{"title":"Architectural Foliage","description":"\u003cp\u003eArchitectural foliage plants for UK gardens: bold, sculptural leaf shapes that hold their presence year-round. Fatsia, hardy palms, tree ferns and structural agaves that anchor a border, courtyard or exotic scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"begonia-luxurians","title":"Begonia luxurians","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBegonia luxurians, the Palm-leaf Begonia, is one of the most architectural of all foliage begonias.\u003c\/strong\u003e Tall red stems rise in whorls of narrow, finger-like leaflets that fan out like a miniature palm, giving a lush, exotic silhouette that is prized for shady borders and containers. A Brazilian species grown above all for its structural foliage, it also carries sprays of small, scented white flowers through summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender exotic, not a frost-hardy plant. Rated around RHS H1b, it resents cold and is happiest grown outdoors for the summer in a sheltered, part-shaded spot, then moved under cover to a bright, frost-free place (a minimum of about 5 to 7C) for winter. It loves warmth, moisture and humidity while in growth, but the golden rule is simple: never leave it cold and wet at the same time. It is the combination of cold and wet, not cold alone, that rots the roots, so keep it frost-free and on the drier side once the weather turns. Grown this way it makes a superb seasonal centrepiece among other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition\u003c\/strong\u003e: A sheltered spot in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003epartial to full shade\u003c\/a\u003e, out of harsh midday sun and cold winds. Ideal for a shaded patio or a bright conservatory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e: Humus-rich, moist but well-drained loam or a good peat-free compost. Excellent drainage matters most over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: Reaches around 1.5 to 2.5m tall and 0.5 to 1m across in time, usually over two to five years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e: Tender, around RHS H1b. Protect from frost and keep barely moist through the colder months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasy to grow once you understand its rhythm, Begonia luxurians thrives in a large container that can be lifted under cover before the first frosts, which makes it a natural choice for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e and a dramatic filler in shaded \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e through the warmer months. Feed and water freely in summer, then ease right back as growth slows. For a clear picture of how tender exotics behave across the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Begonia luxurians is hand-selected and nursery-grown at Grow Tropicals, then carefully packed and dispatched to arrive in top condition, ready to bring a touch of the Brazilian rainforest to your own shaded corner.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"16cm","offer_id":41640007958572,"sku":"BEGOLUXU16","price":45.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57979248279935,"sku":"BEGOLUXU9","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-1497854243-modified-eaaaeb6f-59d9-4bc2-84c7-4c8cc8bd1973.jpg?v=1784496940"},{"product_id":"fatsia-japonica-spiders-web","title":"Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most striking evergreen shrubs you can grow for shade, and a real talking point in any garden. This variegated form of the classic \u003cem\u003efatsia japonica\u003c\/em\u003e takes the bold, glossy, hand-shaped leaves of the species and dusts them with a fine spray of white speckling, heaviest at the leaf margins and fading towards the centre, exactly as though a spider had been busy overnight. No two leaves are quite the same, and the effect lights up the darkest, dampest corners where little else will thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA standout among hardy exotics, \u003cstrong\u003espiders web fatsia\u003c\/strong\u003e brings a lush, almost tropical presence to UK gardens while shrugging off cold that would see off many tender lookalikes. The large palmate leaves give wonderful architectural structure year-round, and in autumn mature plants produce curious creamy-white drumstick flowers, much loved by late-foraging bees and other pollinators, followed by small black berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePosition is the key to keeping this \u003cstrong\u003evariegated fatsia japonica\u003c\/strong\u003e looking its best. It is happiest in partial or full shade; too much hot, direct sun can scorch the pale variegation, so a north- or east-facing aspect, or a sheltered spot dappled by taller plants, is ideal. Plant it in moist but well-drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. It is wonderfully unfussy about soil type, coping with chalk, clay, loam or sand across a range of pH.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e evergreen and reliably hardy across most of the UK once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEventual size:\u003c\/strong\u003e a rounded, bushy shrub of around 1.5-2.5m tall and wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e shelter from cold drying winds; water well in the first seasons and in containers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt excels in a large pot for a shady patio or courtyard, and pairs beautifully with ferns, hostas and other shade lovers. Whether you are after year-round structure or simply something a little different, \u003cstrong\u003efatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'\u003c\/strong\u003e delivers. Every plant we send out is nursery-grown and hand-selected, so it arrives healthy, well-rooted and ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":41648540188716,"sku":"FATSJAPOSPIDWEB19","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"14cm \/ 2L","offer_id":42199237165100,"sku":"FATSJAPOSPIDWEB12","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/hkclyp-11.jpg?v=1701450165"},{"product_id":"cussonia-spicata","title":"Cussonia spicata","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCussonia spicata\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003eCabbage Tree\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most sculptural exotics you can grow, forming a swollen, water-storing caudex trunk topped with a bold rosette of deeply divided, grey-green palmate leaves. It has a real semi-succulent, architectural presence that makes it a favourite among collectors of the unusual.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender African species rather than a fully hardy garden plant. Native to the rocky hillsides and open woodland of southern Africa, it is happiest with heat and sharp drainage, and it resents cold, wet winters. Rated borderline hardy (RHS H2), it copes with only light, short-lived frost to around -3C once established, so in most UK gardens it is best grown in a large container that can shelter under glass over winter, or planted in a hot sun-trap and protected when frost threatens. Treated that way it rewards you with year-round, otherworldly form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e the hottest, brightest, most sheltered spot you have, ideally against a warm south or west facing wall. A natural partner for other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e sharp, gritty, free-draining loam. Cold wet roots do far more damage than cold air, so drainage is everything.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a small tree in the wild, but slow and compact in our climate, staying container-friendly for many years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e borderline (RHS H2). Protect over winter with a move under glass, or fleece and a dry crown in a mild garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater freely through the growing season, then keep it much drier and frost-free over winter. Because it thrives in a big pot that can be moved into a frost-free greenhouse or porch, it is one of the most striking \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e, and its drought tolerance suits \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel schemes\u003c\/a\u003e under cover. Explore the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e to build a wider exotic planting, and do read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide so you know how a tender exotic behaves through a British year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Cussonia spicata we supply is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition ready to pot up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":41831274610732,"sku":"CUSSSPIC17","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/HoK-080923-23_64f5727a-1a2b-4c4b-9757-2e7304a7682b.jpg?v=1695724746"},{"product_id":"cyathea-australis","title":"Cyathea cooperi","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCyathea cooperi\u003c\/strong\u003e, the lacy tree fern or Australian tree fern, is one of the most elegant exotics you can grow under glass or in a sheltered courtyard. Native to the warm, humid forests of eastern Australia, it carries a crown of finely divided, arching fronds atop a slender trunk patterned with the scars of old frond bases. It is a genuine architectural statement plant, lending an instant rainforest feel to conservatories, shaded patios and lush jungle-style planting schemes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat sets the lacy tree fern apart is its pace and poise. It is one of the faster-growing tree ferns, throwing up fresh, bright green fronds that unfurl in soft croziers and quickly build a generous, feathery canopy. The trunk is more slender and refined than that of the chunky Dicksonia, and the fine, pale scales scattered along the stem and frond bases give it the \"lacy\" character behind its common name.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender fern, so positioning matters. Choose a sheltered, humid, partly to fully shaded spot away from cold winds and harsh midday sun, which can scorch the foliage. Plant into moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil on the acid to neutral side, and keep the crown reliably damp through the growing season, watering into the top of the trunk as well as the roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e frost-tender, tolerating only brief, light frost to around -3C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade, sheltered and humid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEventual size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4-6m or more over many years in frost-free conditions, far smaller in a pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause it will not survive a typical UK winter outdoors, most growers treat \u003cstrong\u003eCyathea cooperi\u003c\/strong\u003e as a container plant, standing it out for summer and moving it into a frost-free conservatory, greenhouse or porch before the cold arrives. Searches for \u003cstrong\u003eCyathea cooperi UK\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eCyathea cooperi for sale\u003c\/strong\u003e have grown steadily as gardeners discover just how lush and rewarding it is with a little winter care.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant we send out is nursery-grown, healthy and carefully selected, ready to bring a touch of the Antipodean rainforest to your own collection of hardy and tender exotics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":41999594618924,"sku":"CYATHEAAUSTRALIS12","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/hok-26.jpg?v=1698416490"},{"product_id":"dicksonia-antarctica-tree-fern","title":"Dicksonia antarctica | Tree Fern","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew plants bring instant drama to a shady corner like the tree fern. \u003cem\u003eDicksonia antarctica\u003c\/em\u003e is the hardiest and most popular tree fern in cultivation, prized for its sturdy fibrous trunk and magnificent crown of arching, deeply divided green fronds. A living link to the age of the dinosaurs, it lends a lush, prehistoric, almost rainforest atmosphere to gardens, courtyards and city plots across the UK. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, a reliable mark of garden-worthiness, and is a cornerstone of any hardy exotic planting scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBold architectural silhouette that anchors a tropical or jungle-style border\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvergreen fronds up to 2m long radiating from a single woody trunk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenuinely hardy, thriving outdoors in most of Britain with minimal winter protection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEqually at home in the ground or in a large container\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen you buy a tree fern, remember the trunk is the plant's lifeline: it is actually a mass of old leaf bases and roots that drinks in moisture, so water down the trunk as well as into the soil. Choose a sheltered, lightly shaded position away from harsh sun and cold drying winds. \u003cem\u003eDicksonia antarctica\u003c\/em\u003e is happy in any reasonable soil, including chalk, clay, loam and sand, as long as it stays moist but well-drained and rich in leaf mould. It tolerates acid, neutral and alkaline conditions alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrowth is famously slow, often just a few centimetres of trunk a year, so the specimen you receive will hold its stature for a long time. In cold spells protect the central crown by packing the top with dry straw or horticultural fleece, and wrap the trunk in the harshest winters; gardeners in milder, coastal areas often leave plants unprotected. Established plants shrug off frost down to around -5 to -8C, making this one of the most dependable tree ferns for sale in the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery tree fern we send out is a healthy, well-rooted specimen, carefully selected and packed to arrive ready to settle straight into your garden or favourite pot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":42811122352172,"sku":"DICKSONANTAR12","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57859252584831,"sku":"DICKANTA15","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/dicksonia.jpg?v=1709843140"},{"product_id":"cyathea-tomentosissima","title":"Cyathea tomentosissima","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the most coveted small tree ferns in cultivation, \u003cem\u003eCyathea tomentosissima\u003c\/em\u003e brings the lush, prehistoric drama of the rainforest understorey to gardens with very little space to spare. Native to the cool, misty highlands of New Guinea, it forms a slender trunk clothed in extraordinary coppery-golden hairs, from which unfurl bright green, finely divided fronds. The species name means \"most densely woolly\", and it is that thick, tactile, almost metallic felt of scales on the croziers and stem that makes this such a collector's plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners want it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere the familiar Dicksonia can quickly outgrow a courtyard, this is a genuinely compact, clump-forming evergreen that stays in proportion for years. The new fiddleheads emerge wrapped in dense golden tomentum, slowly uncoiling into airy, fresh green foliage that catches the light beautifully in a shaded corner. If you have been searching for a hardy tree fern with real character and rarity, this is one of the most rewarding choices available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlender trunk densely cloaked in striking golden-brown scales\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact habit, ideal for small gardens, courtyards and large pots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvergreen fronds for year-round structure and texture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt thrives in partial to full shade, in a sheltered, humid position out of hot, drying sun and cold winds. Give it a moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil rich in leaf mould, and keep both the rootball and the trunk reliably damp through the growing season, misting in dry spells. Over many years it reaches around 1 to 1.5m, so it never overwhelms its setting. As one of the more cold-tolerant small tree ferns, it withstands short frosts once established, but in most of the UK it is best treated as borderline hardy: protect the central crown with fleece or dry straw over winter, or grow it in a container that can be moved under cover. Those choosing to buy a tree fern for a pot will find it adapts happily to a loam-based ericaceous mix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery tree fern we offer is hand-selected and nursery-grown for a healthy crown and strong, well-rooted growing point, so your plant arrives ready to establish and thrive. Whether you are browsing tree fern for sale to anchor a shady border or add an exotic focal point, this rare cyathea is a standout in any Hardy Exotics collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"14cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57682563334527,"sku":"CYATTORM14","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":57859250159999,"sku":"CYATTORM23","price":53.