I live in the Seattle area and although it is a beautiful city and some of the best climate for gardening in the world, it is not tropical paradise :( Every year I buy the tropicals I can afford and get my hands on and every year when I have to bring them into the garage I curse myself (I do that when carrying them and I do it again when they don't like it in the garage and die). I know the solution would be to grow plants with the "tropical look" that are hardy here. I do that too :) But, what plants with a tropical feeling and a fast growing rate have you grown from seed?