{"title":"Silver Foliage Plants","description":"\u003cp\u003eSilver foliage plants earn their place all year. Their pale, light-catching leaves cool down hot colour schemes, hold their shape through winter, and shrug off the dry, sunny spots where thirstier plants sulk.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"strobilanthes-auriculata-var-dyeriana","title":"Strobilanthes auriculata var. dyeriana","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eStrobilanthes auriculata var. dyeriana\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003ePersian shield\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most dazzling foliage exotics you can grow. Its large, lance-shaped leaves shimmer with an iridescent purple-and-silver sheen, veined and edged in green, and the colour seems to shift with every change of light. Grown purely for those spectacular leaves, it brings a jolt of the jungle to a summer patio, a container display or a sheltered \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender plant, rated around RHS H2, so in Britain it is best treated as a summer foliage exotic rather than a permanent garden resident. Stand it outdoors once the nights are reliably above about 10C, enjoy it right through the warmer months, then bring it back under cover before the first frosts. Kept frost-free over winter, or grown on as a houseplant, it stays richly coloured all year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep it evenly moist through spring and summer, mist in dry heat and feed monthly to hold the leaf colour. Pinch out the growing tips for a fuller, bushier plant and remove any flower spikes so its energy goes into the foliage. It is a natural partner for ferns and other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, layering beautifully into a lush planting scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor an even hardier sibling with the same shimmering look, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/strobilanthes-brunetthy\"\u003eStrobilanthes 'Brunetthy'\u003c\/a\u003e, and browse the full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e to build your own jungle. Every plant is nursery grown and selected for strong, well-coloured foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":56452806934911,"sku":"STROAURIVARDYER12","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/strobilanthes_d6b8debc-2a4a-42f2-8ba1-2e98cadc64c4.jpg?v=1785940705"},{"product_id":"agave-shaka-zulu","title":"Agave 'Shaka Zulu'","description":"\u003cp\u003eAgave 'Shaka Zulu' is a show-stopping architectural succulent and one of the most cold-hardy large agaves you can grow outdoors in Britain. Bred from the famously tough \u003cem\u003eAgave ovatifolia\u003c\/em\u003e (the Whale's Tongue agave), it forms a beautifully symmetrical rosette of broad, cupped leaves in a soft powder-blue that holds its colour right through the year. It is a true centrepiece plant, equally at home in a contemporary gravel garden, a Mediterranean-style border or a statement pot by the door.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners want it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the wave of hardy exotics now grown in the UK, this is one of the best. The leaves are wide, smoothly arching and architectural, each finished with a neat terminal spine, and the whole rosette has a sculptural, almost geometric poise that few other plants match. Compared with a typical tender agave plant, 'Shaka Zulu' shrugs off cold far more readily, making it a reliable choice for adventurous gardeners.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking powder-blue, year-round evergreen foliage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExceptional cold tolerance for such a bold agave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLow-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo get the best from it, plant in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot facing south or west. Sharp drainage is essential, so work plenty of grit into the soil or plant into a raised bed; chalk, sandy and loam soils all suit it, across the full pH range. The plant copes easily with dry summers and actively prefers it lean and gritty. Hardy to roughly -10C to -12C when dry, it is winter wet rather than frost that does the damage, so keep the crown free-draining. Expect a slow-building rosette reaching around 90cm to 1.2m across over many years. In colder or wetter gardens, grow it as a potted agave plant in the UK and shelter it over winter; like the species \u003cem\u003eAgave ovatifolia\u003c\/em\u003e, it makes a superb container specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Agave 'Shaka Zulu' we send out is a strong, well-rooted, carefully grown plant, hand-selected and packed to arrive in top condition, ready to become the standout feature of your garden for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57809513808255,"sku":"AGAVSHAK15","price":20.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58102893052287,"sku":"AGAVSHAK12","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/agave_731844f0-85c2-4504-83ca-125cdd001a2a.jpg?v=1782488016"},{"product_id":"brunnera-macrophylla-jack-of-diamonds","title":"Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most striking silver-leaved selections of Siberian bugloss, prized for its enormous, frosted, heart-shaped leaves. Each leaf is washed in shimmering pewter, traced with fine green veins and edged by a narrow green margin, so a single established clump lights up the darkest, most awkward corners of a shady garden. In mid to late spring, dainty sprays of clear blue, forget-me-not flowers float above the foliage, which is why it is often sold as a false forget-me-not.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy gardeners love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome of the largest, most luminous leaves of any brunnera, reaching the size of a side plate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAiry clouds of true-blue spring flowers loved by early bees, a quiet favourite for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ewildlife and pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent, low-maintenance ground cover for dry \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshade\u003c\/a\u003e once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a clump-forming hardy perennial, 'Jack of Diamonds' is the perfect partner for ferns, hostas, hellebores and woodland bulbs, and one of the boldest brunneras you can grow among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Mature plants reach around 40 to 50 cm tall and spread slowly to 50 to 60 cm, making a generous yet well-behaved mound rather than a runaway spreader, ideal for the front of a shady \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eborder\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow it in partial or full shade in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. It is happy on chalk, clay, loam or sand at almost any pH, though it resents both waterlogging and prolonged drought. A spot with morning light and afternoon shade keeps the silvering at its brightest, while too much hot sun can scorch the leaf edges. Mulch with leaf mould in autumn to lock in moisture and feed the crown. Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H5), this Siberian bugloss dies back in winter and reappears dependably each spring, needing no protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eBrunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send out is nursery-grown, well-rooted and carefully selected for strong foliage and healthy crowns, ready to establish quickly and reward you with that unmistakable silver glow.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57837726073215,"sku":"BRUNJACK19","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/jackfrost.jpg?v=1782487883"},{"product_id":"festuca-glauca-compact-blue","title":"Festuca glauca 'Compact Blue'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFestuca glauca 'Compact Blue'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a superb little \u003cstrong\u003eblue fescue\u003c\/strong\u003e, valued for its dense, rounded cushions of fine, steely silver-blue foliage. Evergreen and neat all year, it brings a cool, metallic shimmer to the garden that contrasts beautifully with greens, purples and hot colours alike. As one of the most useful compact \u003cstrong\u003eornamental grasses\u003c\/strong\u003e, it's a designer's favourite for edging, repetition and crisp structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts tidy, mounded habit makes \u003cstrong\u003efestuca glauca\u003c\/strong\u003e ideal for the front of a sunny border, for gravel and rock gardens, for lining a path, or for pots and window boxes. Plant it in groups or drifts for the strongest effect, where the silvery-blue tufts read as a continuous wave of colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eGive it full sun and sharp drainage, the more sun it gets, the bluer the foliage. It thrives in poor, dry, sandy soils and dislikes winter wet, so avoid heavy, soggy ground. Fully hardy and evergreen, it needs very little attention: comb out or trim over tired foliage in spring, and lift and divide the clumps every two or three years to keep the colour vivid.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the best blue colour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining; perfect for gravel and dry gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e evergreen and low-maintenance; divide every few years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach plant is hand-selected, arriving healthy and ready to add year-round colour and form to your planting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":57809636262271,"sku":"FESTGLAUCOM11","price":4.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/fest-s.jpg?v=1782487485"},{"product_id":"eucalyptus-gunnii-azura","title":"Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEucalyptus gunnii 'Azura'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a superb, more compact and cold-hardy selection of the much-loved cider gum, prized for its rounded, silver-blue evergreen foliage and a fresh, menthol-eucalyptus scent when the leaves are brushed or crushed. If you have admired the silvery cider gum tree but worried about its vigour or hardiness, this is the cultivar to reach for, bringing year-round colour and a touch of the exotic to UK gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy grow 'Azura'?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntense silver-blue, aromatic evergreen leaves that hold their colour through winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore compact and notably frost-hardy compared with the standard species eucalyptus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-growing, drought-tolerant once established and brilliant for cutting and foliage arrangements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHolds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for reliable garden performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a true all-rounder among hardy eucalyptus trees. The young, rounded juvenile leaves are the most ornamental, and a regular hard prune keeps that lovely foliage coming while controlling size. Grown as a free-standing specimen it makes a graceful small tree; coppiced or pruned each spring it stays as a neat silvery shrub, ideal for smaller plots and for gardeners who want the eucalyptus look without a forest-sized tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 'Azura' in full sun for the best foliage colour and sturdiest growth. It is happy on most free-draining soils, including chalk, loam and sand, across the pH range, but dislikes waterlogged ground, so improve drainage on heavy clay before planting. Rated RHS H5, it shrugs off typical UK winters once established; simply give young plants a sheltered spot away from harsh, drying winds for the first couple of seasons and mulch the base. Water regularly in the first year or two to settle the roots, after which it becomes pleasingly drought-tolerant. Expect a mature height of around 3-6 m if left to grow, easily kept to 1.5-3 m with annual spring pruning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are searching for a standout eucalyptus tree in the UK or specifically hunting down Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura', every plant we send out is carefully selected and dispatched in prime condition, ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":57810283069823,"sku":"EUCAGUNNII15","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/eucal.jpg?v=1782487061"},{"product_id":"brunnera-macrophylla-silver-heart","title":"Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most luminous shade perennials you can grow, prized for its broad, heart-shaped leaves washed almost entirely in pewter silver and traced with fine green veins. In mid to late spring, airy sprays of clear blue, forget-me-not flowers float above the foliage, giving this \u003cstrong\u003eSiberian bugloss\u003c\/strong\u003e its other common name, the false forget-me-not. It is the kind of quietly glamorous plant that lifts a dark, difficult corner and keeps on giving long after the blooms have faded.