Tropical Flowering Plants: A touch of the exotic in your own backyard (2024)

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Flowering tropical plants are pure attention grabbers. Colourful, fragrant, lavish; they are absolutely unique in their ability to brighten up a sitting area, balcony or deck, so take the tropical plunge! Fill your decor with these gorgeous plants to bring an exotic touch to your outdoor living environment.

Bougainvillea

Why go to Rio when you can bring the Brazilian party home! Vibrant green foliage sets off lilac, fuchsia, pink, yellow or white flowers just as light as silk paper. Install trellises and you'll have a veritable wall of Bougainvillea, or plant them in hanging baskets for a cascade of intense colour. Sun and heat lovers that they are, they'll appreciate a south-facing view, then get yourself prepared for a months-long display.

Mandevilla

The one-of-a-kind Mandevilla boasts an abundance of big shiny leaves and red, pink, white, or tricolour trumpet-shaped flowers. This tropical vine truly does reach heaven! Plant in a container and grow vertically on a trellis or let it spill gracefully from a hanging basket. Wherever you decide, you'll bask under the abundant blooms throughout the summer. Another sun-lover, so place it where it will get plenty!

Brugmansia

A single Brugmansia plant can produce a dramatic display of a hundred flowers. And what flowers! Huge, pendulous trumpets in romantic shades of yellow, white, pink, soft orange or salmon. No wonder they're called Angel's Trumpets! And with their heavenly fragrance, you're guaranteed hours of sweet day-dreaming the whole summer long.

Cannas

Flamboyant colour, continuous blooms: the key to a truly exotic decor is the elegant, flashy, eye-catching canna. Canas add myriad shades of green and vibrant colours to any context, and whatever the variety, they are brilliant at creating stunning effects. They are easy to grow, wind and insect-resistant. Grow them in pots or in flowerbeds, they are must-haves.

Bay Laurel

Bay Laurels boast an abundance of shiny, dark green, oval leaves and are ideal for adding height to your decor. Highly prized as an ornamental, shrubs are easy to prune, making it possible to create any umber of shapes; the trunk of this decorative plant can either be left long and straight, or trained into braids and spirals. With its fragrant foliage and white, soft pink or orange flowers, it certainly adds Mediterranean flair! A perfect choice for areas exposed to wind.

Hibiscus Sinensis

Aloha! Hibiscus says Hawaii in flower terms, since the yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's state flower. With their dramatic, big, colourful trumpet-shaped flowers, they make a statement wherever they go. Blooms appear constantly, but only last a day or two, so you'll have to concentrate to fully appreciate your plants! They do well year-round inside, or placed outside for the summer. From potted plants to shrubs and small trees, single stems or trunks plaited together, all is possible!

Tradewinds and Hollywood Hibiscus

Have you fallen under the spell of the hibiscus sinensis? You'll love the other varieties of this easy-to-grow and versatile plant just as much. The Tradewinds Hibiscus is available in an absolute panoply of colours: pink, red, yellow, orange, pinkish violet. Go all out! You can never have enough of these plants for a real colourful, tropical-inspired decor. Free flowering, the Hollywood variety boasts sunny colours: orange-hued and yellow with a red heart.

Uses:

Tropical Forest

In a clearly defined area such as a deck, balcony, or sitting area, install as many trellises as possible to create a dense and flowery decor. Combine plant and flower species with varied shapes and colours.
Add a fountain among your pots of vibrant arrangements, incorporating lively and vivid colours and foliage in various shades of green. You'll feel as though you've been transplanted to a corner of the jungle, and not very far from a waterfall!

Colour Play

Integrate species with different shades of the same colour tone: opt for white flowering plants for a really fresh look, or match warm shades of red, orange and yellow for a friendly, sunny space.
Combine complimentary tones for a more dynamic and luxurious decor: pink and orange with violet and white accents, for example, will drop you straight on an island in paradise!

