27 Sensational Tropical Flowers to Plant for Exotic Flair in Your Garden

If you live in a cooler climate, it might be surprising that you can plant an astounding number of tropical flowers. No matter what the weather is like where you live, you can enjoy a taste of tropical splendor. These flowers feature a wide range of flower shapes, sizes, and colors.

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In varying degrees of intensity, many of these amazing flowers even exude perfume-like fragrances. Because tropical flowers are from a different climate, they are often a breath of fresh air in tired landscapes. Check out the list below to discover the perfect types of tropical flowers for your space.

1. Anthurium (Anthurium Andraeanum)

As you can see in pictures of these tropical flowers, anthurium offers two kinds of hearts: bright red heart-shaped flowers and glossy green heart-shaped leaves. A fuzzy yellow spadix adds some visual and textural interest to all the shiny foliage. If your anthurium likes its home, it will flower all year long.

2. Calico Flower (Aristolochia Littoralis)

A unique tubular shape along with floppy petals help the calico flower stand out in the landscape. However, the colorful pattern is where this tropical flower makes a statement. Cool white crackling seems to jump out from a subdued burgundy backdrop. No two flowers are exactly alike.

3. Bamboo Orchid (Arundina Graminifolia)

With foliage that resembles bamboo, this orchid incorporates all of bamboo’s soothing vibes without having to worry about invasive behavior. You also get to enjoy vividly colored orchid blooms throughout the year. With petal colors so bright that almost look surreal paired with bamboo-like foliage, these types of tropical flowers catch the eye.

4. True Indigo (Indigofera Tinctoria)

Small oval leaves are the perfect complement to these purple-pink inflorescences. Because the flowers are not too showy, these small shrubs work well to emphasize other flowers. However, as this plant has been cultivated since ancient times, showcasing a true indigo specimen is like stepping into history.

5. Egyptian Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea Caerulea)

If you are looking for tropical flowers to plant in a water feature, the Egyptian blue water lily’s graceful lines and perfume-like scent are a way to win anyone’s heart. As a sacred plant in ancient Egypt, a few of these lotus flowers mean that you can live as opulently as Queen Cleopatra.

6. West Indian Jasmine (Plumeria Alba)

Some types of tropical flowers are more fragrant than others, and this variety of jasmine is among the most aromatic. Although white flowers with yellow centers might not be the most visually stimulating flower, this flowering tree looks good with other flowers and smells amazing.

7. King Protea (Protea Cynaroides)

Although there are many colors and shapes of king protea, the most common is the star-shaped red flower shown here. As you see images of these tropical flowers, keep in mind that it blooms over Christmas. If red and white are welcome in your Christmas palette, a king protea makes a magnificent focal point.

8. Unicorn Root (Veltheimia Bracteata)

When mature, unicorn root features a spray of tubular pink flowers. Although they fade and enter dormancy in summer, they can add a splash of winter color should your unicorn root live in a tropical setting. Anyone who enjoys birdwatching will appreciate these flowers because they attract hummingbirds.

9. Gloxinia (Sinningia Speciosa)

With careful treatment, you can enjoy two blooming seasons every year from a plot of gloxinia flowers. As great flowers for grabbing attention, gloxinia features four colors and a dramatic trumpet-like shape. At four inches across, each flower is large and features a tactile velvety texture.

10. Brazilian Nightshade (Solanum Seaforthianum)

Startling blue-purple petals contrast with a yellow stamen for a flower with an irresistible draw. Although more difficult to find, white-flowering Brazilian nightshade might work better in your landscape’s color scheme. As a vining plant, these types of tropical flowers are an excellent choice for trellises, arches, and verandas.

11. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Reginae)

One of the most recognizable images of tropical flowers, the bird of paradise exudes exhilarating energy and dazzling geometry. Bright colors and bold design mean that this flower gives any space a glamorous ambiance. It may be named after a queen, but it is ready to give any space the royal treatment.

12. Stromanthe (Stromanthe Sanguinea)

With flowers that look like someone is wrapped in a comfortable red blanket, Stromanthe are petite and perfect. True to their name, these sleepy plants will suffer when placed in full sun locations. Some varieties of Stromanthe feature flashy variegated foliage which can serve as visual interest when their flowers are not blooming.

13. Fairy Fan Flower (Scaevola Aemula)

Hailing from Australia, the fairy fan flower features circles of purple florets that resemble fairy rings. If you live in a colder climate, you can grow fairy fan flowers as an annual to enjoy constant blooms until frost. Of course, if you are in a tropical climate, you can enjoy rings of purple flowers all year long.

14. Rose Moss (Portulaca Grandiflora)

Like a mother’s love, this South American succulent thrives in a wide variety of conditions. If part of your garden never yields bountiful blooms, rose moss might be the answer. With a variety of expressive colors available, you can enjoy lots of energy on a mat of attractive succulent-type leaves.