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Silver Heart' is a robust, garden-raised selection with notably thick, weather-resilient leaves that hold their metallic sheen right through to autumn. Compact and well-behaved, it earns its place among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e as dependable, year-after-year structure for shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater through the first summer to settle it in, then mulch with leaf mould in autumn to lock in moisture and feed the crown. The blue spring flowers are loved by early bees, making it a quietly valuable plant for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ewildlife and pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Use it as ground cover, at the front of a shady \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eborder\u003c\/a\u003e, or to brighten woodland plantings alongside ferns, hostas and hellebores. It carries no reported toxicity to people or pets, so it suits family gardens too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eBrunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send out is a strong, well-rooted plant, carefully selected and ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57810283135359,"sku":"BRUNSILVHEART17","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/brunnera1.jpg?v=1784635495"},{"product_id":"begonia-sterling-moon","title":"Begonia 'Sterling Moon'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew foliage plants stop you in your tracks quite like \u003cstrong\u003eBegonia 'Sterling Moon'\u003c\/strong\u003e. This is a rex begonia at its most theatrical, with broad, asymmetric leaves washed in moonlit silver and outlined by inky, near-black veins and margins. The effect is metallic and almost luminous in shade, lifting dim corners of a patio or shaded courtyard where flowering plants struggle to perform. Grown for its leaves rather than its modest pale pink blooms, it brings the lush, jewel-box quality of a rare houseplant out into the summer garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking silver and dark green foliage with real architectural presence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact, clump-forming habit, perfect for pots and shaded displays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThrives in the shade where many exotics will not\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoubles as a covetable houseplant once the season cools\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a tender rex begonia, Sterling Moon is best treated as a patio plant for the warmer months and a houseplant for the rest of the year. Stand it outside once nights stay reliably above about 10C, choosing a sheltered, shaded position out of harsh midday sun, which can scorch and bleach those prized silvered leaves. A north, east or west-facing spot with bright, indirect light keeps the markings at their boldest. Grow it in a free-draining, peat-free or loam-based compost with added perlite or bark, and water when the top of the compost feels dry, keeping the rootball lightly moist but never soggy. It loves a little humidity, so summer days outdoors suit it perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect a neat plant of roughly 20-30 cm tall and 25-40 cm across, ideal for a feature pot, a shaded table display or a sheltered doorstep. Because it is not frost hardy (RHS H1c), bring it back indoors or under heated glass well before the first autumn frosts, keeping it above 10-15C through winter. Please note that, like all begonias, it is toxic if eaten and can be harmful to cats, dogs and horses, so site it thoughtfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have searched for a standout \u003cstrong\u003erex begonia\u003c\/strong\u003e or a more unusual \u003cstrong\u003ehardy begonia\u003c\/strong\u003e alternative for shade, Sterling Moon delivers drama in a small footprint. Every plant is nursery-grown and hand-selected for healthy roots and strong, well-marked foliage, ready to settle in and shine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57810283889023,"sku":"BEGSTERL17","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/sterlingmoon.jpg?v=1782486620"},{"product_id":"hosta-elegans","title":"Hosta 'Elegans'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eHosta sieboldiana 'Elegans'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most iconic blue-leaved hostas in cultivation, prized for its enormous, heavily puckered, blue-grey heart-shaped leaves that look distinctly tropical in a shaded UK border. A single mature clump can reach over a metre across, the bold rounded foliage anchoring a planting scheme like nothing else. Pale lavender bell flowers rise above on tall stems through midsummer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the cornerstone blue hosta and one of the most architectural shade-tolerant perennials you can grow. Pair it with ferns, tree ferns and Asian woodland exotics for a lush, jungly feel that thrives where many plants struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn anchor plant for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshaded woodland-style planting\u003c\/a\u003e alongside ferns and tree ferns. The architectural foliage looks at home in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic understory\u003c\/a\u003e beneath palms and Japanese maples, and works brilliantly in a generous \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eshaded patio container\u003c\/a\u003e. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA natural choice for an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e wherever bold blue foliage is needed against a sea of green.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'Elegans'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57849590415743,"sku":"HOSTELEG17","price":8.