Travel to the tropics

For many of us living in North America, this time of year means throwing on our winter coats, scraping the ice off our car windows, and longing for the sweltering days of summer. While we may be miles away from the tropics and months away from a summer breeze, tropical plants can provide a sense of paradise. Here are a few varieties that can help turn homes, landscapes and more, into tropical getaways.

Cordyline Centerpiece Electra
Bright fuchsia leaves are streaked with hot pink and creamy chocolate on this bold cordyline. Part of the Centerpiece Cordyline collection, Electra can be used as a container thriller or in the landscape, and needs full sun. Hardy to Zones 9 and 10, it grows up to 36 inches tall and 24 inches in spread.

For more: Hort Couture, hortcoutureplants.com

Medinilla Magnifica
Voted Best New Flowering Plant at TPIE 2012, Magnifica is a medinilla that is supplied as a houseplant. Originating from the Philippines, it blooms large, showy pink flowers, giving its common name “pink lantern.” Its normal bloom time is three months, but it can flower up to six months. The Missouri Botanical Garden says it is hardy to Zones 10 and 11 and needs protection from the afternoon sun.

For more: Medinilla Magnifica, medinilla.ca

Sun Parasol Stars & Stripes Mandevilla
Named the Favorite New Flowering Plant at TPIE 2010, this mandevilla blooms 2- to 3-inch red flowers with white stripes. Part of the Sun Parasol series, it’s a natural climber growing 10 to 15 feet in the landscape. Stars & Stripes has an upright habit, good branching, and flowers during the summer. Produced in 4- to 12-inch pots, it’s ideal for beddings, containers, hanging baskets or as an indoor house plant.

For more: Suntory Flowers, suntorycollection.com

Alocasia Serengeti
This alocasia produces arrowhead-shaped leaves on pink petioles with green streaks. Part of the Safari series, this vigorous grower is ideal for 6-, 8- and 10-inch containers. Its leaf blades feature light green veins with a silver shadowing on the top with a purple-colored underside. When its leaves are mature, they are almost horizontal. Serengeti is hardy to Zone 10.

For more: Oglesby Plants International Inc., oglesbytc.com

Kniphofia Echo Duo
With its bloom colors ranging from burnt orange to creamy yellow, Echo Duo stands between 30 and 36 inches above grass-like foliage. Part of the Reblooming Echo series, this prolific bloomer has low water requirements and is hardy to Zone 6. It forms a clump up to 18 inches wide, and will bloom all summer long.

For more: Itsaul Plants, itsaulplants.com

Kniphofia Orange Vanilla Popsicle
This two-toned kniphofia attracts hummingbirgs. Its flower spikes feature a red-orange on top that fades to a creamy white on the bottom. Part of the Popsicle series, Orange Vanilla has short, grassy foliage and a compact habit as the other varieties. It blooms from June through October, and will continue to bloom as long as it has some heat and high light. Orange Popsicle finishes in four to six weeks in a 4-inch container. Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, it grows 20 inches tall.

For more: Terra Nova Nurseries, terranovanurseries.com

Sun Dance Portulaca
A new series of vegetative portulaca, Sun Dance is heat-tolerant, has a semi-mounding, upright habit and grows between 10 to 14 inches in height and width. Available in Cherry Red, Gold, Lemon, Pink and White, Sun Dance’s large flowers stay open longer into the early evening. Recommended for pints, quarts, gallons and baskets, it is also suitable for use in the landscape.

For more: Sakata, sakataornamentals.com

Mystic Dahlias
These dahlias offer a stark contrast against their near-black foliage. An award-winning series, Mystic Dahlias come in eight colors, with Fantasy and Memories being the newest to the group. They have a compact habit, fast finish time, and do not require staking. Ideal for tropical or perennial garden borders, pots and planters, Mystic Dahlias perform best in full sun and rich, moisture-retentive soil.

For more: PlantHaven, planthaven.com

Alocasia Loco
Loco – the Spanish word for crazy – is a fitting name for this alocasia. Its crinkled, corrugated leaves feature white midribs against a dark green. Hardy to Zones 8 to 11, it likes full to partial sun, and can be used in planters or the landscape. An ideal accent piece for mixed containers, Loco grows up to 16 inches in height and 12 inches in spread.

For more: Hort Couture, hortcoutureplants.com