I want to do my backyard in a tropical theme. Its just hard to look up different kinds of plants. ?
So far I have picked out queen palms, sago palms and birds of paradise, and banana plants. Have any suggestions on what would go good with those? I also need some grass plants, so 10 points if i like what you like! Any tropical plants will do……PLEASE SEND ALL SUGGESTIONS!!!!
I live in central CA by SF



Where do you live? There are different kinds of tropical plants, and they don’t all like the same conditions.
Okay……try going to a local nursery and see what they have available and what they can recommend that won’t take overly much care. Bougainvilleas should grow for you, they come in many colors, but they’re mean and nasty bushes with huge thorns. Hibiscus should grow where you are, but they take quite a bit of water until they’re well established. .
spotted toad lillies look super tropical but can grow basically anywhere and they look funky
Tamarind Tree, Cardboard Palm, Ixora, Periwinkle, Jasmine Pinwheel.
Look up the Better Homes and Gardens site. They have a plant selector. Just put in your climate etc and they give you lists of plants and descriptions. etc.
croton
Australian tree fern
Xanadu (type of philodendron)
Holly fern
foxtail palm
canary island date plam (if you can afford it)
Mondo grass
scheffelerra trinnette (spelling?)
variegated ginger
heliconia (false bird of paradise)
bougainvillea (not exactly tropical, but looks good in every application)
mandevilla (see bougainvillea)
These are just a few of the many possibilities. Good luck and be careful with those sago’s. Keeping the scale off can be more trouble than they’re worth.