Hi:
I don't mean to sound rude, but as a professional landscape designer, I do not understand why you are asking such questions on this forum? A lot of this information is pretty basic to someone who is a professional, and there are also tons of resource books out there that will tell you, or you could easily research this information yourself.
I don't really understand why you are asking us to do the work you are being paid to do?

GGG

GGG, thank you for your comment, however I do not agree. Indeed I do have mountains of literature, a formal education in landscape architecture, and years of experience. However, this does not put me above asking the populous for their own valuable expertise, which I respect. In all my experience and training, I could never accumulate the cumulative knowledge of the thousands of gardeners who use this board. The net, and this board, are valuable resources (just as my books), why not use them? This board in particular is an extemely valuable arrow in any gardener's quiver. Should I be embarrassed as a professional that I do not know every minutia within the immense world of landscape gardening? - I am not. I am humble enough to ask advice and I believe I provide my client with supperior service by doing so. Indeed, this is how we continue to grow and learn. Tropical gardens are becoming more common, but are not the majority here in Atlanta. Also, there are countless recently available plants that ride the line of being cold hardy enough, and though I am quite familiar with many plants that would work wonderfully, I am merely asking for some more unusal ideas from those who might have focused on this genre more than I. No books can substitute for first hand, old timey experience. Thus by occasionally asking questions here, I believe I can serve my clients in a superlative manner.

If anybody still has funky suggestions for tropical plants that work in ATL, I've still got open ears.

I enjoy trying any kind of marginal tropical. A few other things I might suggest beyond what you have mentioned:

-In bananas, definitely look into Chinese Yellow Banana(Musella lasiocarpa). Fully hardy in north Georgia. Great because it doesn't require a lot of space. The inflorescences are truly out of this world. I have two clumps, one of which has two infls. and they are splendid.
-Also in bananas, I like Musa velutina. Again fully hardy here. It will get a bit taller than Musella but unlike most ornamental(and almost all) naners it will flower the same season you plant it.
-Explore the possibilities in hardy gingers. Things like Hedychium, Zingiber, Alpinia. I have some of all three. Overall the Hedychium genus has more species/hybrids that are hardy than any other genus. I have 8 different ones. Zingiber mioga and Alpinia japonica have proven to be the hardiest in their respective genera for me.
-Several aroids come to mind too. Voodoo Lilies(Sauromatum(Typhonium) venosum and Amorphophallus spp) In the right location Sauromatum is outstanding. It has beautiful mottled variegation on the leaf petioles, as does Amorphophallus. Both can produce huge leaves. Among aroids, also look into the Jack in the Pulpits(Arisaemas)
-I don't personally grow any, but any species of clumping Bamboo would also add a great look.

I like the native magnolia macrophylla and always suggest it to folks wanting tropical looking plants. Magnolia tripetala also would work.

Thanks for the help! I had not thought of those gingers or Voodoo Lily - what great plants! It is also so cool how our native big-leafed magnolias could add such a tropical feel. A couple of questions - does anyone have experience with the following plants here:
Gunnera manicata
Treeferns (Dicksoni antarica)

Many Thanks!

I think your comment was a little on the rude side GGG. No offense but "if any of us wanted to read, we'd go to school." (Beavis & Butthead 1996). Books don't always have the best advice nor are they fine-tuned for our state.

I agree about the magnolias. If you're looking for a tropical looking tree look at the Sweetbay and southern magnolia. There seems to be a trend lately of mulch and pinestraw places selling Sabal Palmettos.

And I'm not sure how well asian plants and tropical plants blend together. I personally don't care for the tropical stuff but please keep doing your homework on them before planting. You might be tempted to plant things like Bamboo and Paulownia but those really aren't very good plants to use. It can also be debated on whether or not elephant ear is escaping cultivation.

If you go with some bamboo, here is an organization that might help you in selecting a less invasive variety. They wre very helpful when I spoke with them at the flower show.

http://www.sec-bamboo.org/index.htm

On the edible-landscaping side, I think pomegranate bushes (both fruit-producing and ornamental) have a tropical feel, with their ornamental summer blooms and glossy foliage. Feijoa (pineapple guava) bushes have pretty tropicalesque summer blooms as well, and additionally they're evergreen and drought-tolerant once established. How about fig trees? Graceful trunks and large floppy leaves and the whole Garden of Eden thing, not to mention fresh figs.

