Hardy Exotic Shrubs


Hardy exotic shrubs for UK gardens: evergreen structure, dramatic foliage and reliable year-round presence. Eucalyptus, Nandina, Ficus, Catalpa and other tough shrubs chosen for exotic character in a British border, courtyard or container.

121 products

    121 products
    Schefflera taiwaniana | Heptapleurum taiwanianum 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Taiwanese Umbrella Tree (Hardy Schefflera)

    Schefflera taiwaniana | Heptapleurum taiwanianum

    £39.99
    1
    Variegated Meyer Lemon 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Variegated Meyer Lemon

    Variegated Meyer Lemon

    £12.99£14.99Save 13%
    1
    Sophora Little Baby 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Dwarf Kowhai, Little Baby

    Sophora Little Baby

    £11.79£13.99Save 15%
    1
    Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Taiwanese Fatsia (Green Fingers Fatsia)

    Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers'

    £16.99£17.99Save 5%
    1
    Punica granatum (Pomegranate) 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Pomegranate

    Punica granatum (Pomegranate)

    £13.99£16.99Save 17%
    1
    Pseudopanax 'Cyril Watson' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Cyril Watson Pseudopanax

    Pseudopanax 'Cyril Watson'

    £24.99
    1
    Acer shirasawanum 'Moonrise' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Full Moon Maple (Shirasawa Maple)

    Acer shirasawanum 'Moonrise'

    £42.49£49.99Save 15%
    1
    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    False Spiraea

    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'

    £15.99£18.99Save 15%
    1
    Muehlenbeckia astonii 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Shrubby Tororaro

    Muehlenbeckia astonii

    £19.99
    1
    Albizia julibrissin 'Tropical Dream' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Silk tree

    Albizia julibrissin 'Tropical Dream'

    £25.49£29.99Save 15%
    1
    Jasminum nudiflorum 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Winter Jasmine

    Jasminum nudiflorum

    £13.99£16.99Save 17%
    1
    Sparmannia africana Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    African Hemp (House Lime)

    Sparmannia africana

    £23.49£24.99Save 6%
    1
    Pseudowintera colorata 'Marjorie Congreve' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Horopito (NZ Pepper Tree)

    Pseudowintera colorata 'Marjorie Congreve'

    £9.99
    1
    Chaenomeles cathayensis Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Chinese Quince

    Chaenomeles cathayensis

    £11.99
    1
    Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Sweet Box

    Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

    £16.99£19.99Save 15%
    1
    Pleroma foveolatum 'Blue Moon' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Glory Bush 'Blue Moon'

    Pleroma foveolatum 'Blue Moon'

    £22.99
    1
    Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Golden Indian Bean Tree

    Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'

    £45.99
    1
    Leucadendron 'Mrs Stanley' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Conebush 'Mrs Stanley'

    Leucadendron 'Mrs Stanley'

    £14.99
    1
    Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Soft-leaved Mahonia (Oregon Grape)

    Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor'

    £29.49£34.99Save 15%
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Duc de Brabant' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rose of Sharon 'Duc de Brabant'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Duc de Brabant'

    £10.49£11.99Save 12%
    1
    Cinnamomum camphora Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Camphor Tree

    Cinnamomum camphora

    £39.99
    1
    Loropetalum Fire Dance Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Chinese Fringe Flower, Fire Dance

    Loropetalum Fire Dance

    £6.99
    1
    Sarcococca confusa 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Sweet Box, Christmas Box

    Sarcococca confusa

    £14.99£16.99Save 11%
    1
    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Black Lace Elder 'Eva' PBR

    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

    £16.99
    1
    Corokia cotoneaster Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Wire-netting bush

    Corokia cotoneaster

    £9.29£9.99Save 7%
    1
    Albizia julibrissin 'Ombrella' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Silk Tree (Persian Silk Tree)

    Albizia julibrissin 'Ombrella'

    £24.99
    1
    Lonicera crassifolia 'Little Honey' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Creeping honeysuckle

    Lonicera crassifolia 'Little Honey'

    £13.29£14.99Save 11%
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Rose of Sharon 'Red Heart'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart'

    £11.99
    1
    Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dwarf Japanese pittosporum

    Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum'

    £6.99
    1
    Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Upright Japanese Plum Yew

    Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata'

    £27.99
    1
    Callistemon salignus 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    White Bottlebrush

    Callistemon salignus

    £17.49
    1
    Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Purple Japanese Maple

    Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'

    £15.99
    1
    Mahonia leptodonta Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Fine-toothed Mahonia

    Mahonia leptodonta

    £28.99
    1
    Grevillea juniperina 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Juniper-leaved Grevillea