15. Lollipop Plant (Pachystachys Lutea)

Yellow flower petals look like lollipops or overlapping scales to give the lollipop plant a unique and playful appearance. Arching white flowers add an air of elegance to the whole affair. In tropical climates, this plant can grow up to six feet tall. In more temperate areas, it only reaches about 18 inches in height.

16. Mickey Mouse Plant (Ochna Serrulata)

When you grow a Mickey Mouse plant, the show begins with yellow flowers. Pictures of these tropical flowers usually focus on the fruits, which are red and black and resemble Mickey Mouse’s iconic ears. Although it is often seen as an accent, this shrub can also be used as a hedge.

17. Sweet Tea (Osmanthus Fragrans)

Although the white flowers seen on the sweet tea bush are not particularly flashy, they exude an intense apricot aroma. They flower heavily in April, but you may see the occasional flower well into fall. Plant sweet tea around a seating area to create a private, sweet-smelling sanctuary.

18. Heartleaf Iceplant (Mesembryanthemum Cordifolium)

As a long-flowering succulent, the heartleaf iceplant showcases shiny red flowers and glossy green leaves. It spreads like a mat which makes it an excellent groundcover option. However, in certain growing conditions, it can become invasive. In traditional Zulu medicine, this plant is associated with good luck and is used as a remedy for aching joints.

19. Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa)

If you have ever tired of a flower before it was finished blooming, the marvel of Peru is for you. Flowers in a wide range of colors and patterns can be produced by a single plant. These tropical flowers were often used as hedges in Victorian gardens, although you can also showcase a single specimen.

20. Lion’s Tail (Leonotis Leonurus)

As a tropical shrub, the lion’s tail features tubular orange flowers which bear a close resemblance to lion’s tails. Although these flowers are usually orange, they can also be white, apricot-colored, and attractive off-white. If grown in tropical conditions or a greenhouse, these flowers might flower throughout the winter.

21. Lobelia (Lobelia Erinus)

As you can see in pictures of these tropical flowers, lobelia flowers offer some sinfully vivid color for your landscape. Depending on your garden needs, use lobelia that trails or lobelia that stands straight. Because it is not a very demanding flower, it is an excellent candidate for rock gardens.

22. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia ‘Inlbusnopr’ Snow Princess)

Clusters of tiny white flowers provide a cloud of fragrance from spring until late fall. To give your landscape more dimension, mounding flowers make the perfect counterpoint to big, floppy petaled flowers. While most types of sweet alyssum are known for being quick-spreading, this variety is notorious for vigorous growth and heat tolerance.

23. Lantana (Lantana Camara)

Images of these tropical flowers show how different flower colors are possible within a single cluster. To blend with your landscape palette, the possibilities include white, orange, red, yellow, and purple. Native to South and Central America, these flowers attract birds and butterflies as well as attention.

24. Fringed Rosemallow (Hibiscus Schizopetalus)

If you are looking for a flower to steal the show, the fringed rosemallow is ready to shine. Intricately recurved petals and a long drooping stamen seem suspended in the air as if by magic. Although this magnificent flower is native to Africa, its pendant-like nature earned it the alternative common name “Japanese lantern.”

25. Busy Lizzy (Impatiens Walleriana)

Great for adding constant color in shady spots in your garden, this variety of impatiens is ready to get to work. Flat petals help the busy Lizzy flowers showcase as much color as possible. Although they come from faraway Tanzania and Mozambique, these tropical flowers are often treated as annuals in cooler climates.

26. Lady’s Eardrops (Fuchsia)

Fuchsia flowers seem to droop with the weight of their intense beauty. Emphasize that effect by planting these tropical flowers in hanging baskets. Available in many colors including the bicolor shown here, there is a variety of fuchsia to fit your space. Birdwatchers will also appreciate all the hummingbirds that lady’s eardrops attract.

27. Gardenia (Gardenia Jasminoides)

Similar to Jasmine, gardenia offers some of the most fragrant blooms your garden will ever meet. While the large flowers are visually attractive, they will not distract from flowers that feature bigger, more exotic blooms. Warmer climates enjoy year-round blooms while those in cool climates must make do with flowers for only a few months.

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If your climate makes it impossible to grow these tropical flowers outdoors as perennials, there are ways that you can still enjoy these bounteous blooms. One option is to treat them as annuals. To do this, plant them outdoors with the expectation that they will perish at frost. Another option is to treat them like houseplants.

Tropical flowers offer the opportunity for adventure – they are often unusual and eye-catching. From tiny clusters of white fragrant flowers to expansive extravaganzas, tropical flowers offer bold personality and will help you discover your botanical style. Trying out a new flower for the first time can be a journey full of pleasant surprises.