When you picture Florida gardens , you probably think of swaying palms and the bright colors of tropical plants. For the most part, you'd be right. However, because of the state's length, Florida encompasses four USDA Hardiness Zones , and the upper peninsula can fall far below freezing temperatures in the winter.

So, before you select one of these tropical beauties for your garden, read the care tag or talk to the experts at your plant store. If you live in Zones 8 and 9 or the upper edges of Zone 10, plant tropical varieties in sheltered areas or plan to provide some winter protection .

Bird of Paradise

A bird of paradise exemplifies tropical life with its bright colors. Set atop large gray-green leaves, the flowers emerge one at a time from the spathe with three brilliant orange sepals and three bright blue petals . When birds arrive to have a drink of nectar, the petals open to cover their feet with pollen. Keep the plant well-watered and feed it during the heat of summer so you can enjoy blooms for weeks.

Angel's Trumpet

The large, bell-like, perfumed flowers in white, peach, or creamy yellow ring of the tropics on this small tree. In Zones 10 and 11, the tree is evergreen and can reach 35 feet tall, but dies back in colder zones during the winter. It will flower continually through the growing season once it reaches maturity.

Bougainvillea

Few woody vines are more colorful than bougainvillea. Whether you grow it in a hanging basket that needs winter protection in cooler zones or are lucky enough to let it cover a trellis (Zones 9 and higher), the vibrant pinks , purple, red, orange, and yellow flowers are spectacular. Or, go for the cooling effects of a white bloomer. Much like a poinsettia, the actual flower is insignificant, but the surrounding 3 to 6 colorful bracts are spectacular.

Egyptian Star Cluster

Grown as an herbaceous perennial in Zones 10 and 11, don't skip it in cooler Florida zones; grow it as an annual for the dense clusters of star-shaped flowers. All types of pollinators are drawn to the white, pink, lavender, or red flowers that bloom from spring until winter.

Flame of the Woods

Dotted all over Florida, these shrubs have many common names—flame of the woods, jungle geranium, iron tree. Whatever you call them, the shrubs can reach up to six feet tall with clusters of red, pink, or orange flowers with velvety petals over glossy leaves. The shrub will die back in winter in areas that fall below 50 degrees, but can be used as a colorful hedge in Zones 10 and 11.

Japanese Banana

Cold-hardy in every Florida zone, Japanese banana has very large, paddle-shaped, bright green leaves that arch from the center of the plant. While it will produce clusters of creamy yellow flowers followed by somewhat edible fruit, the plant is prized for its tropical foliage. After the plant flowers and produces fruits, the center "stem" dies. However, the roots will generate new shoots or pups that will form a new center.

Mandevilla

Grown as a perennial, tropical shrub or vine, there are more than 180 species of mandevilla, including hybrids, most commonly sold in plant nurseries. They tolerate coastal winds and salt, but are only cold-hardy in the highest Florida growing zones. You'll find cultivars of the popular SunParasol® group in all shades of pink and red, as well as bicolors, white, yellow, and bluish-purple.

Plumbago

When you tire of hot, tropical colors, add this flowering shrub with cooling periwinkle blue and white flowers. Technically a shrub, the flowers appear on vine-like branches. Hardy in Zones 9-11, it can grow from 6 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. It is a good choice if you have a deer problem (they avoid it). However, you should always wear gloves when working with plumbago because all parts of the plant cause dermatitis.

Pride of Barbados

In southern Florida, The Pride of Barbados with hot orange or yellow blooms behaves as an evergreen shrub or small tree. In central and northern Florida, it will shed its leaves but flourish again when warm weather returns. The foliage is fern-like with prickles on the stems and branches, if you want a less-than-friendly hedge against deer and nosy neighbors.

Trumpet Bush

Native to the American tropics, trumpet bush or trumpetflower produces clusters of bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers with red veins in the throat that attract hummingbirds and butterflies . The broadleaf, evergreen, perennial shrub or small tree typically reaches 3 to 6 feet tall but can grow up to 10 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide in optimum conditions. Deadhead blooms to keep the shrub blooming from spring until frost. The showy flowers bloom from spring until frost.