I don't know about fragrance, but these are some of my favorites for a tropical feel ...

Hibiscus
Plumbago
Lollipop or shrimp plant
Passion vine (if you have a place it can climb)
Bouganveillia

Of course, since they're tropical, most of them will need to be either put in pots and taken inside, or you can take cuttings and grow new plants each year. Or just treat them as annuals. (The plumbago may be an exception, I think it comes back.)

I would recommend Aucuba and Agave americana.

These will freeze, but they usually come back.

Hardy hibiscus
Exotic hibiscus, such as 'Cranberry Punch'
Xanadu
Gingers, especially 'Butterfly', 'Variegated Shell', 'Hidden', and 'Twisted' gingers

Many lilies have a tropical flavor, with their hot colors. They will survive cold winters. You need to research these, but they are worth the time. And they give color early in the year.

Brugmansia can be grown in pots, and protected over winter, and nothing says TROPICAL like a blooming Brug, as far as I am concerned.

Ditto for Plumeria!

There are a ton of other plants. Check out some books at the library. Books and magazines are always the first place for me to go.

Good Luck!

Janie

There is a book "The Tropical Look" written by Robert Riffle. It has beautiful pictures and he was raised in Texas. A lot of the pictures are from his yard in Houston. You might see if the Library has it. Well worth the read. I got mine from Amazon.com.

Southern ferns do well in full sun.
crinums "Tropical Giant"
Cannas
If you come to our swaps you'll get a lot of free plants many of us rather give away than throw away plants :)

List goes on but take a look at the link below. Carrie has a beautiful yard.

Here is a link that might be useful: a few pics from my garden - texas gardening forum - garden web

jfraley, if you are interested in any of the crinums this fall, send me an email.

On the topic of passionflower, some are tropical and won't return, but there is the native lavender and another one that is semi-evergreen here in North Texas that has all white flowers that return each year. The lavender variety returns from the roots while the white one will start growing from last year's growth.

One of my garden club members has tropical plants in his backyard and the ones that don't come back - plumeria, tropical hibiscus, etc., he digs up each fall and stores in his garage then replants them in the spring. He works as a nurse three days a week, so has plenty of time for all this work. The rest of the summer . . . he just enjoys the plants.

Thank you everyone for so many suggestions. I did pick up some Hibiscus, salvia greggi and ice plant today to fill in a couple of spots until I can research all of your suggestions. The landscape area pretty well stays in full sun most of the day so I guess I need to be sort of careful. The good thing about that is the patio is shaded in the afternoon. I have not started anything in pots yet. That will be my next project. Thanks again to all you experts.
Jana

banana trees!

I have cannas and banana pups if you are interested. I would send them to you in a flat rate box if you would pay the postage. I am Jana, too and I lived in Lewisville years ago! My two oldest kids were born there. Send me an email if you're interested in the plants!