{"title":"Architectural Focal Point Plants","description":"\u003cp\u003eBold, sculptural plants with strong shapes and foliage to use as focal points and year-round structure.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"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","offer_id":41648540188716,"sku":"FATSJAPOSPIDWEB19","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"12cm","offer_id":42199237165100,"sku":"FATSJAPOSPIDWEB12","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/hkclyp-11.jpg?v=1701450165"},{"product_id":"trachycarpus-fortunei","title":"Trachycarpus fortunei","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003eChusan palm\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003ewindmill palm\u003c\/strong\u003e, is the definitive hardy palm for British gardens and the cornerstone of any exotic planting scheme. Instantly recognisable by its bold, fan-shaped fronds radiating from a slender trunk clothed in coarse, hessian-like fibre, it brings an unmistakable tropical silhouette to a climate where few true palms survive. This is the plant that lets you create a Mediterranean or jungle feel without leaving the resilience of a fully garden-hardy species behind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat makes \u003cstrong\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/strong\u003e so prized in the UK is its remarkable cold tolerance. Rated RHS H5, it shrugs off temperatures down to around -15C once established, making it one of the few palms that genuinely thrives outdoors year-round across most of the country. It is evergreen, so the architectural canopy of glossy green fans holds firm through winter, and mature specimens even produce arching sprays of small yellow flowers in early summer followed by blue-black fruits.\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, ideally sheltered from cold, drying winds that can tatter the leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, free-draining soil, from chalk to clay, across the full pH range, drainage matters most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slow-growing to an eventual 3-10 m, so it stays in proportion for many years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e reliably hardy in the UK, with young crowns worth fleecing in severe frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to establish a strong root system, after which it becomes impressively drought-tolerant. An annual spring mulch and a balanced feed keep the fronds lush and the growth steady. It is equally at home in a large patio container for several seasons, making it a flexible choice for courtyards and smaller plots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you are searching for \u003cstrong\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei UK\u003c\/strong\u003e stock or simply the best hardy palm for a focal point, this RHS Award of Garden Merit winner delivers timeless exotic structure. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy crown and strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"21cm","offer_id":57810283037055,"sku":"TRACHFORTU21","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"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","offer_id":57810283463039,"sku":"COLOBLACKMAGIC11","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"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","offer_id":57810283725183,"sku":"MUSAEVERRED15","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"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","offer_id":57810283757951,"sku":"ENSEMAUR15","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/architectural-plants.oembed","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}