Uncover 50 Distinctive Tropical Flowers: A Complete Information with Photos & Care Suggestions

The world’s tropical areas are house to an infinite number of vegetation, together with numerous flowers and botanical wonders. What’s nice is you may nonetheless take pleasure in these crops inside your property or backyard through the hotter months. This listing brings 50 gorgeous varieties of tropical flowers with a couple of enjoyable information and care suggestions that can assist you develop them.

50 Sorts of Tropical Flowers and The right way to Develop Them:

1. Amaryllis

To not be confused with crops from the Amaryllis genus, the Hippeastrum genus of the Amaryllidaceae plant household accommodates about 90 species and over 600 hybrids of bulbous flowering crops which might be generally known as amaryllis flowers. These tropical flowers are native to Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil. The cherry-red varieties have turn out to be widespread to develop and reward across the holidays.

2. Paperflower or Lesser Bougainvillea

Native to japanese South America, the Bougainvillea glabra is a species of climbing shrub within the Nyctaginaceae plant household and one of the crucial generally grown varieties of bougainvillea. They produce massive clusters of blossoms with massive, showy, shiny, purplish, and pink flower bracts that encompass smaller, white flower blossoms. Grown as hedges, the lesser bougainvillea is kind of putting when it’s in bloom, as the brilliant blossoms finally overtake the dark-green foliage.

3. Backyard Cosmos or Mexican Aster

These flowers are native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; the Cosmos bipinnatus belongs to the daisy plant household (Asteraceae) and is, maybe, the preferred number of cosmos to develop from seeds within the backyard. This herbaceous flowering plant produces cheerful 8-petaled blossoms in varied fairly colours with outstanding golden-yellow pom-poms at their facilities.

4. Anthurium or Flamingo Flower

Native to the rainforests of Columbia and Ecuador, the Anthurium andraeanum is a flowering plant species belonging to the Araceae plant household. Of their native habitat, these epiphytes develop from the perimeters of bushes or rocky outcroppings, primarily pulling vitamins in from the air and water reasonably than by means of their roots and soil. They’ve lush, broad foliage, producing heart-shaped pinkish-red spathes with a central yellow-white spadix. Anthuriums additionally supply a bunch of makes use of and advantages. 

5. Bush Lily

Native to South Africa, the Clivia miniata is a rhizomatic flowering plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae household. The plant has additionally been naturalized in Mexico and is often grown in gardens in Australia and New Zealand. This plant produces thick, strappy leaves that span out from a central stem in two reverse rows, virtually like followers or wings. The plant produces bright-orange funnel-shaped flowers which might be fairly ornate and delightful. In some uncommon cultivars, the flowers are a buttery yellow hue.

6. Blood Lily

Belonging to the Amaryllidaceae plant household, the blood lily has a broad native vary, together with the Arabian Peninsula, most of Sub-Saharan Africa, and Seychelles. Blood lilies develop from rhizomatic bulbs and produce false stems which might be made from leaves. On the prime of those intently wound leaves, they produce a globe-shaped cluster of 10 to 200 small, particular person flowers that vary from a fiery crimson to a pale pinkish-red hue. Sure species of this plant are extremely poisonous and have been used to make poisons for fishing hooks or arrows.

7. Jewel Pagoda Ginger

Native to Jawa, Zingiber neglectum, generally known as jewel pagoda, is one among almost 200 ginger crops belonging to the Zingiberaceae plant household. This household accommodates the true gingers, which have a outstanding place within the culinary arts due to the distinctive zing of their fragrant flavors. This particular species of ginger plant is most beloved for its ornate and fleshy cone-shaped flowers that function ruffles of lime-green petals rimmed with a fiery crimson.

8.’Ohe Naupaka

The ‘ohe naupaka is a flowering shrub that belongs to the Goodeniaceae plant household and is native to Hawaii’s Oahu and Kauai islands and endemic to the whole state. The shrub can develop to be as much as 12 ft tall. With lush, inexperienced, ovate foliage, the ‘ohe naupaka produces lengthy, tube, or trumpet-shaped yellow flowers with a slight flare at their suggestions and purplish, almost-black fruit.

