Plan a Tropical-Style Garden

However, there are many hardy palm trees and exotic foliage such as banana leaves and elephant ears that will grow in Zone 8. Although, the blooms & foliage of the canna lilies bulbs dies down with the first freeze. The cannas will grow back year after year! There are also hardy hibiscus, clumping bamboo, fig trees, and the intoxicating smell of a jasmine that can also be planted in your garden. Plant the plumeria in pots and treat it as an annual to complete the tropical-style garden in your landscape.   

Tropical gardens boast colorful plants with exotic blooms and flamboyant foliage that transform any outdoor space into an lush oasis. The more the temperature soars, tropical garden designs sizzle with lavish growth. Discover some ideas for producing your own tropical paradise. To achieve a tropical garden in the desert, you can still create the tropical feel, but with easy-care plants that won’t triple your water bill. So instead of thirsty ferns, you might choose giant bird of paradise (zones 9-11). A mix of hardy plants such as an ornamental banana tree (8-11), a canna lily as a perennial, and a tender hibiscus as an annual. The hibiscus can also be brought indoors during the winter season where areas freeze. For colder desert regions (zone 8) plant a Mexican fan palm instead of a queen palm.