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
    Acacia boormanii 13cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Snowy River Wattle

    Acacia boormanii

    £19.99
    1
    Daphne laureola subsp. philippi Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dwarf Spurge Laurel

    Daphne laureola subsp. philippi

    £32.99
    1
    Distylium racemosum 'Blue Cascade' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Blue Cascade Distylium

    Distylium racemosum 'Blue Cascade'

    £21.99
    1
    Tamarix tetrandra 17cm / 2L (Collection Only) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Tamarisk (Spring-flowering)

    Tamarix tetrandra

    £16.99
    1
    Abutilon 'Kentish Belle' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Hardy Abutilon 'Kentish Belle'

    Abutilon 'Kentish Belle'

    £17.99
    1
    Abutilon 'Patrick Synge' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Hardy Abutilon 'Patrick Synge'

    Abutilon 'Patrick Synge'

    £17.99
    1
    Aucuba japonica f. longifolia 'Salicifolia' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Willow-leaved Aucuba

    Aucuba japonica f. longifolia 'Salicifolia'

    £33.99
    1
    Banksia integrifolia 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Coast Banksia

    Banksia integrifolia

    £16.99
    1
    Callistemon citrinus violaceus 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Purple Bottlebrush

    Callistemon citrinus violaceus

    £29.99
    1
    Callistemon pallidus 'Bianco' 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Lemon Bottlebrush 'Bianco'

    Callistemon pallidus 'Bianco'

    £29.99
    1
    Melaleuca bracteata 'Sunglow' 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Golden Black Tea-Tree

    Melaleuca bracteata 'Sunglow'

    £35.99
    1
    Dichroa daimingshanensis 'Guiz 48' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Evergreen Hydrangea

    Dichroa daimingshanensis 'Guiz 48'

    £26.99
    1
    Cestrum fasciculatum 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Red Cestrum

    Cestrum fasciculatum

    £18.99
    1
    Sarcococca saligna (Willow-leaf Sweet Box) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Willow-leaf Sweet Box

    Sarcococca saligna (Willow-leaf Sweet Box)

    £19.29£22.99Save 16%
    1
    Magnolia laevifolia 'Honey Velvet' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Fairy Magnolia 'Honey Velvet'

    Magnolia laevifolia 'Honey Velvet'

    £24.99
    1
    Diosma hirsuta 'Pink Fountain' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Confetti Bush (Breath of Heaven)

    Diosma hirsuta 'Pink Fountain'

    £16.99
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rose of Sharon 'Speciosus'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus'

    £10.49£11.99Save 12%
    1
    Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Photinia Red Robin

    Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin'

    £15.99
    1
    Photinia × fraseri 'Carré Rouge' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Photinia Carré Rouge

    Photinia × fraseri 'Carré Rouge'

    £15.99
    1
    Coprosma repens 'Eclipse' 12cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Mirror Plant

    Coprosma repens 'Eclipse'

    £8.49£9.99Save 15%
    1
    Griselinia littoralis 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Kapuka (New Zealand Broadleaf)

    Griselinia littoralis

    £6.99
    1
    Fatsia japonica 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Japanese Aralia, Paper Plant

    Fatsia japonica

    £14.99£17.99Save 16%
    1
    Nandina domestica 'Obsessed' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Heavenly Bamboo 'Obsessed'

    Nandina domestica 'Obsessed'

    £16.99£19.99Save 15%
    1
    Cercis canadensis 'Merlot' 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Merlot Redbud (Eastern Redbud)

    Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'

    £49.29£54.99Save 10%
    1
    Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Smoke Bush 'Royal Purple'

    Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

    £20.29£23.99Save 15%
    1
    Ficus afghanistanica 'Silver Lyre' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Afghan fig 'Silver Lyre'

    Ficus afghanistanica 'Silver Lyre'

    £19.49£21.99Save 11%
    1
    Citrus trifoliata | Poncirus trifoliata 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Hardy orange

    Citrus trifoliata | Poncirus trifoliata

    £32.29£35.99Save 10%
    1
    Acer palmatum 'Black Lace' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Black Japanese Maple 'Black Lace'

    Acer palmatum 'Black Lace'

    £42.99
    1
    Acer palmatum 'Bi Hoo' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Yellow Bark Japanese Maple 'Bi Hoo'

    Acer palmatum 'Bi Hoo'

    £33.99£39.99Save 15%
    1
    Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Pink Japanese Maple 'Beni-maiko'

    Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko'

    £14.99£16.99Save 11%
    1
    Mahonia eurybracteata 'Volcano' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Oregon Grape

    Mahonia eurybracteata 'Volcano'

    £29.49£34.99Save 15%
    1
    Catalpa erubescens 'Purpurea' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Purple Indian Bean Tree

    Catalpa erubescens 'Purpurea'

    £44.99£52.99Save 15%
    1
    Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Oregon Grape

    Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)

    £16.99£19.99Save 15%
    1
    Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Banana shrub

    Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby'

    £42.49£49.99Save 15%
    1
    Mahonia x media 'Charity' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Winter-Flowering Mahonia 'Charity'

    Mahonia x media 'Charity'

    £19.99
    1
    Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Cider Gum 'Azura'

    Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura'

    £27.99
    1
    Viburnum davidii 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    David Viburnum

    Viburnum davidii

    £13.99£16.99Save 17%
    1
    Prostanthera cuneata 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Alpine Mint Bush

    Prostanthera cuneata

    £16.99£19.99Save 15%
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Admiral Dewey' 13cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rose of Sharon 'Admiral Dewey'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Admiral Dewey'

    £9.79£11.99Save 18%
    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.