Hardy Perennials


Hardy perennials with an exotic edge for UK gardens: long-lived, bold-foliage species that return every year without fuss. Cannas, hardy Begonia, Brunnera, Pachysandra and other reliable plants for exotic borders, shade and pots.

103 products

    103 products
    Senecio candidans 'Angel Wings' 13cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Silver Velvet Senecio 'Angel Wings'

    Senecio candidans 'Angel Wings'

    £20.99£24.99Save 16%
    1
    Tricyrtis 'Mix' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Taiwanese Toad Lily

    Tricyrtis 'Mix'

    £8.99
    1
    Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Siberian Bugloss 'Silver Heart'

    Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'

    £14.99
    1
    Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Variegated Mediterranean Spurge

    Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'

    £6.99£7.99Save 12%
    1
    Soleirolia soleirolii Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Mind Your Own Business (Baby's Tears)

    Soleirolia soleirolii

    £5.99
    1
    Tulbaghia violacea 'Purple' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Society Garlic

    Tulbaghia violacea 'Purple'

    £7.49£8.99Save 16%
    1
    Dianella revoluta 'Blue Stream' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Blue Flax Lily

    Dianella revoluta 'Blue Stream'

    £15.99
    1
    Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Rose' (Cape Figwort) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Cape Figwort

    Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Rose' (Cape Figwort)

    £8.49£8.99Save 5%
    1
    Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red' (Cape Figwort) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    1
    Kniphofia caulescens 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Caulescent Red Hot Poker (Regal Torch Lily)

    Kniphofia caulescens

    £7.49£8.99Save 16%
    1
    Plectranthus (Coleus Grp) 'Main Street Ruby Road' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Coleus

    Plectranthus (Coleus Grp) 'Main Street Ruby Road'

    £9.49£9.99Save 5%
    1
    Oxalis Sunset Yellow Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Firefern (Molten Lava Sorrel)

    Oxalis Sunset Yellow

    £8.99£9.99Save 10%
    1
    Begonia luxurians 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GrowTropicals

    Palm-leaf Begonia

    Begonia luxurians

    £11.99
    1
    Hosta 'Lakeside Little Tuft' 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Plantain Lily

    Hosta 'Lakeside Little Tuft'

    £7.49£8.99Save 16%
    1
    Senecio maritima 'Silver Dust' (Dusty Miller) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    1
    Crocosmia 'Carmine Brilliant' 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Vermilion Montbretia 'Carmine Brilliant'

    Crocosmia 'Carmine Brilliant'

    £7.99£8.99Save 11%
    1
    Kniphofia 'Pineapple Popsicle' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

    Kniphofia 'Pineapple Popsicle'

    £11.29£11.99Save 5%
    1
    Hosta 'Patriot' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Bold White-Edged Hosta 'Patriot'

    Hosta 'Patriot'

    £7.49£7.99Save 6%
    1
    Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Tangerine' (Cape Figwort) 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    1
    Oxalis spiralis vulcanicola 'Nordlys' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Firefern 'Nordlys' (Molten Lava Sorrel)

    Oxalis spiralis vulcanicola 'Nordlys'

    £7.79£8.99Save 13%
    1
    Oxalis Vulcan Pink Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Firefern (Molten Lava Sorrel)

    Oxalis Vulcan Pink

    £9.99
    1
    Kniphofia rooperi Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rooper's Red Hot Poker

    Kniphofia rooperi

    £13.49£14.99Save 10%
    1
    Kniphofia citrina 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Yellow Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

    Kniphofia citrina

    £7.49£8.99Save 16%
    1
    Crocosmia masoniorum 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Giant Montbretia

    Crocosmia masoniorum

    £8.99
    1
    Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Arum Lily (Calla Lily)

    Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White'

    £8.49£9.99Save 15%
    1
    Eryngium bourgatii Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Mediterranean Sea Holly

    Eryngium bourgatii

    £16.99
    1
    Euphorbia x martini Walberton's Little Treasure Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Compact Martin's Spurge

    Euphorbia x martini Walberton's Little Treasure

    £14.99£15.99Save 6%
    1
    Myosotidium hortensia 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Chatham Island Forget-me-not

    Myosotidium hortensia

    £10.49£11.99Save 12%
    1
    Hosta 'Sorbet' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Plantain Lily

    Hosta 'Sorbet'

    £6.49£7.99Save 18%
    1
    Hosta fortunei 'Bobcat' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Plantain Lily

    Hosta fortunei 'Bobcat'

    £6.49£7.99Save 18%
    1
    Coleus scutellarioides 'Main Street Bourbon Street' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Coleus 'Main Street Bourbon Street' (Painted Nettle)

