I really want to experiment with some tropicals here in zone 6 in NE Ohio but I need some more ideas on want to plant. But first, a little description of my climate: winters here are cold but below zero only happens every other year and if it does get below zero, it only happens for around a day or two, we also have tons of snow (and I mean a ton) which I think is good for insulation. Winter sunburn isn’t really an issue since sunlight is limited in the winter (thanks Lake Erie), it can stay consistently below freezing but only usually in the teens, 20s, and 30s. I’d say we’re a cold 7a and a warm zone 6. Summers here can also get pretty dry at times so drought tolerant options are appreciated. I also live in the woods where there’s tons of leaf litter and wind protection due to lots of trees. Shade tolerant options would also be appreciated. 
Anyways, here’s my current list of bucket list plants: Sabal minor since they can handle wet soil and shade which happens in the more forested areas of the yard, some sort of illicium species since they can also handle wet soil and shade, Aspidistra elatior since they are shade tolerant and easier to find, Cinnamomum checkiangensis since they are the most cold hardy camphor tree and I absolutely love the leaves and the smell of camphor trees, Yucca rostrata since they basically need zero cold protection here and I can plant them in a pure river rock bed I have. I am open to more suggestions as long as a mini care guide is given alongside it. Thank you for responding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kqdoh1SLWs

 

Consider building a conservatory.

Musa Basjoo. 

43 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Musa Basjoo. 

I have some. They are perennials but they stay extremely small here. We just don’t get hot enough quickly for them to grow a ton

@Ohiopalmloverz6 You have Sabal minor going, so that much is good.  One other palm that stays compact and is cold tolerant enough to attempt in a well-sited and protected area is Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle Palm).  If you're looking for something that eventually trunks, Trachycarpus fortunei - but it will eventually outgrow its protection.

Zone 6 I admire your gardening skills!

17 hours ago, Ohiopalmloverz6 said:

I really want to experiment with some tropicals here in zone 6 in NE Ohio but I need some more ideas on want to plant. But first, a little description of my climate: winters here are cold but below zero only happens every other year and if it does get below zero, it only happens for around a day or two, we also have tons of snow (and I mean a ton) which I think is good for insulation. Winter sunburn isn’t really an issue since sunlight is limited in the winter (thanks Lake Erie), it can stay consistently below freezing but only usually in the teens, 20s, and 30s. I’d say we’re a cold 7a and a warm zone 6. Summers here can also get pretty dry at times so drought tolerant options are appreciated. I also live in the woods where there’s tons of leaf litter and wind protection due to lots of trees. Shade tolerant options would also be appreciated. 
Anyways, here’s my current list of bucket list plants: Sabal minor since they can handle wet soil and shade which happens in the more forested areas of the yard, some sort of illicium species since they can also handle wet soil and shade, Aspidistra elatior since they are shade tolerant and easier to find, Cinnamomum checkiangensis since they are the most cold hardy camphor tree and I absolutely love the leaves and the smell of camphor trees, Yucca rostrata since they basically need zero cold protection here and I can plant them in a pure river rock bed I have. I am open to more suggestions as long as a mini care guide is given alongside it. Thank you for responding.

If you're really interested in growing subtropicals in northeast Ohio, get in touch with the guy that has a palm nursery called Northeast Ohio Palm Trees. I think he's in Ashtabula County.  Also, check out this video and if you're ever in the Geneva on the Lake area, speak with these guys as to how they protect their palms.

 

 

12 hours ago, happypalms said:

Zone 6 I admire your gardening skills!

NO kidding. Not for the faint of heart.

21 hours ago, SeanK said:

Consider building a conservatory.

That'd be too easy.