Creating a Tropical Oasis in Seattle

There are many direct flights from Seattle to tropical locations, but the you could create a tropical oasis right in your own backyard!

Fan Palms and Windmill Palms are two of the few palms that are hardy in the pacific northwest – they are real attention-getters! Hardy to 5 degrees although they may lose their leaves in really cold winters. Windmill Palms feature showy panicles of yellow flowers hanging below the branches. They are blooming all over Seattle right now!

Mediterranean Fan Plam, Chamaerops humilis

This smaller Fan Palm is without a doubt the best candidate of any landscape Palm. It tends to grow in clusters, but is slow enough to rarely outgrow its space. Plant as a single specimen or group several while young. Very cold hardy, this Palm makes the perfect focal point in a tropical garden that needs to take a frost.

Hibiscus syriacus

When people think of Seattle, I don’t think hibiscus comes to mind. However, this deer resistant, fast growing shrub is super hardy and super stunning. Hibiscus are available in a variety of foliage and flower colors with huge blooms that last from summer into the fall!

Ensete Red Banana

A stunning plant with huge palms that fan out from a single trunk. Eye-catching foliage that has wine-red and green tones with prominent venation. A great choice for tropical-inspired gardens. Perfect for large containers.

A few more hardy tropical favorites that grow well in Seattle:

Mandevilla
Mountain Pepper Tree
Colocasia
Pseudopanax
CANNA
CALLA LILY
PLUMBAGO
HOSTAS
UMBRELLA PLANT
Gunnera
Caladium

Once you plant these hardy tropicals, all that you’re missing is a hot tub and a tiki bar!