Are you looking for plants that don’t require a lot of maintenance? Tropical landscape plants are beautiful and can add a lot to your yard, but often they come with a high price tag and need a lot of care. At the end of the day, you don’t want to spend all your time watering and caring for your plants.
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That’s why we’ve put together this list of 25 low maintenance tropical landscape plants. These plants will look great in any yard without requiring hours of work each week. So whether you’re busy or just lazy, these plants are perfect for you!
25 low maintenance tropical landscape plants!
25 low maintenance tropical landscape plants are below
#1 – Dwarf Poinciana (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
Also Known as: Peacock Flower, Pride of Barbados
Origin: Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
The Dwarf Poinciana is a lovely, low-maintenance tropical plant that can brighten and enliven any environment. It has a natural range that includes Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, where it grows to be 3-6 feet tall. It requires full sun for optimum results. Growing rapidly and reaching heights of 10 to 15 feet, it is drought tolerant and thrives in light to partial shade.
#2 – Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior)
Also Known as: Etlingera, Ginger Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily
Origin: Malaysia
Height: Up to 8 feet (2.4 m)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
Blooming Period: Summer
A showy plant, torch ginger is commonly used as an ornamental in tropical gardens. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and produces dramatic, cone-shaped inflorescences that range in color from deep pink to red. Though it’s technically a perennial, torch ginger is typically grown as an annual in cold climates.
#3 – Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Also Known as Crane Flower,
Origin: South Africa
Height: To 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
Bloom Time: Summer (year-round in frost-free areas)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Conditions: Rich, well-drained soils.
This plant is a stunning addition to any tropical landscape! The Bird of Paradise is a low maintenance plant that is easy to care for. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. This plant is drought tolerant and can even tolerate salt spray.
#4 – Golden Dewdrop (Duranta erecta)
Also Known as: Skyflower, Pigeonberry
Origin: South America
Height: Up to 15 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
What’s Great About It: This shrub is almost too easy to grow-it’s fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and tolerant of just about any type of soil. It produces an abundance of blue or purple flowers from summer until fall, and its berries attract birds.
Caring Tips: Golden dewdrop can become somewhat leggy if not pruned regularly. To keep it looking its best, trim it back by a third after flowering. It can also be espaliered or trained as a small tree.
Planting Instructions:
Select a location in full sun to partial shade. Golden dewdrop is tolerant of just about any type of soil, including poor, sandy, or clay soils. It’s also drought-tolerant once established. To plant, dig a hole that’s twice the width of the root ball and mix some compost into the backfill soil.
Fertilizing Needs:
Golden dewdrop doesn’t require much fertilizer, but you can feed it once a month with a general purpose fertilizer if you’d like.
Pruning Needs:
This shrub can become somewhat leggy if not pruned regularly. To keep it looking its best, trim it back by a third after flowering. It can also be espaliered or trained as a small tree.
Pests and Diseases:
Golden dewdrop is relatively pest and disease free. The occasional aphid or whitefly may appear, but they cause little to no damage.
#5 – African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata)
Also Known as: Flamboyant, Fountain Tree, Peach Blossom
Origin: Africa
Size: Up to 30 ft. tall and wide
Plant Type: Tree
Height: Up to 30 ft.
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
The African tulip tree, sometimes known as the Angola bush or Angola shrub, is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant evergreen tree with a height of up to 30 feet. It produces large spectacular flowers in a wide range of hues including orange, yellow, and scarlet. The African tulip tree is indigenous to Africa, but it may be cultivated in warm and subtropical climates throughout the world.
#6 – Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
Also Known as: Peacock Flower, Dwarf Poinciana, Bird of Paradise Flower
Origin: West Indies
Size: To 20 feet tall and wide
Height: 20 feet
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Summer
Soil: Well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Pride of Barbados is a heat-tolerant, multibranched shrub that thrives in a wide range of soils and makes an excellent addition to tropical gardens. Its flowers, which come in bright scarlet all year, are frequently incorporated into floral arrangements. Pride of Barbados is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t need much attention once it’s planted.
#7 – Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Also Known as: Flame Tree, Flamboyant, Kapok Tree
Origin: Madagascar
Size: To 40 feet tall and wide
Height: 40 feet
Plant Type: Deciduous tree
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Soil: Well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
A spectacular tree that is prized for its beautiful, showy flowers, Royal Poinciana is a popular choice for tropical landscaping. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil, and it is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Royal Poinciana is a fast-growing tree, so it will need regular pruning to control its size.
#8 – Flamboyant Tree (Delonix regia)
Also Known as: Flame Tree, Royal Poinciana
Origin: Madagascar
Size: To 40 feet tall and wide
Height: 40 feet
Plant Type: Deciduous tree
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Soil: Well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flamboyant Tree is a magnificent tree known for its gorgeous, showy blooms that are commonly used in tropical landscaping. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is drought-tolerant once planted. The Flamboyant Tree grows fast, so it will need regular pruning to maintain control of its size.
#9- Scarlet Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)
Also Known as: Texas Star, Scarlet Rose Mallow, SwampRose Mallow
Origin: United States
Size: To 6 feet tall and wide
Height: 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Scarlet Hibiscus, native to the southern United States, is a heat-tolerant plant that grows in moist, well-drained soil. It creates stunning red flowers that bloom from summer through fall, and its foliage is beautiful all year round. Scarlet Hibiscus is a low-maintenance shrub that only needs some care after it’s planted.
#10 – Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans)
Also Known as: Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Trumpet, Yellow Elder
Origin: Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies
Size: To 15 feet tall and wide
Height: 15 feet
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub or small tree
Size: Medium to large
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Soil: Well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Yellow Bells is a showy, heat-tolerant shrub that’s often used as a hedge or screen in tropical settings. It produces a plethora of golden flowers from spring to summer and glossy green leaves that are beautiful all year. Yellow Bells is an easy-to-grow plant that just needs some attention once it has taken root.
