Caring For Tropical Plants in Zone 9 Gardens
When you think of the tropics, you probably visualize brightly colored, exotic-looking flowers; large, interesting shaped foliage in various shades of green, gold, red, and orange; and, of course, palm trees. Palm trees play an important role in zone 9 tropical gardens; they are used as specimen plants, backdrops, windbreaks, and privacy screens. However, not all palms are hardy in zone 9. For zone 9 hardy palms, try these varieties:
Sago palm Macaw palm Pindo palm Cabbage palm Chinese fan palm Saw palmetto
Since cold temperatures and frost can happen in zone 9, it is important to take precautions and cover tropical plants when frost is in the forecast. Zone 9 tropical plants will also benefit from mulching their root zones before the coldest winter months in your area. Non-hardy tropical plants can be grown in pots to easily take indoors before cold can damage them.
Tropical Plants for Zone 9
Palms are not the only plants that provide dramatic foliage and texture to zone 9 tropical gardens. For example, you can add tropical-looking, colorful foliage such as:
Caladiums Cannas Agave Voodoo lilies Ferns Crotons Figs Bananas Elephant ears Bromeliads Dracaenas
Large, tropical trees can provide a shady oasis in hot, humid zone 9 tropical gardens. Some good choices might include:
Live oak Bald cypress Chinese elm Sweetgum Mahogany Pigeon plum Southern magnolia
Below are some bold, bright flowering tropical plants for zone 9:
