Growing up in a tropical climate, I may have taken for granted that most plants can be expected to overwinter outdoors, with little to no protection from the elements. I now know better, having lost quite a few plants to my first few zone 8 winters, and have come to recognize which plants need extra help to endure the cold weather.
For some plants, this looks like an extra-thick layer of mulch or a sheet draped over them on cold nights. For others, these measures just don’t cut it. Many plants, especially those native to tropical climates, must be brought indoors for the winter, or their roots will die.
Rather than letting nature take its course, you can maintain some plants commonly considered annuals in your climate zone by bringing them indoors for the winter. For some plants, like dahlias, this involves digging up and storing the tubers. For others, the entire plant can be brought indoors and overwintered as a house plant.
Many plants have different needs in the winter than during their growth cycles. Sun exposure and watering can often be decreased as the plant will be going through dormancy and not have as great a need for these things. Most plants don’t need to be fertilized in the winter, either.
Let’s take a closer look at 21 types of plants that don’t have to be annuals. We will explore the native range and climate of each and address how their needs may shift in the winter. And finally, how to care for each of these plants inside the house.
Alocasia
This plant thrives in tropical climates with warmth and high humidity.
 | botanical name Alocasia |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Bright indirect sun |
 | hardiness zones 9-11 |
Alocasia plants are native to Australia and Southern Asia. They are considered tropical plants and prefer warm weather and plenty of humidity. Their large and lovely leaves have placed them in the group of plants commonly referred to as elephant ears.
Alocasia plants are very similar to Colocasia plants, except that they do not like direct sun, and where Colocasia leaves are arrow-shaped and point upwards, Alocasia leaves point downward. There is a lot of variation between species of this plant in leaf size and coloration. They flower in the summer, but the flowers are not especially notable.
Fortunately for gardeners living north of zone 9, Alocasias can be happy indoors. They thrive with consistently mild temperatures and require less light than many tropical plants. They are understory plants and prefer plenty of bright but indirect sunlight. Bring your Alocasias indoors when temperatures dip into the low 50s, and put them back outside in the same range.
If you want to minimize the space they require, you can also store just the bulbs of Alocasia and Colocasia. Dig up the bulbs, rinse the dirt off them, and remove all foliage. Let the bulbs dry and wrap them in paper, then store them in a cool, dark spot.
Banana
Ensure the soil remains slightly moist, but avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
| | botanical name Musa |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 7-11 |
Banana trees are also tropical plants, although they are a bit more cold-tolerant than some tropical plants. Some ornamental hybrids have better cold tolerance, but banana trees should generally come inside before the temperature hits the freezing mark.
Bananas can also be overwintered in two different ways. You can bring your potted banana trees into the house and place them in a sunny spot. Their growth will slow for the winter, and they won’t need as much water. The same remains true for storing the roots of a banana tree for the winter.
Gradually decrease watering as the weather gets cooler to preserve the roots to replant in the spring. Wait until just before the first freeze, cut the stems to about six inches tall, and move them to a cool, dark room. The soil should be kept slightly moist but not wet, or you risk root rot.
Basil
Position your basil by a sunny window for the best results during winter.
| | botanical name Ocimum basilicum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 10-11 |
Some herbs are exceptionally cold-hardy and can survive being left outdoors in the winter. Basil is not one of those herbs. Basil is native primarily to tropical and subtropical Asia, with some species found naturally in Africa.
Before you bring your basil plants indoors, give them a light pruning to encourage healthy growth. You can remove about ⅓ of the plant without causing undue stress. If you repot before bringing your basil indoors, prune the roots by about ⅓ before replanting it. Basil plants do very well in containers, which is a great way to grow them throughout the year.
When you initially bring the plant indoors, keep it in a cool spot with indirect sun. After a week or two of acclimating to the indoor environment, your basil plant should be ready for water and sunshine. A sunny window will make basil happiest for the winter months.
Begonia
Consider keeping begonias near your front door or in a cool stairwell for optimal care.
| | botanical name Begonia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 9-10 |
Begonias are tropical and sub-tropical plants native mainly to Central and South America and Asia, with a few popping up in sub-Saharan Africa. Mostly, they are understory plants that thrive in temperate, humid weather with lots of indirect sunlight. I consider begonias to have similar exposure needs to orchids.
Although most of them will survive temperatures almost to the point of freezing, a good time to relocate your begonias is when the thermometer registers 45°F. Begonias do appreciate some cooler weather in the winter, so keep them out of the kitchen, and instead, consider keeping them just inside the front door or in a stairwell if you have a cool one.
Give them bright but indirect sun, and reduce watering by half so that the top inch or two of the soil dries between waterings. For tuberous begonias, you can cut the foliage down and overwinter the tubers in a paper bag in a cool, dark place.
