Plant growing Please help?

Ok so i have a project i must take care of a plant for an entire summer to teach me responsibility and plant life (bio class) anyways im going oversees to africa and i decided to plant a Bird Paradise plant...is this appropriate? Are there any other amazingly beautiful plants i could plant.. i wanted to do the hearts one...i forgot what its called it is gorgeous..but because of the weather it likes to be in..i assumed that it may not be appropriate for it. So i was wondering if there were any other amazing beautiful plants that are easy to grow possibly (if not that okay too) If this is a great choice are there any tips to gorwing them properly and healthy..also i dont understand the concept of trimming. Thanks to all answers!