Plants for subtropical climate

There are many plants that live in subtropical climates

Image - Wikimedia / Donarreiskoffer

The subtropical climate is one that can be upsetting those of us who like to grow exotic plants, because although there is a huge variety of species that will live well in our gardens or terraces, we always have to count on frost, cold and, above all, the low temperature range what's in the fall and winter.

And it is that, yes friends: plants most suitable for a subtropical climate often suffer more from low temperature variation than from light frost. For this reason, in some regions it is very difficult to get an areca palm to grow fast, or for a flamboyant to make it to spring alive. Now, there are others that are somewhat more resistant.

What characteristics does the subtropical climate present?

The regions that enjoy a subtropical climate are those that are close to the terrestrial tropics. It could be said that it is an intermediate warm climate between a tropical and a temperate one, since in fact it presents characteristics of both. Speaking of average temperatures, the annual temperature is 18ºC, and that of the coldest month is between 18ºC and 6ºC. The closer to the equator and the lower the altitude, the warmer it will be.

There are two kinds:

Humid subtropical climate

Map of places where the climate is humid subtropical

Map with the areas where the climate is humid subtropical marked in green.

Also known as Chinese weather. It is the climate that they have in the eastern United States, southeastern South America, southeast Asia, eastern Australia, southeast Africa and in some places the Mediterranean region, such as northern Italy or southern Ukraine. Likewise, it is the one that some islands of the Azores, and the Canaries have (as in La Palma and El Hierro).

Its main features are:

  • Annual rainfall is abundant between 500 and 1200mm.
  • The humidity is very high, above 70%.
  • The average annual temperature is around 16-22ºC.. In some areas, such as Catalonia, significant snowfalls are recorded; On the other hand, in the Canary Islands that have this climate, frosts do not usually occur.

Dry subtropical climate

Map of places with Mediterranean climate

Map with areas where the climate is dry subtropical marked in yellow.
Image - Wikimedia / Maulucioni

It is known as the Mediterranean climate, and we have it not only in the places bathed by said sea, but also in southwestern South America, western United States, and some points in southern Australia.

Focusing on what this climate is like, you have to know that:

  • Rains are almost always scarce and seasonal in nature. In fact, they usually fall in spring and late summer. They are also usually torrential, especially those of the end of August / September. Now, there are places where 1000mm of precipitation can fall per year.
  • The humidity is very high too, due to the influence of the Mediterranean Sea; although it can drop by 50% the further we move from the coast.
  • The average annual temperature is 18ºC, except in the warm months that can exceed 22ºC.. In winter there can be significant frosts, down to -7ºC or even -12ºC in some places; in others, such as where I live (south of Mallorca), it does not drop below -2ºC.

And now that we know what the subtropical climate is like, let's see what plants we can grow in our gardens, terraces and balconies:

Selection of plants for subtropical climate

If you live in an area where the climate is subtropical, take a look at the plants we recommend:

Fire treeBrachychiton acerifolius)

The tree of fire is subtropical

Image - Wikimedia / Sheba_Also 43,000 photos

El fire tree It is a fast growing deciduous or semi-deciduous tree native to eastern Australia. It is, of all the Brachychiton, the one that has the most striking flowering, since its flowers, which are red and sprout in spring, cover it almost completely. In cultivation it is rare that it exceeds 15 meters in height, but in its place of origin it can measure up to 40 meters.

It can be had in sunny and warm gardens, where the summers are hot and the winters are mild.. It is well resistant to temperatures between a maximum of 38ºC and a minimum of -3ºC.

Archontophoenix maxima

La Archontophoenix maxima It is a palm tree that, I am convinced, would have to be cultivated much, much more in all tropical and subtropical regions. It is endemic to the mountainous regions of Queensland in Australia, and is 25 meters tall. Its leaves are pinnate and green, which are approximately 3 meters long. Its trunk is thin, about 30 centimeters in diameter, so it takes up little space.

The only downside is that He needs a place where he has the shadow of a young man, but where as he grows older he receives more and more light.. Thus, little by little, it could tolerate direct sun once it was an adult. Likewise, it must be watered frequently, as the drought hurts it. But for the rest, it is a palm tree that grows fast, slender, that withstands cold and frosts of up to -2ºC if they are of short duration.

Cane de Indias (canna indica)

The cane of the indias is a rhizomatous plant

Image - Wikimedia / PEAK99

La rattan It is a precious rhizomatous plant native to South America where it is known that Peruvians already cultivated it at least 4500 years ago. It can measure up to 3 meters in height, and has green or bi-colored leaves (green and purple). It blooms during the summer and sometimes in the fall, producing red, orange or yellow flowers.

