Tropical plants are widely diverse plants that thrive in numerous shapes, sizes, and colors. Some love to reside in areas with partial shade, while some prefer to be under the sun’s warmth. Here are some tropical plants for full sun and heat to attract more elegance to your lush garden. Whether it’s perennial or annual, indoors or outdoors, get ready for some of these tropical plants that like full sun to brighten your garden!
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Best Tropical Plants For Full Sun and Heat
Generally, in the world of plants, we can divide plants based on their life cycle. Perennials are plants that survive one after another growing season, where some may be evergreens. In contrast to perennials, annuals are plants that finish their life cycle in one growing season and do not re-grow in the next growing season. If you’re not the type of gardener that likes being committed to plants for too long, then choosing annual tropical plants that like full sun is your best bet.
Perennial Indoor and Outdoor Tropical Plants Full Sun Lover
Calidora Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia x Calidora)
When we look for some tropical plants for full sun and heat, the elephant’s ear or taro plant most likely always makes it to the list, despite being a poisonous houseplant. With their unique foliage shapes that resemble an elephant’s ear and are easy to maintain, no wonder calidora elephant’s ears have been capturing many gardeners’ hearts.
Aloe Vera (Aloe Vera)
Aloe vera is perhaps well-known as a tropical plant that is beneficial for its gel to heal sunburns and any other skin-related problems. More than that, you can plant these green, spiky, low-maintenance outdoor tropical plants, full sun admirers, as decorative plants too.
Bat-faced Cuphea (Cuphea llavea)
Are you into ‘strange’, exotic-looking flowering tropical plants? If so, then you might want to know about bat-faced cuphea. As the name states, this Mexico-originated tropical plant has a mesmerizing appearance with 2 upward red petals and dark purple, almost black, sepal that is spookily similar to a bat’s face!
Celosia Plumosa (Celosia argentea)
Known for their bright colors, celosia plumosa can grow up to 1 meter tall and is great as cut flowers. They are native to India and Nepal and spread as far as any other South-East Asia tropical countries. These tropical plants for full sun and heat also resist many challenges, from heat, drought, and dry soil, to extreme humidity.
Coleus Wizard (Coleus scutellarioides)
Golden, pink, orange, brown, red, red, and any other variegated colors of coleus wizard could be a great addition to your outdoor tropical plants’ full sun garden. Coleus wizard is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Lamiaceae or the Mint Family that shares a similar-looking foliage shape as the original mint plant.
African Rosemallow (Hibiscus acetosella)
Also known as cranberry hibiscus, the African rosemallow is a perennial best known not only for its hibiscus-like blooms but also for its maple-like red or burgundy foliage. In the wild, they thrive up to 2.5 meters but usually grow shorter as container or garden plants.
Annual Indoor and Outdoor Tropical Plants Full Sun Lover
Snowbush (Breynia disticha)
When it comes to tropical plants for full sun and heat, there’s nothing as unique as snowbush. Even though they had the word ‘snow’, this perennial shrub is a native habitat to tropical Pacific Islands. They grow attention-grabber foliage with colors of white, green, pink, and blood-red stems.
African Fountain Grass (Cenchrus setaceus)
Do you need some ornamental grass for your tropical-themed garden? You might want to add some African fountain grass. They form 90 to 120 centimeters tall, white, lavender, or burgundy spiky blooms and are ideal for outdoor gardens. They usually survive well in all soil conditions too, making them one of the best tropical plants to grow in poor soil areas.
Autumn Rain-lily (Zephyranthes candida)
These fast-growing tropical plants that like full sun are native to South American countries such as Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. Their blooms could easily be a magnet for everyone passing by your garden with 6 pure white petals, a dark green center, and a cluster of bright yellow stamens.
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)
From afar, ageratum may be mistaken as hydrangea with groups of tiny, showy, blue, pink, or white pom pom-like flowers where the central flower blooms first and the other follows. Reach a height of 10 to 90 centimeters and is relatively pests and diseases free. Commonly known as floss-flower, ageratum makes the best tropical plants for full sun and heat gardens with fragrant blooms.
Amaranthus Tricolor (Amaranthus Tricolor)
Amaranthus tricolor is best known for its foliage color, which is a combination of bright yellow, red, and green. Also known as red spinach, these tropical plants for full sun and heat can reach a height of 1.5 meters and are rich in antioxidants as well as good for maintaining glucose levels.
Gazania (Gazania rigens)
If you favor daisy-like blooms with bright orange or yellow colors, let’s try these tough tropical plants for full sun and heat that is also called treasure flowers from Africa. Resistance to poor, dry, and sandy soil conditions, as well as a drought, are easy to take care of, no wonder gazanias are famous for their toughness.
Are Tropical Plants That Like Full Sun Difficult To Maintain?
To conclude, most tropical plants for full sun and heat are not demanding when it comes to maintenance. Take note of basic things such as getting your tropical plants adequate full sun and combine it with any other basic requirements such as humidity, pick the best potting soil mix with good drainage, and water regularly. Bigger tropical plants do need more water than their smaller counterparts, as they need more soil and fertilizer to thrive, so don’t forget about this crucial step too.
Bottom Line
There are various tropical plants for full sun and heat that are not only heat-resistant but also beneficial in terms of aesthetic and health value. You can mix and match these tropical plants that like full sun for either your indoor or outdoor garden, and turn your garden into the best tropical garden possible!
New author in the hood. Loves gardening and flowers are my spirit animals (yes I know they are not animals but I insist). I will be covering most of the flowers’ topics here and occasionally random though as well.