Cacti
Many succulent plants, including some cacti, are quite resilient to cold conditions.
| | botanical name Cactaceae |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 6-12 |
Some cacti and many succulent plants can tolerate fairly cold temperatures, with some that can survive winter, even in zone 3. However, most of these succulent plants will show signs of cold damage when the temperature drops below 40°F.
There are some special considerations when bringing these plants indoors for the winter. Before you bring your cacti indoors, it is best to wait until the weather gets close to that 40°F mark. The cooling weather tells the cactus to initiate dormancy, which makes your plant much easier to care for through the cooler months.
Cacti will be fine indoors, in moderate light, while dormant. Since they will not grow much during this time, they will need very little water. Don’t water your dormant cacti and succulents more than once per month, or you will compromise their roots.
Caladium
Caladium flourishes in regions with distinct wet and dry seasons, like rainforests.
| | botanical name Caladium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 9-11 |
Caladiums are lovely plants that happily fill spaces in the garden that are partially shaded. They are native to Central and South America, growing in rainforests with distinct wet and dry seasons. That means that during the winter, they don’t need nearly as much water.
Caladiums will stop growing and producing leaves at about 55°F. They can be left in the ground beyond this, but the sooner you bring them indoors, the lower the risk of losing the bulbs to cold damage. You can bring the entire plant indoors for the winter or dig up and store the tubers if you want to conserve space.
Once the leaves have died off, dig up your tubers and shake the soil off. Allow them to dry completely, then place them in a cloth sack or box with peat moss. They need no water during this time and can be planted again in the spring.
Calla Lilies
Store your callas in a cool, dark, and dry location during their dormant period.
| | botanical name Zantedescia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 8-10 |
These tropical flowering plants are popular with florists for their long vase life and stunning, unique flowers. Calla lilies are native to South Africa and are accustomed to warm weather year-round. They often grow on riverbanks, where they get a consistent water supply, and this is the condition they prefer.
Move your calla lilies to the shade for a few weeks before bringing them indoors for the winter. As the temperature nears 50°F, your callas will want to enter dormancy. Stop watering them as the leaves die, then remove all dead foliage and bring them indoors.
While your callas are dormant, keep them in a cool, dry, dark space. Their dormancy lasts about two to three months. You can repot them after their dormancy and bring them into a space with partial sun. When the weather reaches 50°F in the spring, they are ready to go back outside to resume their growing cycle.
Canna
To store your canna bulbs as bare root bulbs, start by cleaning them.
| | botanical name Canna |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 7-10 |
Cannas are striking tropical plants that reproduce prolifically and produce large, flashy, colorful flowers. They are native to the Americas and specifically to the tropics, so they like warm, humid weather. However, they are more cold-tolerant than many tropical plants and can survive outdoors in temperatures as low as 20°F.
Canna leaves die back in the winter, so bringing them indoors doesn’t have to be a big space waster. You can cut canna leaves all the way to the soil and store them in a cool, dry space where the temperature stays around 40°F or warmer.
Alternatively, you can dig up your Canna bulbs and store them as bare root bulbs. You will want to clean the bulbs and then allow them to cure or dry in a warm room for about a week. Wrap them in paper with some dry planting medium and store them in a cardboard box.
Citrus
Warm, humid conditions align with the native tropical environment of citrus trees.
| | botanical name Citrus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 8-11 |
Citrus trees often have fruit maturing as the winter weather rolls in. They also actively grow and flower during these months. As a result, they are slightly more high maintenance in the winter, as they need a consistent level of care and fertilizer and plenty of sunlight in this period.
Most citrus trees can withstand freezing temperatures. However, if there is to be an extended period of cold weather, where the nighttime temperatures dip into the 20s for a few days or more, these plants will need to come indoors. Citrus plants are native to warm and humid areas, so this is the type of environment they prefer.
Bring your citrus into a brightly lit room, where they will get six or more hours of sun daily. Keep the plant away from drafts and heating vents, which can be drying. A sunny bathroom is a great spot for citrus. Alternatively, a humidifier is great for bringing outdoor plants into the house.
Coleus
It’s simple to propagate coleus from cuttings.
| | botanical name Coleus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 10-11 |
Colorful coleus is native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Australia. That means that they love warm weather and humidity. Coleus is slightly different regarding how we preserve it and keep it growing for the next season.
Coleus is very easy to grow from cuttings. You can cut the top off of a plant and stick the end in the ground, and chances are very strong that it will root and continue to grow without skipping a beat.
That being the case, if you want to hold onto your coleus, take cuttings and put them in a seed starting tray for the winter. In spring, when all threat of frost has passed, you will have new coleus plants ready to put in the garden.
