Nationally, the newest trend in gardening is the tropical, exotic look with plants such as banana and palm trees.

You can get in step with this tropical trend by planting some summer bulbs that yield outlandish leaves and flowers. These bulbs can be planted in your gardens or in containers. Their giant leaves and vivid tropical colors will make you feel like you're taking a walk in the rain forest.

Here are some tropical plants suggested by the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center:

Elephant Ear, Colocasia Esculenta - Originally from the South Seas, this green plant will give you great impact in partial or full shade. They have bright green leaves two-feet long. Established, the plant can grow at least five feet tall and even more. Put several in a corner to screen a view or create a hideaway. Add a rattan chair and hammock and you're in a tropical paradise. Keep them moist in hot weather. Mulch heavily for winter protection and they generally return year after year.

Pineapple lily, Eucomis - A pineapple look-alike tuft tops a 15-inch spire of tiny greenish-white flowers and a base of broad green strappy leaves. The plants bloom in July and August, keeping their interesting look after flowering. They like full sun or light shade and make excellent container plants.

Canna lily, Canna - Lovers of full sun and hot weather, cannas will give you non-stop flowers from July until frost. In addition to the traditional red and orange with solid green leaves, cannas now come in exotic looks with large brown leaves or striped leaves and orange, pink and yellow flowers. Cannas grow wild along country roads throughout the Mediterranean area. They, too, do great in pots in American gardens; mulch the pots for winter protection and the cannas should return. To plant a canna root, lay it on its side and bury 1-inch deep in soil.

Lilies - The early- to mid-summer blooming Asiatic lilies and later-blooming Oriental lilies are showy. Tuck them among other plants and watch them pop up. Even lilies that grow three to four feet tall don't need staking. For a container 12-inches wide, plant three lilies positioning each about 4-inches below the soil surface. They need full sun or partial shade.

Caladium, Araceae - In soft shades of green and white or rich tones of green and pink, shade-thriving caladiums give you a tropical look. Plant them in clusters, not in single rows for visual effect. Keep them moist in hot weather. They also make great container plants.