Plants for Tropical & Exotic Borders

How to plant an exotic border in the UK

An exotic border is about contrast: big paddle leaves of a Musa basjoo against the fine texture of a Fargesia; the fibrous trunk of a Trachycarpus rising above low mounds of hardy fern. The formula that works reliably in the UK is: one or two structural anchors (palm, tree fern or banana), a mid-layer of clumping bamboo or architectural grasses, a ground layer of hardy ferns and Fatsia for shade or Agave and low-growing succulents for sun. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

Care essentials for exotic borders

• Position: Ideally sheltered from wind, particularly the east and north. A south or west-facing border against a warm wall performs best.
• Soil: Deep, rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained. Exotic borders reward heavy soil improvement at planting.
• Layering: Aim for three vertical layers: 2 to 4 metre anchor specimens, a mid-layer of 1 to 2 metre plants, and ground-cover foliage below 50 cm. This is what reads as jungle.
• Feeding: Big leaves need feeding. Apply a general-purpose fertiliser monthly through summer and mulch generously with garden compost each spring.
• Winter care: Wrap tender pseudostems on bananas and protect the crowns of tree ferns. Everything else typically looks after itself.

Explore the exotic border range

Build your exotic border from hardy palms, hardy bananas, tree ferns, hardy bamboo and architectural foliage. See the full Hardy Exotics range for companions.