Tropical plants infuse flamboyant drama and excitement into Pacific Northwest landscapes and container gardens. Available as Spring ends and Summer begins, Tropical plants arrive in our Portland-area nurseries from local Oregon growers looking full, fabulous, and ready for planting.
Use tropical plants to add show-stopping height and unmatched lushness to your landscape. Surround your patio with their dramatic leaves and exotic flowers to create the perfect Summer getaway right in your own backyard!
Not sure if the financial investment is worth the payoff in good vibes? Read on for tips on how to make the most of these plants this season and how to care for them so that they come back next year. Here are our 7 favorite Tropical Plants for growing in the Pacific Northwest.
1. Red Banana – Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’
With larger-than-life leaves, Red Bananas are the ultimate tropical thriller plant for containers. Each leaf is rich and green with burgundy red coloration along the outer edges and midvein, which makes them look equally elegant mixed with hot, splashy Summer annuals or cool-toned colors. Red Bananas are vigorous, fast-growing plants and can reach 6–8’ in a single Summer!
Typically grown as an annual and replanted each year, it is possible to overwinter Red Bananas with a bit of care, effort, and pre-planning. Either bring their container indoors to a bright, indoor space to live as a glorified houseplant for the season, or cut all foliage back, dig the plant up, wrap it in plastic, and store it in a cool, dark space like a basement, checking periodically to make sure it doesn’t completely dry out.
2. Hibiscus – Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Huge, dazzling flowers are the Summer-long feature of this iconic tropical plant. With a bloom that is often the emblem of a tropical getaway, the Hibiscus flower is showy and loud in blazing sunset colors from peach to orange to red with bicolor variants in between. Plant Hibiscus in containers or in the ground for a splashy, showy tribute to the tropics. Depending on the variety, a tropical Hibiscus will grow to a height of 2–5’ in a season.
To overwinter your tropical Hibiscus, you can bring the plant inside and treat it like a houseplant, albeit a higher-needs houseplant than most. Provide extra humidity, take care not to overwater the plant, and stay vigilant for insect pests like spider mites.
3. Bougainvillea – Bougainvillea glabra
Papery, angular blossoms in electric pinks, purples, and oranges smother Bougainvillea plants all Summer long. This woody, climbing vine grows quickly over trellises and arbors, or spill over the edges of large statement containers. Use Bougainvillea to infuse your outdoor living space with rich, brilliant color!
Bougainvillea is low-maintenance and fuss-free to grow in Pacific Northwest Summers, but does require some effort to overwinter in our climate. To overwinter, containerize your Bougainvillea and encourage it to go dormant by placing it in a cool location like a garage, shed, or basement with a window. Prune it back to reduce the volume of the plant and reduce water. Wait until Spring and start watering more regularly to encourage the plant to break dormancy and wake up again.
4. Elephant Ear – Colocasia fontanesii or Colocasia esculenta
Grown for its impressive, moody leaves, Colocasia is a fantastic tropical plant for foliage-forward landscapes and containers. Large, heart-shaped deep green, black, or variegated leaves often feature dark veining and stems that all come from ground level and hang suspended above companion plants. Elephant Ear is an ideal addition to a container garden or a landscape bed if your goal is to create rich, tropically-inspired drama.
Colocasia is a tuberous plant that should be overwintered in its dormant state. In the Fall, remove the plant from its position in the ground or container, cut off its leaves and rinse all dirt from the tubers. Let the tubers dry out for a few days before storing them in a used nursery container and covering with old, dry potting soil. Replant the tubers in Spring and water to encourage growth.
5. Canna Lily – Canna indica
Cannas offer gardeners seeking a tropical aesthetic the best of both worlds when it comes to foliage and flowers. With large, leathery leaves in a myriad of colors from green to bronze with some that have striking pinstripe variegation, Cannas instantly add a tropical feeling to a landscape bed or container. The flowers of Cannas are just as exciting as their leaves and provide Summer-long blooms in bright colors of yellow, orange, or red.
Arguably the hardiest of our favorite tropical plants, Cannas often overwinter in Pacific Northwest beds and containers without any additional help, though with our increasingly cold and harsh Winters, added protection is recommended. To reliably overwinter Cannas, wait until the first frost and cut them back to 8” above the soil, and either move the containers into a garage or dig them up and remove the bulk of the soil before repotting into dry, old potting soil for storage. Replant in containers or the ground in the Spring as soil temperatures rise.
6. Foxtail Asparagus Fern – Asparagus densiflorus ‘Meyeri’
Feathery, fine-cut foliage is the hallmark of this textural tropical plant. Foxtail Asparagus Fern has an upright form with soft texture and grass-green coloration that perfectly complements the bolder tropical textures of Bananas, Cannas, or Elephant Ear—it pairs beautifully with flowering plants in general. Grow in a pot alone to soften the base of statement containers, or as part of a larger tropical scheme in a bed or border.
Asparagus Ferns are often sold as houseplants and can be treated as such during winter months in the Pacific Northwest. Make sure your Asparagus Fern is potted in an attractive container with good drainage and high-quality potting soil. Provide humidity, bright indirect light, and regular water to avoid the fern yellowing and dropping leaves in the Winter. In the Spring, transition the Asparagus fern outdoors slowly and repot to help revive it for Summer patio-living.
7. Mandevilla – Mandevilla spp.
The twining, vining stems of Mandevilla produce beautiful blooms in white, peach, pink, or red. Perfect for bringing a touch of romance to your tropically-inspired planting, Mandevilla grows well in containers or in the ground with an obelisk, post, or trellis for support. Repeat blooms and easy care make this a must-grow tropical plant for softening hard edges or screening unwanted views.
To overwinter Mandevillas in the Pacific Northwest, they must be planted in containers and allowed to go dormant in a well-lit garage or basement. Once the leaves have dropped, you can cut the plant back to 12” above the soil line and provide occasional water to keep it from drying out completely. As the weather warms, bring your Mandevilla into a warmer, brighter location on a porch and water regularly to promote new growth.
Tropical plants add unmatched richness and interest to outdoor living spaces in the Summer. Come visit our Garden Centers in person to experience the luxurious leaf textures and stunning flowers for yourself! We’ll help you find the perfect plant to transform your space into a true tropical oasis this Summer!