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/cyathea.jpg?v=1780670786"},{"product_id":"agave-shaka-zulu","title":"Agave 'Shaka Zulu'","description":"\u003cp\u003eAgave 'Shaka Zulu' is a show-stopping architectural succulent and one of the most cold-hardy large agaves you can grow outdoors in Britain. Bred from the famously tough \u003cem\u003eAgave ovatifolia\u003c\/em\u003e (the Whale's Tongue agave), it forms a beautifully symmetrical rosette of broad, cupped leaves in a soft powder-blue that holds its colour right through the year. It is a true centrepiece plant, equally at home in a contemporary gravel garden, a Mediterranean-style border or a statement pot by the door.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners want it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the wave of hardy exotics now grown in the UK, this is one of the best. The leaves are wide, smoothly arching and architectural, each finished with a neat terminal spine, and the whole rosette has a sculptural, almost geometric poise that few other plants match. Compared with a typical tender agave plant, 'Shaka Zulu' shrugs off cold far more readily, making it a reliable choice for adventurous gardeners.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking powder-blue, year-round evergreen foliage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExceptional cold tolerance for such a bold agave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLow-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo get the best from it, plant in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot facing south or west. Sharp drainage is essential, so work plenty of grit into the soil or plant into a raised bed; chalk, sandy and loam soils all suit it, across the full pH range. The plant copes easily with dry summers and actively prefers it lean and gritty. Hardy to roughly -10C to -12C when dry, it is winter wet rather than frost that does the damage, so keep the crown free-draining. Expect a slow-building rosette reaching around 90cm to 1.2m across over many years. In colder or wetter gardens, grow it as a potted agave plant in the UK and shelter it over winter; like the species \u003cem\u003eAgave ovatifolia\u003c\/em\u003e, it makes a superb container specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Agave 'Shaka Zulu' we send out is a strong, well-rooted, carefully grown plant, hand-selected and packed to arrive in top condition, ready to become the standout feature of your garden for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57809513808255,"sku":"AGAVSHAK15","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/agave_731844f0-85c2-4504-83ca-125cdd001a2a.jpg?v=1782488016"},{"product_id":"agave-stricta-nana","title":"Agave stricta 'Nana'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgave stricta 'Nana'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a compact, architectural succulent that brings a real touch of the desert to British gardens. Often called the dwarf hedgehog agave, it forms a dense, spherical rosette of slim, rigid, needle-pointed leaves that radiate outwards in every direction, eventually clumping into a striking spiny dome. It is one of the most sculptural of the smaller agaves and a natural fit for any collection of hardy exotics.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this dwarf agave so desirable is its neatness and texture. Where the species can become large and unwieldy, the 'Nana' form stays tidy and slow-growing, typically reaching only 20-30cm across over many years. The fine grey-green to deep green leaves catch the light beautifully and give superb structure in gravel gardens, raised beds, trough plantings and pots, holding their good looks right through the year as a fully evergreen plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike all hardy agave, this is a plant for sun and sharp drainage. Choose the brightest, warmest spot you have, ideally south or west-facing and sheltered, and grow it in very free-draining, gritty compost or a sandy, well-drained soil. It is happy on most soil types, including chalk, provided water never sits around the roots. Water sparingly in summer and keep it almost dry through winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePosition: full sun, sheltered from cold winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoil: sand, loam or chalk, always sharply drained\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEventual size: a slow-forming clump around 20-30cm wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardiness is the one thing to plan for. 'Nana' will take a few degrees of frost if kept dry, but in most of the country it is safest grown in a container that can be moved into a porch, cold greenhouse or conservatory for the coldest months. That portability is exactly why it has become such a popular agave for sale in the UK. If you would rather buy Agave stricta as a permanent garden feature, give it a gravelly, raised, rain-sheltered pocket and it can stay outside in milder, well-drained spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant we send out is nursery-grown, carefully selected and well-rooted, so your new dwarf agave arrives in peak condition and ready to thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":57809513841023,"sku":"AGAVSTR11","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/agavenana.jpg?v=1782487974"},{"product_id":"canna-alaska-white","title":"Canna 'Alaska White'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCool, crisp and quietly tropical, \u003cstrong\u003eCanna 'Alaska White'\u003c\/strong\u003e brings a rare touch of elegance to the exotic border. Where most cannas shout in hot reds and oranges, this one whispers, opening soft cream-white blooms above bold, paddle-shaped green leaves. It is one of the most sought-after pale forms among canna lily collectors, and a natural fit for a Hardy Exotics planting scheme that wants drama without the fireworks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe appeal of this white canna lily is twofold. First, the flowers: held on upright stems through summer and into early autumn, they glow against the lush foliage and pair effortlessly with both vivid jungle planting and calmer, more contemporary schemes. Second, the leaves, which are large, ribbed and architectural, giving structure and a lush, faraway feel from the moment they unfurl in late spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreamy-white flowers from mid-summer to the first frosts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBold, banana-like green foliage for instant exotic impact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReaches around 1 to 1.2m in a single season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuperb in large pots or at the heart of a tropical border\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrow Canna 'Alaska White' in full sun, in a warm, sheltered spot that is shielded from strong winds. It is hungry and thirsty in growth, so plant into rich, fertile soil or good multipurpose compost that stays reliably moist but never waterlogged, and feed and water generously through the season for the best display. A south or west-facing position will reward you with the strongest growth and the most flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a tender perennial, it needs winter protection across most of the UK. After the first frost blackens the foliage, either lift the rhizomes and store them dry and frost-free, or, in mild southern gardens, leave them in situ under a deep, dry mulch. Container-grown plants are easily moved into a shed or greenhouse, which makes growing canna lily bulbs in pots a practical choice in our climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery rhizome we send out is hand-selected, healthy and ready to power away into a season of show-stopping growth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57809513939327,"sku":"CANNALASKWHITE17","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/whitecanna_9d3bd9af-d2db-4a32-9fe5-33ba9c9482f7.jpg?v=1785512338"},{"product_id":"canna-cannova-red-shades","title":"Canna 'Cannova Red Shades'","description":"\u003cp\u003eBold, tropical and surprisingly easy, \u003cstrong\u003eCanna 'Cannova Red Shades'\u003c\/strong\u003e brings a blast of the exotic to British gardens. Part of the award-winning Cannova series, this is a compact, free-flowering \u003cstrong\u003ecanna lily\u003c\/strong\u003e that produces wave after wave of vivid scarlet-red blooms from midsummer right through to the first frosts, held above lush, paddle-shaped green foliage. If you want jungle drama without waiting years for a plant to bulk up, this is the one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOlder cannas could be unruly giants, but 'Cannova Red Shades' has been bred to stay neat and well branched, reaching roughly 90-120cm. That makes it ideal for the middle of a sunny border, a hot-coloured tropical scheme, or a generous patio pot. The flame-red flowers are a magnet for the eye and pair beautifully with dahlias, salvias and ornamental grasses. It is one of the standout choices when people search for a \u003cstrong\u003ecanna lily uk\u003c\/strong\u003e growers can rely on for a long, dependable display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLong flowering season, roughly July to October\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact, sturdy habit, rarely needing staking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuperb in large containers and exotic borders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Give your canna the warmest, sunniest, most sheltered spot you can find, in fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil. Cannas are hungry and thirsty in full growth, so water generously and feed through the summer for the best flowering. It is half-hardy, so after the first autumn frost blackens the foliage, lift the rhizomes and store them somewhere cool and frost-free, or in mild southern gardens leave them in place under a deep, dry winter mulch. Replant or restart into growth in spring once the danger of frost has passed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you choose to \u003cstrong\u003ebuy canna lily\u003c\/strong\u003e rhizomes for a tropical border or add a ready-grown plant to your patio display, this is a rewarding, high-impact performer. We grow our hardy exotics with care and dispatch strong, healthy, well-rooted plants, so your \u003cstrong\u003ecanna cannova\u003c\/strong\u003e arrives ready to romp away. For anyone hunting a quality \u003cstrong\u003ecanna lily for sale\u003c\/strong\u003e, 'Cannova Red Shades' is a brilliant place to start.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":57809523900799,"sku":"CANNREDSHADE12","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/smallred.jpg?v=1785512358"},{"product_id":"canna-kreta-red","title":"Canna 'Kreta Red'","description":"Few plants bring the tropics to a British border quite like a canna lily, and \u003cstrong\u003eCanna 'Kreta Red'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most rewarding of all. A bold herbaceous perennial grown from a fleshy rhizome, it throws up upright stems clothed in broad, paddle-shaped green leaves, then crowns them through the summer with clusters of vivid scarlet-red flowers. It is the kind of plant that turns a patio or sunny bed into a proper exotic display, and a star performer in any Hardy Exotics planting scheme.\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe appeal of this red canna lily is its sheer, long-lasting flower power. From midsummer through to the first frosts it produces successive flushes of bright red blooms held well above the foliage, drawing the eye from across the garden. The lush green leaves give it a banana-like, jungly presence even before it flowers, and at around a metre tall it makes an instant statement without overwhelming a smaller space. It looks superb among dahlias, salvias and ornamental grasses, or planted in generous drifts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVivid scarlet-red flowers from summer into autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge, tropical-looking green foliage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrilliant in borders, containers and exotic-style planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrow your canna lily in full sun, in a warm, sheltered spot, a south- or west-facing position is perfect. It thrives in rich, fertile soil that stays moist through the growing season but never waterlogged, so dig in plenty of organic matter and feed regularly for the best show. Cannas are hungry, thirsty plants in summer; keep them well watered and they will reward you handsomely. Expect a clump-forming habit reaching roughly 0.9 to 1.1 metres in a single season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the UK, 'Kreta Red' is borderline hardy and best treated as a tender perennial. In mild gardens it can overwinter in the ground under a thick, dry mulch, but in colder areas lift the rhizomes after the first frost and store them frost-free, or grow the plant in a pot you can move under cover. It is equally happy as a container specimen, which makes winter protection wonderfully simple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery canna lily we send out is a strong, healthy, well-rooted plant, carefully grown and ready to flourish in your own garden.\u003c\/p\u003e]]\u0026gt;","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57809523933567,"sku":"CANNKRETRED17","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/largered.jpg?v=1785512391"},{"product_id":"nandina-domestica-obsessed","title":"Nandina domestica 'Obsessed'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNandina domestica 'Obsessed'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most colourful compact shrubs you can grow, a dwarf selection of the much-loved \u003cem\u003eheavenly bamboo\u003c\/em\u003e that earns its place for foliage alone. Despite the common name it is not a bamboo at all, but a member of the Berberidaceae family from eastern Asia, prized for the way its finely divided, lacy leaves shift through a living palette of colour from one season to the next.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe great attraction of this \u003cstrong\u003enandina obsessed\u003c\/strong\u003e form is the new growth, which emerges a brilliant, almost fluorescent red before maturing to fresh green through summer. As the temperatures fall, the whole plant flushes red and orange again, holding that fiery winter colour right through the coldest months. Small sprays of creamy white flowers appear in early summer, and while \u003cstrong\u003enandina domestica obsessed\u003c\/strong\u003e is a shy-fruiting foliage form, it occasionally sets a few red berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an easy, rewarding shrub for almost any garden. Give it a position in full sun for the strongest red tones, or partial shade where the colours stay a little softer. It is happy in most soils, including chalk, clay, loam and sand across the full pH range, provided the ground is moist but well-drained.