Pacific Northwest Tropical Plant Database

Cold-Hardy Palms

Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)

Hardiness: 5°F (Zone 7–11)
Height: 20–40 ft
Light: Sun/Part Shade
Water: Moderate
Landscape Use: Focal points, entryways
Buy: Fertilizer | Frost Cloth | 3–4 ft Palm

Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix)

Hardiness: –5°F (Zone 6–11)
Height: 4–6 ft
Light: Shade–Part Shade
Water: Moist
Landscape Use: Shade gardens, foundation plantings

Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis)

Hardiness: 10°F (Zone 8–11)
Height: 8–15 ft
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low–Moderate
Landscape Use: Rock gardens, slopes, multi-trunk accent

Sabal Minor (Dwarf Palmetto)

Hardiness: 0°F (Zone 7–11)
Height: 3–6 ft
Light: Sun–Shade
Water: Moderate
Landscape Use: Wet areas, understory planting

Sabal Birmingham

Hardiness: ~5°F (Zone 7–10)
Height: 15–25 ft
Light: Sun
Water: Moderate
Landscape Use: Large tropical focal tree

Sabal Louisiana

Hardiness: 5–10°F
Height: 15–20 ft
Light: Sun
Water: Moist–Wet tolerant
Landscape Use: Low areas, coastal sites

Tropical Accent Plants

Hardy Banana (Musa basjoo)

Hardiness: 0°F with mulch
Height: 10–18 ft
Light: Sun
Look: Huge tropical leaves
Use: Instant tropical effect

Ensete Maurelii (Red Abyssinian Banana)

Hardiness: 20–25°F (overwinter indoors)
Height: 8–12 ft
Color: Deep red foliage
Use: Bold accent

Tetrapanax (Rice Paper Plant)

Hardiness: 10°F
Height: 10–15 ft
Look: Massive leaves
Use: Jungle-style gardens

Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos)

• Hardiness: Zones 4–9

• Height: 3–7 ft

• Light: Full Sun

• Color: Vibrant blooms in shades of red, pink, white, and magenta

• Landscape Use: Bold summer focal point or border color
  A dramatic flowering perennial that brings true tropical-looking blooms to cooler climates — great for summertime impact.

Canna Lily (Canna indica hybrids)

• Hardiness: Zones 7–10 (dig and store rhizomes in cooler areas)

• Height: 3–6 ft

• Light: Full Sun

• Color: Red, orange, yellow, pink flowers; bold foliage

• Landscape Use: Containers, beds, pool edges
  Cannas offer long seasons of color and bold, tropical foliage that pairs well with palms and other large-leaf accent plants.

Cape Fuchsia (Phygelius)

• Hardiness: Zones 7–10

• Height: 2–4 ft

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade

• Color: Red-orange tubular flowers

• Landscape Use: Containers, borders, pollinator gardens
  Provides late-season nectar and color and mixes well with tropical foliage.

Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)

• Hardiness: Zones 4–9

• Height: 1–3 ft

• Light: Part Shade

• Color: Pink, red, white, purple plumes

• Landscape Use: Moist shady borders or foundation plantings
  Soft, plume-like flower spikes add textural contrast and color in areas where tropical foliage alone might feel too heavy.

Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)

• Hardiness: Zones 4–9

• Height: 1–2 ft

• Light: Part Shade to Full Sun

• Color: Foliage in burgundy, lime, purple, and silver tones; delicate flowers

• Landscape Use: Edges, groundcover, mass plantings
  Coral Bells provide year-round color and foliage contrast, especially useful around structural plants like palms or bananas.

Evergreen Tropicals

Fatsia Japonica (Japanese Aralia)

Hardiness: 5–10°F
Height: 5–8 ft
Light: Shade–Part Shade
Use: Understory, tropical borders

Phormium (New Zealand Flax)

Hardiness: 15–20°F
Height: 3–8 ft
Colors: Green, bronze, variegated
Use: Spiky form contrast

Cordyline Australis

Hardiness: 15–20°F
Height: 10–20 ft
Use: Palm-like color accent

Mahonia ‘Charity’

• Hardiness: Zones 6–9

• Height: 8–10 ft

• Light: Part Shade to Sun

• Color: Bright yellow winter blooms + blue berries

• Landscape Use: Background texture, winter interest
  Mahonia blooms in winter when most plants are dormant, adding early flower color and structure to tropical-inspired plantings.

Camellia sasanqua

• Hardiness: Zones 7–9

• Height: 6–10 ft

• Light: Part Shade

• Color: Red, white, or pink blooms in winter or early spring

• Landscape Use: Evergreen hedge or specimen
  Camellias extend seasonal blooms and pair beautifully with broadleaf tropical plants in cooler gardens.