I love the tropics. Central America and Southeast Asia are my favorite areas to travel. Since I don’t live there, I wanted to create a taste of the tropics here at my home. I began researching what plants would grow in my climate zone and found there were quite a few that can survive our winter temperatures.

While each region of the country has unique growing conditions, New México presents some special challenges. Most people assume we are hot and dry, which is true for much of the year. However, we can get quite cold during the winter especially at night during the winter months of December and January. New México ranges from warm desert at the lowest point, 2,844 ft, in the Chihuahuan Desert near Carlsbad to cold alpine tundra at the highest point, 13,167 ft., on Wheeler Peak creating a wide variation in climate in the state.  

My garden is located in a fairly warm location in the center of Albuquerque and is somewhere between USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7b and 8a. What this means is that our lowest temperatures are usually between 5 and 15 degrees F. during the winter.  The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is “BSk”. (Tropical and Subtropical Steppe Climate). So while we do have cold temperatures and some snow most years, we are still a much milder climate than found in the northern states. 

The main challenge is aridity. Our humidity is extremely low, even into the single digits at times. The air is not only dry but our soils are low in organic matter. I am lucky in that the soil in my backyard is in very good condition. It is loamy with very little clay or sand and drains well. I didn’t have to do any soil prep as a result. 

Our desert sun can fry plants in no time. We have to question full sun on labels when we plant as often they cannot take full sun in New México. The area I chose to plant my subtropical garden in is shaded by two very large mulberry trees. They provide filtered sun and shade in which the plants have thrived. . 

The filtered shade and good soil help with conserving moisture as these plants like a relatively moist soil at all times. The key to the success of the bed so far has been bark mulch. I put down a heavy layer, 3” to 4” thick to cover the planting area. This helps keep the soil moist by slowing evaporation of the moisture within the bed. I only have to water every few days to keep things moist even in 100 degrees plus F.

I posted a picture in May of the new bed covered with mulch. Here it is again:

And here is the garden in September.

Except for the annuals, the plants I chose should make it through a normal winter in my area. Over the course of the summer I planted the following species:

Indian Hawthorne ‘Eleanor Taber’ (Rhaphiolepis indica)

Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) 

Midnight Marvel Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Midnight Marvel’)

Trumpet Lily ’Beijing Moon’ (hybrid)

Poco Orange Hot Poker (Kniphofia species)

Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)

Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana)

Chinese Yellow Banana (Musella lasiocarpa)

Japanese Banana (Musa basjoo)

Pink Velvet Banana (Musa velutina)

Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)

Yellow Monkey Flower (Mimulus quitate)

Mango Popsicle Hot Poker (Kniphofia species)

Banana Popsicle Hot Poker (Kniphofia species)

White-flowered Hot Poker (Kniphofia species)

Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla striata)

Peter Pan Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus ‘Peter Pan”)

Black Magic Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’)

Giant Thailand Elephant Ear (Colocasia gigantea)

McCurtain Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor ‘McCurtain’)

Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)

Necta Zee Miniature Nectarine (Prunus persica)

President Canna (Canna indica ‘President’)

Dwarf Bamboo (Pleioblastus pygmaeus?)

Mangave Hybrid (Mangave hybrid)

Fritillaria imperialis 

Annuals for color

Marigolds 

Vincas

Many of the plants were turned to mush when a record-setting, early season snow occurred in October. Now the garden is asleep and mulched for the winter. It will be interesting to see what survives the winter.