9. Hawaiian Hibiscus or Chinese language Hibiscus

The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis belongs to the Hibsceae tribe of the Malvaceae plant household, and its widespread names embrace the Chinese language Hibiscus, Hawaiian hibiscus, China rose, rose mallow, and shoeblack plant. Though the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is extensively cultivated all through the tropics, its native vary is comparatively small because it initially comes from the volcanic island nation of Vanuatu. It options exotic-looking, papery, trumpet-shaped flowers in fiery tropical colours with outstanding crimson and yellow stamens.

10. Fowl of Paradise

Native to South Africa, the Strelitzia reginae is a flowering plant species belonging to the Strelitziaceae plant household. Its distinctive bird-shaped blossoms can most simply be acknowledged. Birds of paradise will be cultivated indoors outdoors of their pure habitats, however they are often tough to take care of. They don’t bloom till they’re three or 4 years outdated and easily gained’t bloom if they don’t obtain sufficient daylight and the correct vitamins. Coaxing an indoor chicken of paradise into full bloom, nonetheless, could be a drastically rewarding expertise for indoor gardeners.

11. Sacred Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera, generally known as the sacred lotus, is one among two dwelling species of flowering aquatic crops comprising the Nelumbonaceae household. They’ve a comparatively huge native vary, rising naturally in India, Indochina, East Asia, Russia, and across the Caspian Sea. The sacred lotus seeds are impressively long-lasting; the oldest seeds identified to have been efficiently germinated and grown into crops had been about 1,300 years outdated. Because of this, the sacred lotus has turn out to be a logo of longevity.

12. False Fowl of Paradise or Hanging Lobster Claw

Native to components of Central and South America, the Heliconia rostrata is one among almost 200 flowering crops belonging to the Heliconaceae plant household. This plant is a superb selection for rising in tropical gardens due to its spectacular measurement, massive banana-shaped leaves, and crowd pleasing flowers that give strategy to showy fruit. These crops can develop as much as 6 ft tall, and their predominantly crimson flowers formed like lobster claws maintain nectar that pulls hummingbirds.

13. Orchids

The entire crops that we all know as orchids belong to the Orchidaceae plant household, a extremely various and widespread plant household that accommodates someplace round 28,000 formally accepted species of orchids that come from quite a lot of areas all world wide. Whereas many orchids come from tropical areas, others develop naturally in temperate zones and far cooler climates. About 70% of orchid species are epiphytes, which means they’ve aerial roots that assist them cling to bushes as a substitute of roots that maintain them within the floor. Moreover, the looks of their flowers and blossoms is very different, relying on the species.

14. Scarlet Sage

Salvia splendens, generally known as scarlet sage, belongs to the Lamiaceae (sage) plant household and is native to Brazil, the place it grows within the heat humidity at 6,600 to 9,800 ft. Its wild type grows to simply over 4 ft in top, however extra compact cultivars are rather more popularly cultivated for rising in backyard beds. They usually function good racemes of scarlet-red flowers that appeal to hummingbirds and butterflies. Nonetheless, the flowers of cultivars additionally are available varied different colours and combos of colours.

15. Star Flower or Egyptian Star Cluster

The Pentas lanceolata belongs to the Rubiaceae plant household and has a local vary from Yemen to East Africa. This species is often known as the star flower or Egyptian star cluster, in regards to the five-petaled, star-like form of the small flowers, which comprise the shrubby plant’s globe-shaped flower clusters. These beauties are an ideal selection for those who want to appeal to butterflies to your backyard, and they are often grown as annuals in cooler climates.

16. King Protea

The Protea cynaroides, generally known as the king protea, has probably the most outstanding flower head of all species within the Protea genus within the Proteaceae plant household. It’s each native to and the nationwide flower of South Africa. The king protea is extensively beloved for its alluring blossoms which have an virtually alien or otherworldly look with flower heads that may be 6 to 12 inches throughout and bowl-shaped brightly coloured bracts surrounding a central pom-pom of flower blossoms. King proteas are generally utilized in reducing gardens and in floral bouquets and preparations.