It is a herb that is perfect in planters, but also on the ground, either next to a wall, or on the side of the road. Of course, it can not lack light. As for its rusticity, resists well up to -2ºC, but if the winter is windy and / or cool, it is possible that it arrives in the spring quite damaged. That usually happens to mine almost every year, but they recover well.

Gazania (Gazania freezes)

There are many types of gazanias

La gazania It is an herb native to South Africa and Mozambique widely cultivated for its daisy-like flowers that open in the sun and close when it sets. These They are of very different colors: yellow, orange, pink, red, bicolor. The plant is about 30 inches tall by about the same width, so it can be grown wherever you like.

But yes, it is very important that direct sunlightas otherwise it will not bloom. Resists up to -3ºC.

Fig tree (ficus carica)

The fig tree is a deciduous tree

Image - Wikimedia / Juan Emilio Prades Bel

La fruit fig tree or as I like to call it, the Mediterranean fig tree, which has been cultivated for centuries in that region (although it is actually native to Asia), It is a deciduous fruit tree that reaches a height of 8 meters. It can be kept lower if it is pruned, since it recovers well after pruning.

During the summer it produces figs that can be eaten fresh or dried. The best is that resists drought, cold and frost down to -7ºCso you can effortlessly grow it wherever you want.

Lilo (Syringa vulgaris)

The lilo is a tree to make shade

Image - Wikimedia / Salicyna

El lilo it is a deciduous tree endemic to the Balkans, in southeastern Europe. It measures between 6 and 7 meters in height, and often develops several secondary stems from the base which are about 20 centimeters thick. Its flowers are white-pink or white, and sprout in panicles during spring.

Its growth rate is not particularly fast; in fact, can grow about 20 centimeters per year, but thanks to that it is easy to have it at the desired height and make it look good, since it will not be necessary to do large pruning. Resists up to -18ºC.

Common magnolia (magnolia grandiflora)

The common magnolia is a huge tree

Image - Flickr / vhines200

El magnolia or common magnolia It is an evergreen tree native to the southeastern United States. PuI came to be 30 meters tall, although it takes a long time (years) to get to measure so much, since it grows at a rate of about 20-40 centimeters / year. It has large, green, leathery leaves; and produces flowers in spring from an early age. These measure up to 30 centimeters in diameter, are white and very fragrant.

It is a plant that can be grown in subtropical climates, since it needs high humidity and mild temperatures in winter. However, it resists frosts down to -18ºC. Yes indeed, it is important that it be planted in acidic soils, with a pH between 4 and 6, and if you are in the Mediterranean, put it in semi-shade because the sun can burn it.

Black branch (corymbosa senna)

Senna corymbosa is a subtropical plant

Image - Wikimedia / Uwe Thobae

The plant known as black branch is a semi-evergreen shrub native to South America. Reaches a height of 2,5 meters, and has dark green bipinnate leaves that close at night. Its flowers are yellow and sprout in spring.

Tolerates pruning and direct sun; further grows well in almost any type of soil (except very heavy ones). Resists up to -10ºC.

Scented passionflower (Passiflora vitifolia)

Passiflora vitifolia is a perennial climber

Image - Wikimedia / Prenn

The scented passionflower or granadilla de monte is an evergreen climber native to Central America and northwestern South America that it can measure up to 8 meters in height if it has a stand. It is widely cultivated for its large scarlet-red flowers, which measure 12 centimeters in diameter on average and sprout in summer.

It is a plant that needs sun or semi-shade, and a warm climate all year round, but withstands cold as well as mild frosts down to -4ºC.

Elephant's foot cassava (yucca elephantipes)

The elephant foot yucca is a succulent and subtropical tree

Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang

La elephant foot yucca it is a rustic plant native to Mesoamerica. It can measure up to 10 meters in height, although if the suckers are allowed to grow it stays lower. It has green or green leaves with whitish margins, with a spiny tip. It blooms at about 10 years of age, and it does so in summer, producing white bell-shaped flowers grouped in panicles, which sprout from the center of the rosette of leaves.

I have a copy and I am delighted, because we never water it and it is beautiful. And it can go 6 months without rain! Of course, the humidity remains high throughout the year, which means that even if it is summer or winter the plants wake up wet. In addition, you have to know what a sun plant is, capable of resisting frosts down to -4ºC.

Which of these plants for subtropical climate did you like the most?


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