Bring the Tropics Home This Summer

Bring a vacation feeling home this summer by decorating your deck, porch or patio with colorful tropical plants. Although they aren't winter hardy in Southern Maine, patio tropicals thrive during our warmest months and provide bold flowers, glossy foliage and season-long color.

Choose the Right Tropical Plants

Mandevilla is one of the best choices for sunny patios. Its trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in shades of red, coral, pink and white, while its vigorous vines climb trellises and other supports.

Tropical hibiscus produces large, colorful flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow and pink. Use it as a dramatic centerpiece in a large container where it will receive at least six hours of sunlight.

For something a little different, try agapanthus for elegant blue or white flower clusters, bougainvillea for intense color, or passion flower for unusual blooms and climbing growth. Star jasmine adds fragrant white flowers, while heliotrope offers sweetly scented purple blooms.

Provide Plenty of Sunshine

Most patio tropicals perform best with six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Mandevilla, hibiscus and bougainvillea are especially well suited to warm, sunny decks and patios. Flowering maple and heliotrope can tolerate some afternoon shade.

Water and Feed Regularly

Plant tropicals in containers with drainage holes using a high-quality potting mix. Check the soil frequently and water thoroughly when the top inch feels dry. During hot or windy weather, containers may need to be watered every day.

Apply a balanced water-soluble fertilizer every two to three weeks to support healthy growth and continuous flowering.

Plan for Cooler Weather

Patio tropicals should be protected before Southern Maine's first fall frost. Some plants, including hibiscus, mandevilla and flowering maple, can be brought indoors and kept near a bright window. Others can simply be enjoyed as spectacular seasonal plants.

With sunshine, regular watering and occasional fertilizer, patio tropicals can transform an ordinary outdoor space into a colorful summer retreat.