    Grevillea juniperina

    £19.99
    1
    Hydrangea aspera 'Hot Chocolate' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Velvet Hydrangea 'Hot Chocolate'

    Hydrangea aspera 'Hot Chocolate'

    £22.99
    1
    Feijoa sellowiana 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Pineapple Guava (Feijoa)

    Feijoa sellowiana

    £35.99
    1
    Mahonia x media Winter Sun Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Oregon Grape, Winter Sun

    Mahonia x media Winter Sun

    £15.99£16.99Save 5%
    1
    Franklinia alatamaha Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Franklin Tree

    Franklinia alatamaha

    £49.99
    1
    Pleroma foveolatum 'Purple Moon' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Glory Bush 'Purple Moon'

    Pleroma foveolatum 'Purple Moon'

    £22.99
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Hardy Exotic Shrubs

    What are hardy exotic shrubs?

    Shrubs are the workhorses of a garden: multi-stemmed, long-lived, and structural in a way perennials rarely are. The hardy exotic ones bring that structure with a tropical or sub-tropical accent. Nandina domestica gives fine-textured evergreen foliage with red seasonal flushes. Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura' offers silver-blue rounded juvenile leaves and glaucous stems. Deciduous Catalpa 'Purpurea' and Albizia 'Summer Chocolate' contribute dark-purple canopies through summer. Together they build a shrub layer that looks nothing like a standard UK border, and they do it year after year with almost no maintenance. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for hardy exotic shrubs

    • Position: Species-specific. Nandina and Eucalyptus want full sun. Catalpa colours best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. Check the individual product page.
    • Soil: Most hardy exotic shrubs want moist but well-drained soil enriched with compost at planting. Avoid waterlogged heavy clay in winter.
    • Hardiness: Individual RHS bands per product. Most stocked here are H4 to H5 (fully hardy across most of the UK). Eucalyptus is faster to establish than to overwinter as a young plant.
    • Pruning: Deciduous shrubs like Catalpa and Albizia respond well to a hard spring cut-back for larger leaves. Evergreens are best only lightly shaped; heavy pruning stresses them.
    • Watering: Water in deeply through the first two summers. Established shrubs in the ground rarely need watering. Container shrubs need regular water year-round.

    Explore the hardy exotic shrub range

    Combine hardy exotic shrubs with architectural foliage for structural focal points, exotic border plants for a jungle scheme, screening plants for privacy, and plants for pots for balcony and patio use. See the full Hardy Exotics range for companions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Exotic shrubs are woody plants grown for their bold, often evergreen foliage and lush, tropical look, while still being tough enough for the UK climate. They give a garden structure and a faraway feel all year round.

    Compact evergreen shrubs in pots are ideal for patios, balconies and courtyards, keeping their leaves and shape through winter so a small space never looks bare. Choose a variety whose final size suits the spot.

    The shrubs in this collection are chosen to grow outdoors in the UK, and each is labelled with its hardiness rating. The more tender types simply appreciate a sheltered position or some winter protection in colder gardens.

    Yes, many evergreen and exotic shrubs grow well in large containers for years, making excellent patio and balcony plants. Use a loam-based compost, water through summer, and feed and topdress in spring.

    Most need only light pruning to keep their shape, usually after flowering or in spring. Evergreen shrubs generally want the minimum, just removing any dead, damaged or wayward growth to keep them looking neat.

    Exotic and evergreen shrubs for year-round structure

    Shrubs are the framework of a garden, and exotic shrubs give that framework a lush, faraway feel. With bold or glossy evergreen foliage and a solid, dependable presence, they hold a garden together through every season and make a green backdrop for showier plants. This collection brings together hardy exotic and evergreen shrubs chosen to thrive outdoors in the UK.

    Shrubs for pots, patios and small gardens

    A good evergreen shrub in a pot is one of the most useful things you can own. It gives year-round greenery by a door, frames a patio, or screens a corner of a balcony, all with very little fuss. Because shrubs keep their shape and leaves through winter, they stop a small space from looking bare in the colder months.

    Structure and screening in a border

    In a border, exotic shrubs provide the bones. Use them to anchor a planting scheme, create evergreen screening for privacy, or give height and substance behind perennials and grasses. A few well-placed shrubs are what make a garden feel full and established rather than flat.

    Planting and care

    Plant in spring or autumn into soil improved with organic matter, water well through the first year, and mulch in spring. Most exotic shrubs need only light pruning to shape them, and evergreen types simply want the odd tidy. Check the hardiness and light needs on each plant to match it to your spot.