17. Chenille Plant

Native to Malesia, Acalypha hispida, generally known as the chenille plant, is a flowering shrub belonging to the Euphorbiaceae household. Frequent names for the chenille plant embrace the Phillippine Medusa and the crimson scorching cattail. Each names reference the shrub’s racemes of flowers, which seem fuzzy and crimson (or generally purple). Smaller blossoms have a form much like that of chili pepper, whereas longer blossoms look much like tails or crimson snakes. They make very talked-about indoor hanging crops.

18. Indian Shot

Canna indica belongs to the Cannaceae plant household and is native to Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and South America. These perennial flowering crops produce massive, dark-green foliage and flowers in shiny yellow or crimson and, generally, orange in particular cultivars. The crops are edible and utilized in varied methods, resembling making candy starch or different desserts from the roots and wrapping meals within the leaves for cooking.

19. Christmas Cactus

Native to the tropical and humid coastal mountains of Southeastern Brazil, the Schlumbergera truncata belongs to the Cactaceae plant household and is often known as a Christmas cactus due to the timing of the plant’s flower blossoms within the northern hemisphere round Christmastime. The crops have enticing, fleshy segments as a substitute of stems and leaves. Toothed edges mark every section. The flowers and buds sprout from the ends of those segments and are ornate, frilly, and funnel-shaped.

20. Persian Cyclamen

Native to Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, the Cyclamen persicum (or Persian cyclamen) belongs to the primrose plant household (Primulaceae). They function deep-green, generally silvery-green, heart-shaped foliage that sprouts right into a rosette. The blossoms shoot up from the middle of the foliage and are formed like taking pictures stars. Throughout dormant months, cyclamen crops seem useless, however their progress will return the following autumn. Cyclamen flowers symbolize devotion, empathy, and a honest coronary heart, making them an exquisite reward for anybody about whom you care deeply.

21. Damask Rose

A member of the Rosaceae (rose) plant household, the Rosa x damascena is a cultivated plant that doesn’t develop naturally within the wild. Nonetheless, it’s considered a hybrid of three completely different species of crops from the Rosa genus, putting the native habitat of its mum or dad crops in central Asia. This specific rose grows as a shrub and has a number of widespread names, together with damask rose, Arab rose, Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose, Taif rose, and lokelani rose. The big, multi-petaled flowers produce a powerful and candy perfume utilized in perfumes worldwide.

22. Wild Lantana

Lantana camara belongs to the Verbenaceae plant household and is native to Central and South America. Though it produces fairly foliage and ornate flowers in variegated combos of heat colours that appeal to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, it’s thought of an invasive species in lots of tropical areas worldwide. Frequent lantana is notoriously troublesome to eradicate from these areas as a result of its roots have a spreading behavior, making it fairly troublesome to kill. That stated, it’s a beautiful tropical plant to develop in container gardens in cooler climates the place it can not survive the winter.

23. Florist’s Daisy

The Chrysanthemum x morifolium belongs to the Asteraceae (daisy) plant household. It’s a hybrid cultivar that’s thought to have seemingly come from species of chrysanthemums that had been native to China or East Asia since there have been greater than 500 varieties recorded there as early as 500 BC. Such a chrysanthemum is available in a number of varieties with flat, daisy-like blossoms and huge pom-pom-shaped blossoms in varied colours.

24. Bromeliads

Native to the American tropics, the bromeliad plant household (Bromeliaceae) accommodates almost 3,600 species of flowering crops, together with the pineapple plant. Bromeliads from the Aechmea and Guzmania genera are generally grown as decorative crops for his or her enticing rosettes of lance-shaped foliage and outstanding flowers that blossom in shiny, tropical colours. Bromeliads will be enormously rewarding to develop, however they solely bloom as soon as in a lifetime earlier than producing offshoots that may be potted and grown into new crops.