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact habit, reaching only around 0.6 to 1 m tall and wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvergreen in most gardens, semi-evergreen in colder spots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully hardy (RHS H5), needing no winter protection once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent in borders, low hedging, gravel schemes and patio pots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause \u003cstrong\u003enandina\u003c\/strong\u003e stays so neat and well-behaved, it needs very little pruning, just the occasional removal of any tired older stems in spring. Its modest size makes it ideal for containers, where the changing foliage can be enjoyed up close by a doorway or seating area. Water regularly through the first season to settle the roots, after which it copes well with drier spells.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003enandina domestica\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Obsessed' we send out is a strong, well-rooted, nursery-grown plant, carefully selected and packed to arrive in superb condition and ready to bring year-round colour to your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57810282643839,"sku":"NANDOBSE17","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/nandoobsessed.jpg?v=1782487310"},{"product_id":"nandina-domestica-gulfstream","title":"Nandina domestica 'Gulfstream'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNandina domestica 'Gulfstream'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a superb, compact evergreen shrub prized for foliage that changes colour through every season. A dwarf selection of \u003cem\u003eNandina domestica\u003c\/em\u003e, the plant commonly known as heavenly bamboo, 'Gulfstream' brings the same delicate, bamboo-like elegance in a far neater, more garden-friendly package, making it one of the most versatile small shrubs you can grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts appeal lies in the foliage. The fine, intricately divided leaves unfurl a glowing red in spring, settle to cool blue-green through summer, then ignite into brilliant shades of orange, crimson and scarlet as the temperatures drop in autumn and winter. Unlike the species, this heavenly bamboo holds a tight, rounded, mound-forming habit and rarely exceeds around a metre, so it never outgrows its welcome. Small sprays of creamy-white flowers appear in early summer, a quiet bonus to the year-round leaf display.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Gulfstream' is wonderfully adaptable. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, though the strongest red and orange tints develop where it catches several hours of sun each day. It is happy in almost any reasonable soil, chalk, clay, loam or sand, at any pH, as long as the ground is moist but well-drained. Choose a sheltered position to protect the foliage from cold, drying winds and to keep the winter colour looking its best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMature size: around 0.6 to 1 m tall and wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardiness: RHS H5, hardy to roughly -15C across most of the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePosition: full sun to partial shade, sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvergreen, with multi-season foliage colour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeing fully garden-hardy in Britain, this \u003cem\u003eNandina domestica\u003c\/em\u003e selection needs no winter protection in all but the coldest gardens, and its compact form makes it equally at home in a mixed border, low hedge, gravel garden or a smart patio container. Water regularly through the first couple of seasons to establish, after which it is admirably low-maintenance and largely drought-tolerant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery 'Gulfstream' we send out is a strong, well-rooted, nursery-grown plant, chosen to settle in quickly and reward you with its ever-changing colour for many years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":57810282676607,"sku":"NANDGULF23","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/gulfstream.jpg?v=1782487301"},{"product_id":"musa-basjoo","title":"Musa basjoo","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMusa basjoo\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese banana\u003c\/strong\u003e, is the hardiest banana you can grow in a British garden and the fastest route to a genuinely tropical look outdoors. Native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, it sends up a stout green pseudostem topped with a fountain of huge, paddle-shaped leaves that can reach two metres long. Few plants deliver this much instant drama, which is exactly why the \u003cstrong\u003ehardy banana\u003c\/strong\u003e has become a staple of jungle borders, courtyard gardens and exotic planting schemes across the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat sets \u003cstrong\u003eMusa basjoo\u003c\/strong\u003e apart from the tender bananas is its toughness. The clump is root-hardy to around -10C to -12C with a little winter protection, so unlike most of its relatives it can live outdoors year after year rather than being hauled indoors each autumn. In a long, warm summer an established plant may even throw up a curious cream flower spike followed by small green fruit, although these are seedy and ornamental rather than something to eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMassive, glossy bright-green leaves for a bold, jungle effect\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hardiest banana for UK gardens, root-hardy with protection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-growing and clump-forming, ideal for exotic and architectural borders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking in the ground or in a large container on a sheltered terrace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo get the best from your \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese banana plant\u003c\/strong\u003e, give it full sun in a warm, sheltered spot away from strong winds that tear the foliage. It is hungry and thirsty, so plant into deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, water freely through the growing season and feed generously for the largest leaves. Mature clumps reach roughly 2.5 to 4 metres tall with a 2 to 3 metre spread, expanding steadily as offsets form around the base. Over winter, wrap the stem with straw or fleece and mulch the crown, or allow it to die back and protect the root, ready to reshoot in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eMusa basjoo UK\u003c\/strong\u003e plant we send out is nursery-grown, well rooted and selected for vigour, so it establishes quickly and rewards you with that unmistakable big-leaf, big-impact display season after season.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57810282742143,"sku":"MUSABASJ15","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/musabasjoo.jpg?v=1782487275"},{"product_id":"eucalyptus-gunnii-azura","title":"Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEucalyptus gunnii 'Azura'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a superb, more compact and cold-hardy selection of the much-loved cider gum, prized for its rounded, silver-blue evergreen foliage and a fresh, menthol-eucalyptus scent when the leaves are brushed or crushed. If you have admired the silvery cider gum tree but worried about its vigour or hardiness, this is the cultivar to reach for, bringing year-round colour and a touch of the exotic to UK gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy grow 'Azura'?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntense silver-blue, aromatic evergreen leaves that hold their colour through winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore compact and notably frost-hardy compared with the standard species eucalyptus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-growing, drought-tolerant once established and brilliant for cutting and foliage arrangements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHolds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for reliable garden performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a true all-rounder among hardy eucalyptus trees. The young, rounded juvenile leaves are the most ornamental, and a regular hard prune keeps that lovely foliage coming while controlling size. Grown as a free-standing specimen it makes a graceful small tree; coppiced or pruned each spring it stays as a neat silvery shrub, ideal for smaller plots and for gardeners who want the eucalyptus look without a forest-sized tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 'Azura' in full sun for the best foliage colour and sturdiest growth. It is happy on most free-draining soils, including chalk, loam and sand, across the pH range, but dislikes waterlogged ground, so improve drainage on heavy clay before planting. Rated RHS H5, it shrugs off typical UK winters once established; simply give young plants a sheltered spot away from harsh, drying winds for the first couple of seasons and mulch the base. Water regularly in the first year or two to settle the roots, after which it becomes pleasingly drought-tolerant. Expect a mature height of around 3-6 m if left to grow, easily kept to 1.5-3 m with annual spring pruning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are searching for a standout eucalyptus tree in the UK or specifically hunting down Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura', every plant we send out is nursery-grown, carefully selected and dispatched in prime condition, ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57810283069823,"sku":"EUCAGUNNII15","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/eucal.jpg?v=1782487061"},{"product_id":"paulownia-elongata-futuro","title":"Paulownia elongata 'Futuro'","description":"Few hardy exotics deliver drama as fast as \u003cstrong\u003ePaulownia elongata 'Futuro'\u003c\/strong\u003e, a selected, vigorous form of the celebrated \u003cstrong\u003efoxglove tree\u003c\/strong\u003e. Reckoned to be among the fastest-growing trees in the world, this \u003cstrong\u003epaulownia tree\u003c\/strong\u003e can put on a metre or more in a single season, making it the go-to choice when you want big, bold structure in a garden in a hurry. Known variously as the foxglove tree or \u003cstrong\u003eempress tree\u003c\/strong\u003e, it earns its place in the Hardy Exotics range on the strength of its enormous heart-shaped leaves and, on mature specimens, spires of fragrant lilac flowers.\n\u003cp\u003eThere are really two plants here, depending on how you grow it. Left to grow on as a tree, 'Futuro' forms a handsome, upright specimen of 8-12 m, crowned in late spring with panicles of pale lilac-purple, foxglove-like blooms that appear before the leaves on the previous year's wood. Coppice or pollard it hard each spring instead, and all that vigour is thrown into a few shoots clothed in spectacular, velvety leaves that can measure 40-60 cm across, an instant jungle effect for a temperate plot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGive it a warm, sheltered position in full sun, which suits both leaf size and flowering. As a UK-grown \u003cstrong\u003epaulownia tree uk\u003c\/strong\u003e gardeners can rely on, this is a genuinely hardy plant, withstanding around -15C once established (roughly RHS H5), with roots tough enough to reshoot even after a hard winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAspect: full sun, sheltered from strong winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoil: any fertile, free-draining soil, including chalk and clay; avoid winter wet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 8-12 m as a tree, or 2-3 m with giant leaves if coppiced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first couple of summers while the deep roots establish, after which \u003cstrong\u003ePaulownia elongata\u003c\/strong\u003e becomes notably drought-tolerant. A spring mulch keeps young plants happy and protects the roots over their first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery plant is grown on and carefully selected for healthy roots and strong, even growth, so your foxglove tree arrives ready to romp away and transform a sunny corner in its very first season.\u003c\/p\u003e]]\u0026gt;","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57945334088063,"sku":"PAUWELON17","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":57810283266431,"sku":"PAUWELON23","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/paulownia.jpg?v=1782486996"},{"product_id":"colocasia-esculenta-black-magic","title":"Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most theatrical foliage plants you can grow, and the original dusky-leaved taro that made the elephant ears craze take off. Huge, heart-shaped leaves are held on dark petioles and flush a deep, smoky purple-black that deepens almost to charcoal in good light, catching raindrops and glowing against brighter greens. If you want instant drama and a jungle feel, this is the plant that delivers it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a tender selection of \u003cstrong\u003ecolocasia esculenta\u003c\/strong\u003e, 'Black Magic' is grown purely for its architectural leaves rather than flowers, which makes it a brilliant centrepiece for borders, large containers and poolside plantings. Each season it powers up from a dormant tuber to form a bold, clump-forming mound, and the matt-black foliage of \u003cstrong\u003ecolocasia black magic\u003c\/strong\u003e pairs beautifully with limes, silvers and hot oranges. Few plants give this much presence so quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a thirsty, warmth-loving exotic. Give \u003cstrong\u003eblack magic colocasia\u003c\/strong\u003e a sheltered, sunny spot, or light dappled shade, in rich, moisture-retentive soil that never dries out. It is one of the few exotics genuinely happy in boggy ground and at the margins of a pond, and it relishes generous watering and regular feeding through the growing season. Shelter from strong wind keeps the large leaves from tearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight around 0.9 to 1.5 m with a similar spread in a good summer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull sun for the darkest leaf colour; tolerates partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRich, constantly moist soil or a large pot of water-retentive compost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeing tender (RHS H2), the \u003cstrong\u003eblack elephant ear plant\u003c\/strong\u003e will not survive a frosty UK winter outside. Treat it as a patio exotic: stand it out for summer, then lift and store the tuber somewhere frost-free, or simply move the container into a greenhouse, conservatory or porch once the foliage blackens in autumn. Come spring it bursts back into growth. Do note that all parts are toxic if eaten, so keep it away from children and pets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003ecolocasia esculenta black magic\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, carefully grown and packed to arrive ready to put on a show in your garden or on the patio.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":57810283463039,"sku":"COLOBLKMG11","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2200393719.jpg?v=1784357823"},{"product_id":"musa-ever-red","title":"Musa 'Ever Red'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew exotics deliver drama as quickly as \u003cstrong\u003eMusa 'Ever Red'\u003c\/strong\u003e, a strikingly coloured ornamental banana grown for its enormous paddle-shaped leaves washed in deep burgundy, maroon and oxblood red. As one of the darkest selections available, this \u003cstrong\u003ered banana plant\u003c\/strong\u003e brings instant jungle theatre to a sunny patio, courtyard or conservatory, and it has become a firm favourite with UK gardeners chasing a tropical look without leaving the British Isles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy grow Musa 'Ever Red'?