Plant varieties that lend a tropical ambiance can be the best choice for your garden. Tropical gardens are known for their lush greenery and vibrant blooms. These stunning plants often have dense, colorful foliage and unique flowers that create an inviting, exotic atmosphere.

Exotic plants add a touch of the extraordinary to your garden. They can become a focal point, drawing the eye and creating a striking contrast against more common greenery. Choosing exotic species can bring a surprising and unique element to your garden design, fostering a sophisticated and tropical vibe.

Tropical – looking trees

LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA

Standing tall, the tulip tree can reach impressive heights of up to 50 meters, making it a true size champion. Its crown boasts a compact structure with slender branches, adding a touch of elegance to the landscape.

But what truly sets this tree apart is its captivating foliage. Adorned with decorative leaves, it offers a visual treat throughout the year. In spring or early summer, the magic unfolds. The tulip tree bursts into bloom, showcasing solitary, large, and upright flowers. These beauties are a sight to behold, with their unique greenish-yellow hue and vibrant orange base, resembling their namesake – the tulip.

ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN

The Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a captivating Far Eastern native, the only one grown here for its beauty. Towering up to 12 meters with a wide crown, it boasts elegant, sparsely branched limbs. Its delicate, twice-divided leaves add a feathery touch. In summer, the magic happens: the tree explodes with breathtaking, silky-pink flowers, followed by long, brown seed pods.

GINKGO BILOBA

Ginkgo biloba is a species that systematically belongs to the Gymnosperms group, making the transition to conifers. It is native to China, where it grows as a tree of size I. In our country, it grows to the second size, up to 20-25 m tall.

They are unisexual dioecious trees (male and female flowers are on different individuals). In general, male specimens have a pyramidal crown, and females have a globular crown. The leaves have a particular fan-shaped, bilobed shape. They are pellucid, pale green. They are arranged differently on the branches: on the long stems they have a spiral arrangement, and on the short stems they are arranged terminally, in clusters. The leaves turn golden in autumn and are deciduous. Female flowering trees form fruit in the form of false, fleshy drupes with an unpleasant smell when ripe.

Tropical-looking ornamental plants

CANNA INDICA

Canna indica, a vibrant member of the Cannaceae family, isn’t your average flower. This beauty boasts fleshy stems topped with large, oval-shaped leaves in rich shades of green. But the real showstopper lies in its blooms. Flourishing in clusters at the stem’s tip, these large flowers come in a dazzling array of colors – fiery reds, sunny yellows, cheerful oranges, and pure white.

YUCCA FILAMENTOSA

Garden Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is a perennial plant that decorates with its habit and its flowers. The flowering period of this plant is July to August. The flowers are shaped like small white bells. The plant can reach heights between 100 and 150 cm.

CORTADERIA SELLOANA

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) belongs to the Poaceae family and is a perennial plant. Pampas grass is native to South America, including the Pampas region, after which it is named. This grass can be distinguished by its inflorescence in the form of a bushy panicle of different colors: purple, pink, cream, white – and silver. When mature, it reaches a height of up to 3 meters and grows rapidly, forming large, dense clumps. The leaves are long, thin, and dark green with a pointed edge.

HIBISCUS MOSCHEUTOS 

Hibiscus moscheutos is a perennial plant of the Malvaceae family with large flowers and smooth, green leaves. It can grow up to 2 meters tall. The colors of the flowers range from pure white through various shades of pink to deep red.

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

Hydrangea paniculata is a shrub with drooping leaves. Its growth is upright, and at maturity, it can reach heights of 150-200 cm. The flowers are conical, and at the beginning of flowering have pale green hues, then the color is a deep white, and in autumn it has shades of pink.

WISTERIA SINENSIS

Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is a climbing plant with thick stems and long, elegant flowers that can reach up to 45 centimeters. This plant prefers sunny, moist places. The plant can reach over 9 meters tall. Its flowers are usually white, pink, or blue (purple) and are very fragrant.

