Turn Your Tennessee Yard Into a Tropical Paradise — Even If You’re Not at the Beach!

At Standing Stone Nursery, we’re all about helping you make the most of your outdoor spaces—and summer in Tennessee is prime time to go tropical. With hot, humid days and plenty of sunshine, the Mid-South climate is practically made for lush, exotic plants. Think of it this way: you don’t need a plane ticket to the tropics—you just need the right plants, a little know-how, and a good potting mix.

Shrimp Tree

🌴 Welcome to the Mid-South Tropics

Here in Tennessee, summer days regularly hit the 85–95°F mark with humidity to match. That kind of weather isn’t just tolerable for tropical plants—it’s what they live for. If you’ve been craving a bold, tropical vibe in your yard, patio, or poolside space, now’s the time to go big.

Let’s look at some favorite tropicals we carry a variety at Standing Stone Nursery, along with how to help them thrive in full sun and sultry Southern heat.

Robellini Palm Trees

☀️ Tropical Plants That Love Full Sun & Heat

These sun-soaking stunners will flourish through the hot season and give your outdoor space a vibrant, lush feel:

• Robellini Palms (a.k.a. Pygmy Date Palms): Perfect for pots and sunny corners, robellinis love the heat and add a touch of tropical class with their feather-like fronds.

• Mandevilla & Dipladenia: These flowering vines love climbing up trellises or spilling from hanging baskets. Expect bold pinks, reds, and whites from spring through fall.

• Shrimp Plants: Named for their unique shrimp-like blooms, these heat-loving perennials will draw butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long.

• Macho & Boston Ferns: While Boston ferns can tolerate some sun, macho ferns are the heat champs of the fern family. Give them dappled light or partial sun and plenty of water.

• Banana Trees: Whether they fruit or not, bananas grow fast and give your garden a dramatic, leafy flair. They need tons of sun and water.

• Elephant Ears: With massive leaves in shades of green or black, these dramatic beauties thrive in heat and part sun to full sun, depending on the variety.

• Alocasia & Colocasia varieties

• Hibiscus: Large, bright blooms that scream “vacation mode.” Just keep them well-fed and watered.

• Bird of Paradise: A true showstopper in containers, these love humidity and sun.

  
  

Kimberly Queen, Boston and Macho Ferns

🌞 Tips to Keep Tropical Plants Healthy in Tennessee Summers

1. Sunlight: Most tropicals need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Some, like ferns or caladiums, prefer filtered light—so know your plant.

2. Watering: Tropical plants don’t want to dry out completely. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist—especially in containers where things heat up fast.

3. Humidity: Tennessee’s got this covered, but for indoor transitions later, you might need to mist or use a humidity tray.

4. Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–4 weeks. Blooming plants like hibiscus and mandevilla benefit from higher phosphorus content (like a 10-30-20).

5. Pots & Soil: Use well-draining potting mix and pots with drainage holes. Tropical roots hate soggy soil.

❄️ What Happens When Summer Ends?

As much as we love summer, Tennessee’s winters are not tropical. Most of your favorite tropical plants need protection when nighttime temps drop below 50°F—and definitely by the time they hit 40°F.

Here’s how to transition them successfully:

Dipladenia Tropical Bush

🏡 Bringing Tropicals Indoors for Winter

• Clean & Inspect: Hose down plants and check for pests like spider mites, aphids, or mealybugs.

• Pot Size Matters: If they’re in big decorative containers outside, consider transferring to manageable pots for indoor spaces.

• Light: Place them near south- or west-facing windows. Use grow lights if needed.

• Watering Indoors: Cut back. Indoors, plants don’t dry out as fast. Only water when the top inch of soil is dry.

• Humidity: Use trays with pebbles and water, or small humidifiers, especially for ferns and elephant ears.

Mandevilla Tropical Vine

🌱 Dormancy & Cutting Back

Some plants, like banana trees and elephant ears, may go dormant inside. Let them rest in a cool, dark place like a basement or garage at 50–60°F, with minimal water. You can also cut these back to the base and store the bulbs or rhizomes until spring.

🪴 Tips for Potting Tropical Plants

• Use large containers with plenty of drainage.

• Mix potting soil with perlite or orchid bark for better drainage.

• Add mulch on top to retain moisture during scorching summer days.

• Keep pots raised slightly off the ground to prevent heat damage and root rot.

🌺 Create Your Own Tropical Retreat—No Passport Required

Whether you're transforming your back patio into a jungle escape or adding color to your front porch, tropical plants bring the drama, the joy, and that vacation vibe we all crave in the summer.

And here at Standing Stone Nursery in Springfield, we’ve got a wide selection of tropicals ready to soak up the sun in your yard. Come see what’s in bloom, ask our knowledgeable staff for care tips, and create your own slice of the tropics—right here in Tennessee.

📍 Visit us at 2625 Tom Austin Hwy, Springfield, TN📞 Call (615) 985-2177📲 Follow us on social media for plant spotlights, care tips, and sales!