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe appeal is all in the foliage. Each lush leaf unfurls flushed with red, intensifying to rich wine tones in strong light, while the pseudostem carries the same warm red blush. Planted as a centrepiece, this \u003cstrong\u003ered banana tree\u003c\/strong\u003e reads as a living sculpture, and it grows fast, putting on fresh leaves through the summer to reach around 2 to 3 metres in a single season under good conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender exotic rather than a fully hardy plant, so the simplest approach is to grow it in a generous container. That keeps it portable: stand it out in the warmth from late spring, then move it into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or bright porch from October to overwinter. Give it the brightest, most sheltered position you can, ideally full sun against a south or west facing wall, where the leaf colour develops best and the broad leaves are shielded from wind. Plant into a rich, free-draining loam-based compost with added grit, water freely and feed fortnightly through the growing season, as bananas are both hungry and thirsty. Over winter, ease off watering and let the plant rest somewhere cool but frost-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaching roughly 2 to 3 metres tall with a 1.5 to 2 metre spread, 'Ever Red' makes a superb feature specimen or the backbone of a hot, exotic planting scheme alongside cannas, colocasias and palms. If you have been searching for a \u003cstrong\u003ered banana plant uk\u003c\/strong\u003e growers can rely on, this is a standout. Every plant we send out is nursery-grown, carefully selected and established, ready to power away the moment the warmth arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57810283725183,"sku":"MUSAEVERRED15","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/musaeverred_f12805cf-c80d-46b2-aa1c-2fd21b7ac841.jpg?v=1782486913"},{"product_id":"ensete-ventricosum-maurelii","title":"Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'","description":"Few plants deliver instant jungle drama like \u003cstrong\u003eEnsete ventricosum 'Maurelii'\u003c\/strong\u003e, the magnificent Red Abyssinian Banana. Often sold simply as \u003cem\u003eensete maurelii\u003c\/em\u003e, this is the showstopper of any exotic planting scheme, prized for its enormous paddle-shaped leaves flushed with deep wine-red, burgundy and oxblood tones. Bold, fast-growing and unmistakably tropical, it transforms a sunny patio, courtyard or border into a slice of the tropics in a single summer.\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy grow the Red Abyssinian Banana?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the most striking foliage plants you can grow outdoors in the UK. Each huge leaf can reach well over a metre long, with an olive-green upper surface and a glowing red-purple midrib and underside that lights up beautifully when backlit by low sun. Unlike a true Musa, this \u003cem\u003eensete ventricosum maurelii\u003c\/em\u003e forms a single, stout, swollen trunk rather than a clump, giving it an architectural, almost prehistoric presence. As a focal point or repeated through a hot, exotic border, the red banana plant brings height, lush texture and serious wow factor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDramatic burgundy-flushed, paddle-shaped leaves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast, statuesque growth in a single season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuperb as a patio container specimen or border centrepiece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairs beautifully with cannas, colocasia and other tender exotics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo get the best from your \u003cem\u003eensete ventricosum maurelii\u003c\/em\u003e in the UK, choose the warmest, sunniest and most sheltered spot you can offer, ideally against a south or west-facing wall and out of strong wind that can tear the leaves. Plant into rich, fertile, moisture-retentive yet free-draining soil or a loam-based compost, and water and feed generously throughout spring and summer to fuel that rapid, leafy growth. In a season it will typically reach 2 to 2.5 m, building to 3 to 4 m over several years in ideal conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCrucially, this is a tender exotic (RHS hardiness H2) and is not frost hardy, so it is best treated as a patio plant that summers outside and overwinters under cover. Before the first frosts, move it into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or cool bright room, or lift, trim and store the rootstock, then bring it back out once the danger of frost has passed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur plants are nursery-grown and carefully selected for strong, healthy growth and rich leaf colour, ready to make an immediate statement in your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e]]\u0026gt;","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57810283757951,"sku":"ENSEMAUR15","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/ensete.jpg?v=1782486739"},{"product_id":"begonia-sterling-moon","title":"Begonia 'Sterling Moon'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew foliage plants stop you in your tracks quite like \u003cstrong\u003eBegonia 'Sterling Moon'\u003c\/strong\u003e. This is a rex begonia at its most theatrical, with broad, asymmetric leaves washed in moonlit silver and outlined by inky, near-black veins and margins. The effect is metallic and almost luminous in shade, lifting dim corners of a patio or shaded courtyard where flowering plants struggle to perform. Grown for its leaves rather than its modest pale pink blooms, it brings the lush, jewel-box quality of a rare houseplant out into the summer garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking silver and dark green foliage with real architectural presence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact, clump-forming habit, perfect for pots and shaded displays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThrives in the shade where many exotics will not\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoubles as a covetable houseplant once the season cools\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a tender rex begonia, Sterling Moon is best treated as a patio plant for the warmer months and a houseplant for the rest of the year. Stand it outside once nights stay reliably above about 10C, choosing a sheltered, shaded position out of harsh midday sun, which can scorch and bleach those prized silvered leaves. A north, east or west-facing spot with bright, indirect light keeps the markings at their boldest. Grow it in a free-draining, peat-free or loam-based compost with added perlite or bark, and water when the top of the compost feels dry, keeping the rootball lightly moist but never soggy. It loves a little humidity, so summer days outdoors suit it perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect a neat plant of roughly 20-30 cm tall and 25-40 cm across, ideal for a feature pot, a shaded table display or a sheltered doorstep. Because it is not frost hardy (RHS H1c), bring it back indoors or under heated glass well before the first autumn frosts, keeping it above 10-15C through winter. Please note that, like all begonias, it is toxic if eaten and can be harmful to cats, dogs and horses, so site it thoughtfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have searched for a standout \u003cstrong\u003erex begonia\u003c\/strong\u003e or a more unusual \u003cstrong\u003ehardy begonia\u003c\/strong\u003e alternative for shade, Sterling Moon delivers drama in a small footprint. Every plant is nursery-grown and hand-selected for healthy roots and strong, well-marked foliage, ready to settle in and shine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57810283889023,"sku":"BEGSTERL17","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/sterlingmoon.jpg?v=1782486620"},{"product_id":"begonia-darkside-of-the-moon","title":"Begonia 'Darkside of the Moon'","description":"\u003cp\u003eBegonia 'Darkside of the Moon' is one of the most dramatic foliage plants you can grow, prized for its deeply lobed, near-black leaves that shimmer with a metallic purple sheen and flash deep red on their undersides. The bold, almost maple-like leaf shape gives it a sculptural, architectural presence that lifts any shady corner, patio grouping or conservatory display. For anyone who loves a rex begonia for its colour but wants something with real structure, this striking hybrid delivers moody, gothic glamour in spades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts colouring is the main event. In good, indirect light the foliage takes on an inky, almost-black depth with iridescent highlights, while delicate sprays of pale pink to white flowers appear through summer as a soft counterpoint to the dark leaves. Compact and bushy, it reaches around 60-90 cm tall and 45-60 cm wide, making it a manageable yet eye-catching specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender exotic rather than a hardy garden plant, so it is best treated as a patio or house begonia. Give it bright but indirect light or dappled, partial shade, as harsh midday sun will scorch the leaves and fade their metallic finish. Grow it in a free-draining, peat-free, loam-based compost with added perlite or bark, keeping the mix lightly moist but never waterlogged. Reduce watering in winter and avoid wetting the foliage to keep mildew at bay.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePosition: bright indirect light or partial shade, sheltered from wind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardiness: tender (RHS H1c), protect from all frost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: roughly 60-90 cm tall, 45-60 cm spread\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the UK, stand it outdoors once nights stay reliably above 10C, then bring it back under glass or indoors before the first autumn frosts. Whether you are searching for an unusual shrub begonia for sale or simply a knockout foliage plant, this is a collector's favourite. Every plant we send out is nursery-grown, hand-selected and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition, ready to become the dark star of your collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57810283987327,"sku":"BEGDARKMOON17","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/darkside.jpg?v=1782486621"},{"product_id":"trachycarpus-wagnerianus","title":"Trachycarpus wagnerianus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note this is a pre-order and these will ship in 7 working days.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTrachycarpus wagnerianus\u003c\/strong\u003e, also known as the \u003cstrong\u003edwarf Chusan palm\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eWagner's windmill palm\u003c\/strong\u003e (and affectionately the \u003cstrong\u003e'Waggie'\u003c\/strong\u003e), is the connoisseur's choice among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-palms\"\u003ehardy palms\u003c\/a\u003e: all the exotic presence of the classic Chusan palm, but in a tougher, more compact and far more weather resistant package. Its fan-shaped fronds are smaller, stiffer and held more rigidly than those of its better known cousin \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trachycarpus-fortunei\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, with neatly rolled edges that shrug off wind rather than tearing. The result is a tidy, almost sculpted crown that stays looking immaculate even in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003eexposed and coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e where larger-leaved palms would tatter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike the common Chusan palm it is reliably garden hardy, rated RHS H5 and comfortable down to around -15C once established, so it holds its evergreen canopy of glossy fans right through a British winter. The slender trunk is clothed in the same characterful brown fibre, and mature specimens carry arching sprays of small yellow flowers in early summer. Slower and more restrained than \u003cem\u003eT. fortunei\u003c\/em\u003e, the Waggie stays in proportion for many years, reaching an eventual 3 to 6 m, which makes it ideal for smaller plots, courtyards and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio containers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade. Its wind resistant fronds make it one of the best palms for open, exposed and coastal sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, free draining soil, from chalk to clay and across the full pH range. Good drainage matters most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slow growing to an eventual 3 to 6 m, noticeably more compact than the common Chusan palm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e reliably hardy across most of the UK, with young crowns worth fleecing in severe frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to settle in a strong root system, after which it becomes impressively drought tolerant. An annual spring mulch and a balanced feed keep the crown lush and growth steady. With its bold, architectural silhouette it earns a place at the heart of any \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotic\u003c\/a\u003e or jungle-style planting scheme, equally at home as a structural specimen or in a large container.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eTrachycarpus wagnerianus\u003c\/strong\u003e we supply is nursery grown, hand selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition, ready to bring resilient, wind proof exotica to your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57831797031295,"sku":"TRACHWAG17","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57831797064063,"sku":"TRACHWAG19","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"21cm \/ 4L","offer_id":57831797096831,"sku":"TRACHWAG21","price":67.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/WhatsAppImage2026-06-25at09.15.01_1.jpg?v=1782379808"},{"product_id":"aeonium-arboreum-velours","title":"Aeonium arboreum 'Velours'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAeonium arboreum 'Velours'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most striking dark-leaved aeoniums in cultivation, prized for its velvety, near-black purple rosettes that hold their depth of colour through full sun. Each rosette is a sculptural mandala of fleshy, slightly arching leaves that catch the light like dark plush. It is one of the most architectural patio succulents you can grow in a British garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a half-hardy succulent at heart, native to the warm Canary Islands and a fixture of Mediterranean and exotic patio plantings. In the UK it is happiest stood outside in full sun for summer and early autumn, then brought into a frost-free conservatory, greenhouse or bright porch before the first frosts. It is a brilliant companion to other architectural succulents and palms in a Hardy Exotic container scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun in a sheltered south or west-facing spot to bring out the deepest purple-black colour.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining cactus or succulent compost, with extra grit added.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slow to around 60-90 cm tall on aged stems, rosettes 15-25 cm across.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H3, half-hardy; protect from frost over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Velours' is at its best in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003econtemporary patio container\u003c\/a\u003e, where the rosettes can be admired up close and the pot can be moved under cover for winter. It pairs beautifully with grasses and silver-leaved succulents in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic patio scheme\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a sheltered, sun-drenched corner of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e for the summer. