Question
I live in Key West at present. I am buying a home in Charleston, SC.

Will tropical plants grow in a garden there? If not, how can I get the look
of Key West there?

I am hoping to plant banana trees and many other of my favorites. Any
suggestions?

Thanks, JMK

Answer
Clemsen University's Ag Extension has a fine website for you to see what may grow in your new environment...lots of subtropicals, but it doesn't look too good for the really exotic ones that you're used to.  Check it out at http://hgic.clemson.edu/

Problem is that even though its the "South" with those gloriously baumy summer nights, there is the ocassional icy winter night or infrequent bout of cold spring weather.  So want may have been doing fine for five or ten years gets wiped out over night.  

Thats not to say tou could get some smaller or miniature varieties and grow them in pots (if you have the room to pull them indoors in the Fall - in a sun room, or garage with large windows).  Many Hawaiian flowers are grown that way in the mid-west.

Some may come close in the Tropical "looks" department, like the hearty ferns (too many to list - chek out the website), Palms (9) & Cycads (2), Strelitzia (Bird-of-Paridise), Mandevilla, Bromiliads, or Bougainvillea & Lantana...lots of sub-tropicals to choose from.

Enjoy your new home.