Regions / Tropical South
Tropical South Region - Inspiring Garden Ideas For All Gardeners
Selecting plants suited to the Tropical South climate is a key step to success.
Various initiatives have taken place to determine how well plants would withstand the cold winter temperatures (Plant Hardiness Zones) or when plants would start suffering from the heat (Plant Heat Zones).
The Tropical South region lies in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10-11 and in AHS Heat Zones 10 through 12.
If you know your hardiness zone and heat zone, find the best plants or exciting garden ideas for your geographic area.
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Red' (Flowering Maple)
Noted for its long flowering season and compact size, Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Red' (Flowering Maple) is a dwarf, bushy, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub bearing large, pendant, brilliant red, bell-shaped flowers. Blooming for weeks from summer to frost (and almost year-round in warm climates), they decorate the plant with a profusion of eye-catching, lantern-shaped blossoms which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The pretty flowers stand out against the fresh green foliage of maple-like leaves that line the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Tangerine' (Flowering Maple)
Noted for its long flowering season and compact size, Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Tangerine' (Flowering Maple) is a dwarf, bushy, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub bearing large, pendant, soft tangerine, bell-shaped flowers. Blooming for weeks from summer to frost (and almost year-round in warm climates), they decorate the plant with a profusion of eye-catching, lantern-shaped blossoms which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The pretty flowers stand out against the fresh green foliage of maple-like leaves that line the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern White' (Flowering Maple)
Noted for its long flowering season and compact size, Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern White' (Flowering Maple) is a dwarf, bushy, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub bearing large, pendant, pure white, bell-shaped flowers. Blooming for weeks from summer to frost (and almost year-round in warm climates), they decorate the plant with a profusion of eye-catching, lantern-shaped blossoms which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The pretty flowers stand out against the fresh green foliage of maple-like leaves that line the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Yellow' (Flowering Maple)
Noted for its long flowering season and compact size, Abutilon 'Lucky Lantern Yellow' (Flowering Maple) is a dwarf, bushy, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub bearing large, pendant, soft lemon-yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Blooming for weeks from summer to frost (and almost year-round in warm climates), they decorate the plant with a profusion of eye-catching, lantern-shaped blossoms which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The pretty flowers stand out against the fresh green foliage of maple-like leaves that line the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon 'Souvenir de Bonn' (Flowering Maple)
Abutilon 'Souvenir de Bonn' (Flowering Maple) is a large, upright, evergreen shrub bearing a profusion of pendant, salmon-pink, bell-shaped flowers, up to 2.5 in long (6 cm), adorned with dark red veining. Resembling Chinese lanterns, they dangle like porcelain earrings from the branches. Blooming for months from spring to fall (all year long in frost free areas), they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Equally beautiful, the variegated foliage of large, maple-like, dark green leaves features showy, creamy edges.
Abutilon 'Victor Reiter' (Flowering Maple)
Very floriferous, Abutilon 'Victor Reiter' (Flowering Maple) is an upright, evergreen shrub or small tree bearing a profusion of huge, outward-facing, soft tangerine, bell-shaped flowers, up to 3 in. across (7 cm). Resembling miniature pumpkins in buds, they open to form hibiscus-like flowers and dangle like porcelain earrings from the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum' (Trailing Abutilon)
Spectacular, Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum' (Trailing Abutilon) is a semi-evergreen shrub bearing pendant, bell-shaped flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), adorned with a red calyx protecting its yellow petals. Blooming for weeks from summer to frost, they decorate the plant with a profusion of blossoms resembling Chinese lanterns. Butterflies and hummingbirds feast on them. Providing a neat contrast, the variegated foliage of heart-shaped, slender pointed leaves is flecked with golden yellow spots and lines the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon megapotamicum (Trailing Abutilon)
Vigorous, Abutilon megapotamicum (Trailing Abutilon) is a semi-evergreen shrub bearing pendant, bell-shaped flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), adorned with a red calyx protecting its yellow petals. Blooming for weeks from summer to frost, they decorate the plant with a profusion of blossoms resembling Chinese lanterns. Butterflies and hummingbirds feast on them. The foliage of heart-shaped, slender pointed leaves lines the gracefully arching branches.
Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii' (Painted Abutilon)
Highly popular, Abutilon pictum 'Thompsonii' (Painted Abutilon) is a vigorous, upright, evergreen shrub or small tree bearing a profusion of showy, salmon-pink, bell-shaped flowers. Resembling Chinese lanterns, they dangle like porcelain earrings from extraordinarily long stalks. Blooming for months from spring to fall (all year long in frost-free areas), they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The variegated foliage of shiny, maple-like, dark green leaves is speckled with yellow and lines the arching branches.
Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' (Cootamundra Wattle)
Fast-growing, Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' (Cootamundra Wattle) is a large, graceful, evergreen shrub or small tree adorned with a wide-spreading canopy and weeping branches clothed in feathery, finely cut leaves. Emerging lavender to purple, the leaves turn blue-gray as they mature.
Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra Wattle)
Fast-growing, Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra Wattle) is a large, graceful evergreen shrub or small tree adorned with a wide-spreading canopy and weeping branches clothed in feathery, finely cut, blue-gray leaves. The foliage remains appealing all year round. In late winter to early spring, clouds of bright golden-yellow, small, rounded flowers held in axillary racemes cover the branches
Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle)
Fast-growing, Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle) is an evergreen shrub or small tree of loose and architectural habit with a high canopy of finely divided blue-green to silver gray leaves, 3-5 in. long (7-12 cm). The foliage remains appealing all year round. In late winter to early spring, clouds of fragrant, ball-shaped, fluffy yellow flowers held in large racemes appear on the branch tips.
Acacia podalyriifolia (Pearl Acacia)
Fast-growing, Acacia podalyriifolia (Pearl Acacia) is a large evergreen shrub or small tree adorned with silvery-gray round leaves that are satiny to the touch. The foliage remains lovely all year round. In late winter to early spring, masses of scented, fluffy, pale yellow flowers cover the branches and create a striking floral display.
Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant)
Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) is a striking, erect evergreen shrub noted for its unusual and eye-catching, long tassel-like racemes, up to 2 ft. (60 cm), of bright red to deep pink flowers. Free-flowering, the blossoms are produced sporadically throughout the year.
Acalypha wilkesiana (Jacob's Coat)
Prized for its brilliant colors and leaf patterns, Acalypha wilkesiana (Jacob's Coat) is a fast-growing tropical evergreen shrub noted for its beautiful foliage of glossy, serrated, mostly heart-shaped leaves, 5-8 in. long (12-20 cm), in shades of bronze, copper, red, gold, and even pink.