25. Tropical Milkweed

Native to the American tropics, Asclepias curassavica belongs to the Apocynaceae plant household. Different widespread names for this milkweed species embrace bloodflower, Mexican butterfly weed, and cotton bush. These crops are subshrubs that attain about 3 ft in top. They’ve slender, ovate leaves and globe-shaped flower clusters with fiery crimson corollas and yellow or orange corona lobes. The flowers are a powerful attractant for monarch butterflies. Nonetheless, it’s thought that the presence of tropical milkweed outdoors its native vary may doubtlessly be dangerous to the migration patterns of monarchs.

26. Māmane

Native to Hawaii, the place it goes by the widespread identify, māmane, the Sophora chrysophylla is a flowering plant that belongs to the pea or bean plant household (Fabaceae). This plant is taken into account polymorphic, which means it may well develop as a tree or a smaller shrub. In tree type, it may well attain as much as virtually 50 ft. When in bloom, it produces copious quantities of showy, pendulous golden-yellow flowers that make the tree or shrub seem like it could possibly be on hearth.

27. Blanket Flowers

Gaillardia (aka blanket flowers) is a genus of flowers which might be native to each North and South America, belonging to the Asteraceae (daisy) plant household. The genus consists of a number of species, cultivars, and hybrids which might be bred to provide flowers which might be much more showy and ornate than their wildly rising varieties. The flowers function fuzzy brown facilities surrounded by tri-tipped ray florets in sundown colours that fade from crimson to orange to yellow on the suggestions.

28. Barberton Daisy

The Gerbera jamesonii is native to southeastern Africa and belongs to the daisy or composite plant household (Asteraceae). It’s generally known as the Barberton daisy or Transvaal daisy, producing showy, daisy-shaped flowers in single or double types. The blossoms are usually orange-red, however hybrids and cultivars of the species have caused a variety of shades that vary from deep crimson to pastel pinks, yellows, and whites.

29. African Violet

Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia is a piece of the Steptocarpus subgenus containing about ten flowering crops belonging to the Gesneriaceae plant household. These crops are generally known as African violets and native to southeastern Kenya and Tanzania. African violets produce rosettes of fuzzy, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves. Slender stalks of flower blossoms sprout from the facilities of the crops and produce five-petaled, velvety flowers in varied stunning colours and colour combos with shiny yellow stamens at their facilities.

30. Showy Medinilla or Rose Grape

The Medinilla magnifica is native to the Phillippines and belongs to the Melastomataceae plant household. Generally known as the showy Medinilla or rose grape, the plant produces massive (8 to 12 inches) leaves which might be ovate with a shiny, leathery texture and showy flowers that include bell-shaped bracts and small pendulous flowers that resemble bunches of grapes.

31. Morning Glory or Purple Moonflower

The Ipomoea muricata belongs to the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) plant household. It’s a flowering vine that mostly produces delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of purple or lavender. This species of morning glory is assumed to presumably develop natively in Bolivia, however they’re widespread all through the tropical areas, making the plant’s particular origin unclear. Moonflowers appeal to pollinators, together with butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.

32. Hinahina or Silver Geranium

The Geranium cuneatum is a flowering shrub that belongs to the Geraniaceae plant household and is native to the upper elevations of Hawaii. The plant grows naturally in drier areas and is surprisingly drought-tolerant for being native to such a moist, humid local weather. It produces silvery-green foliage and fairly clusters of delicate flowers that blossom in a snowy shade of white that’s generally touched with stripes of purple flowers which might be most outstanding towards the bottom of the petals.

33. Kahili Ginger or Ginger Lily

Native to the Himalayas of Bhutan, India, and Nepal, the Hedychium gardnerianum is a flowering plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae (ginger) plant household. Regardless of belonging to the ginger plant household, this species is primarily grown as a decorative plant in gardens due to its spectacular measurement (as much as 8 ft tall) and its showy, enticing bright-green foliage and spikes of yellow flowers that function fiery-red stamens.

