Where Do Tropical Plants Come From?

Here’s the list of where tropical plants come from for UK gardens, along with the specific Asian countries they originate from:

1. Banana (Musa basjoo) – Japan
2. Ginger Lily (Hedychium spp.) – Himalayan region (India, Nepal, Bhutan, China)
3. Fatsia japonica – Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
4. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp., Fargesia spp.) – China, Japan, Himalayas
5. Japanese Aralia (Schefflera taiwaniana) – Taiwan
6. Elephant Ear (Colocasia spp.) – India, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)
7. Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) – India (naturalized in many tropical regions)
8. Hostas (many species) – China, Japan, Korea
9. Thunbergia (Thunbergia grandiflora) – India
10. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) – Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia)
11. Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) – China, Japan, Korea

Here’s a list of tropical-style plants for UK gardens that originate from the Americas, along with their countries of origin:

1. Canna Lilies (Canna spp.) – Central and South America (Colombia, Brazil, Mexico)
2. Dahlias (Dahlia spp.) – Mexico, Central America
3. Heliconia (Heliconia spp.) – Central and South America (Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia)
4. Elephant Ear (Alocasia and Xanthosoma spp.) – Central and South America (Mexico, Ecuador)
5. Philodendrons (Philodendron spp.) – Tropical Americas (Brazil, Panama)
6. Passionflower (Passiflora spp.) – Central and South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Peru)
7. Orchids (e.g., Cattleya, Oncidium) – Central and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica)
8. Bromeliads (e.g., Aechmea, Neoregelia) – Tropical Americas (Brazil, Argentina)
9. Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) – Originally from East Africa but naturalized in many parts of the Americas
10. Chilean Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) – Brazil, Colombia

Here’s a list of tropical-style plants for UK gardens that originate from Africa, along with their countries of origin:

1. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) – South Africa
2. Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum) – Ethiopia, East Africa
3. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia spp.) – South Africa, East Africa
4. African Lily (Agapanthus spp.) – South Africa
5. Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) – Egypt, Ethiopia, and other parts of North Africa
6. Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) – Ethiopia, widespread in East and North Africa
7. Zebra Grass (Miscanthus capensis) – Southern Africa
8. Elephant Ear (Colocasia antiquorum) – Although primarily Asian, some naturalized forms are found in parts of Africa.

Here’s a list of tropical-style plants for UK gardens that originate from Australasia, along with their countries of origin:

1. Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica) – Australia, Tasmania
2. Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis) – New Zealand
3. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium australasicum) – Australia, New Guinea
4. Australian Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea spp.) – Australia
5. Giant Spear Lily (Doryanthes palmeri) – Australia
6. New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) – New Zealand
7. Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos spp.) – Australia
8. Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) – Australia, New Guinea
9. Macrozamia (Macrozamia spp.) – Australia
10. Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) – Australia

Here’s a list of tropical-style plants for UK gardens that originate from regions not mentioned so far, such as the Pacific Islands and the Middle East:

Pacific Islands

1. Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis) – Polynesia, Melanesia
2. Cordyline fruticosa – Pacific Islands (Fiji, Hawaii)
3. Fiji Fan Palm (Pritchardia pacifica) – Fiji, Tonga
4. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) – Pacific Islands (Hawaii, Papua New Guinea)

Middle East

5. Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) – Arabian Peninsula, North Africa (also thrives in tropical gardens)

Mediterranean Region

6. False Castor Oil Plant (Fatsia × hederacea) – Hybrid of species from East Asia and the Mediterranean basin
7. Yucca (Yucca aloifolia) – Though associated with the Americas, it is cultivated in Mediterranean climates