Flowering tropical plants instantly transform your decor! Colorful, fragrant, and generous, they create a vacation atmosphere on your balcony or patio. Group them together to create an exotic corner right in your own backyard.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea brings a festive touch to your home. With its green or variegated foliage and paper-thin blooms (lilac, fuchsia, pink, yellow, or white), it dresses up your walls on a trellis or cascades elegantly in a hanging basket. It loves heat and full sun: place it in a south-facing spot for maximum performance all summer long.
Mandevilla
Mandevilla impresses with its profusion of trumpet-shaped flowers. Whether red, pink, or white, it creates a paradisiacal setting in the blink of an eye. This vigorous vine climbs on structures or hangs gracefully in pots. Place it in the sun to enjoy abundant and continuous flowering until the first frost.
Brugmansia
Brugmansia is an exceptional plant: a single specimen can produce dozens of enormous dangling trumpets. Its romantic shades of yellow, white, pink, or salmon are accompanied by an enchanting fragrance in the evening. Warning: all parts of this plant are toxic; handle with care and keep out of reach of children and pets.
Cannas
Essential for a jungle look, cannas provide structure with their large green, purple, or variegated foliage. Easy to grow, they are resistant to wind and insects. In pots or in the ground, they add striking verticality. Pro tip: Dig up the rhizomes in the fall after the first frost to replant them next year!
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Oleander is perfect for adding structure. Shrubby and compact, it is easy to prune and often comes as a patio tree, with either a straight or braided trunk. Its white, pink, or orange flowers release a delicate scent. Highly wind-resistant, it is ideal for elevated terraces. Note: This plant is highly toxic if ingested.
Hibiscus sinensis
Hibiscus immediately evokes tropical landscapes with its large, showy blooms. Highly versatile, it can be grown in pots as a shrub, on a stem, or even with several braided plants for a multi-colored effect. For an even more spectacular display, look for the Tradewinds series, known for its exceptional bloom longevity, or the Hollywood series, which stands out with its vibrant colors and contrasting centers. For expert tips on care, check out our guide on how to grow annual hibiscus in Quebec (French only).
Complete your decor: suggested pairings
For a successful "jungle" effect, pair your flowering tropicals with plants featuring contrasting foliage. Here are some ideas for your pots and planters:
- For volume: Alocasia (Elephant Ear) or Boston ferns create a dense green backdrop.
- For lightness: Dichondra 'Silver Falls' or Sweet Potato Vine (purple or lime) cascading at the base of an hibiscus.
- For contrast: Brightly colored Coleus wonderfully complement the warm tones of Cannas.
Design tips
Create a true oasis by playing with textures and levels:
- Create a tropical forest: Group your pots to create a dense mass effect. Use trellises to help vines like mandevilla climb, masking structures or creating privacy walls.
- Harmonize colors: For a refreshing look, go with white and green. For an energizing atmosphere, mix warm tones (red, orange, yellow).
- Maximize fragrance: Place brugmansia or oleander near your relaxation areas (spa, dining area) to enjoy their scents in the evening.
- Height and structure: Use elevated garden beds or plant stands to vary heights and add depth to your terrace.
Maintenance: keys to success
- The right container: Choose sturdy pots with drainage holes to ensure root health.
- Watering: Potted tropical plants require regular watering, sometimes daily during the peak heat of July.
- Fertilizing: Use a potassium-rich fertilizer (e.g., 15-15-30) every two weeks to support flower production.
How to keep your plants through winter?
In our climate, these plants do not survive outdoors during the cold season. Here is how to protect them:
- Bring them in early: As soon as nighttime temperatures drop below 10°C, move your plants indoors.
- Inspection: Check for insects under the leaves and clean the pots before bringing them inside.
- Light: Place them near your sunniest window (south or west facing).
- Rest: Reduce watering and stop fertilizing until March.
Ready to turn your yard into a sunny destination? Visit us in-store to pick your favorite specimens or explore our collection of containers to create your own arrangements!
