10 Flowering Tropical Favorites

Bougainvillea is a gorgeous semi-tropical, woody shrub/vine plant that produces brilliantly neon bracts in shades of pink,  violet, salmon, or white, depending on the variety. The colorful bracts resemble paper lanterns and are also accented with small, white, tubular flowers through the entire growing season.

These plants make for awesome “thriller” focal points on a trellis and excellent “spillers” over the edge of a container or hanging basket. Be aware that some varieties produce sharp thorns.

Tropical Hisbiscus are among the most highly sought-after flowering tropicals each season, due to the fact that they are excellent woody specimens with an ability to bloom profusely all summer long. These plants feature beautiful large, trumpeted blooms in hot tropical reds, pinks, oranges, peaches, yellows, and multi-colors, depending on the variety.

They make for great focal points in container gardens, in bush form, in tree form, and in topiary form.

Mandevillas are tropical flowering vines that produce trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, and white, depending on the variety. These plants are aggressive growers that will quickly develop vertically to cover any trellis or other nearby garden support, adding tropical flair to any summer patio.

Dipladenia is a tropical plant native to South America that produces flowers very similar to Mandevilla. The difference is that Dipladenia possesses a smaller, bushier habit with a shorter trailing effect. It works great as a “filler” or “spiller” plant in mixed container gardens and hanging baskets.

Dipladenia have slightly smaller flowers than Mandevilla and finer leaves that are pointed, deeply green, and slightly glossy.

This plant creates a real statement with its dramatic, long, arching leaves and intensely exotic, crane-like flowers. Native to South Africa, these beautiful plants perform well in sunny spaces outdoors and bright indirect light indoors.

Many gardeners in Northeast Ohio are surprised to learn this annual favorite at Petitti’s is technically a flowering tropical! Lantana is incredibly popular for its ability to produce sweet-smelling clusters of brightly colored tubular flowers over a habit that can be bushy, mounded, or trailing. Flowers develop in shades of cream, yellow, pink, orange, red, and multi-color, depending on the variety.

Lantana are highly recommended for a colorful, heat tolerant, deer resistant, and pollinator-friendly summer display.

Gardenias are some of the most enticing tropical plants for Northeast Ohio gardeners. Their waxy-white, rose-like blooms, glossy green foliage, and incredible fragrance make them absolutely irresistible.

Note that these plants are best suited to the intermediate or more experienced gardener, as they do require careful attention in terms of their sunlight, temperature, and feeding schedule to maintain beauty and flowering productivity.  

Don’t be fooled by the appearance of these plants! Daisy Trees are actually flowering tropical plants native to the Canary Islands that bear white or yellow flowers, depending on the variety, that look very similar to common garden daisies. They also feature a pleasant fragrance.

These airy and delicate specimens make for an excellent centerpiece in the summer garden and an inviting feature in containers near a doorway or on a patio.

A member of the olive family, Jasmine provides beautifully scented, small white to blush pink flowers throughout the year over medium to dark green, glossy foliage. These can be grown outside on the porch or patio over the summer months and indoors as a houseplant over winter.

They make a wonderful winter blooming houseplant.

Passionflower looks incredibly exotic, and it’s native to North and South America. All varieties bloom with flowers that feature a wide, flat petal base with 5-10 petals in a circle. Each flower remains open for about one day.

These plants are rapid growers and train well on a trellis, fence, or other vertical structure to adorn a summer garden.