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Hardiness Zones / 12

Hardiness Zones

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Zone 12

Hardiness zone 12: lowest average temperatures of 50°F and 60°F or +10°C and +15.6°C

USDA Hardiness Zone 12, characterized by a tropical climate with minimum temperatures between 50°F (10°C) and 60°F (15.6°C), offers a unique opportunity for gardeners to grow a diverse range of exotic and heat-tolerant plants. Choosing the right plants adapted to the local climate is crucial for a thriving garden in Zone 12.

Trees: In this zone, you can grow tropical fruit trees such as Mango (Mangifera indica), Papaya (Carica papaya), and Avocado (Persea americana). Other suitable trees include Flamboyant Tree (Delonix regia), Soft Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica), and Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina).

Shrubs: Heat-loving shrubs like Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.), and Plumeria (Plumeria spp.) produce vibrant blooms and add color to your garden. 

Perennials: Tropical perennials like Orchids (Orchidaceae family), Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae family), and Heliconia (Heliconia spp.) offer exotic flowers and unique foliage. Elephant Ears (Colocasia and Alocasia spp.) and Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia spp.) can also be grown in this zone, providing striking focal points in your garden.

By selecting a diverse range of plants that are well-suited for the tropical climate of USDA Hardiness Zone 12, you can create a lush, vibrant, and resilient garden. Keep in mind that microclimates, soil conditions, and other local factors may influence plant growth and adaptability.

Zone 12 Guides


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Agave attenuata 'Boutin Blue' (Fox Tail Agave)

A splendid blue selection of Fox Tail Agave, Agave attenuata 'Boutin Blue' is an evergreen succulent perennial which produces elegant rosettes of wide, flexible, blue-green leaves, without any teeth along their margins. Emerging from a tight center, the soft, pliable, voluptuous leaves arch gracefully back.

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Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' (Fox Tail Agave)

An exquisite variegated selection of Fox Tail Agave, Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' is an evergreen succulent perennial which produces elegant rosettes of wide, flexible, pale green leaves, adorned with a fine white streak running the length of each leaf margin. Emerging from a tight center, the soft, pliable leaves arch gracefully back.

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Agave attenuata (Fox Tail Agave)

Unlike many Agaves, Agave attenuata (Fox Tail Agave) is an evergreen succulent perennial which produces a handsome rosette of silvery, pale green leaves, up to 4 ft. wide (120 cm), without teeth or terminal spines. Borne on a thick stem which can reach 4 ft. (120 cm), the rosette is composed of flexible leaves which gracefully arch back, resembling an open flower.

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Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave)

Surprisingly cold hardy, award-winning Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming pretty rosettes of thick, rigid, silvery-blue to silvery-green leaves, tipped and edged with short, dark spines.

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Agave parryi var. huachucensis (Artichoke Agave)

Fairly compact and cold tolerant, Agave parryi var. huachucensis (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming tight rosettes of broad, thick, rigid, silvery-gray leaves with a conspicuous dark terminal spine. Amazing when massed in a sunny garden, as a groundcover, or in large containers.

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Agave parryi var. truncata 'Huntington' (Artichoke Agave)

Highly sought after, Agave parryi var. truncata 'Huntington' (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming tight rosettes of thick, broad, short, pale blue-gray leaves with widely spaced small teeth and a wavy terminal spine. Dark reddish-brown on new leaves, the spines fade to gray on older leaves. Adding intriguing beauty, the leaves carry on their lower surfaces the distinct imprints of the thorny leaf margins of the previous outer leaf-bud.

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Agave parryi var. truncata (Artichoke Agave)

Fairly compact and cold tolerant, Agave parryi var. truncata (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming tight rosettes of broad, short, thick, silvery-blue leaves with conspicuous reddish-brown teeth and terminal spines.

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Alocasia macrorrhiza (Giant Taro)

A striking beauty with its dramatic, gigantic leaves, Alocasia macrorrhiza (Giant Taro) is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial which is excellent for bringing a lush look to gardens. Resembling the ears of an elephant, thick, prominently-veined, ruffled, green leaves are borne on rigid stalks (petioles) which jut vertically from a stout upright trunk.

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Alocasia x amazonica 'Polly' (Amazonian Elephant Ear)

A striking and beautiful houseplant, Alocasia x amazonica 'Polly' (Amazonian Elephant Ear) is a robust rhizomatous evergreen perennial with dark green, narrowly arrow-shaped, wavy-edged leaves, adorned with ribs and margins marked in bright creamy white.

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Alocasia x amazonica (Amazonian Elephant Ear)

A striking and beautiful houseplant, Alocasia x amazonica (Amazonian Elephant Ear) is a robust rhizomatous evergreen perennial with dark green, narrowly arrow-shaped, wavy-edged leaves, up to 2 ft. long (60 cm), adorned with ribs and margins marked in bright creamy white. Reminiscent of calla lily flowers, yellow flowers appear sporadically amid the boldly patterned leaves on older plants.

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Aloe aristata (Torch Plant)

Hardy and attractive, Aloe aristata (Torch Plant) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming charming rosettes, packed with fleshy, lance-shaped, incurved leaves with tufted tips. Pale green in the shade, the leaves turn dark green in full sun. Each leaf exhibits scattered white spots, raised near the base and becoming spiny towards the tips.

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Aloe cameronii (Red Aloe)

Regarded as one of the most attractive foliage Aloes, Aloe cameronii (Red Aloe) is an evergreen succulent with upright stems of open rosettes. The fleshy, gracefully curving leaves are a rainbow of colors ranging from green to a rich coppery red, depending on sun and water.

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Aloe capitata var. quartziticola

A stemless Aloe, Aloe capitata var. quarziticola is an evergreen succulent perennial forming a beautiful open rosette of fleshy, tapered, gray-green leaves, up to 18 in. long (45 cm). Milky blue-gray in cloudy conditions, the leaves turn purple-tinged with brighter exposure.

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Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe)

Native to South Africa, Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe) is a large and showy, evergreen succulent forming a dense rosette of blue-green, lance-shaped leaves, often flushed with rose, up to 3 ft. long (90 cm). Each leaf is adorned with dark brown spines along the edges and on the leaf surfaces, especially on the lower surface.

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Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe)

Prized for its colorful flowers and interesting foliage, Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming small rosettes of thick, sword-shaped, white spotted leaves adorned with sharp teeth along their edges. Pinkish red in full sun, the foliage turns bluish-green in part shade.

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