• Not all banana trees are 20 feet tallPeeter Viisimaa/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Tropical trees are cold-tender trees that are native to tropical climates such as Hawaii, Africa and Florida. As a general rule, tropical trees must be grown in a USDA hardiness zone no lower than 9. If you live in a colder climate, but have warm summers with temperatures at night remaining above 40 degrees, than you can plant a dwarf tropical tree in an indoor container and bring it out to your patio during the summer.
  
  

Gwen Avocado

• The smallest of the avocado trees, the gwen avocado tree reaches a final size of 14 feet. It is known as a low-vigor tree, but still requires consistent pruning to avoid the skirting branches looking too leggy. The fruit on the gwen avocado tree grows to 8 oz. at its largest and is produced from February through October. Gwen avocados can be grown in containers or outdoors, but will die at 30 degrees F.
  
  

Dwarf Ambarella

• Reaching a final height of 6 to 10 feet, the dwarf ambarella is a native Hawaiian tree with a sweet, applelike fruit. Ambarellas are thirsty trees, requiring consistent watering. In climates with winter temperatures, the tree will go dormant, but still hold its fruit. The ambarella tree is cold-sensitive and will die at 29 degrees F. If the tree is outdoors, covering it with a cloth on colder nights is sufficient protection.
  
  

Dwarf Banana

• Bananas are a classic tropical fruit that most visualize as growing on tall trees, where growers must climb up the stalks and cut the fruit down. While original producers are that size, there are also many varieties of dwarf bananas. According to the University of Texas, these varieties include Rajapuri, Dwarf Cavendish, Super Dwarf Cavendish, Grand Nain, and Dwarf French Horn Plantain. Dwarf bananas are cold hardy to 30 degrees F., but will defoliate if the temperature is any lower.