Top 10 Tropical & Exotic Plants carefully handpicked by our editorial team. If you’re seeking to infuse your garden with a touch of exotic allure, these exceptional plant selections are sure to transport you to distant, vibrant landscapes. With their vivid colours, striking foliage, and unique features, these plants will add an enchanting and tropical ambience to your outdoor space.
Overview of our top 10 tropical & exotic plants
- Strelitzia Reginae – Bird of Paradise Plant
- Musa Red Abyssinian Banana – Ensete Ventricosum Maurelli
- Musa Lasiocarpa – Hardy Flowering Chinese Banana – Musella
- Passion Flower Caerulea – Passiflora
- King Sago Palm Trees – Cycad
- Ctenanthe Setosa Compact Star
- Canna Black Velvet
- Hibiscus Syriacus Blue Bird
- Adams Needle Yucca Jewel Palm Trees
- Trachycarpus Fortunei – Large Hardy Windmill Palm
For more details on these plants, read below.
Strelitzia Reginae – Bird of Paradise Plant
Vibrant bird of paradise with striking orange and blue flowers resembling a crane’s face. Ideal tropical houseplant, thriving in well-lit rooms. Thrives in both sun and shade, low maintenance. Gorgeous blooms last three months. It creates an instant tropical feel outdoors or indoors. Natural pollination by birds.
Musa Red Abyssinian Banana – Ensete Ventricosum Maurelli
The Red Abyssinian Banana (Ensete Maurelli) is a fantastic tropical and exotic plant. Its large, colourful paddle-like leaves and dark maroon foliage with blood-red stems create a stunning visual impact. This fast-growing plant thrives when well-fed and watered.
Musa Lasiocarpa – Hardy Flowering Chinese Banana – Musella
Musa lasiocarpa is a fantastic tropical and exotic plant due to its large, graceful leaves, compact size for smaller gardens, conical trunk, and grey-green foliage.
Passion Flower Caerulea – Passiflora
Exotic passion flower: Stunning white flowers with colourful filaments, followed by vibrant fruit. Hardy and thrive in hot climates. Perfect for tropical gardens.
King Sago Palm Trees – Cycad
Cycas revoluta, also known as the King Sago Palm, is a tropical and exotic plant that is highly desirable for several reasons. With a rugged trunk and whorled feathery leaves, it has a unique and unusual appearance.
Ctenanthe Setosa Compact Star
The Ctenanthe, or Fishbone Prayer Plant, is a stunning tropical and exotic indoor house plant. Its silver leaves with dark grey-green, herring-bone striped patterns and purple undersides make it a great addition to any space.
Canna Black Velvet
Canna Black Velvet is a tropical and exotic plant that offers a combination of size, vigour, and stunning colours. With bright red blooms and near-black foliage, it creates a striking contrast. It forms dense clumps of dramatic foliage, making it ideal for tropical or jungle-themed landscapes. It thrives in sunny borders or even planted in pond margins. It’s easy to grow and requires regular watering.
Hibiscus Syriacus Blue Bird
Hibiscus Blue Bird is a magnificent and hardy tropical plant. It is easy to grow, requires low maintenance, and blooms prolifically from mid-late summer into autumn. With its bright blue, trumpet-shaped flowers and exotic feel, it adds a vibrant touch to any garden or patio. It thrives in well-drained sunny spots and is tolerant of various garden conditions, making it a versatile and desirable choice.
Adams Needle Yucca Jewel Palm Trees
This hardy variegated garden yucca is a great tropical and exotic plant. It adds an architectural statement with its tall structure and attractive spiky green and cream foliage. It is drought-tolerant, withstanding both summer heat and winter frosts. Ideal for outdoor or indoor settings, thriving in well-drained soil and full sun.
Trachycarpus Fortunei – Large Hardy Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus is an ideal tropical plant for the UK, thriving in harsh British winters. With its striking fan-shaped dark green leaves, it adds an exotic touch to gardens and courtyards. This hardy palm, also known as the Windmill or Chusan palm, makes a stunning specimen plant and can be easily grown in containers.
There are so many other plants that we could have included such as exotic-looking bamboos but hopefully, we have given you a taster of how you can create your very own tropical garden – now get planting.
