Plants & Growing

A practical guide to palms, tropical plants, and growing success in temperate climates

Growing tropical-looking plants outside of the tropics isn’t about luck — it’s about understanding plant selection, soil, placement, and seasonal behavior.

At Pacific Northwest Tropics, we focus on plants that look tropical but can realistically be grown, maintained, and enjoyed in temperate regions. This guide brings together our core plant knowledge, from palms and bananas to accent plants and soil strategy.

If you’re new here, this page is your foundation.

Understanding Tropical-Style Plants

“Tropical” describes appearance more than geography.

Large leaves, bold textures, upright forms, and strong silhouettes are what define tropical-style plants — not whether they come from a rainforest. Many of these plants adapt well to cooler climates when grown correctly.

This includes:

• Hardy and semi-hardy palms

• Fast-growing foliage plants

• Clumping perennials with tropical form

• Structural accent plants used in landscape design

➡️ Cold-Hardy Palms Guide
➡️ Tropical Living & Design

➡️ Visit our Database

Palms: The Backbone of Tropical Landscapes

Palms provide year-round structure that other plants can’t. Even when surrounding plants die back, palms maintain form, height, and presence.

In temperate climates, palms are chosen based on:

• Cold tolerance

• Drainage requirements

• Wind exposure

• Mature size and growth rate

Some palms are evergreen anchors, while others act as seasonal or container-grown features.

➡️ Cold-Hardy Palms Guide
➡️ How to Transplant a Palm Tree Without Killing It

Broadleaf & Accent Plants

While palms give structure, accent plants create impact.

These include bananas, cannas, colocasia, gingers, and other bold-leaf plants that:

• Grow quickly during warm months

• Fill visual space fast

• Create movement and density

• Die back or slow down seasonally

Used together, they allow gardens to evolve through the year rather than looking static.

➡️ Banana Palms: Growing and Propagation

Soil, Drainage, and Root Health

Plant success starts below the surface.

Most tropical-style plants fail not from cold, but from poor drainage and compacted soil. Healthy roots require oxygen, moisture balance, and organic matter.

Key principles we focus on:

• Amending native soil instead of replacing it

• Avoiding waterlogged planting sites

• Using mulch to regulate temperature and moisture

• Matching soil structure to plant type

➡️ Soil Mix Comparisons for Tropical Plants

Seasonal Growth Patterns

Tropical-style plants do not grow evenly year-round in temperate climates.

Expect:

• Rapid growth in late spring and summer

• Slower growth or dormancy in winter

• Leaf damage without plant loss

• Regrowth from roots or crowns

Understanding this cycle prevents unnecessary plant removal and helps set realistic expectations.

➡️ Internal link: Seasonal Care Checklist for Tropical Plants

Cold Tolerance (One Piece of the Puzzle)

Cold hardiness matters — but it’s only part of the equation.

Temperature, soil moisture, wind exposure, and plant maturity all influence survival. Some plants tolerate cold better once established, while others rebound quickly even after visible damage.

Cold tolerance should be viewed as risk management, not a binary yes-or-no trait.

Choosing the Right Plants for Your Space

Before planting, consider:

• Available sunlight

• Soil drainage

• Wind exposure

• Maintenance tolerance

• Long-term size

A smaller number of well-placed plants almost always outperforms overplanting.

➡️Designing a Tropical Backyard in the Pacific Northwest

How This Guide Is Used

This page acts as:

• A starting point for new readers

• A navigation hub for plant-related content

• A reference page for growing fundamentals

• A trust signal for advertisers and partners

All plant-focused articles on this site connect back here.

Where to Go Next

If you’re deciding what to grow:

• Start with palms for structure

• Add accent plants for seasonal impact

• Focus on soil and placement before variety

• Adjust expectations, not ambition

➡️ Cold-Hardy Palms Guide
➡️Tropical Living & Design

➡️Visit our Gallery