TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS

These Philodendron relatives in the aroid family have huge leaves that give a true tropical look. They are quite hardy, and can resprout from a large tuber, even after freezing to the ground. (Photo from http://briansbotanicals.net/)  

Aloes come in every shape and size, from small little rosettes, to large trees of twenty feet or more.  Generally the smaller species are the most hardy, but some smaller treelike forms can grow in our area.

Bananas in Sacramento? Absolutely.  These herbaceous "trees" can grow fifteen feet tall in one season.  In a mild winter, the stems may survive to bloom the following spring, in which case you may get a small supply of fruit.

Begonias are a variable group of plants.  The rhizomatous group displays beautiful leaves and can survive winters in protected shady spots in your garden.  Cane types have "angel wing" shaped leaves, and sport umbels of red, pink, or white flowers during the warm season. Tuberous types have large flashy flowers.

Tropical appearing as orchids, these pineapple relatives thrive in our hot summers, as long as you remember to keep them filled with water. The water can also moderate the temperature in winter, helping these to survive a light frost. While some tolerate full sun, most prefer dappled shade with short periods of direct sun.

Beautiful leaves, and odd, yet colorful flowers make these a great addition to the tropical looking garden.  Even though they die back after summer, they resprout even better the next spring.  

(Photo from http://briansbotanicals.net/)   

Another big leaved relative of Philodendron. These are perfect to place around your pond, and come back yearly, even if they suffer a killing frost.

The common sago palm, Cycas revoluta, is not a palm at all, but a cycad, a primitive seed-bearing plant that has been around since the age of dinosaurs. There are many other species available from online specialists.  These can get quite pricey.

Relatives of the familiar Christmas cactus, these are gangly "jungle cacti" with short lasting, but spectacular flowers.  If kept on the dry side during winter, they do well outdoors in areas of dappled shade.  In summer they thrive with moist soil.

There are many different genera of gingers, but the easiest to grow are the Hedychiums.  These rhizomatous plants can get quite big, and take over your garden if you aren't careful. Some have wonderfully scented flowers; others are scentless.