Dahlia
Dahlias, being tuberous perennials, are typically not brought indoors during the winter.
| | botanical name Dahlia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 8-12 |
Dahlias are another plant you wouldn’t necessarily bring indoors for the winter. These pretty flowering plants are tuberous perennials. They grow from tubers beneath the ground. These tubers are hardy in zones 8-12 and can be left in the ground in those climates.
If you live in zone 7 or above, you’ll have to overwinter your dahlia tubers indoors or risk losing them to the cold. Wait until the first frost has killed off the tops of your dahlia plants. Once the tops of the plants are dead, dig up your tubers.
Dahlia tubers should be separated and allowed to cure or dry completely. You can store them in many different styles of containers, including cardboard boxes, paper bags, or milk crates. The main objective is to keep your tubers dry and in a cool place over the winter. Dahlias can be planted as soon as the ground thaws.
Geranium
Ensure geraniums are positioned in a well-lit, cool area.
| | botanical name Geranium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 9-12 |
Geraniums (Pelargoniums) are commonly grown as annuals in all but the warmest climates. However, in their native South Africa, they are perennials, so they can be overwintered indoors and will bloom again in the spring. There are also hardy geranium varieties that thrive outdoors all year long, even in cold climates.
Geraniums can be brought indoors in their containers. Aim to bring them in about six weeks before the first freeze. Place them in a cool, sunny space, and water them when the top inch of soil is dry.
Geraniums are also perfectly happy to spend the winter in dormancy. You can dig up your geranium roots and cut the plant back to about ⅓. These bare-root geraniums can be hung in a cool, dark space or placed in paper bags. A shed or garage that stays above 45°F is ideal for dormant geraniums.
Ginger
To preserve your ginger rhizomes, follow the same method as you would with Dahlias.
| | botanical name Zingiber officinale |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 8-12 |
If you are growing ginger as an edible, bringing your tubers indoors is probably already on your list of gardening tasks for the fall season. However, ornamental gingers can also be brought indoors for the winter to protect them from the cold.
Ginger is native to Southeast Asia and enjoys warm, humid weather and partial shade. While it is easy to cultivate elsewhere as an annual, it is nice to hold onto your ginger from year to year. Some species die back in the winter, even in warmer climates, but they all do so north of zone 8.
Dig up your ginger rhizomes the way that you would with dahlias. Wash them and allow them to dry before storing them. Store them in a cool, dark, dry environment, and replant them in the spring when the ground thaws. Most varieties are tolerant of brief periods of 20° weather.
Jasmine
Expose the plants to cooler weather and shorter days to encourage jasmine flower production.
| | botanical name Jasminum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 7-10 |
Jasmine plants are native to tropical Asia and parts of China, and they can endure some fairly cold weather, but in some climates, it will be better to bring them indoors. If you live in zone 6 or north, there is a good chance that your jasmine won’t do very well overwintering outdoors.
Jasmine needs some cool weather and shortening days to induce flower production. If you bring them indoors too early, you risk preventing flowering for the next year. It is best to leave your Jasmine plants outdoors to experience some night temperatures in the 40s and 50s so that the plant sets buds, and then bring it indoors.
Place your jasmine in a cool spot with indirect light through the winter. Humidity will be more important than watering, which should be done sparingly and only when the top inch of the soil is dry. Ensure that your home’s humidity stays above 40% for this plant.
Kalanchoe
Water your kalanchoe every two weeks or when the soil is dry to the touch.
| | botanical name Kalanchoe |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | hardiness zones 10-12 |
Kalanchoe plants are winter bloomers, so bringing them indoors not only preserves and protects their roots, but allows you to enjoy their colorful flowers inside the house. These wonderful little plants do very well indoors.
Let your kalanchoes stay outdoors while the weather begins to cool. This will encourage blooming. When the weather heads toward 45°F and colder, it’s time to bring these succulents indoors. Since they are winter bloomers, you don’t have to scale back on watering these plants for the cold season.
Give your kalanchoe water every two weeks or when the soil is dry to the touch. Place them in a spot where they will get lots of bright, indirect light, and enjoy the pretty flowers!
Orchids
Unless you reside in a tropical region, bringing orchids indoors for the winter is essential.
| | botanical name Orchidaceae |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Varies |
| | hardiness zones Varies |
Overwintering orchids indoors is a given unless you live in a tropical climate. Although some orchid species are highly cold tolerant, most of the types sold in stores and nurseries are not cold tolerant at all.
A bit of cool weather, and more accurately, a shift from hot to cooler weather, is good for most orchids. This is what prompts them to set buds to bloom in the spring. However, once the thermometer falls to the low 40s, bring them indoors, or you’re likely to lose the plant altogether.
