These are tropical plants suitable for gardeners just starting out on their tropical garden dream. Every tropical garden should start with a few plants that simply want to grow. These are the easy tropical plants we recommend to anyone beginning their garden — forgiving of a missed watering, untroubled by pests, and quick to establish and reward you. Most are clumping, well-behaved growers that won’t take over, and many flower reliably in their first season or two, so you get colour while the rest of the garden is still filling in. If you’ve moved north and aren’t yet sure what thrives here, this is the place to start: pick three or four of these, get them going, and you’ll have both a garden and the confidence to try something trickier. Grown in the Wet Tropics, so they arrive vigorous and ready to go.
Calatheas and Costus
The best landscaping costus on the planet! Features deep red porcupine like inflorescence and large emerald green leaves with a furry underside. The small yellow flowers are edible and great for salads or foraging children. They have a crisp sweet light ginger flavor. Grows in a wide range of situations. Relatively cold hardy. Renamed from Costus barbatus.
Gingers
The Yellow Green Beehive is the most commonly cultivated of all beehives. It tends to flower late in the season and has quite large flowers. The flowers start out yellow and get larger and redder with age. If you are a novice grower this is a good beehive to start with. It makes an excellent landscaping plant and a good cut flower. One of the better growing beehives for cooler climates as it is a very robust grower
Gingers
Smaller attractive beehive with deep chocolate flowers and brown stems. The latest to flower of the beehives and a good filler plant. Has also marketed as "Cocoa Delight"
Gingers
Beehive gingers flower from the base of the clump. In a small area there can be over 100 flowers. Generally while most beehives start out yellow or apricot they will go red with age.Champagne is slightly smaller than other beehives. It is the first to flower and has pretty apricot flowers. In general beehives make great landscaping plants, Champagne is no exception. The flowers can also be used in arrangements and are long lasting. Easy tp grow and cold hardy excellent plant for novice growers.
Gingers
Popular pure white torch with lime green foliage. Pure white flowers contrasted against the fresh lime green foliage make this a sought after plant. White torch is easy to grow and vigorous making it suitable for novice growers.
Heliconias For Sale
This smaller heliconia is very tough (even in windy conditions), an excellent cut flower, excellent landscaping plant and cold hardy, highly recommended.
Bulk Buy Tropical Plants
Gorgeous foliage plant with purple backed leaves and unusual wheat colored flowers. Excellent for mass planting, smaller than a heliconia. This is a very tough plant that brings instant year round color to any tropical garden, also suitable for pots. Bulk buy, 5 barerooted plants.
Cordylines
This seedling select from Robyn Ganley has a similar group habit to New Guinea Fan but darker leaves and more purple petioles. It is rarely seen for sale and a must have for collectors.
Flowering Trees, Shrubs and Vines
Starburst Clerodendrum is an attractive large growing shrub native to New Guinea and the Philippines. Clusters of pink to white, colored flowers that burst into bloom through late winter till early spring.. The explosion of blooms is truly stunning, with each flower head being made up of dozens of smaller 5cm long flowers. The foliage is attractive with a green top and strong purple underside. This is an excellent feature plant/landscaping plant for tropical and subtropical gardens. It's a shame that it isn't used more. They make a spectacular hedge.
Gingers
Darwin Chocolate Beehive Ginger was bred over 20 years ago by the Darwin DPI for the NT cut flower industry. It starts out with a lovely bright yellow top and ages to a deep chocolate brown. Great cut flower and a talking point for your garden.