Tropical Foliage Plants for Florida Landscapes
Bold leaves, rich color and resort-style texture for Southwest Florida
Flowers come and go, but great foliage looks good every day of the year. Tropical foliage plants give a Florida landscape its lush, resort-style character: the burgundy and pink of Ti plants, the fiery reds and yellows of Crotons, the giant paddle leaves of Bird of Paradise and Elephant Ears, and the exotic blooms of Gingers and Heliconias.
These plants are at their best in the warm, humid conditions of Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and they shine around pools, lanais, entryways and shady courtyards. Below you will find every tropical foliage plant we install, with a full profile for each one.
Browse Florida Tropical Foliage Plants
CopperleafAcalypha wilkesiana ‘Tricolor’6–10 ft · Sun to part shade
Crinum ‘Queen Emma’Crinum augustum ‘Queen Emma’5–6 ft · Sun to part shadeElephant Ear ‘California’Alocasia ‘California’3–5 ft · Filtered sun to part shadeElephant Ear ‘Heavy Metal’Alocasia ‘Heavy Metal’3–4 ft · Bright shadeExotica Ti PlantCordyline fruticosa ‘Exotica’4–8 ft · Dappled sun to part shadeGreen Shell GingerAlpinia zerumbet6–10 ft · Part shadeHardy Lobster ClawHeliconia schiedeana6–8 ft · Dappled sun to part shadeHarlequin Ti PlantCordyline fruticosa ‘Harlequin’3–5 ft · Part shade to filtered sun
Magnificent CrotonCodiaeum variegatum ‘Magnificent’4–6 ft · Sun to dappled shadeMammy CrotonCodiaeum variegatum ‘Mammy’2–4 ft · Sun to light shadeOrange Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae3–5 ft · Sun to light shade
Red GingerAlpinia purpurata4–6 ft · Partial sun to bright shade
Rojo Congo PhilodendronPhilodendron ‘Rojo Congo’3–4 ft · Dappled sun to part shadeTree PhilodendronPhilodendron selloum8–12 ft · Part shadeVariegated Shell GingerAlpinia zerumbet ‘Variegata’4–7 ft · Dappled sun to part shadeWhite Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia nicolai15–30 ft · Sun to part shadeXanadu PhilodendronPhilodendron ‘Xanadu’2–4 ft · Part shade to sun
Tropical Foliage Comparison Chart
Cold hardiness is the USDA zone range each plant handles reliably; most of coastal Manatee and Sarasota County is zone 10a, with cooler inland pockets in 9b.
| Plant | Mature Size | Light | Cold Hardiness | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammy Croton | 2–4 ft | Sun to light shade | 10–11 | Low color borders |
| Xanadu Philodendron | 2–4 ft tall, 3–5 ft wide | Part shade to sun | 9B–11 | Mass plantings, walkway borders |
| Apostle’s Iris | 3–4 ft | Sun to part shade | 9–11 | Upright texture, moist spots |
| Rojo Congo Philodendron | 3–4 ft | Dappled sun to part shade | 10–11 | Burgundy accents, lanai pots |
| Elephant Ear ‘Heavy Metal’ | 3–4 ft | Bright indirect light to part shade | 9B–11 | Modern beds and containers |
| Harlequin Ti Plant | 3–5 ft | Part shade to filtered sun | 10–11 | Variegated shade accent |
| Elephant Ear ‘California’ | 3–5 ft | Filtered sun to part shade | 9–11 | Lush mid-size filler |
| Orange Bird of Paradise | 3–5 ft | Sun to light shade | 9–11 | Entries, coastal yards |
| Auntie Lou Ti Plant | 4–6 ft | Dappled sun to part shade | 10–11 | Deep maroon accent |
| Magnificent Croton | 4–6 ft | Sun to dappled shade | 10–11 | Pink-toned color beds |
| Red Ginger | 4–6 ft | Partial sun to bright shade | 10–11 | Protected courtyard color |
| Variegated Shell Ginger | 4–7 ft | Dappled sun to part shade | 9–11 | Brightening shady corners |
| Exotica Ti Plant | 4–8 ft | Dappled sun to part shade | 10–11 | Broad wine-purple leaves |
| Crinum ‘Queen Emma’ | 5–6 ft | Sun to part shade | 9–11 | Coastal accent (high salt) |
