Traditional bulbs may wither in the heat of summer, but that’s when bulbs from the subtropics really shine. They’re useful for adding bold and dramatic colors and patterns to gardens anywhere; in temperate regions they can be dug up in fall and replanted in spring, and in warmer climates they can be left in the ground indefinitely as returning perennials. They also make great replacements for gardeners in warmer climate zones, who can’t grow typical springtime bulbs like the crocus or daffodil. Most of the plants listed here are technically known as corms, rhizomes and tubers, but they’re grouped together as bulbs for simplicity’s sake.
Impressions Landscape – Design, original photo on Houzz
If you’re going for a lush and tropical look, grow one of the large-leaved arum relatives known as elephant ear. Think of them as caladiums on steroids, with the heart-shaped leaves on large varieties such as ‘Borneo Giant’ (Alocasia ‘Borneo Giant’, zones 9 to 11) reaching up to 12 feet tall. Most varieties are more modest — at least regarding their size — but they make up for it with eye-popping colors like the bright, dappled lime-green leaves of ‘Mojito’ (Colocasia ‘Mojito’, zones 7 to 11) or the nearly black ones of Black Magic (Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, zones 7 to 11).
USDA zones: 7 to 11 (find your zone)
Water and soil requirements: Tolerant of drought and standing water; thrives in rich soil with ample moisture
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun
Mature size: 2 to 12 feet tall
Bloom time: Spring through summer
Planting tips: Give elephant ears plenty of space. Those in the Southeast United States should avoid planting any elephant ear growing in a drainage ditch, as it is likely the invasive Colocasia aquatica and will take over your garden.
Gingers, original photo on Houzz
Gingers
(Alpinia, Hedychium, Curcumaetc.)
If the exotic blooms of gingers don’t get you, their quintessentially tropical-looking foliage will. Plant variegated shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet‘Variegata’) for its gold and green pinstriped leaves, and enjoy its shell-like blooms in areas where it rarely freezes.
For instant gratification, plant Curcuma gingers such as Siam tulips (Curcuma alismatifolia, zones 8 to 11) for blooms just one to two months after the leaves first appear. Turmeric (Curcuma longa, zones 7b to 11) is also attractive but is most notable for its edible and nutritious roots. If you like fragrance, give butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium, zones 7b to 11) a try. Its white blooms have a sweet and spicy smell that resembles that of gardenias.
USDA zones: 7b to 11
Water and soil requirements: Rich, well-drained soil with ample moisture
Light requirement: Full to partial shade
Mature size: Varies; those listed here usually do not exceed 5 feet tall
Bloom time: Varies, but usually in summer
Planting tips: If growing gingers in zones 9 to 11, reduce watering in winter to allow a dormancy period.
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Crinums, original photo on Houzz
Crinums
(Crinum spp)
There’s an old saying that you can’t kill a crinum, and many gardeners will attest to that claim, since well-established clumps planted in old gardens have been known to live for decades, possibly longer. The crinum that’s hardiest to cold is appropriately named the hardy crinum (Crinum bulbispermum, zones 5 to 11); it’s worth growing not only for its pink flowers, but also for its twisted grayish-green foliage.
‘Ellen Bosanquet’ (Crinum ‘Ellen Bosanquet’, zones 6b to 11) is an old Southern favorite with untidily floppy leaves and spicy, fragrant pink blooms. Gardeners in the tropics are no doubt familiar with the ridiculously large grand crinum (Crinum asiaticum, zones 9 to 11), which reaches 6 feet tall and produces many sizable spidery white flowers.
USDA zones: 6 to 11
Water and soil requirements: Most crinums tolerate a wide range of conditions.
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun
Mature size: 1 to 6 feet tall
Bloom time: Varies
Planting tips: Killing a crinum is much harder than keeping one alive, but they look best when old leaves are removed.
Canna
(Canna spp)
Cannas quickly add height to a garden in mere months, making them ideal tropical plants for temperate climates with shorter summers. Plant them en masse at the back of garden beds to form a tantalizing backdrop or use them singly as thrillers in container plantings. In modern garden designs, their minimalist upright leaves fit right in.