34. Powder Puff

Native to the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the Americas, the Calliandra haematocephala is one among about 140 species of the Calliandra genus that belongs to the Fabaceae (pea and bean) plant household. This species grows into shrubs that unfold with a rambling behavior or small bushes. The plant’s widespread identify, powder puff, comes from the looks of its fluffy, globe-shaped flowers, every of which contains a puff of ethereal stamens in a deep crimson hue.

35. Molokai Ohaha

Native to Hawaii’s island, Molokai, the Brighamia rockii is a species of flowering plant, generally known as the Molokai ohaha, that belongs to the Campanulaceae (bellflower) plant household. It options rosettes of shiny inexperienced, egg-shaped leaves. From between the leaves, massive, white, trumpet-shaped blossoms protrude. With solely 5 identified occurrences of the plant rising naturally within the wild and an estimated 200 complete rising worldwide, the Molokai ohaha is formally on the endangered listing.

36. Kadupul Flower or Queen of the Evening Cactus

The Epiphyllum oxypetalum is native to Sri Lanka and is a sort of cactus that belongs to the Cactaceae plant household. This alluring plant solely blooms at evening, one evening per yr, making its flower blossoms a uncommon and treasured sight. When the kadupul flower does bloom, its milky white flowers can speak in confidence to 9 inches in diameter earlier than they wilt proper in entrance of your eyes.

37. Sampaguita or Arabian Jasmine

Jasminum sambac, generally known as Arabian jasmine or sampaguita, is a species of flowering shrub or vine that belongs to the Oleaceae (olive) plant household. It has a twining or scrambling progress behavior and produces lush, vibrant inexperienced foliage along with delicate, pure-white flowers that fade to a delicate shade of pink as they mature. The flowers are powerfully, but pleasantly, aromatic and have been historically used to make jasmine tea.

38. Peace Lily

Native to the tropical areas of East Asia and the Americas, Spathiphyllum is a genus of 47 species of herbaceous flowering crops (generally known as peace lilies) that belong to the Araceae plant household. Peace lilies produce full clumps of foliage from which shoots carrying spoon-shaped spathes and rod-shaped spadices rise. Because the widespread identify for crops of this genus implies, peace lilies are a logo of peace along with prosperity, purity, innocence, and sympathy.

39. Frequent Jasmine

Jasminum officinale is a species of flowering herb or vine, generally known as widespread jasmine or jasmine, that belongs to the Oleaceae (olive) plant household. The plant has a really huge native vary with pure habitats unfold all through western China, the Himalayas, India, Nepal, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, northern Iran, and the Caucasus. Jasmine flowers are prized for his or her aromatic important oils launched at evening and utilized in perfumes, skincare formulation, and aromatherapy.

40. Angel’s Trumpet

Native to the tropical areas of South America, Brugmansia is a genus containing seven species of woody, flowering shrubs or bushes that belong to the Solanaceae (nightshade) plant household. They’ve fluttery foliage and huge, trumpet-shaped flowers that cling like clusters of bells. The crops of this genus comprise tropane alkaloids and are a few of the most poisonous crops grown for decorative functions. Should you introduce them to your backyard, be extraordinarily cautious to maintain animals and younger youngsters away from them.

41. Yellow Ilima or Golden Mallow

Native to Hawaii and different Pacific islands, Sida fallax is a species of herbaceous flowering, shrub-like plant, generally known as golden mallow or yellow ilima, that belongs to the Malvaceae (hibiscus) plant household. The plant produces dusty-green foliage and small golden or yellow-colored flowers which might be normally no bigger than an inch in diameter. In historical Hawaii, these flowers had been used to weave conventional lei, and only one lei required about 1,000 blossoms.

42. Nānū or Forest Gardenia

Generally often known as nānū in its native Hawaii, the Gardenia brighamii belongs to the Rubiaceae (espresso) plant household. The plant is a small tree that produces shiny, deep-green, ovate leaves and small, snow-white flowers. Every flower options six lobes or petals that join on the base to type a tube-like form. The flowers are extremely aromatic.