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a sunny patio it works well alongside \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eother drought-tolerant Mediterranean specimens\u003c\/a\u003e that share the same light, free-draining needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eAeonium 'Velours'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted young plant in a 12cm pot, hand-selected for a healthy rosette, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":57849571311999,"sku":"AEONVELO12","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/vekours.jpg?v=1784356965"},{"product_id":"mahonia-x-media-charity","title":"Mahonia x media 'Charity'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMahonia x media 'Charity'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the most reliable winter-flowering architectural shrub for the UK garden, an evergreen statement plant that bears tall, fragrant, golden-yellow flower spikes from November through February when little else is in bloom. The bold, holly-like leaflets are arranged in long pinnate sprays, giving the plant a sub-tropical, almost prehistoric silhouette that anchors any Hardy Exotic shade scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBred from M. japonica crossed with M. lomariifolia, 'Charity' is the original and best of the modern hybrid mahonias, vigorous and reliable across the UK. The winter flowers are powerfully scented and a vital nectar source for overwintering bumblebees on mild days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade; tolerates full sun in cooler northern gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, free-draining; tolerant of most pH including chalk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slow to around 3-4 m tall and 2-3 m wide over fifteen years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H5, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eA perfect anchor specimen for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshaded woodland-style planting\u003c\/a\u003e or a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic understory\u003c\/a\u003e beneath taller trees. The architectural silhouette pairs brilliantly with palms, tree ferns and bamboos in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vital winter nectar source for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinator planting\u003c\/a\u003e and a strong choice in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio container\u003c\/a\u003e for evergreen winter structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eMahonia 'Charity'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57849597591935,"sku":"MAHOMEDICHAR17","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/charity.jpg?v=1784354138"},{"product_id":"yucca-gloriosa","title":"Yucca gloriosa","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eYucca gloriosa\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Spanish dagger, is one of the most architectural evergreen specimens you can grow outdoors in a UK garden. It carries dramatic rosettes of long, stiff, blue-green sword-like leaves on a thick woody trunk that thickens with age. In late summer mature plants throw up tall pyramidal spikes of pendulous, creamy-white bell flowers that rise dramatically above the foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a hero specimen plant, the kind of sculpture-on-a-trunk that anchors a courtyard or a hot dry border like nothing else. Native to the south-eastern United States and cultivated in the UK for nearly five hundred years, it has earned its place as a cornerstone of any Mediterranean, exotic or coastal planting scheme. This 26cm specimen is supplied as a substantial pre-grown plant ready for immediate impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun in a south or west-facing position. Excellent in coastal gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining; sand, loam or chalk. Avoid waterlogged ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e trunked to around 2-3 m tall and 1.5-2 m wide over twenty years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H5, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eYucca gloriosa is a hero plant for an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e alongside palms, agaves and other architectural specimens. It is at home in a sun-baked \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e and a brilliant choice for a windswept \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e where few other architectural plants thrive. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA perfect anchor for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic patio scheme\u003c\/a\u003e in a large container or directly in the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eYucca gloriosa\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted specimen, hand-selected for a healthy crown and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"26cm \/ 7L","offer_id":57849607979391,"sku":"YUCCGLOR26","price":59.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/yucca.jpg?v=1784358538"},{"product_id":"catalpa-bignonioides-aurea","title":"Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCatalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'\u003c\/strong\u003e, the golden Indian bean tree, is one of the most architectural large-leaved foliage trees you can grow in a British garden. Enormous heart-shaped leaves up to 25cm across emerge a vivid acid-yellow in spring and hold their golden colour right through the season. In high summer, mature specimens carry showy upright panicles of orchid-like white flowers spotted with yellow and purple, followed by long bean-like seed pods in autumn that give the tree its common name.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a hero foliage plant for an exotic-feel garden. The huge soft leaves bring a genuine tropical-jungle quality to a hardy plant, and the golden colour lights up any composition. It can be grown as a free-form tree to 8-12m or coppiced annually to a 2-3m multi-stemmed shrub with even larger leaves, which is how most discerning UK gardeners use it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade; sheltered from strong winds which can tear the large leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, moist but well-drained; tolerant of most types including chalk and clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e as a tree, 8-12 m tall, 6-10 m wide; coppiced, kept to 2-3 m.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H6, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Aurea' is a stunning specimen for a sheltered lawn, the back of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e, or as the structural centrepiece of a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic garden\u003c\/a\u003e. It pairs beautifully with dark-leaved companions like Sambucus 'Black Lace' or purple-leaved Acers. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a coppiced shrub habit, the technique is simple: cut the previous year's growth back to a low framework in early spring just before the buds break. The result is a regularly produced flush of huge, intensely golden leaves on a manageable bush. A natural choice for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio container\u003c\/a\u003e too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eCatalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted young specimen, hand-selected for a healthy crown and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":57859256254847,"sku":"CATABIGNAUR23","price":49.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/bignonoides.jpg?v=1784354984"},{"product_id":"catalpa-erubescens-purpurea","title":"Catalpa erubescens 'Purpurea'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCatalpa erubescens 'Purpurea'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the dark-leaved counterpart to the golden Indian bean tree, a vigorous hybrid Catalpa with enormous heart-shaped leaves up to 25cm across. New foliage in spring emerges a rich deep purple-bronze, holds its dark tone into early summer, and gradually ages to a sumptuous bronze-green. White panicles of orchid-like flowers spotted with yellow and purple appear in midsummer on mature specimens, followed by long bean-like pods in autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the most architectural hardy foliage plants for an exotic UK garden. The combination of huge tropical-feel leaves and a dark, brooding palette anchors any planting scheme. Like its golden sibling 'Aurea', it can be grown as a free-form tree to 6-10m or coppiced annually to a 2-3m multi-stemmed shrub with even larger, even darker leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade; sheltered from strong winds that tear the large leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, moist but well-drained; tolerant of most types including chalk and clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e as a tree, 6-10 m tall, 5-8 m wide; coppiced, kept to 2-3 m.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H6, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Purpurea' is brilliant as a hero specimen at the back of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e, in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic garden\u003c\/a\u003e, or as the structural centrepiece of a courtyard. The dark foliage pairs beautifully with golden grasses, Pennisetum 'Fireworks', or Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' for a dramatic gold-and-purple combination. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a coppiced shrub habit, cut the previous year's growth back to a low framework in early spring just before the buds break. The flush of new growth produces the biggest, darkest leaves on regrowth. Equally at home in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio container\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eCatalpa erubescens 'Purpurea'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted young specimen, hand-selected for a healthy crown and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":57859257926015,"sku":"CATAERUBPURP23","price":52.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/purp.jpg?v=1784359220"},{"product_id":"ficus-carica-del-portogallo","title":"Ficus carica 'Del Portogallo'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eFicus carica 'Del Portogallo'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a distinguished Mediterranean fig cultivar from Portugal, prized for its exquisite flavour and dependable yields. It produces medium to large pear-shaped figs with a rich, dark purple skin and succulent amber-pink flesh that ripens reliably in a sheltered British garden. The plant itself is architectural and tropical-feeling: huge palmate leaves up to 25cm across on smoothly arching stems, bringing an unmistakably Mediterranean exotic look to a UK garden whether it ever fruits or not.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Del Portogallo' thrives on warmth: it is happiest on a sheltered south or west-facing wall, where the masonry's stored heat carries the plant through cool nights and ripens the figs reliably. Equally suited to large container culture, where root restriction encourages fruiting over leafy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun on a sheltered south or west-facing wall. Restrict the roots for best fruiting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, free-draining; tolerant of chalk and alkaline soils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Up to 3m tall and 3m wide over time; can be trained or pruned smaller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H5, hardy across most of the UK.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold here as a fruit-bearing plant grown for its edible harvest, not as an ornamental.\u003c\/strong\u003e The amber-pink flesh and sweet rich flavour make these among the finest figs for fresh eating, drying, or making preserves. With root restriction the plant directs energy into fruit production rather than leafy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Del Portogallo' is at home on a sheltered patio wall, in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic Mediterranean border\u003c\/a\u003e, or trained against a sunny fence. A natural choice for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio container\u003c\/a\u003e (40+ litres) where root restriction is built in. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eFicus carica 'Del Portogallo'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted young plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57859262841215,"sku":"FICUCARIPORT19","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/ficus_256be1e5-ddfe-41b8-997c-4b706f23912c.jpg?v=1784354205"},{"product_id":"miscanthus-sinensis-zebrinus","title":"Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMiscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'\u003c\/strong\u003e, the zebra grass, is one of the most distinctive ornamental grasses in cultivation, instantly recognisable by the horizontal yellow-cream bands that mark its arching green blades like the stripes on a zebra. It carries copper-pink plumes from late summer that hold through winter, catching the low light beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a Hardy Exotic standout for any sunny border, the zebra banding is unmistakably tropical-looking yet the plant is fully hardy and easy to grow. This 9cm starter is a young plant ready to be potted on or planted out in spring for a mature clump within two to three seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the cleanest variegation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e moderately fertile, moist but well-drained; tolerant of most types.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e mature clumps to around 1.5-1.8 m tall and 1-1.2 m wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H7, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Zebrinus' is the headline grass for an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e, brilliant alongside cannas, dahlias and hardy gingers for a sub-tropical feel. The zebra bands play especially well against dark-leaved companions in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic planting\u003c\/a\u003e. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEqually at home in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge patio container\u003c\/a\u003e where the architectural form can be appreciated up close. Pot on into a 5L container for the first season, then move to a 20L+ pot or open ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eMiscanthus 'Zebrinus'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted young plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57859267002751,"sku":"MISCZEB9","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/zebrinus-2.jpg?v=1784355037"},{"product_id":"chamaerops-humilis","title":"Chamaerops humilis","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eChamaerops humilis\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003eEuropean fan palm\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eMediterranean fan palm\u003c\/strong\u003e, is the only palm truly native to Europe and one of the most cold-hardy palms you can grow. Where the taller \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trachycarpus-fortunei\"\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/a\u003e gives you a single slender trunk, this bushy, multi-stemmed palm forms a rounded fountain of stiff, silvery-green fans close to the ground, giving instant Mediterranean structure and a compact, shrubby silhouette that suits smaller gardens and containers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat makes the \u003cstrong\u003edwarf fan palm\u003c\/strong\u003e such a dependable choice for British gardens is its genuine toughness. Rated RHS H4 and holding the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it shrugs off cold to around -10C to -12C once established and holds its evergreen fans through winter, so the architectural shape never disappears. Mature plants throw up short spikes of yellow flowers in spring and summer, followed by date-like fruits, while the robust, wind-resistant leaves make it one of the best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-palms\"\u003ehardy palms\u003c\/a\u003e for exposed and seaside plots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun brings out the best colour and form, though it will tolerate partial shade. Ideal for open, exposed and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal\u003c\/a\u003e gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any free-draining soil, including poor, stony and sandy ground. Sharp drainage matters far more than fertility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slow-growing and compact, reaching roughly 1.5 to 2.5 m tall and 1 to 1.5 m wide over many years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e reliably hardy across most of the UK, with young crowns worth fleecing in severe, prolonged frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to build a strong root system, after which this Mediterranean native becomes impressively \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant\u003c\/a\u003e and low-maintenance. Its neat, clumping habit makes it a natural for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e on a sunny patio, and its bold fan-shaped foliage earns it a place among our favourite \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. As with all outdoor plants, it is worth reading our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide so you know how a garden-hardy palm looks and behaves through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Chamaerops humilis we supply is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition ready to plant out or pot up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"14cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57907269992831,"sku":"CHAMHUMI14","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"18cm \/ 2.5L","offer_id":57907270025599,"sku":"CHAMHUMI18","price":36.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"21cm \/ 4L","offer_id":57907270058367,"sku":"CHAMHUMI21","price":51.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/humilis.jpg?v=1784358136"},{"product_id":"washingtonia-filifera","title":"Washingtonia filifera","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eWashingtonia filifera\u003c\/strong\u003e is a stylish, elegant fan palm and one of the quickest to find its feet in the garden. It is a fast-growing variety that establishes without fuss and looks the part even as a young plant, so you do not have to wait years for real presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge, tropical-looking fans in a soft grey-green are split to around half their depth into many slender segments, crowning a sturdy trunk that is neatly ringed with the scars of old leaves. Between the leaflets hang curly, thread-like filaments, and it is these fine threads that earn it the common name of Cotton Palm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is also notably salt tolerant, which makes it a superb choice for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e and breezy, exposed spots. Hardy to around -5C, it is happiest in a warm, sheltered position. It toughens up as it matures, though younger plants will still appreciate some protection through the harshest winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eClosely related to the popular Washingtonia robusta, the filifera brings the same striking, exotic silhouette to a border, courtyard or large container, and does it at a relatively affordable price. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-palms\"\u003ehardy palms\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e if you are building a wider exotic scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"18cm \/ 2.5L","offer_id":57907283427711,"sku":"WASHFILI18","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/filiferq.jpg?v=1784356821"},{"product_id":"tetrapanax-papyrifer","title":"Tetrapanax papyrifer","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTetrapanax papyrifer\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003erice paper plant\u003c\/strong\u003e, grows some of the largest leaves of any hardy exotic you can plant in a British garden. Each deeply lobed, palmate leaf can reach the size of a dustbin lid, held on tall stems to give an instant, prehistoric jungle canopy. If you want big, bold, tropical drama fast, this fast-growing architectural giant delivers it in a single season and is a cornerstone of the exotic border.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is genuinely hardy in much of the UK, rated RHS H3. In milder gardens it can hold its leaves as a semi-evergreen, while in a hard winter the top growth is usually knocked back by frost. That is completely normal for this plant: the roots are far tougher than the foliage and reliably resprout from the base in spring, often throwing up an even better clump. It also spreads by underground suckers, so it slowly forms a thicket, something to plan for and easy to curb with a root barrier if space is tight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e warm, sheltered, full sun to light shade. Shelter from wind keeps those huge leaves looking their best. Perfect for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any reasonable, free-draining chalk, loam or sand, enriched with organic matter for maximum leaf size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e fast-growing to around 4 to 8 m in ideal spots, though usually kept much lower in cultivation as the top is cut back over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e hardy roots (RHS H3), with top growth that may be frosted and resprout. Mulch the crown in cold gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater generously and feed in spring to fuel the biggest leaves, then ease off over winter. One important note: the fine hairs on new growth can irritate skin, eyes and airways, so wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when handling or cutting it back. Pair it with our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e for a lush jungle scheme, grow it as a specimen in a large container among your \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e, and read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide to see how it behaves through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Tetrapanax papyrifer we supply is nursery-grown, hand-selected for strong, healthy growth, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition ready to plant out or pot up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57907286245759,"sku":"TETRPAPY19","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-1068406942.jpg?v=1784496499"},{"product_id":"fatsia-polycarpa-green-fingers","title":"Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eFatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a refined, architectural evergreen shrub with large, deeply cut, hand-shaped leaves whose slender \"fingers\" are far more elegant than those of the familiar \u003cstrong\u003eFatsia japonica\u003c\/strong\u003e. Native to Taiwan, this relatively recent introduction has quickly become a favourite for bringing a lush, tropical look to a shady spot, giving structure and glossy, matt-green foliage where many exotic plants would sulk. If you want jungle style in a border that does not get much sun, this is one of the finest shrubs you can choose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is hardy in milder and coastal parts of the UK, rated RHS H3, which makes it slightly more tender than the common Fatsia japonica. In a sheltered garden it holds its handsome leaves as an evergreen through most winters, and in autumn and early winter it produces globe-shaped clusters of creamy-white flowers that are a valuable late source of nectar, followed by small black berries. In colder inland gardens, give it a sheltered position and fleece young plants in hard frost.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade, ideal for a north-facing or woodland-edge border. One of the best shrubs for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any moist but well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sand, enriched with organic matter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a manageable 2.5 to 4 m tall and 1.5 to 2.5 m wide over many years, staying fairly narrow and upright.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e hardy in milder gardens (RHS H3). Shelter and fleece young plants in cold, exposed spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep it evenly moist, especially while establishing, and it asks for very little else beyond a spring mulch and the odd tidy-up of tired leaves. Its bold foliage earns it a place among our favourite \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, it shines in a shady \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e, and it makes a superb structural specimen in a large container among your \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. As with all outdoor plants, do read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers' we supply is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a full, healthy shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition ready to plant out or pot up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57907288539519,"sku":"FATSPOLY17","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/polycarpa.jpg?v=1784332287"},{"product_id":"aeonium-tabuliforme-variegated","title":"Aeonium tabuliforme Variegated","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAeonium tabuliforme Variegated\u003c\/strong\u003e, the variegated \u003cstrong\u003edinner plate aeonium\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a remarkable succulent that grows as a perfectly flat, spiralling rosette held almost like a plate. The variegated form edges each fleshy leaf in soft cream and gold, making a living piece of natural geometry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is ideal for a bright patio pot, an alpine display or a sunny, sheltered spot on the terrace through summer. Like all aeoniums it is not frost hardy, so bring it under cover for winter and keep it on the dry side.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to bright light, sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining, gritty compost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a flat rosette to around 15 to 20 cm across\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e half hardy, protect from frost below about 5C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater sparingly and let the compost dry between waterings. Every plant is nursery grown and selected for a strong, well-formed rosette.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":57945296798079,"sku":"AEONTABUVAR11","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/tabuliforme.jpg?v=1784354082"},{"product_id":"aeonium-nigrum","title":"Aeonium nigrum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAeonium nigrum\u003c\/strong\u003e is a striking rosette succulent grown for its glossy, near-black foliage that deepens to a rich, dark burgundy in strong light. Each rosette sits on a slender stem, giving it a sculptural, almost architectural quality in a pot display.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt looks superb massed in terracotta or paired with silver-leaved plants on a sunny terrace. Not frost hardy, it is best enjoyed outdoors through the warmer months and brought under cover for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to bright light for the darkest colour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining, gritty compost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e rosettes to around 20 to 30 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e half hardy, protect from frost below about 5C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater sparingly and keep on the dry side over winter. Every plant is nursery grown and selected for strong, well-coloured rosettes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":57945306464639,"sku":"AEONNIG12","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_2c438b3b-b0d8-4614-87ad-adebc3c202cb.jpg?v=1783697883"},{"product_id":"zantedeschia-aethiopica-pink","title":"Zantedeschia aethiopica Pink","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZantedeschia aethiopica\u003c\/strong\u003e in its \u003cstrong\u003epink\u003c\/strong\u003e form is a beautiful twist on the classic calla or arum lily. Through summer it throws up elegant, sculptural blooms in soft blush tones above bold, glossy arrow-shaped leaves, bringing a lush, subtropical feel to borders, pots and pond margins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnusually among callas it is happy in damp ground and even shallow water, so it is perfect for a bog garden or the edge of a pond, as well as a moisture-retentive border in sun or partial shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e moist, humus-rich soil; happy in damp ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e around 60 to 90 cm tall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e borderline hardy, mulch the crown or lift in colder gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep reliably moist through the growing season and never let it dry out in growth. Every plant is nursery grown and selected for strong, healthy crowns.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57945306988927,"sku":"ZANTAETHPINK9","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/zandpink.jpg?v=1784905963"},{"product_id":"miscanthus-sinensis-strictus","title":"Miscanthus sinensis Strictus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiscanthus sinensis Strictus\u003c\/strong\u003e, known as porcupine grass, is a striking clump-forming deciduous grass whose stiff, erect green blades are banded horizontally with yellow and gold, like a row of porcupine quills. It is narrower and more upright than the better known zebra grass, Miscanthus 'Zebrinus', which makes it one of the most architectural ornamental grasses you can grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom late summer into autumn it throws up silvery-pink plumes that age gracefully to straw and stand right through winter, while the foliage turns gold then straw before dying back. Fully hardy and drought-tolerant once established, it holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and asks for very little in return. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e to build a planting that keeps its structure across the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for the strongest banding and plumes; it will take light partial shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any reasonable soil including chalk and clay, ideally moist but well-drained.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reaches around 1.8 to 2.5m tall and about 0.5m wide, forming a tidy upright clump.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy in the UK (RHS H6); see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for how it behaves through the year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater through the first summer to help it establish, then cut all the old growth to the ground in late winter or early spring before the new shoots appear. Its stiff, columnar habit makes this architectural ornamental grass a natural specimen plant, a living screen, or a backbone for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e schemes. It is equally happy in gravel gardens and, being tough and wind-firm, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal plantings\u003c\/a\u003e, where a run of it also earns its place among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreening plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery plant is nursery grown and hand selected here at Grow Tropicals, so your porcupine grass arrives strong, healthy and ready to make an impact.