Orchids make great houseplants. They need a lot of humidity, so bathrooms are a great place to keep orchids indoors. Keep the humidity at 50% or higher, and water your orchids once per week. If your orchid is in a growth cycle, fertilize every two to three weeks.
In terms of sunlight, different species have different needs. Cattleyas and dendrobiums can handle some direct sun, especially indoors. Phalaenopsis and oncidium orchids prefer to have filtered or indirect light.
Poinsettia
Late September to early October is ideal for transitioning your poinsettias indoors.
| | botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 9-11 |
It may come as a surprise that poinsettias are not cold-weather plants. They are tropical plants that don’t care for the cold at all, and when the thermometer falls below 50°F, you are likely to see some damage to the leaves.
Poinsettias are pretty, green, leafy plants for most of the year, and their bracts only begin to turn red when the daylight hours shorten and the weather cools down. Think of them like trees that turn colors in the fall. Poinsettias produce less chlorophyll as the days shorten, and the red color becomes more prominent.
This is a great time to bring your poinsettias indoors. Bring your poinsettias inside in late September to early October, and set them in a nice sunny window for the winter. Exposing this festive plant to more dark hours will cause those bracts to become more colorful. Water your plant whenever the soil feels dry to the touch.
Rosemary
Growing rosemary can be challenging due to its high sunlight requirements.
| | botanical name Salvia rosmarinus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 7-10 |
Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant. Their preferred temperature ranges between 55-80°F, and they will begin to die when the temperature drops to freezing. If left outdoors, you may see your rosemary return after a mild winter, but if you live north of zone 7, I wouldn’t risk it.
While rosemary is generally easy to grow, bringing it indoors can be tricky because it likes a ton of sunlight. Make sure to place your rosemary plant in the sunniest window you have. If you don’t have a window that receives six or more hours of sun daily, you may need to compensate with fluorescent or grow lights. Water your rosemary when the soil is dry to the touch.
Tropical Hibiscus
Tropical hibiscus plants thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity.
| | botanical name Hibiscus rosa-sinensis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 10-12 |
Another tropical plant that likes warm temperatures and ample humidity, tropical hibiscus plants will need protection from winter weather. In their native environment of tropical Asia, they are evergreen and capable of flowering nearly year-round. If you leave them outside while the weather cools, they will enter dormancy.
Being dormant means they don’t need nearly as much water and can be stored in a cool spot with lower light. If you bring your hibiscus indoors while the weather is still warm, it will continue to grow and possibly even bloom through the winter.
Hibiscus plants like a lot of sun, and they need a bit of humidity as well. If you allow the plant to go dormant, water it very sparingly. If not, water as usual, keeping the soil moist but not wet. Scale back on the watering if your hibiscus doesn’t seem to be using as much water as usual,
Tuberose
When growing tuberoses in containers, the process is straightforward.
| | botanical name Agave amica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | hardiness zones 8-10 |
If you grow these wonderfully fragrant bulb flowers, you don’t have to plant new bulbs yearly, even in colder climates. All you need to do is dig up your bulbs and store them for the winter, just like dahlias!
When growing your tuberoses in containers, winterizing is as simple as cutting the foliage to the ground and bringing the containers into a cool, dry place. They won’t need much water over the colder months, but it’s best not to let them dry out completely.
If your tuberoses grow in the ground, you must dig them up. Remove the foliage, allow the bulbs to dry, and then wrap them in paper. Store your paper-wrapped bulbs in a cool, dark room.
Zebrina
This popular hanging basket plant dislikes cold temperatures.
| | botanical name Tradescantia zebrina |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial sun |
| | hardiness zones 9-11 |
Zebrina is one of my favorite plants to keep in hanging baskets. I love that I can take some cuttings and have a whole new plant in months. The colors of the foliage are bold and dramatic, and when it blooms, the tiny purple flowers are adorably charming.
In terms of weather, zebrina doesn’t love cold temperatures. When the thermometer hits 50°F, zebrina will stop growing; around 40°F, you will begin to see damage to the plant. Fortunately, they do quite well indoors.
I like to leave my zebrina plants outdoors, in a partially shaded spot, during the warm months. In the winter, make space for these beauties in any room with a brightly lit window. They like humidity, but it is less vital to their survival than other tropical plants. Continue to water your zebrina, allowing the top of the soil to dry between waterings to avoid overwatering.
Final Thoughts
If it saddens you to let go of those plants considered annuals in your climate zone, consider bringing them indoors for the winter instead. You don’t have to have a greenhouse to keep tropical plants alive through the colder months. You just need brightly lit spaces and a cool, dark spot to store dormant plants and bulbs.
