Has come back up for me in 8B for 5 years now. Is in bloom now out in the yard after surviving the double whammy of Frances and Jeanne

My favorite hardy plants that look tropical: catalpa, especially with the unique hanging seed pods. petasites, rhubarb, hostas Vinca minor 'illumination' is a unique yellow/green variegated groundcover. Sambucus racemosa Sutherland (Sutherland golden elder) Sumac hardy grasses tend to look tropical, Paulownia (empress tree) grown as a stool (cut to the ground each year, keep to a single trunk and it will get huge leaves). colorful barberry's such as cherry bomb or gold nugget. I read that in general, we tend to think of plants with overly fine foliage, overly colorful foliage, or overly big and bold foliage, as being tropical in appearance. On that note, maybe even garden asparagus with it's fine ferny foliage might add to the tropical look. Also, there are different types of tropical climates. Plants like yucca glauca/yucca filamentosa, hens and chicks might add to the desert tropical look. Last year I grew these in pots beside a red cordyline. The fun thing is to combine hardy plants with real tropicals and I agree, a few cannas, banana plants, even a palm tree bought in the houseplant section of the local store adds to the tropical look. Add flowering annuals, since most originate from the tropics such as hot colored marigolds, petunias, basically what ever you like. Anything vining tends to look tropical such as clematis and other vines. For a quick growing annual vine try hyacinth bean with it's red flowers (and edible beans afterward). I also have a copper plant which was in the 'proven winners' section at the local nursery. I found out it's actually a tropical shrub so I overwintered as a houseplant and it's going back outside this summer. Glen

All of my camellias have bloomed early. I have a white powderpuff that often doesn't bloom because the flowers come out in late January and are usually hit with a frost or freeze. It is now in full bloom and has been for a week or so. My purple firespikes are now starting to bloom; this is about a month or two early for them. My Cape Honeysuckle usually has a few blooms now if it there hasn't been a freeze. It has been in full bloom for about six weeks now. Also, my porterweeds are still flowering. This is very late for them. They decline quickly in cool weather and shut down entirely with a freeze. Now they are still in full bloom mode. Very unusual weather, but it is going to change soon.

My Anna Apple is blooming, and another year goes by without a cross-pollinator. :( The fig tree is just putting out new leaves. The Camelias have been in full bloom for a month. A few roses are out. The Bottle brush trees have buds - also the Coral Honeysuckle and Porterweed are showing blossoms, so the hummingbirds are happy. I really enjoy the natives: The wild blackberries, Walter's Viburnum and Dogwoods are blooming. Also the wild plums. There are a lot of white flowers this time of year. Carolina Jessamine, yellow climbing up into the tree tops. Even the palmettos are putting out their flower spikes. I need to do a walkabout in the back to see if the wild violets are out.