JASMINUM NUDIFLORUM

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a climbing shrub that can reach up to 2.5 m tall. Its flowers are yellow, star-shaped, and appear before the leaves, flowering from February to March. The leaves are green, trilobed, opposite, and glossy. Each leaf lobe is elliptical and 2-3 cm long.

IMPERATA CYLINDRICA

Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) is a perennial, with lanceolate, deep red leaves. This plant usually grows up to 1.5 meters tall and retains its color even in winter.

LUPINUS POLYPHYLLUS

Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) is a perennial herbaceous plant native to North America that is a member of the Fabaceae family. The species is decorative in both leaves and flowers, the leaves are petiolate, palmate, and green, and the flowers are pea-like in shape and impress with their many colours: white, pink, purple, blue, yellow, and orange.

Tropical-looking fruit trees and shrubs

DIOSPYROS KAKI

The Kaki tree (Diospyros kaki), a captivating native of China, offers both beauty and bounty. Reaching up to 14 meters tall, it showcases stunning glossy green leaves that transform throughout the seasons. But the real star is the fruit! Imagine vibrant tomato-like globes in shades of red-orange or yellow-gold, a true delight for the eyes and taste buds.

PONCIRUS TRIFOLIATA

The Trifoliate Orange, a frost-resistant citrus from Asia, adds a twist to your garden. This 4-8 meter shrub boasts tangy, lemon-like fruits perfect for drinks. Winter reveals its thorny charm, while spring brings fragrant white blooms with pink accents.

PASSIFLORA EDULIS

The Passionflower vine (Passiflora edulis) brings exotic flair to your garden. This South American native stuns with vibrant blooms all summer and autumn. Don’t forget the fruits! Inside their hard shell lies a juicy, seed-filled surprise.

ARBUTUS UNEDO

The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) brings year-round charm to your garden. This Mediterranean shrub boasts luscious, strawberry-like fruits that take a year to ripen. Unlike most, it even blooms during the colder months, offering delicate flowers from October to May.

AKEBIA QUINATA

The Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata) adds a touch of the exotic with its cascading, fragrant purple blooms. This vine reaches up to 10 meters, offering not just beauty, but also a sweet surprise: edible fruits that split open naturally, bursting with flavor.

PUNICA GRANATUM

The pomegranate tree (Punica granatum) adds a taste of the Mediterranean to your garden. This versatile plant thrives in warm climates, reaching up to 10 meters tall. Its beauty unfolds throughout the year: glossy green leaves in summer turn golden yellow in fall, while spring boasts vibrant red flowers. The real star? Edible pomegranates, in shades of yellow-orange to deep red, depending on the variety.

FICUS CARICA

The fig (Ficus carica), native to Western Asia, is unique. Separate male and female trees (dioecious) are needed for fruit production. Blooms appear from March to August, hidden inside the fruit itself. Figs come in three main types, all offering the familiar teardrop shape, sweet flesh, and numerous tiny seeds. The fig’s charm extends to its distinctive, lobed leaves that gracefully droop.

ASIMINA TRILOBA

The Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a tropical twist on your garden, surprises with edible fruits. Imagine a taste bud adventure: banana, mango, pineapple when young, transforming into a hint of coffee as they ripen. This 2-12 meter tall tree boasts large leaves and unique fruit, offering a taste of the tropics right at home.

ACTINIDIA DELICIOSA

The Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) vine (5-7 meters) adds a unique touch to your garden. Its large, glossy green leaves start fuzzy and mature to a darker shade. But here’s the twist: separate male and female plants (dioecious) are needed for fruit. Spring brings fragrant white flowers, followed by the star of the show – the fuzzy brown kiwifruit, packed with green or yellow flesh.

These are just a few of the plants that can help create an exotic, tropical look for your garden. Choosing these species will transform your green space into a tropical, energetic corner.