What to Grow in Tropical Climates

Small, ribbed winter squash. Perfect single-serving size when halved and baked.

Medicinal succulent. Gel soothes burns and skin. Easy houseplant.

Ancient grain with nutritious seeds and edible leaves. Dramatic red/purple foliage.

Tropical tree fruit. Takes years to fruit from seed. Dwarf varieties available.

Fastest-growing plant on earth. Clumping types for privacy screens.

Tropical herbaceous plant (not a tree). Dwarf varieties fruit in containers.

Essential culinary herb with fragrant leaves. Many varieties from sweet to Thai.

Evergreen tree producing aromatic bay leaves essential in soups and stews.

Heat-loving legume that fixes nitrogen in soil. Southern US staple crop.

Sweet, nutty winter squash. Stores for months in cool, dry conditions.

Source of chocolate. Tropical understory tree with pods growing directly from trunk.

Sweet, fragrant melon that needs long, hot summers. Ripe when stem slips easily.

Expensive tropical spice. Related to ginger.

Fiery hot pepper dried and ground into cayenne powder. Prolific producer.

Aztec superfood producing omega-3 rich seeds. Purple flower spikes.

Ancient legume for hummus and curries. Also called garbanzo bean. Fixes nitrogen.

From mild jalapenos to scorching habaneros. Heat-loving plants that thrive in summer.

Tropical tree -- the bark is harvested as the spice.

Tropical shrub producing coffee cherries. Makes an attractive houseplant too.

Southern staple green that handles both heat and cold better than most brassicas.

Plant in blocks (not rows) for wind pollination. Each stalk produces 1-2 ears.

Airy, delicate flowers on tall stems. Thrives in poor soil.

Fast-growing vine that produces abundantly in warm weather.

Essential herb in South Indian cuisine. Small tree with aromatic compound leaves.

Stunning cactus fruit with pink skin and speckled flesh. Night-blooming flowers.

Young green soybeans. High-protein snack straight from the garden.

Heat-loving nightshade. Needs long warm season. Beautiful purple fruit and flowers.

Mexican herb essential for cooking black beans. Strong, pungent flavor.

Herb with maple-scented leaves and seeds. Key spice in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking.

Ancient fruit tree. Can be grown in containers. Sweet, honey-flavored fruit.

Ginger-like rhizome essential in Thai cooking. Harder and more piney than ginger.

Tropical rhizome with spicy, aromatic flavor. Grows well in containers.

Easy warm-season crop. Bush types need no support; pole types need trellis.

Quick-growing allium. Regrows from roots after cutting. Perfect windowsill crop.

Tropical fruit tree with aromatic fruit. Rich in vitamin C. Easy to grow.

Extremely hot pepper (100,000-350,000 Scoville). Fruity, intense heat.

Tropical showstopper with dinner-plate sized flowers.

Largest tree fruit in the world -- can weigh 35kg. Meat substitute when unripe.

Popular medium-heat chili. Versatile in cooking from salsas to poppers.

Intensely fragrant vine or shrub.

Crispy, sweet root vegetable eaten raw in salads. Needs long warm season.

Chinese date -- sweet, date-like fruit on extremely drought-tolerant tree.

Tiny citrus eaten whole -- sweet skin with tart flesh. Most cold-hardy citrus.

Evergreen citrus tree. Meyer lemons are best for home gardens.

Tropical grass with intense citrus flavor. Essential in Thai and Vietnamese cooking.

Tropical citrus. Key limes and Persian limes both thrive in warm climates.

Tropical gourd -- eat young like zucchini, or dry for natural sponges.

Prized tropical fruit with floral aroma and translucent flesh in rough red shell.

Tropical vine with thick, succulent leaves. Spinach substitute that loves heat.

King of tropical fruits. Large, beautiful tree. Hundreds of delicious varieties.

Cheerful annual that repels pests. Essential companion plant.

Ancient drought-tolerant grain. Tiny seeds used in porridge, bread, and birdseed.

Vigorous herb that spreads aggressively. Best grown in containers.

Miracle tree -- leaves are incredibly nutritious. Fast-growing tropical tree.

Fast-growing climbing vine with trumpet flowers that open each morning.

Hardy fruit tree with sweet-tart berries. Birds love them -- net to protect harvest.

Edible flower with peppery flavor. Leaves, flowers, and seed pods all edible.

Heat-tolerant spinach alternative. Spreading ground cover with triangular leaves.

Heat-loving Southern staple. Beautiful hibiscus-like flowers before pods form.

Exotic beauty. Phalaenopsis orchids are easiest for beginners.

Fast-growing tropical fruit. Can fruit within a year from seed.

Exotic, intricate flowers on vigorous vine. Some varieties produce edible fruit.

Tropical climbing vine with exotic flowers and tangy fruit.

Heat-loving plants ranging from sweet bell peppers to fiery chilies.

Shiso -- Japanese herb with unique flavor. Green and purple varieties.

Prolific trailing annual. Perfect for hanging baskets and containers.

Ground cherry / cape gooseberry with sweet fruit in papery husks.

Tropical bromeliad. Grow from the top of a store-bought pineapple.

Ancient fruit with ruby seeds (arils). Drought-tolerant once established.

Classic fall crop. Sprawling vines need lots of space.

Ancient oilseed crop producing tiny, flavorful seeds. Beautiful trumpet flowers.

Heat and drought-tolerant grain. Fifth most important cereal worldwide.

World's most important legume. Incredibly versatile -- tofu, tempeh, milk, oil.

Tropical evergreen tree producing star-shaped spice pods. Key in Chinese five-spice.

Tropical tree with waxy, star-shaped fruit when sliced. Sweet-tart flavor.

Natural sweetener plant -- leaves are 30x sweeter than sugar.

Iconic warm-season flower. Giant varieties can reach 3+ meters tall.

Garden-fresh corn is incredibly sweet. Plant in blocks for wind pollination.

Tropical root vegetable. Needs long warm season -- 4+ months of warm weather.

Colorful, heat-tolerant green related to beets. Beautiful rainbow stems.

Tropical root staple. Giant elephant-ear leaves. Must be cooked before eating.

Camellia sinensis -- source of all true tea (green, black, oolong, white).

Essential for salsa verde. Tangy fruit in papery husks. Very productive.

The world's most popular garden vegetable. Tomatoes thrive in warm weather with consistent moisture.

Golden spice rhizome related to ginger. Beautiful foliage.

Tropical orchid vine. The world's most labor-intensive spice.

Clusters of small flowers in vivid colors. Excellent for containers and borders.

Aquatic perennial for ponds and water features. Hardy and tropical varieties.

Summer's iconic fruit. Needs space, heat, and patience. Worth the wait.

Hard-shelled squash that stores for months. Includes hubbard, delicata, spaghetti.

Andean root with sweet, crunchy, juicy flesh. Eat raw like a fruit.

True tropical yam -- not to be confused with sweet potato. Staple in Africa and Asia.

Vibrant cut flower in every color. Attracts butterflies. Easy from seed.

Prolific summer squash -- one plant can feed a family. Easy for beginners.