Cold-loving veggies can be grown in Zone 11 as well, but more caution must be taken to ensure they don’t fry in the heat. Beyond veggies, there are many beautiful flowering plants and tropical greenery you can grow here, including:

• Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Aureus): One of the best-selling houseplants can be grown outside in Zone 11! Golden Pothos are known to be nearly impossible to kill, they don't need too much water, and they prefer medium sunlight. These green vines can trellis beautifully up any porch railings or fences you may have outside, or can thrive in your home draping off of bookshelves or a hanging basket. Other varieties of Pothos, such as the Marble Queen variety with its stunning white variegation, can add diversity to your collection! 

• Joe Joe Red Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos): Looking to add color to your indoor or outdoor spaces? The Kangaroo Paw is a unique pick that is a favorite of hummingbirds! This green plant has bright tubular blooms that add a gorgeous pop of color to any space you decide to put it in! While often red, these blooms can come in a variety of colors that sprout out of the green base leaves of the plant. These plants like high heat and low humidity, making them a great perennial for Zone 11!

• Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai): If green tropical leaves are your vibe, then this is the plant for you! Growing up to 30 feet tall, these plants are a stunning addition to bring the tropics indoors or add some beautiful greenery to your yard. When they flower, the bud is composed of three orange petals and three blue, which looks similar to a bird. They like full sun, and don’t need much water or humidity. Other varieties are also an option, such as the Orange Flower Bird of Paradise!

Tropical fruit trees love Zone 11, which can add another great harvest to your growing season! Some fun options to consider adding to your outdoor spaces includes: 

• Avocado Trees

• Lychee Trees

• Guava Trees

• Kiwi Trees

• Passion Fruit Trees

• Dragon Fruit Trees

• Starfruit Trees

• Jackfruit Trees

Zone 11 has many other landscaping options, from tropical greenery to beautiful flowering plants. Make sure to consider your specific region when choosing outdoor plants, and humidity needs and drought resistance may be crucial to success with your new plants. Native plants are always a good option to consider as well! 

• Midnight Braid Ficus (Ficus Benjamina): Also known as the Weeping Fig, this tree can easily reach up to 10 feet tall during their lifetimes. This tree prefers partial shade and high humidity, but also has low water needs. There are many Ficus varieties that can be considered for these Zones, including Ficus Ginseng if you are looking to pick up a bonsai plant, or Ficus Tineke if you want a unique color! All varieties can be grown outdoors depending on your specific region, but also thrive in a normal indoor environment.

• Medusa China Doll (Radermachera Sinica): While this plant starts small, it grows extremely fast! With delicate, split leaves with a glossy green tone, this is a great addition when you need something for partial shade. While gorgeous, it can be finicky, so it isn’t for the faint of heart! Another similar, delicate option that is easier to care for is the Lemon Button Fern!

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides): While a seemingly unassuming pretty green-leaved plant during the fall and winter, in the late spring Star Jasmine produces beautifully scented, white flowers that are shaped like stars.This plant grows fast, up to 6 feet in one season. This plant loves to trellis, so plant it somewhere it can grow upward! Star Jasmine does best in full sun with low humidity.

When picking plants for your outdoor spaces, consider choosing native plants. Not only are plants native to your area more likely to thrive, they also have so many benefits for your ecosystem. The birds, bees, butterflies, and other fauna of your region depend on local plants for food and shelter. When you plant native plants, you are not only protecting your ecosystem, but also helping the wildlife around you thrive! The best place to learn more about local plant varieties are your neighborhood nurseries and seed sellers. These suppliers can help ensure you plant the best varieties for your area, as many plants that may seem like great picks may actually be invasive! They also can help point you in the direction of endangered plants that need extra help, and will be experts in the best picks to help local biodiversity! Some plants that are known to be native in areas around Zone 11 include: 

• Gumbo Limbo Trees (Bursera Simaruba): Also known as Copperwood or the West Indian Birch, this odd tropical-loving tree has red, peeling birch-like bark. Native to the Florida Keys and many tropical South American areas, this tree has a unique gnarled shape that makes it stick out from the landscape. These trees can grow up to 60 feet in height, and jokingly are called the “Tourist Tree” because of how the bark mimics sunburnt skin. 

• Hāpuʻu (Cibotium Chamissoi): This hardy understory fern thrives in the heat of Wahiawa, and can spread more than 15 feet! Like many other ferns, this plant loves moist conditions, and does best if you prune away its old skirt of fronds. 

• Māmaki (Pipturus Albidus): Actually part of the nettle family, this plant flowers in unique, extremely tight bundles of tiny white leaves. Natives in Hawaii use this plant for tea and medicinal uses, and the leaves are produced and sold dried. You can find this plant peppered around Hawaii, especially within Zone 11.