I really like the exotic looking tropicals.
We can actually have hibiscus here, or at least I think these are hibiscus. They are perennials that grow on bushes up to 5-6 feet high:
Rhododendrons are also an "exotic" plant that will grow in harsher climates. They are green year-round and can grow up to 15-20 feet tall here.
Are there things you can't grow in Texas because it gets too hot?
What happens if you bring a deciduous tree like a maple down near the equator, or at least to a place like Florida? Will they just die?