Cold-Tolerant Flowering Tropical Plants for Zone 7 in Maryland

Flowering Trees and Shrubs

• Flowering trees and shrubs such as Ashe magnolia (Magnolia ashei), Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata), flowering crabapple (Malus) and mock orange (Philadelphus) are all hardy in zone 7 and can be counted on to produce attractive blooms. There are also many varieties of camellias whose cold-hardiness make them ideal for zone 7 gardens. The "Longwood Blue" variety of blue mist spirea (Caryopteris clandonensis) attracts butterflies, birds and bees with its dark blue flowers that appear in mid- to late summer.

Bananas and Palms

• The cold-hardy Chinese dwarf banana (Musella lasiocarpa) originated in the high altitudes of Yunnan province in China. Its maximum height is about 5 feet, with a stout, conical trunk and a crown of broad, powdery-looking grayish-green or blue leaves. The large, bright yellow "flower" grows upright at the top of the trunk and appears in the second year. The perennial jelly palm (Butia capitata) is a slow-growing type of feather leaf palm. It is reliably cold hardy to about 15 degrees F.

Perennials

• Canna "Tropicanna" (Canna indica "Phasion") presents both bright orange and gold flowers and dramatically colored leaves to brighten the zone 7 garden. The chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) has dense green foliage and its small purple flowers are chocolate-scented, hence the common name. The "Shirobana" variety of the chocolate vine has somewhat more fragrant white flowers. Dahlias are another popular flowering tropical that do well in the cooler climates. There are many varieties to choose from and they can be grown from seeds, tubers or potted plants. Ginger lily (Hedychium) produces spiky, little yellow blossoms in the late summer.

Semiannuals

• Amaranthus comes in several varieties and heights. The most spectacular is the Amaranthus caudatus that will produce luxuriant tassels well into September in zone 7. Passion flower (Passiflora) can be used in a zone 7 garden with some extra care. Plant them near a building's foundation or a large rock which will absorb and hold heat then radiate heat to the plant. Passion fruit is a delicious dividend from this plant.