43. Blue Passionflower

Native to South America, the Passiflora caerulea is a flowering deciduous or semi-evergreen vine that belongs to the Passifloraceae plant household. Its widespread names embrace blue passionflower, widespread passionflower, and bluecrown passionflower. Its flowers have an uncommon and alluring look, with symbolic white sepals surrounding a fringe of a blue-white corona of filaments that additional encircles a couple of purple stigmas and greenish-yellow stamens that protrude prominently from the advanced flower’s middle.

44. Orchid Timber

Bauhinia is a genus of flowering bushes that belong to the Fabaceae (pea or bean) plant household. Whereas many particular person species have their widespread names, many are known as orchid bushes or mountain ebony. Vegetation of the genus have a broad native vary and develop generally in tropical areas worldwide. The five-petaled flowers are aromatic and resemble orchids or hibiscus flowers with their unique colours and outstanding stamens.

45. Allamanda

Native to the tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America, Allamanda is a genus of 15 species of flowering vines, evergreen bushes, and shrubs that belong to the Apocynaceae (dogbane) plant household. They produce massive, trumpet-shaped flowers. The flowers of most species are yellow or golden coloured, and these species are generally known as golden trumpet. Different species and cultivars, nonetheless, produce flowers in varied hues.

46. Tobacco Flower

Native to South America, Nicotiana alata belongs to the Solanaceae (nightshade) plant household, and it’s poisonous to pets. Generally known as the tobacco flower, candy tobacco, or jasmine tobacco, the Nicotiana alata is primarily cultivated as a decorative plant for its fairly clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers. These crops primarily bloom within the late afternoon into the night, and their blossoms emit a stunning, candy perfume into the evening air.

47. Mussaenda

Native to the tropical areas of Asia and Africa, Mussaenda is a genus of flowering shrubs or small bushes that belong to the Rubiaceae (madder or espresso) plant household. They’ve vibrant inexperienced foliage and produce copious clumps of flowers in varied colours starting from a shiny crimson crimson to gentle pinks and mauves. A number of species and cultivars of Mussaenda are generally grown as backyard decorative crops.

48. Begonias

Begonia is a genus containing about 2,000 species of flowering undershrubs and herbs that belong to the Begoniaceae plant household. These crops are generally known as Begonias. They function enticing foliage that may be fuzzy or shiny and vary from darkish or vibrant inexperienced to deep burgundy. Their flowers are ornate and delightful to behold. Begonias develop naturally in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide however are primarily native to South America, Central America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

49. Freesia

Native to South Africa, Freesia is a herbaceous flowering plant species belonging to the Iridaceae (iris) plant household. These perennials develop from bulbs and produce aromatic, funnel-shaped flowers atop leafy stalks. They’re popularly utilized in perfumes for candles, soaps, and lotions due to their nice perfume. They bloom in virtually each colour and shade, making them a preferred addition to floral designs and reducing gardens in all places.

50. Crown Imperial

The Fritillaria imperialis is a perennial, flowering, herbaceous, bulbous plant that belongs to the Liliaceae (lily) plant household. Generally known as the Kaiser’s crown, imperial fritillary, or the crown imperial, the plant grows natively in varied areas, together with Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, northern India, and the foothills of the Himalayas. The three-foot-tall plant options flame-shaped leaves in a vibrant shade of inexperienced and a outstanding stem from which a whorl of bell-shaped flowers hangs. This cluster of flowers is topped with much more spikes of inexperienced foliage.

Sorts of Tropical Flowers FAQs: 

Heat Up Your Backyard With Tropical Flowers Like These

Even for those who don’t reside in a tropical local weather, you may nonetheless heat up your backyard or house with flowering tropical crops. Make sure you maintain indoor tropical flowers away from chilly drafts and to overwinter out of doors tropicals in heat places to proceed having fun with them yr after yr.

Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc diploma in Plant Sciences and has educated professionally at main floristry colleges in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a worldwide editorial group, Andrew’s a passionate content material creator round all issues flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.