If you would like to add a few tropical plants to your foliage, the list of possibilities is longer than you might think. However, because these plants will never survive the winter unless you live in the far South, the desert Southwest or portions of the West Coast, you have to "overwinter" them in the house or the garage, or just accept the fact that after the first freeze, they'll die.
According to master gardener Paul James, the tropical hibiscus is hard to beat because of its brilliant green foliage and bright, beautiful flowers. Available in several colors, this beauty overwinters easily indoors and makes a great house plant. His favorite tropical delight is the bougainvillea, a twining vine that does best when staked or trellised and that rewards you with gorgeous flowers. It, too, can be overwintered indoors, provided it receives bright, indirect light. If you can't find bougainvillea, look for mandevillea, which is remarkably similar.
One of the easiest-to-grow tropicals is the banana. Some varieties grow as tall as 12 feet and even set fruit, but rarely do the bananas have time to ripen. Caladiums and elephant ears are commonly grown plants with tropical origins. Both prefer shade but are easy to grow. Plumerias are among the most beautiful of all tropical plants, and they're easy to grow. They also produce some of the most sweetly scented flowers on earth, which are commonly used to make traditional Hawaiian leis.
And there are all kinds of citrus plants available, many of which do nicely planted in containers. Depending on where you live, the fruits may not have a chance to ripen fully.
So, there you have a short list of tropical plants, but bear in mind there are many more, from palms to tobacco to sesame, and then some.
