Next, choose containers that are compatible with the house, such as wood, stone, concrete, clay or plastic made to look like these materials. Some of Seely's clients skip pots and put the plants in perennial borders and flower beds. Amaryllis, for instance, flourishes in soil that is generously enriched with peat moss. By autumn you'll get bulbs the size of two fists that will produce 3 to 4 blooms the next year, Seely said. Once the big amaryllis blooms fade, the long, straplike leaves remain, adding to the tropical look.
Some homeowners satisfy a longing for the South Seas by planting palm trees.
Tropicals generally are more expensive than traditional summer flowers. However, there's a chance that those tropical investments can survive more than one season. More than one central Ohio grower successfully nurses hibiscus, gardenias, ferns and other tropicals through winter in a sunny southern window. A greenhouse, high-intensity grow lights or a sunroom will produce better results. Besides, the tropical look doesn't have to consist of purely tender plants.