62 Tropical Outdoor Plants - Names, Features and Photos

Table Of Contents

Brachychiton rupestris
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Balantium antarcticum
Canna indica
Strelitzia nicolai
Heliconia rostrata
Alocasia macrorrhiza
Cattleya mossiae
Zingiber spectabile
Alpinia purpurata
Other tropical outdoor plants

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When we have to plan what to plant in a tropical garden or in a corner to fill with exotic plants, many times it is inevitable to always resort to the same most popular species. However, there is a huge variety of tropical gardens and types of tropical outdoor plants, some of them with truly spectacular shapes, sizes and colors.

If you want to learn more about outdoor tropical plants, join us in this Green Ecologist article.

Brachychiton rupestris

Commonly called brachichito, this tree with an appearance that is indisputably reminiscent of that of the baobab is a spectacular addition to your direct sun outdoor tropical plants. In fact, it is one of the most resistant tropical garden plants, as it supports both hot climates and drought as well as low temperatures, being able to withstand short-term frosts down to -7 ºC. Its trunk, in the shape of a bottle, contrasts with its leafy and rounded crown of evergreen leaves.

Jacaranda mimosifolia

The jacaranda is another tropical tree that behaves like an evergreen in tropical or subtropical climates, and as deciduous in other types of climates. It can grow up to 30 meters, with a markedly irregular crown, which is filled with lilac flowers very showy in spring. It tolerates light frosts, but does not like strong wind.

Balantium antarcticum

Before called Dicksonia antarctica, this is the most popular tree fern by far. It normally grows to heights of about 5 meters, although under ideal conditions it can triple this height. It is considered tropical large leaf outdoor plants, since its fronds range from 2 to 6 meters in length, very striking green.

Here you can discover more types of ferns.

Canna indica

Out of the tropical plants with flowers it is worth noting the Indies cane, a rhizomatous plant that can also be considered belonging to tropical terrace plants or tropical plants in pots, since it grows well in these circumstances due to its great strength. Its height reaches about 60 cm and its leaves are totally green or with reddish stripes depending on the variety, standing out for its red or yellow flowers.

Strelitzia nicolai

The call Bird from paradise, or white bird of paradise, is an ornamental plant suitable for growing outdoors in hot climates. It resembles the banana tree, with large, very beautiful leaves and a bearing to take into account, although without a doubt what stands out most is its impressive flowering, with unmistakable white and purple flowers that are impossible to miss. There is another with purple and orange flowers.

Here we talk about the Bird of Paradise Plant: care, transplantation and reproduction.

Heliconia rostrata

Also known as platanillo or toucan beak, Heliconia is a tropical herbaceous perennial that has its origin in the Caribbean and South America. It is fast growing, but without a doubt the most spectacular thing is its flowering, with bracts of bright scarlet flowers and a striking yellow that attract hummingbirds like few plants.

Alocasia macrorrhiza

The elephant ear, also called marquise, is one of the most popular large-leaved outdoor plants in the world. It is suitable for humid, semi-shady areas, where its huge leaves with marked ribs collect the little light that arrives without problems. It needs a warm climate and very well-drained soil.

Here you can read about the Care of the elephant ear plant.

Cattleya mossiae

This orchid, commonly called may Flower, stands out for its large flowers in pink tones, with white inside. Is a epiphytic plant, which grows on the surface of other trunks instead of anchoring its roots in the ground, so it shares the particular needs of this type of plants, here you can learn more about them. Epiphytic plants: what they are, types and examples.

Zingiber spectabile

The hive ginger it is a distant cousin of ginger and turmeric. It is a herbaceous plant up to 40 cm high, which presents compact and very characteristic flowers, with very short petals that barely detach from each other, with colors ranging from red to white, through orange and yellow.

Alpinia purpurata

Also called red gingerAlthough it has nothing to do with the previous species, it is an exotic plant originating in Malaysia, easy to recognize by its elliptical leaves up to 60 cm long. It produces a reddish flower with a very particular conical shape, from which new plants emerge after it withers.