17 Best Tropical Flowers and Plants

Tropical regions around the world harbor a dazzling diversity of beautiful foliage and flowering plants. The warm humid climates of the tropics allow exploration of plant life forms well beyond what grows in cooler landscapes. Whether perennial or annual in nature, tropical flowers, and foliage plants can transport the senses with their vibrant colors, novel shapes, intoxicating fragrances, and overall unique exotic atmospheric qualities. 

While many such flora remain confined to native rainforests and jungles, horticulture has made possible the cultivation of numerous tropical plant species beyond their areas of origin. Here are a few flowers for a tropical garden!

Hibiscus

Hibiscus flowers are these big, bright blooms that come in colors like red, orange, yellow, and pink tropical flowers. And these flowers can be over 6 inches wide. People drink hibiscus tea all over the world because it’s supposed to be good for you. The flowers are also used to make jams and jellies. Hibiscus plants will grow into bushes or small trees in tropical climates. As of 1988, Hawaii’s state flower was the yellow Hibiscus, a native plant.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 9-10

Colors: Pink, white, orange, red, yellow

Sunlight Needs: Full sunlight

Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining soil

Dieffenbachia

Also called dumb cane, dieffenbachia leaves a literal impression with their thick dark green stripes or mottled patterns in cream and variegated shades. While they lack true blooms, their shapely architectural leaves offer a worthy ornamental presence indoors.

Growing Zone Requirements: Dieffenbachia can be grown year-round as a houseplant in zones 10-11.

Colors: Green and white variegation on leaves.

Sunlight Needs: Bright, indirect light. They burn easily in the direct sun.

Soil Needs: Well-draining, organic potting mix. The soil should not remain soggy.

Orchids

Orchids are probably the most well-known tropical wedding flowers. They come in a huge variety of colors and shapes. Some have super unique patterns that look like animal faces. One cool thing about orchids is that they grow on other plants in the wild. They don’t need soil to survive – their roots attach directly to trees. It’s pretty amazing that they can grow up high without soil. There are over 25,000 different types of orchids!

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 5-9

Colors: Wide variety

Sunlight Needs: Filtered light

Soil Needs: A chunky, bark-based growing mix

Bird of Paradise

As the name suggests, bird of paradise flowers kinda look like colorful tropical birds in flight. The flower parts are these pointed bracts that stick up and out like feathers. They come in shades of orange, yellow, white, and red flowering tropical plants. The plant grows upright clusters of flowers on tall stalks. So the whole plant resembles a colorful flock of birds taking off.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 10-13

Colors: Red with hints of yellow and green

Sunlight Needs: Moderate to lots of sunlight

Soil Needs: Well-draining soil

Anthurium

Anthuriums, also known as flamingo flowers, have heart-shaped leaves and waxy tropical silk flowers that point upward. They like to grow in humid conditions in dense rainforests. Their flowers last a long time, which makes anthurium popular cut flowers for home decor and gifts.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 10 or higher

Colors: Red, white, pink, burgundy, purple, green

Sunlight Needs: Indirect sunlight

Soil Needs: Rich, moist soil

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea has some really unique paper-like bracts. The bracts resemble flower petals but aren’t true petals. They come wrapped all around the thin branches in bright colors like fuchsia, pink, orange, white, red, and purple tropical flowers. Bougainvillea vines can grow super long, even over 15 feet tall when trained up fences or trees. They’re one of the most commonly planted tropical landscape plants.

Growing Zone Requirements: USDA hardiness zones 9–11

Colors: Various colors

Sunlight Needs: Full sun

Soil Needs: Well-draining soil

Also Read: Bougainvillea Care and Growing Guide

Plumeria

Also known as frangipani, plumeria flowers are five-petaled blooms that give off an awesome tropical fragrance. In Hawaii, plumeria lei are traditionally given as gifts. The flowers are used to honor special events like birthdays, graduations, or weddings. Plumeria prefer warm, tropical climates where they can grow into small trees.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 10-12

Colors: Pink, yellow, white, red

Sunlight Needs: Full sunlight

Soil Needs: Well-draining soil

Ginger

There are over 1,000 varieties of ginger plants that grow in tropical climates. Some have colorful blooms, while many are grown for their root which is used as a spice. Ornamental ginger varieties have tall stalks topped with whorls of pink, yellow, and white tropical flowers. The plants have narrow green leaves and grow upright. 