| Hardy Lobster Claw | 6–8 ft | Dappled sun to part shade | 8B–11 | Flowering privacy screen |
| Copperleaf | 6–10 ft | Sun (best color) to part shade | 10–11 | Fast color screen |
| Green Shell Ginger | 6–10 ft | Part shade to dappled sun | 9–11 | Privacy, understory planting |
| Tree Philodendron | 8–12 ft | Part shade to dappled sun | 9B–11 | Large corners, screening |
| White Bird of Paradise | 15–30 ft | Sun to part shade | 9B–11 | Tall tropical privacy |
Popular Tropical Foliage Groups
Ti Plants (Cordyline). Upright stalks topped with sword-shaped leaves in burgundy, pink, red and cream. Ti plants color up best in dappled light and are a classic choice for shady entries and pool cages. They are cold sensitive, so they do best in protected spots.
Crotons. Few plants deliver more color. Crotons like ‘Mammy’, ‘Petra’ and ‘Magnificent’ show their brightest reds, oranges and yellows in sun. They can drop leaves after a cold snap but usually recover with warm weather.
Bird of Paradise. The Orange Bird of Paradise is a compact clumping plant famous for its crane-shaped flowers. The White Bird of Paradise is a much larger plant that grows into a dramatic, banana-like clump suited to big spaces.
Gingers and Heliconias. Shell Ginger, Red Ginger and Lobster Claw Heliconias bring exotic flowers and big tropical leaves. They prefer rich soil, regular moisture and protection from cold wind.
Philodendrons and Elephant Ears. From the compact, mounding Xanadu to the large Tree Philodendron and dramatic Alocasias, these plants add bold leaf shapes to shady beds and courtyards.
Growing Tropical Foliage in Southwest Florida
Match each plant to its light. Crotons and Copperleaf need sun for strong color, while Ti plants, Philodendrons and Elephant Ears look best with some shade. Most tropical foliage appreciates consistent moisture and mulch to keep roots cool. Because many of these plants are rated zone 10 and up, we often place them near the house, pool or lanai where they are protected on the occasional cold night, and we can recommend frost cloth for the coldest forecasts.
Tropical Foliage FAQs
What tropical plants grow well in shade in Florida?
Ti plants, Philodendrons (including Xanadu and Rojo Congo), Elephant Ears and Shell Ginger all perform well in partial shade, making them ideal for courtyards and beds under trees.
Will tropical foliage plants survive a freeze in Manatee County?
Many tropical foliage plants are damaged by frost, especially in colder inland areas. Planting them in protected spots near structures and covering them during freeze warnings helps. Hardier choices include the Hardy Lobster Claw (rated to zone 8B), Shell Gingers, Orange Bird of Paradise, Elephant Ear ‘California’, Apostle’s Iris and Crinum, which are rated to zone 9.
What tropical plants are best for a coastal property?
Crinum ‘Queen Emma’ and Orange Bird of Paradise both have high salt tolerance and handle coastal conditions well. Most Ti plants, gingers and Elephant Ears prefer sheltered mainland locations away from direct salt spray.
How do I keep crotons colorful?
Give them plenty of sun. Crotons grown in heavy shade tend to turn greener and less vibrant. Regular, light fertilization during the growing season also helps maintain strong color.
Tropical Landscape Installation in Manatee & Sarasota County
Albright Landscaping designs lush tropical planting beds that suit Florida’s climate and your property’s light and exposure. We serve Parrish, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Palmetto, Ellenton and the surrounding area.