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57952972243327,"sku":"MISCSTRI17","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/strictus.jpg?v=1784329940"},{"product_id":"miscanthus-giganteus","title":"Miscanthus x giganteus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiscanthus x giganteus\u003c\/strong\u003e, the giant elephant grass, is one of the fastest and most dramatic hardy grasses you can plant. This giant clump-forming deciduous grass powers up from a young plant to well over head height in a single season, throwing up arching, bamboo-like green foliage for instant structure and screening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it is a sterile hybrid, giant miscanthus does not set seed and is not invasive, so it stays as a tidy, well-behaved clump rather than running. It rarely flowers in the UK, but it earns its place on foliage alone. Fully hardy, it dies back over winter and reshoots strongly each spring, making it a reliable long-term performer among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for the tallest, strongest growth, with light partial shade tolerated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Most reasonable soils, ideally moist but well-drained.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5m tall in a single season, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e2.5 to 3.5m in 2-3 years so give it room to reach full size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H5). See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eguide to what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e from deciduous exotics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first season to fuel that rapid growth, then it is largely self-reliant. Cut all the old canes to the ground in early spring before new shoots appear. Long-lived and reliable, a single plant will crop and grow well for 15 to 20 years or more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElephant grass makes a quick, cheap and hardy screening grass, a genuine alternative to bamboo for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreening and privacy\u003c\/a\u003e, and its bold vertical habit brings real presence to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e planting and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e. Tough and wind-firm, it also stands up well in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupplied as a young plant that grows away rapidly, grown to the nursery quality you expect from Grow Tropicals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57952972865919,"sku":"MISCGIG17","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2250532865.jpg?v=1784331014"},{"product_id":"mahonia-x-media-winter-sun","title":"Mahonia x media Winter Sun","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMahonia x media 'Winter Sun'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bold, architectural \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003eevergreen shrub\u003c\/a\u003e grown for its holly-like, glossy dark green spiny leaves and its long, slender racemes of bright yellow flowers. Also known as Oregon grape, this \u003cstrong\u003eMahonia Winter Sun\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the finest structural shrubs you can plant for winter interest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom November to March the plant carries fragrant yellow flowers with a soft lily-of-the-valley scent, followed by clusters of blue-black berries. As a \u003cstrong\u003efragrant winter shrub\u003c\/strong\u003e it provides vital winter nectar for bees, while the berries feed birds later in the season, making it a real asset for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ewildlife and pollinator garden\u003c\/a\u003e. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its reliability and year-round presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy across the UK, Winter Sun is happiest in partial or full shade, which makes it an excellent \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eevergreen shrub for shade\u003c\/a\u003e and a natural anchor in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e. Expect it to reach around 3 to 4m in time with an upright, columnar habit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Partial or full shade; tolerates full sun where the soil stays reliably moist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. Very adaptable, including chalk and clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Around 3 to 4m tall and 2 to 2.5m wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy (RHS H5), evergreen through winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first year or two to establish, then prune after flowering to keep the plant bushy. For more on how these plants behave across the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits perfectly within our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant is nursery grown and hand selected by our team for strong roots and healthy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57952985481599,"sku":"MAHOWINTSUN17","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/wintersun.jpg?v=1784331929"},{"product_id":"ginkgo-biloba","title":"Ginkgo biloba","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGinkgo biloba\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003emaidenhair tree\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most remarkable trees you can grow. A true living fossil tree, it is the sole survivor of an ancient lineage that stretches back around 200 million years, essentially unchanged since the age of the dinosaurs. Its distinctive fan-shaped leaves are unlike anything else in the garden, and in autumn they turn a brilliant butter-gold before often dropping together within a few days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTough, adaptable and fully hardy, Ginkgo is a superb \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e tree for UK gardens. It shrugs off cold, pollution and city conditions, making it one of the most reliable hardy ornamental trees you can plant. As one of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, it delivers a striking, almost prehistoric character while asking very little in return. For a sense of how it settles in through the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for the best growth and golden autumn colour; tolerates light partial shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any reasonable, moist but well-drained soil across the pH range. Very adaptable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow to moderate growth, eventually a large tree of 8 to 25m over many decades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H7).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first few summers to establish, after which it is largely self-reliant and needs little pruning. Ginkgo makes a superb specimen tree, and its slow growth makes it a fine subject for a large pot or as bonsai for many years. It also earns its place in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e and, being wind and pollution tolerant, copes well in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed\u003c\/a\u003e planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSupplied as a young tree. We offer male or seedling trees, which avoid the strong-smelling fruit produced by mature female Ginkgo, so you get all of the beauty and none of the smell.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"20cm \/ 3.5L","offer_id":57952988594559,"sku":"GINKBILO20","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/ginko-2.jpg?v=1784330525"},{"product_id":"aeonium-schwarzkopf","title":"Aeonium Schwarzkopf","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAeonium Schwarzkopf\u003c\/strong\u003e (also sold as Aeonium Zwartkop, the black rose) is one of the most dramatic succulents you can grow. Large glossy rosettes of near-black, dark purple leaves sit on branching stems, and the colour deepens to its darkest in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a striking architectural succulent for a sunny patio. Mature rosettes send up tall cones of cheerful yellow flowers in spring, and the plant holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit for its garden performance. Grow it as the centrepiece of a container display or a hot, dry planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot frost hardy.\u003c\/strong\u003e Aeonium Schwarzkopf is a tender succulent, so grow it outside for the summer, then bring it under cover to a bright, frost-free spot over winter. Keep it almost dry through the cold months and water sparingly while it is in growth. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal care.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the darkest foliage; light shade is tolerated but the leaves green up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e sharply drained, gritty compost that never stays wet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a branching plant to around 0.6 to 1m tall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e tender (RHS H2); protect from frost over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis black rose succulent is perfect for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e, where its form can be shown off and it is easy to move under cover for winter. It also earns its place among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel plantings\u003c\/a\u003e, and thrives in warm \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e with sharp drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e to build a bold, low-water display. Every plant is nursery grown and hand selected for quality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":57952994001279,"sku":"AEONSCHW12","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/schwarf.jpg?v=1784331175"},{"product_id":"fatsia-japonica","title":"Fatsia japonica","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatsia japonica\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Japanese aralia, is a bold evergreen shrub whose large, glossy, hand-shaped leaves bring instant jungle structure to a shady corner. Few plants deliver this much tropical presence while being fully hardy, which makes it a cornerstone of any \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotic\u003c\/a\u003e planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy across the UK (RHS H5), it holds its handsome foliage right through winter. In autumn it sends up creamy drumstick flower heads that are a valuable late nectar source for bees and other pollinators, followed by clusters of black berries that birds enjoy. For a sense of how it changes through the year, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e from hardy exotics.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thrives in shade, including dry shade, and is one of the best plants for a difficult \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshady spot\u003c\/a\u003e. It tolerates sun where the soil stays reliably moist, and is happiest sheltered from cold drying winds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e A rounded shrub reaching around 1.5 to 2.5m tall and wide over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy evergreen (RHS H5).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts architectural leaves make it superb for adding \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e to a shady border, and being the perfect evergreen shrub for shade it is equally at home as a specimen in a large pot on a shaded patio, so it works beautifully in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e. Plant it toward the back of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e for a lush, layered, tropical look.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn RHS Award of Garden Merit plant, supplied as a strong, nursery-grown specimen ready to bring evergreen structure to your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57955615998335,"sku":"FATSJAP17","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/fatsia.jpg?v=1784905333"},{"product_id":"sciadopitys-verticillata","title":"Sciadopitys verticillata","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSciadopitys verticillata\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese umbrella pine\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most distinctive conifers you can grow. A true \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural conifer\u003c\/a\u003e, it is a living fossil conifer and the sole survivor of an ancient plant family that once spread across the northern hemisphere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts glossy, deep green needles are arranged in whorls like the spokes of an umbrella, giving a soft yet structural texture found in no other tree. Growth is slow and neatly conical, and over many decades it becomes a substantial specimen tree standing several metres tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to partial shade in a sheltered spot, away from cold drying winds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist but well-drained and ideally lime-free; it dislikes dry or shallow chalk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow-growing, eventually a conical tree of several metres over many years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H6).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFully hardy and evergreen, it holds its rich colour right through winter. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics, what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal detail. It sits beautifully among other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e and makes a superb focal point in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause this Japanese umbrella pine is so slow and neatly shaped, it is also excellent as a container plant, thriving for years in a large pot on a terrace or by a doorway; browse more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e to pair with it. A holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, Sciadopitys verticillata is a collector's conifer grown to true nursery quality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57955637756287,"sku":"SCIAVERT19","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/pine.jpg?v=1784328961"},{"product_id":"sophora-prostrata-little-baby","title":"Sophora Little Baby","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSophora prostrata 'Little Baby' is a compact \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural New Zealand shrub\u003c\/a\u003e, better known as the dwarf kowhai.\u003c\/strong\u003e Its wiry, interlacing, zig-zag stems and tiny leaves build up into a living sculpture, giving year round structure in a pot or border.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a borderline hardy plant (RHS H4), so it is happiest in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot. In hard winters give young plants some protection, or grow it in a container you can move to shelter. On mature plants, small tubular yellow flowers appear in spring. For a sense of how these plants change through the year, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun in a sheltered position for the tightest, most characterful growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Free-draining soil or a gritty, loam based compost. Avoid cold, wet ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e A slow, compact shrub reaching around 1 to 2m over many years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Borderline hardy (H4); protect in hard winters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnce established it is tough and wind tolerant, coping well with \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed\u003c\/a\u003e sites. Its sculptural habit makes it a superb specimen for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e or a gravel garden, and it sits beautifully alongside the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant is nursery grown and hand selected before it leaves us, so you receive a strong, well rooted Sophora prostrata Little Baby ready to settle in.