a good source of potassium and several essential amino acids, and they also contain significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc. Most enthusiasts agree that the best way to enjoy paw paws is to eat them raw, outdoors, picked from the tree when they are perfectly ripe.
JELLY PALM TREE
The Jelly palm, also known as the Pindo palm, is one of the toughest palm trees around. In fact, a Jelly palm can withstand winters down to 10 degrees F. This tough, cold hardy tropical plant is one of very few palm trees able to handle freezing temperatures.
Jelly palms stay nice and compact, especially in cooler climates, only growing to about 10-20 feet tall. They also produce tasty palm fruits in the summer that are popular in jams and jellies (hence the name of the plant). For the more adventurous, the fruits can be fermented into wine, and who doesn’t love free wine? These palms can also grow in containers, so gardeners in Zones 6 and colder can still enjoy them.
HARDY FIG TREE
Another nice cold hardy tropical plant that gives delicious fruit as a bonus, is the lovely fig tree. These trees are widely adaptable to different soils and climates, and their fruits are delicious when cooked, dried or just picked right off the tree.
Most fig trees are only hardy to USDA Zone 7, but a select few, like ‘Chicago Hardy’ (pictured) and ‘Violette de Bordeaux,’ can handle winters down to Zone 5. Fig trees can also be grown in containers which makes it easy for over winter care.
CANNA LILY
The canna lily is one of those special plants whose foliage is easily as gorgeous as its flowers. These summer-blooming bulbs are much hardier than they look. Plus, they are very easy to grow in USDA zones 7-11. In colder zones, simply dig up the bulbs in the fall and replant them in the winter. Canna lily can also be grown in containers. The plants grow 48-60 inches tall, but growth in container plants may be stunted due to root space.
Some of the most stunning varieties of canna lilies feature very dark foliage that calls attention to the plants even when they are not in flower. Some varieties even have striped, multi-colored leaves. Canna Pink Sunburst has voluptuous large leaves that are striped with shades of dark green, dark pink and ivory, with gorgeous pink flowers. Speaking of voluptuous, check out this next show stopper....
HARDY HIBISCUS
With its tropical flair and show stopping flowers the size of dinner plates, what’s not to love about the hardy hibiscus?? These shrubby perennials look very similar to their tender tropical relatives and come in a variety of vivid colors, and even white.
But the cold hardy tropical plants can withstand winter temperatures down to USDA Zone 4. They are easy to grow and widely adaptable. Plus, they give an unparalleled flower show from summer through fall.
Bonus: The flower petals can also be used to make a delicious herbal tea that is actually very nutritious. You can literally improve your health by hanging out in your own backyard paradise. Swim laps... sip hibiscus tea poolside.. who knew?
MAYPOP / PASSION FLOWER
With it's stunningly pretty flowers and beautiful vining habit, the maypop is the perfect fit for cold climate gardeners looking for a tropical vibe. Not only is it beautiful, it also produces a delicious fruit. Passion fruit can easily be portrayed as merely sweet, but it is quite tart when it's fresh. This combination of sweet and sour is what makes it so interesting. The flavor is described as citrusy with hints of melon, pineapple, or kiwi. As the fruit ripens, it increases in sweetness.
This vigorous vine (Maypop) is the hardiest of the passion flowers (Passiflora spp.) and dazzles with exotic, unique flowers that last from mid-summer through fall.
TOAD LILY
Toad lilies (Tricyrtis sp.) are not nearly as popular as they deserve to be. These cold hardy tropical plants have a wonderful, exotic flair with their dazzling intricate blooms. As if that wasn’t enough, the plants are surprisingly tough.
Toad lilies are prized for their attractive foliage for most of the year. But starting at the end of every summer, they really dazzle as they burst into bloom. These lilies prefer partial shady areas with rich, loamy soil. The Raspberry Mousse Toad Lily (pictured) is a classic look for these delightful flowering plants. The flowers show a base of white with a splashes of raspberry purple on the petals. The centers show a touch of yellow to make the flowers really pop in a garden setting. The lily can also be grown in a container, but make sure to water frequently to keep the plant blooming.
HARDY FERN
When most people imagine ferns, they think of the popular (but delicate) houseplants such as Boston ferns that explode with popularity when Spring arrives. Hardy fern species, however, are about as tough as they come. And several of them are native to North America.
Hardy ferns are ideal for shady areas of the garden. They come in a wide variety of textures and colors, from the classic evergreen Cyrtomium fortunei (Zones 5-9) to the stunning silver-plated Japanese Painted Fern (Zones 4-8). The Japanese Painted Fern (pictured) is one of the most decorative landscape fern, because its striking gray-green fronds and red stems. This is a slow spreading plant that thrives in shade or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.
HARDY JASMINE
If you’ve ever enjoyed the intoxicating smell of a jasmine in full bloom, you will be delighted to learn that, yes, there is a cold hardy species!
This beautiful tropical-looking vine can handle winters down to Zone 6 with some extra protection. In fact, a hardy jasmine needs a cold spell in winter in order to bloom the following spring. Provide your hardy jasmine vine with a trellis to climb on, and plenty of sun and water. It will reward you with an abundance of blooms from late spring through summer.
While you can easily purchase many of these tropical plants at your local nursery this spring, others may be difficult to find locally and can be purchased through reputable online nurseries. Now is a great time to get started planning your own backyard tropical paradise. Happy Plant Shopping! 🌱
USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP
Aren’t sure of your hardiness zone? Use this easy-to-use interactive tool to determine your specific national plant hardiness zone (with printable and downloadable maps): https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
🌺 YOUR PARADISE AWAITS....