#11 – Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
Also Known as: Devil’s Trumpet, Datura
Origin: South America
Size: To 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide
Height: 15 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium to large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Angel’s Trumpet is a lovely, fragrant plant with trumpet-shaped blooms that is popular in tropical settings. It prefers full sun to part
#12 – Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Also Known as: Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
Origin: Brazil
Size: To 6 feet tall and wide
Height: 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Winter
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
Christmas Cactus is a stunning, holiday-themed plant that is popular among tropical gardeners due to its spectacular blooms. It prefers part shade to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. Christmas Cactus is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require much care after it’s been planted.
#13 – Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)
Also Known as: Impala Lily, Sabi Star
Origin: Arabia, East Africa
Size: To 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Height: 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Soil: Well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
A beautiful, heat-tolerant plant that is prized for its showy flowers, Desert Rose is a popular choice for tropical landscaping.It thrives best in full sunshine and well-drained soil, and it is fairly drought tolerant once planted. Because Desert Rose grows quickly, regular pruning is necessary to maintain its size.
#14 – Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Also Known as: Crane Flower
Origin: South Africa
Size: To 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Height: 5 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
A beautiful, heat-tolerant plant that is prized for its showy flowers, Bird of Paradise is a popular choice for tropical landscaping. It does best in full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained ground, and it is tolerant of drought once established. Because this plant grows so quickly, it must be pruned on a regular basis to keep it in check.
#15 – Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Also Known as: Chinese Hibiscus, Hawaiian Hibiscus
Origin: China
Size: To 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide
Height: 10 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Hibiscus is a stunning, heat-tolerant flower that is popular in tropical gardens.. Hibiscus is a tropical flowering herb, native to Mexico and Guatemala. It thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
#16 – Lantana (Lantana camara)
Origin: Tropical America
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Height: 3 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Small
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Lantana is a lovely, heat-tolerant shrub that is popular for its spectacular blooms in tropical environments. It likes bright sun and moist, well-drained soil. It’s resistant to drought once established. Lantana is a fast-growing, self-seeding shrub that may require trimming on a regular basis to maintain management of its growth.
#17 – Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)
Origin: South America
Size: To 20 feet tall and wide
Height: 20 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
The attractive blossoms of the Mandevilla are responsible for its popularity as a tropical garden plant.. It prefers full sun to some shade and moist, well-drained soil. It is highly drought-tolerant once it has been set. Because mandevilla grows quickly, it must be trimmed on a regular basis to maintain control over its size.
#18 – Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
Origin: China
Size: To 6 feet tall and wide
Height: 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Gardenia is a lovely, heat-tolerant plant with spectacular blooms that is popular in tropical gardens. It thrives in full light to part shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soil, and it is drought-resistant after it has established. Gardenia grows slowly, so little pruning will be required to maintain its proportions.
#19 – Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Origin: Mediterranean
Size: To 20 feet tall and wide
Height: 20 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
A beautiful, heat-tolerant plant that is prized for its showy flowers, Oleander is a popular choice for tropical landscaping. It grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and it is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Oleander is a fast-growing plant, so it will need regular pruning to control its size.
#20 – Plumeria (Plumeria rubra)
Origin: Mexico, Central America
Size: To 20 feet tall and wide
Height: 20 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Plumeria is a stunning, heat-tolerant shrub that’s commonly used in tropical plantings. It grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and it is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Because it is a fast-growing plant, pruning it on a regular basis is required to keep its size in control.
#21 – Cannas (Canna indica)
Origin: India
Size: To 6 feet tall and wide
Height: 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Cannas are a popular choice for tropical landscaping because of their attractive, heat-tolerant blooms.They appreciate full sun and rich, moist, well-drained soil, and they are fairly drought-tolerant once established.Because cannas are fast-growing plants that require regular pruning to control their size, they should be trimmed frequently.
#22 – Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Origin: China
Size: To 15 feet tall and wide
Height: 15 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Hibiscus is a dramatic hibiscus plant that is popular for tropical landscaping. It thrives in full sun to part shade and moist , well-drained soil, and it is highly drought-tolerant once it has been set. Hibiscus grows relatively slowly, so it will require little pruning to maintain its size.
#23 – Alocasia (Alocasia sanderiana)
Origin: Philippines
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Height: 3 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Small
Bloom Time: N/A
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
The beautiful heat-tolerant plant Alocasia is often grown in tropical gardens. It likes part shade to full shade and moist, well-drained soil, and it is drought tolerant when grown appropriately. Because Alocasia grows slowly, only minor pruning will be required to maintain its size.
#24 – Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Origin: South Africa
Size: To 4 feet tall and wide
Height: 4 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Medium
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Soil: Moist, well-drained, sandy
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
The bird of paradise is a lovely, heat-tolerant plant that is often seen in tropical gardens. It prefers full sunshine to part shade and moist, well-drained sand. It is drought tolerant once established, and little pruning is required.
#25 – Heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum)
Origin: Caribbean, Central and South America
Size: To 10 feet tall and wide
Height: 10 feet
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: Large
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Soil: Moist, well-drained, rich
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Heliconia is a beautiful plant that may be found in tropical gardens. It thrives in full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained, fertile soil. It is very drought tolerant once it has established itself. Heliconia grows fast, so frequent trimming is required to control its size.
Conclusion – 25 Low Maintenance Tropical Landscape Plants
Plants from the tropics may bring a touch of paradise to your house. They are typically simple to care for and maintain, making them an excellent option for individuals who just want to enjoy the beauty of the tropics without having to do all of the work. When choosing tropical landscape plants for your home, think about their light and water needs.
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