Natural Fragrance

Gather particularly aromatic plants close to the spa or pool, then close your eyes and you'll feel as though you're on an all-inclusive trip somewhere far away or swimming in the tropics!
For a warm, welcoming entrance, add aromatic plants to the flowerbeds around your yard or leading up to the entrance of your home, or fill a few planters with fragrant flowers and foliage and set them close to the door.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert in tropical plants, I can provide you with information about the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's dive into it!

Flowering Tropical Plants

Flowering tropical plants are known for their vibrant colors, fragrant blooms, and ability to add a touch of exotic beauty to any outdoor living space. They can brighten up sitting areas, balconies, and decks, creating a tropical ambiance. Some popular flowering tropical plants include:

Bougainvillea: Bougainvillea is a tropical plant with vibrant green foliage and flowers in shades of lilac, fuchsia, pink, yellow, or white. It can be grown on trellises to create a wall of color or planted in hanging baskets for a cascade of intense blooms. Bougainvillea thrives in sunny and hot conditions.
Mandevilla: Mandevilla is a tropical vine that features big shiny leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in red, pink, white, or tricolor. It can be grown vertically on a trellis or allowed to spill gracefully from a hanging basket. Mandevilla is a sun-loving plant that blooms abundantly throughout the summer.
Brugmansia: Brugmansia, also known as Angel's Trumpets, produces large, pendulous flowers in shades of yellow, white, pink, soft orange, or salmon. These flowers are not only visually stunning but also emit a heavenly fragrance. Brugmansia plants can produce a dramatic display of a hundred flowers on a single plant. They are perfect for adding a touch of romance to your outdoor space.
Cannas: Cannas are known for their flamboyant colors and continuous blooms. They come in various shades of green and vibrant colors, making them ideal for creating stunning effects in any context. Cannas are easy to grow, wind-resistant, and insect-resistant. They can be grown in pots or flowerbeds and are a must-have for an exotic decor.
Bay Laurel: Bay Laurel is an ornamental plant that adds height to your decor. It features shiny, dark green, oval leaves and can be pruned into various shapes, such as long and straight trunks or braids and spirals. Bay Laurel also produces fragrant foliage and flowers in white, soft pink, or orange, adding a Mediterranean flair to your outdoor space. It is a good choice for areas exposed to wind.
Hibiscus Sinensis: Hibiscus Sinensis, commonly known as Hibiscus, is a tropical plant that is often associated with Hawaii. It features big, colorful, trumpet-shaped flowers that make a statement wherever they are planted. Hibiscus blooms constantly, but each flower only lasts for a day or two. They can be grown year-round indoors or placed outside for the summer. Hibiscus plants come in various forms, including potted plants, shrubs, small trees, and plaited stems.
Tradewinds and Hollywood Hibiscus: Apart from Hibiscus Sinensis, there are other varieties of hibiscus plants that are easy to grow and versatile. The Tradewinds Hibiscus comes in a wide range of colors, including pink, red, yellow, orange, and pinkish violet. The Hollywood variety of hibiscus features sunny colors, such as orange and yellow with a red heart. These varieties can be used to create a colorful and tropical-inspired decor.

Uses of Tropical Plants

The article also mentions some uses of tropical plants in creating different types of environments. Here are a few examples:

Tropical Forest: To create a dense and flowery decor in a defined area like a deck, balcony, or sitting area, you can install trellises and combine different plant and flower species with varied shapes and colors. Adding a fountain among the pots of vibrant arrangements can further enhance the tropical forest ambiance.
Color Play: To create a fresh look, you can integrate species with different shades of the same color tone. For example, using white flowering plants can give a fresh and clean look. On the other hand, combining warm shades of red, orange, and yellow can create a friendly and sunny space. For a more dynamic and luxurious decor, you can combine complimentary tones, such as pink and orange with violet and white accents.
Natural Fragrance: You can gather particularly aromatic plants close to the spa or pool area to create a tropical fragrance experience. Adding aromatic plants to flowerbeds around your yard or near the entrance of your home can also create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

These are just a few examples of how tropical plants can be used to create different types of environments and decor. The possibilities are endless, and you can get creative with the arrangement and combination of plants to suit your personal style and preferences.

I hope this information helps you in understanding the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!