    Coleus scutellarioides 'Main Street Bourbon Street'

    £9.99
    1
    Hemiboea subcapitata Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Hardy Gesneriad

    Hemiboea subcapitata

    £15.99
    1
    Geranium palmatum 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Giant Cranesbill (Madeira)

    Geranium palmatum

    £19.99
    1
    Acanthus mollis 'Wofford Rhubarb' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Bear's Breeches 'Wofford Rhubarb'

    Acanthus mollis 'Wofford Rhubarb'

    £8.99
    1
    Astelia nervosa 'Westland' 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Mountain Astelia (Bush Flax)

    Astelia nervosa 'Westland'

    £34.99
    1
    Smallanthus sonchifolius 'Bleu' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Yacon (Peruvian Ground Apple)

    Smallanthus sonchifolius 'Bleu'

    £15.99
    1
    Aristea ecklonii (Blue Stars) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Blue Stars (Blue-eyed Iris)

    Aristea ecklonii (Blue Stars)

    £6.99£7.99Save 12%
    1
    Hosta 'Colored Hulk' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Plantain Lily

    Hosta 'Colored Hulk'

    £7.99
    1
    Hosta fortunei 'Ki Ren Jyaku' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Plantain Lily

    Hosta fortunei 'Ki Ren Jyaku'

    £8.49£9.99Save 15%
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Hardy Perennials

    What are hardy perennials?

    Hardy perennials are non-woody plants that return year after year from a persistent root system. In a hardy exotic border they play the connecting role between big structural anchors and low ground cover: Cannas that die back in winter and re-sprout at 1.5 metres by August, hardy Begonia grandis for late-season colour in shade, Brunnera 'Jack of Diamonds' with silver-leaved presence under trees. They are the reliable engine of a mature exotic scheme. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for hardy perennials

    • Position: Species-specific. Cannas and hardy Begonia want sun to partial shade. Brunnera and Pachysandra want real shade.
    • Soil: Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained. Hardy perennials reward heavy soil enrichment at planting and a spring mulch of compost.
    • Hardiness: Individual RHS bands per product. Most stocked here are H5 or better and survive UK winters unprotected.
    • Autumn: Do not cut back too early. Hollow stems shelter overwintering insects. Wait until late February or March for the annual clear-up.
    • Division: Divide clumps every three to five years to keep plants vigorous. Best done in early spring as new growth emerges.

    Explore the hardy perennial range

    Combine hardy perennials with exotic border plants for a layered scheme, with pollinator plants for wildlife value, and with shade plants under trees. See the full Hardy Exotics range for compatible companions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    A hardy perennial is a plant that lives for many years and survives winter outdoors, dying back and regrowing or staying evergreen. Plant one once and it returns each year, which makes perennials the backbone of a low-effort garden.

    No, that is their great advantage. Perennials come back on their own each year and generally grow larger over time. The only occasional job is dividing big clumps every few years to keep them healthy.

    Many perennials grow well in containers and make long-lived patio and balcony plants. Use a good loam-based compost, water in dry spells, feed in spring, and repot or divide when the plant outgrows its container.

    Spring and autumn are the best times, when the soil is moist and roots establish quickly. Pot-grown perennials can be planted through summer too, as long as you keep them well watered.

    Most are fully hardy and need little. Cut back faded growth in autumn or late winter, leave some seedheads for structure and wildlife, and mulch in spring to feed the soil and lock in moisture.

    Hardy perennials that come back every year

    Hardy perennials are the dependable heart of any garden: plant them once and they return, bigger and better, year after year. The perennials in this collection lean towards the bold and the exotic, with strong foliage and striking flowers that add a lush, slightly tropical feel to a border without the work of replanting each season.

    Perennials for pots, patios and balconies

    Plenty of perennials are happy in containers, which makes them a great, long-lived choice for a patio or balcony. Unlike bedding, they earn their keep season after season, and many bring fresh foliage in spring, flowers in summer and seedheads or evergreen leaves into winter. Group a few pots together for a layered, generous display in a small space.

    Building a perennial border

    In a border, perennials do the heavy lifting. Layer them by height, repeat a few favourites for rhythm, and combine bold foliage with airy flowers for contrast. Because they come back each year, a perennial border only gets fuller and more beautiful as it matures.

    Planting and care

    Plant in spring or autumn into soil improved with organic matter, water well while they establish, and mulch each spring. Cut back faded growth in autumn or late winter, and lift and divide congested clumps every few years to keep them vigorous. Most need very little beyond that.