Palms for Atlanta area:

Trachycarpus fortuei (Windmill Palm)- small ones need protection starting at around 15F; established ones okay into the single digits

Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle Palm)- rock solid hardy

Sabal minor - rock solid hardy

Sabal palmetto (may need protection at times when temps hit single digits)

Butia capitata (if owner is willing to protect at 15F or below)

Personally I think Needle Palms are an especially beautiful hardy and native shrub palm that are very much underappreciated. They look their best when grown in shade, although they also do fine in sun.

And any tropicalesque garden needs GARDENIAS! :)

It's not a tropical plant, but ligularia looks tropical. And it is ablsolutely cold hardy here. Great if you have a wet spot. I especially like lugularia Othello.

Personally I'm flattered when a professional listens to me about my gardening experiments and takes my suggestion under advisement.....

I planted hardy hibiscus down here in the Savannah area about 9 years ago. It does die back, and is slower than molasses in January coming back, but when it does it is spectacular-blooms the size of dinner plates.

For filling in larger areas nothing beats Fatsia japonica for a tropical look and there are many hardy types of Hybiscus which truly give the feel of the tropical garden.

I second the Needle Palm and the Hedychium. Chilean Jasmine Vine ( a type of Mandevilla, white, fragrant, not Alice DuPont) is root-hardy here. The Swamp Hibiscus is like a tall, skinny red version of the Tropical Hibiscus that all are familiar with. Having lived in the tropics, I fondly remember several tropicals that had finely divided leaflets and provided a ferny look. I know the anti-invasive nazis will open a can of W-A on me for it, but Albizia julibrissin (commonly called Mimosa) looks just like Delonix and Jacaranda, common tropical shade trees, when not in bloom. And Mimosa blooms look much like the beautiful tropical Calliandra known as Powder Puff.

One other off-beat plant for your tropical look: Poncirus trifoliata. It is not evergreen, but the exotic thorny stems are bright green all year. The leaves look obviously kinned to Citrus trees, even to the untrained eye. And the
downy-skinned orange fruits look like small oranges. The scent the "oranges" put off each fall is one of my favorite of all natural plant fragrances. You can bring in a bowl-full to freshen the air for early winter entertaining.

The big problem, as you know, with all these cool ideas is availability more so than hardiness. But I wouldn't use Sabals or Pindos around Atlanta. People are going to be sorry they zone-defied with those two one day soon. Windmill Palm is fine here but it is not near as pretty as the Needle Palm. I have never tried Gunnera but I have heard-tell they don't like Atlanta humidity. And I believe all the tree ferns are too tender.

Eucalyptus (cinerea, I think) looks more Asian than tropical, and seems to survive or return from the roots each year.

mexican heather
rose-of-sharon (looks a lot like a hibiscus)
plumbago
elephant ears

Has anyone tried hardy banana? That'd be a tropical looking thing! I haven't myself, but I'm curious. Some species are said to be zone 7 without protection.

I have seen a lot of bananas planted in my area in higher end subdivisions. They appear to survive. Muso Banjoo (sp?) I think is one of them.
I think bananas are muy delicioso, pero the look of the plant really is unattractive. Muy feo!
Can't believe what some of these people did to these beautiful estate homes.

I grow amarylis outside...the kind that are winter gift plants. I mulch them heavily in the winter with wheatstraw/leaves/pinestraw. Sometime in late March after any chance of freezing is past, I pull the mulch off revealing the emerging new green leaves. I originally put in 3 about 4 years ago and the bulbs have multiplied enough now so that I get 2-3 flower stalks per plant.

Did anyone mention caladiums? Great for tropical-looking shade annuals. And the white's will really brighten up a dark shady area.

Without regard to their propensity for being thugs, I consider Mimosa (albizzia), Catalpa, clerodendrum bungeii and crocosmia species to have a tropical look and a hardy bent. They're all survivors. I'd want the garden owner to sign a release saying they understand the messiness and thugishness of all these.

Nell

hardy tropicals are my favorite! the banana plant musa banju (if i spelled it correctly) would be a great choice. castor bean plants also make an attractive tropical plant, though they are poisonous if eaten so be careful. i think that clematis also delivers a tropical flare, but my favorite choice would be the "Green Wave" parrot tulip. it gives a whimsy tropical feel every season. look it up it is great looking!