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 7-10

Colors: Pink, red, yellow

Sunlight Needs: Partial or filtered sunlight

Soil Needs: Loamy soil

Heliconia

Also called lobster claws, heliconia flowers resemble bright tropical lobster tails or parrot beaks. They come in shades of red, yellow, pink, purple, and orange tropical flowers. The flowers grow together on stalks above broad banana-like leaves. Different Heliconia varieties have differently patterned and shaped bracts and petals. 

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 5-9

Colors: Wide variety

Sunlight Needs: Filtered light

Soil Needs: A chunky, bark-based growing mix

Jacaranda

If you’ve ever seen photos of streets lined with purple trees, those were likely jacarandas. These beautiful tropical trees have feathery, fern-like leaves and produce cylindrical clusters of purple, violet, or light blue tropical flower clusters. It’s an awesome site to see an entire jacaranda tree or street covered in bloom. 

USDA Growing Zones: 9-11

Colors: Violet, Blue

Sun Needs: Full sun

Soil Needs: Well-draining soil

Kalanchoe

Displaying rosette forms with thick fleshy leaves, kalanchoe delight through seasonal bloom clusters bearing bright pink, orange, or yellow flowers. Common types consist of flapjack kalanchoe bearing colorful scalloped edging and mother of thousands with plantlet sprouting leaf tips. Requiring only average water and light, kalanchoe makes low-demand succulent beauties for tables and shelves coast to coast.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 9-12.

Colors: Leaves come in shades of green, red, pink and orange. Flowers are pink, yellow, or red.

Sunlight Needs: Bright, indirect light. They can tolerate low light as well.

Soil Needs: Well-draining, lightly moist soil. 

Water Lily

Some of the prettiest tropical flowers in Florida float on top of ponds and lakes. Their large, round leaves and flowers spend their time floating serenely on the water’s surface. At night, some varieties will close their blooms. Water lilies prefer still or slow-moving fresh water.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 3-11, depending on variety. Requires a pond or still water.

Colors: Mainly pinks, whites, yellows and reds.

Sunlight Needs: Full sun.

Soil/Water Needs: Muddy pond bottom. Can grow in containers placed in water gardens.

Bromeliad

There are over 3,000 types of bromeliads, and many grow as epiphytes high in tropical trees without actual soil contact. Popular varieties include air plants, pineapples, and earth stars. These tropical flowering plants come in various flower colors and have rosettes of thick leaves. Bromeliads prefer warmth, humidity, and well-draining soil. Their rosettes often collect and hold rainwater.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 9-10

Colors: Red, pink, yellow, and orange

Sunlight Needs: Bright to filter light

Soil Needs: An airy orchid mix

Passion

Passion flowers have charming cone-shaped blooms with delicate purple, white, or reddish petals and purple-colored filaments in the center. They also produce delicious, juicy tropical fruits. The fruits come in orange, yellow, or purple colors when ripe. Although technically a fruit, passionflowers are grown for their beautifully complex flowers.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 9-11

Colors: Lavender, white, or purple blooms

Sunlight Needs: Full sun.

Soil/Water Needs: Well-draining, fertile soil. Provide regular water when fruit is forming.

Gardenia

Gardenias have sweetly scented, waxy white flowers that bloom throughout the warmer seasons. Their glossy dark leaves provide a contrast to the blooms. Because of their alluring fragrance, gardenias are often used fresh or dried in floral arrangements and potpourris. 

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 7-10

Colors: White flowers, dark green leaves

Sunlight Needs: Partial shade (morning sun is ideal).

Soil Needs: Rich, acidic, well-draining soil

Croton

Crotons become highlighted features through their brightly colored leaves marked by shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, and more. Their patterns range from simple splashes to intricate designs. For top coloration, crotons demand high light indoors. Outdoors in frost-free climates, they remain evergreen. 

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 10-12

Colors: Leaves vary in yellow, red, orange, and pink shades.

Sunlight Needs: Bright, indirect light for vibrant color.

Soil Needs: Well-draining potting mix

Heliconia

Also called lobster claw or parrot flower, heliconia varieties have brightly colored zigzag bracts and petals that resemble lobster tails or parrot beaks. These flowers grow together on stalks over broad green leaves.

Growing Zone Requirements: Zones 10-13

Colors: Red with hints of yellow and green

Sunlight Needs: Moderate to lots of sunlight

Soil Needs: Well-draining soil

To start your own collection of tropical beauties, consider order flowers online from SnapBlooms. Turn your home or yard into a lush oasis with a tropical plant assortment!