Giving Tropical Flowers as Gifts: From Plumeria to Heliconias

Some of the most exotic and unusual blooms on this planet come from the tropical flowers. Ginger, plumeria, orchids and heliconias are but a few species in this wonderful family. For Easter or Mother's Day, consider giving someone a gift that will fill them with delight. Or better yet, treat yourself to one of these rare and unusual blooms.

What I love about tropical flowers is their huge diversity of form and their often intensely sweet fragrance. Take the lovely plumeria blossom, often used to create lei's of lasting beauty. They have big show stopping blooms and an exotic sweetness that is intoxicating to the senses. Plumerias are a shrub that can reach 30 feet high when fully mature. If you live in an area that has a warm tropical climate, you can cultivate plumeria easily. There are many places online where you can order plumeria in floral arrangements or as plants for cultivation. Surprisingly affordable, you have a big choice in varieties to select from.

Ginger, known in Hawaii as Awahupi, is a gorgeously colored and scented tropical flower. The colors range from sultry reds to pure white, and create a stunning addition to any room. Ginger plants, sold in 3 inch pots come in several varieties including alpinia, famed for its gingery scented leaves. Starting at $9.95 per plant, they make it easy to add a bit of tropical magic to your garden oasis.

Nestled between the banana like leaves of the heliconia, lie blooms of unusual beauty. Heliconia is a highly prized tropical plant and with good reason. Their shapes resemble lobster claws or the beaks of birds, and come in pinks, golds oranges and reds. Not only lovely in flower arrangements, they grow beautifully in containers indoors.

Proteas always remind me somewhat of artichokes. Brilliantly colored and eerily otherwordly, these tropical flowers are the star of many a tropical florists' repertoire. One huge bloom is borne on a single slender stem. Proteas can be dried and used again and again. Holiday Red is my favorite variety, with its iridescent red bloom and gigantic size. This is one tropical flower that can hold up to freezing temperatures without harm.

Tropical flowers show best in places with an Asian type theme or minimalist decor, allowing all their captivating beauty to stand out. They are also lovely as an office gift, where they are a standout on a big desk or corporate side table. Most arrangements call for big furniture to accomodate their sheer size and energy. In the garden they do best lighting up darker corners, or in gardens with a tropical theme.

Most tropicals are heavy feeders, requiring steady doses of high nitrogen fertilizer to coax the biggest most fragrant blooms from them. Many of the tropical flowers do well in containers filled with sand. They do not like wet feet, so watering must be done carefully. Not especially pest prone, they do attract beneficial insects in droves. Their heavy scents and vibrant colors are natural attractants for bees, butterflies and birds.

All the tropical flowers and plants are very reasonably priced, and easily found online. Floral arrangements are affordable, considering their quality and unusual beauty. If you haven't experienced the wonder of tropical plants, give one a try. It might just be a beginning step in a lifelong passion for their rare and haunting loveliness.