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57955669967231,"sku":"SOPHLITBAB9","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/sophora-2.jpg?v=1784905810"},{"product_id":"livistona-chinensis","title":"Livistona chinensis","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLivistona chinensis\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Chinese fan palm (also sold as the fountain palm), is an elegant fan palm with large, glossy, circular fronds whose tips droop gracefully like a fountain, giving a lush, tropical look to any warm corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRated RHS H3 (half-hardy), the Chinese fan palm is happiest grown in a pot outdoors from late spring through to autumn, then moved somewhere bright and frost-free, such as a conservatory, porch or cool greenhouse, for the winter. Protecting it from frost is the single most important thing you can do to keep it looking its best year after year. For more on seasonal expectations, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to partial shade on a warm, sheltered patio.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e A free-draining, loam-based compost in a generous container. Browse more of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e A slow-growing statement palm reaching a few metres over many years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Half-hardy (H3). Move it under cover before the first frosts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a patio palm, Livistona chinensis makes a superb statement, bringing bold \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e to decks, doorways and courtyard gardens through the warmer months. Its fan-shaped fronds also suit \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed\u003c\/a\u003e planting schemes when given a sheltered, sunny spot for the summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range to build a lush, jungle feel, and always bring this tender fountain palm back indoors to a frost-free room each winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown and hand-selected to nursery quality by the Grow Tropicals team.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"24cm \/ 6L","offer_id":57955670393215,"sku":"LIVICHIN24","price":82.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/livingstonia.jpg?v=1784331819"},{"product_id":"cortaderia-selloana-pumila","title":"Cortaderia selloana Pumila","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCortaderia selloana Pumila\u003c\/strong\u003e is the compact form of pampas grass, a fountain of arching green blades topped in late summer and autumn with bold, creamy, feathery plumes that stand right through winter. This dwarf pampas grass reaches only about 1.2 to 1.5m, far more garden-sized than the full-size species, making it one of the most useful architectural ornamental grasses for a modern exotic planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFully hardy to RHS H5, it loves full sun and copes happily with coastal exposure and most soils, so it earns a place in almost any of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. The upright plumes give strong vertical structure and shrug off wind, which is why it works so well in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e as well as sheltered borders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for the best plumes, tolerating a little light shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Most soils including chalk and clay, ideally moist but well-drained.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Around 1.2 to 1.5m tall in plume and roughly 1 to 1.2m across.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy across the UK (H5).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a superb architectural specimen it shines in gravel gardens, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e and in large pots, so it sits comfortably among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. The leaf edges are sharp, so wear gloves to comb out old growth in spring. This form holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit, a mark of reliable garden performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a picture of how hardy exotics settle in through the seasons, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide. Every plant is nursery grown and hand selected for quality before it leaves us.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57955684974975,"sku":"CORTPUMI17","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-1285163924.jpg?v=1784905688"},{"product_id":"astelia-chathamica-silver-spear","title":"Astelia chathamica Silver Spear","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAstelia chathamica\u003c\/strong\u003e, widely known as \u003cstrong\u003eSilver Spear\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most striking architectural evergreens you can grow, forming a bold fountain of broad, arching, silvery metallic sword-like leaves that catch the light from right across the garden. Native to the wind-swept Chatham Islands of New Zealand, it brings cool, shimmering structure to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e plantings, gravel schemes and large containers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown for its year-round presence, Silver Spear holds its metallic silver rosette through every season. It is rated RHS H3 and is reliably hardy in mild and coastal areas, where it shrugs off salt-laden wind and makes a superb specimen. In colder inland gardens it is worth planting in a sheltered spot with sharp drainage and applying a dry winter mulch to protect the crown through prolonged hard frosts. For a fuller picture of how hardy exotics behave across the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade, with the brightest silver colour developing in an open, sunny spot sheltered from cold, drying winds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any humus-rich, free-draining soil, as sharp drainage in winter matters more than anything else.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a slow, clump-forming habit reaching around 1.2 to 1.5 m tall and up to around 1 m across over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e hardy in mild and coastal gardens, worth shelter or a dry winter mulch in colder inland spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to settle the roots, after which Silver Spear is impressively tolerant of dry spells and exposure. Its silvery tones make it a natural partner for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e, dry and gravel gardens and bold \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, while its compact, non-invasive habit makes it one of the best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e and courtyard containers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA first-class choice for anyone building a collection of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, every Silver Spear we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy, well-coloured rosette and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57969806705023,"sku":"ASTECHATSILV19","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/astelia.jpg?v=1784328463"},{"product_id":"eryngium-agavifolium","title":"Eryngium agavifolium","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eEryngium agavifolium\u003c\/strong\u003e, or \u003cstrong\u003eagave-leaved sea holly\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most striking architectural perennials you can grow for a hot, sunny border. It forms a bold evergreen rosette of long, sword-shaped leaves edged with sharp, agave-like teeth, and in summer it sends up branched stems topped with cylindrical, greenish-white thimble flowerheads. The effect is pure structure, a fountain of spiky foliage crowned by cool green cones that hold for weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to Argentina and rated RHS H4, it is hardy across most of the UK, shrugging off temperatures to around -10C once established given sharp drainage. Because the rosette is evergreen it earns its place all year, keeping form through winter when so much of the border has died back. It is a natural partner for other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e and looks especially at home threaded through \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the tightest rosette and strongest flower stems, in either exposed or sheltered sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any sharply drained soil, from chalk to sand, across the full pH range, since standing winter moisture is what it least tolerates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e reaching around 1.5 m tall in flower with a compact 0.6 m spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e hardy across most of the UK, asking only for sharp drainage to shrug off frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWonderfully drought tolerant once settled, it thrives on poor, free-draining ground where fussier plants struggle, making it a star of gravel schemes and one of our favourite \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e. Its green summer cones are magnets for bees and hoverflies, so it sits happily among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e, while its emphatic silhouette makes it a keystone of any \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a sense of how this evergreen perennial shifts with the seasons, see our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57969806770559,"sku":"ERYNAGAV17","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/agavifolium.jpg?v=1784904798"},{"product_id":"geranium-maderense","title":"Geranium maderense | Giant Herb-Robert","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eGeranium maderense\u003c\/strong\u003e, widely known as the \u003cstrong\u003egiant herb Robert\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eMadeira cranesbill\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most theatrical hardy exotics you can grow. From a short, stout trunk it builds a spectacular architectural rosette of huge, finely cut palmate leaves, then erupts into a vast dome of magenta-pink flowers that can smother the whole plant. Native to the island of Madeira, it is the giant of the geranium world and a true focal point for a warm, sheltered corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a statuesque, short-lived exotic best understood as a biennial or monocarpic perennial. It spends its first year or two building that bold evergreen rosette, flowers gloriously in late spring and early summer, then sets seed and fades, leaving a scatter of self-sown seedlings to carry on. Rated RHS H3, it is happiest in the mildest, most sheltered gardens and coastal spots, where it can be grown outdoors year round with winter protection in colder areas. Explore more of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotic plants\u003c\/a\u003e to build a scheme around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade in a warm, sheltered spot, and it also copes with coastal exposure in mild areas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, free-draining soil, from chalk to clay, loam or sand, across the full pH range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a bold rosette reaching around 1 to 1.5 m tall and wide when in full flower.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H3, so protect the crown over winter and give it your warmest position.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts architectural presence makes it a natural focal point in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e planting and lush \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, while its manageable size suits a large pot on a sheltered patio, so browse our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e. The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and other pollinators, earning it a place among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e too. For a realistic picture of how tender exotics behave through the seasons, read \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics: what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Geranium maderense we supply is nursery grown and carefully selected for a strong, healthy rosette, then packed with care to arrive in superb condition and ready to become the star of your exotic planting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57973064597887,"sku":"GERAMADE19","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2284737468.jpg?v=1784327590"},{"product_id":"canna-indica-cannova-rose","title":"Canna indica Cannova Rose","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCanna indica 'Cannova F1 Rose'\u003c\/strong\u003e, also known as the \u003cstrong\u003eIndian Shot\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a bold, tropical-look perennial that brings jungle drama to sunny British borders and pots. Lush, upright, paddle-shaped green leaves make a strong architectural backdrop for a long summer show of large, rose-pink flowers that keep coming from midsummer right through into autumn. It is one of the easiest ways to add real exotic colour and a sun-soaked, tropical feel to a UK garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCanna is a tender rhizome, rated RHS H3, so a little winter care makes all the difference. Over winter, chill and wet together are what to fear: rhizomes left in cold, waterlogged ground will rot away long before a dry frost could touch them. Keep them from stewing in cold, sodden soil by either lifting and storing them dry once frost blackens the foliage, or by mulching very deeply over sharp, free-draining ground. In milder, coastal and sheltered gardens it can often stay in the soil year on year with this protection. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics, what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for how tender exotics behave through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the best flowering, tolerating light partial shade, in a warm, sheltered, south or west facing spot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, moist but well-drained loam or sandy soil across the full pH range, with free drainage the priority over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e reaches roughly 0.75 to 1 m tall and up to 0.5 m across, a neat, upright, clump-forming habit for borders and large containers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H3, so lift and store the rhizomes dry, or mulch deeply over sharp drainage, keeping them clear of the cold, sodden ground that rots them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater freely through the first summer and feed monthly to power the lush growth, deadheading spent spikes to keep the flowers flowing. The nectar-rich blooms are loved by bees and butterflies, so it earns a place in any \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinator planting\u003c\/a\u003e. Use it as a fiery centrepiece in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, as instant height and drama in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e on a warm patio, or among the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e for a full tropical scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Canna we supply is nursery-grown and carefully selected for a healthy, well-rooted rhizome, packed with care to arrive in top condition and ready to romp away in its first season.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57974333014399,"sku":"CANNCANNROSE17","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/cannovarose.jpg?v=1785512405"}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/architectural-foliage.oembed?page=2","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}