Phaison (Canna ‘Phaison’, zones 7b to 11) is also marketed as Tropicanna and is pretty hard to miss with intensely colored leaves with stripes of purple, orange and deep green. Australia (Canna ‘Australia’, zones 7b to 10) has jet-black leaves and burning-red flowers.
USDA zones: 7 to 11
Water and soil requirements: Cannas perform best with rich, well-drained soil and regular watering. Many tolerate standing water.
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: Available in many heights, from 1 to 10 feet tall
Bloom time: Summer through fall
Planting tips: Do not purchase virused plants with streaked and pale foliage; rolled leaves are caused by canna leaf roller and are best treated by cutting the affected stems to the ground.
Derviss Design, original photo on Houzz
Other Tropical Bulbs
The bulbs listed above sure have a lot of presence in the garden, but if you’re looking for something a little more down-to-earth, grow some of these smaller standouts.
Blood lily (Haemanthus multiflorus, zones 8b to 11) is perfect for those who think they’ve seen it all. Just when you least expect it, June to be exact, you’ll notice grapefruit-size fireworks going off in your garden when the blooms emerge on leafless stalks. The effect is magical.
Rain lilies (Zephyranthes, Habranthus spp, zones 7 to 11) have a similar effect and bloom sporadically throughout the year with trumpet-shape flowers ranging from white to yellow and pink.
Caladiums (Caladium bicolor, zones 9b to 11) are quite popular for their harlequin patterns of veins, dapples and spots in pink, green, red and white. To get more blooms, just gouge the growing point of the corms after digging them up.
Blood Lily, original photo on Houzz
Designing with tropical bulbs. When placing tropical bulbs in your landscape, don’t hesitate to pick up a few extra plants. After all, these plants don’t skimp on the impact, so why would you want them to look like an afterthought? It’s true that a single caladium poking out of a shade planting might evoke a feeling of whimsy, but three planted together for a mound of heart-stopping foliage becomes a focal point. Since tropical bulbs do tend to multiply, a single plant just looks unnatural anyway. The sizes of tropical bulbs vary considerably, but generally speaking they look best when surrounded by a mass of finely textured plants.
Temperate climates. Anyone can grow tropical bulbs, even if those bulbs spend only a few months in the spotlight. Plant them along with spring-blooming bulbs once the days warm up, and they’ll continue the show until the first frost.
Grow them in containers so they get a head start indoors in winter and bring them back indoors when the nights get frosty. You can either water them sparingly through winter or rinse off the soil and store them, replanting in containers in early spring. Plants with less-developed roots, like African Irises and heliconias, are good candidates for this treatment.
Digging and storing tropical bulbs are also easy. Wait until the first frost kills off the leaves and promptly lift them out of the ground, taking care not to damage the rhizomes, tubers or corms. Rinse off the soil, let them dry off in a dark place and store them in a container of shredded newspaper, vermiculite or sawdust. Shoe boxes, plastic containers and paper bags all work well. Spray them with a fungicide if desired and keep them in a cool, dark place until spring, checking on them periodically and removing any rotted portions.
More Tropical Bulbs to Brighten Up Your Garden
Peter Raarup Landscape Design, original photo on Houzz
Hot climates. It may be true that nothing compares to a drift of tulips or the tiny blooms of crocuses peeking out beyond the snow, but there’s nothing quite like tropical bulbs either. A massed planting of tall blue agapanthus blooms or pink-leaved caladiums is truly a sight to behold, and the fleeting beauty of rain lilies, blood lilies and hurricane lilies seems magical enough to give snowdrops a run for their money.
Assuming the bulbs are hardy in your region, there are a few really good reasons to grow them in the ground permanently. First, most of them quickly bounce back from drought, damage or the occasional errant weed trimmer, enabling them to endure on old properties longer than the original homes. It’s not uncommon to find clumps of crinums on homesites where only the foundations are left standing!
Tropical bulbs left in the ground to form clumps are also very impressive looking, and may eventually become your garden’s greatest asset. If you’re willing to dig some up, they even make good pass-along plants for friends and neighbors.