Hardy Exotic Shrubs

Q: What are exotic shrubs?

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Q: Which evergreen shrubs are best for a small garden?

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Q: Are these shrubs hardy in the UK?

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Q: Can exotic shrubs be grown in pots?

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Q: When and how should I prune exotic shrubs?

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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.

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Tree Ivy (Shrubby Ivy)

Hedera helix 'Arborescens'

£21.99

1

Paperbush

Edgeworthia chrysantha grandiflora

£32.99

1

Variegated Meyer Lemon

£16.99

1

Chatham Island Daisy Bush (Akeake)

Olearia traversii

£14.99

1

Kapuka (New Zealand Broadleaf)

Griselinia littoralis

£6.99

1

Honey Spurge (Canary Spurge)

Euphorbia mellifera (Honey Spurge)

£19.99

1

Glory Bush (Princess Flower)

Tibouchina urvilleana

£9.99

1

Sydney Golden Wattle (Long-leaved Wattle)

Acacia longifolia

£19.99

1

African Hemp (House Lime)

Sparmannia africana

£24.99

1

Pomegranate

Punica granatum (Pomegranate)

£16.99

1

Chaste Tree (Dwarf Chaste Tree)

Vitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley'

£24.99

1

Fairy Magnolia 'Honey Velvet'

Magnolia laevifolia 'Honey Velvet'

£24.99

1

Oregon Grape

Mahonia eurybracteata 'Volcano'

£34.99

1

Daisy Bush (Silver Senecio)

Brachyglottis (Dunedin Group) 'Sunshine'

£13.99

1

Merlot Redbud (Eastern Redbud)

Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'

£54.99

1

Cutleaf Smooth Sumac (Scarlet Sumac)

Rhus glabra 'Laciniata'

£107.99

1

Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac (Stag's Horn Sumach)

Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'

£113.99

1

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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

What are exotic shrubs?

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.

Which evergreen shrubs are best for a small garden?

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.

Are these shrubs hardy in the UK?

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.

Can exotic shrubs be grown in pots?

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.

When and how should I prune exotic shrubs?

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.