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/elegans_401e662a-fe65-4605-89c7-8b8ae88c93a5.jpg?v=1784354839"},{"product_id":"yucca-gloriosa","title":"Yucca gloriosa","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eYucca gloriosa\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Spanish dagger, is one of the most architectural evergreen specimens you can grow outdoors in a UK garden. It carries dramatic rosettes of long, stiff, blue-green sword-like leaves on a thick woody trunk that thickens with age. In late summer mature plants throw up tall pyramidal spikes of pendulous, creamy-white bell flowers that rise dramatically above the foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a hero specimen plant, the kind of sculpture-on-a-trunk that anchors a courtyard or a hot dry border like nothing else. Native to the south-eastern United States and cultivated in the UK for nearly five hundred years, it has earned its place as a cornerstone of any Mediterranean, exotic or coastal planting scheme. This 26cm specimen is supplied as a substantial pre-grown plant ready for immediate impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYucca gloriosa is a hero plant for an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e alongside palms, agaves and other architectural specimens. It is at home in a sun-baked \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e and a brilliant choice for a windswept \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e where few other architectural plants thrive. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA perfect anchor for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic patio scheme\u003c\/a\u003e in a large container or directly in the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eYucca gloriosa\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted specimen, hand-selected for a healthy crown and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"26cm \/ 7L","offer_id":57849607979391,"sku":"YUCCGLOR26","price":59.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/yucca.jpg?v=1784358538"},{"product_id":"orontium-aquaticum","title":"Orontium aquaticum","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eOrontium aquaticum\u003c\/strong\u003e, the golden club, is one of the most striking and unusual hardy aquatic plants you can grow in a UK garden pond. Bold paddle-shaped blue-grey leaves float on or above the water surface, and in spring brilliant golden-yellow flower spikes (the 'clubs') rise on pure white stalks like luminous flares above the foliage. The contrast of acid yellow, pure white and blue-grey is utterly unique among pond plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a true Hardy Exotic for the pond margin or shallow water shelf, native to the eastern United States. Reliably hardy across the UK, slow to bulk up, and a real conversation piece. The 9cm starter is the easiest way to introduce it to a pond — plant straight into an aquatic basket and submerge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e aquatic compost in a basket, or pond-edge mud.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e foliage spreads to around 30-60 cm; flower spikes 15-20 cm above water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H7, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-30 cm above the crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Golden club' is the perfect accent plant at the edge of a wildlife pond, in a bog garden, or in a sealed planter water feature on a patio. Its blue-grey foliage and acid-yellow flowers bring an exotic, almost prehistoric quality to water features that few other hardy aquatics can match. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePairs beautifully with Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus', water iris, and other pond margin exotics in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic pond planting\u003c\/a\u003e. Also fits naturally into an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e alongside a small water feature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eOrontium aquaticum\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted young plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition. Plant straight into an aquatic basket and submerge on arrival.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57859274801535,"sku":"ORONAQUA9","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2222650016.jpg?v=1784332209"},{"product_id":"senecio-candidans-angel-wings","title":"Senecio candidans 'Angel Wings'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eSenecio candidans 'Angel Wings'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most striking silver-foliaged plants in modern cultivation, a relatively recent (2015) cultivar that has rapidly become a Hardy Exotic favourite for sunny patios. Huge silver-white, almost luminous, velvet-textured leaves up to 25cm long form a compact rosette that glows in low light and seems to shimmer in summer sun. The texture is genuinely irresistible, the foliage feels like soft felt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a half-hardy evergreen perennial native to Patagonia and the Falkland Islands, perfect as a summer patio specimen in the UK climate. Pair it with dark-leaved companions for dramatic contrast, or with hot-coloured cannas and dahlias to lift a Mediterranean exotic border.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Angel Wings' is a sensational \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003esunny patio container\u003c\/a\u003e specimen where the velvet leaves can be admired up close. It pairs beautifully with Aeonium 'Velours' for the silver-and-black exotic palette, or with hot-coloured Pennisetum and dahlias in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic mixed border\u003c\/a\u003e. Bring containers under cover before first frost. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from outdoor plants\u003c\/a\u003e guide for season-by-season notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA natural choice for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotic Mediterranean container scheme\u003c\/a\u003e or a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e in milder coastal locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eSenecio 'Angel Wings'\u003c\/strong\u003e we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-selected for healthy silver foliage, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"13cm \/ 1L","offer_id":57859277619583,"sku":"SENEANGEL13","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58102893150591,"sku":"SENEANGEL23","price":18.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/angelwings.jpg?v=1784358475"},{"product_id":"washingtonia-filifera","title":"Washingtonia filifera","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eWashingtonia filifera\u003c\/strong\u003e is a stylish, elegant fan palm and one of the quickest to find its feet in the garden. It is a fast-growing variety that establishes without fuss and looks the part even as a young plant, so you do not have to wait years for real presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge, tropical-looking fans in a soft grey-green are split to around half their depth into many slender segments, crowning a sturdy trunk that is neatly ringed with the scars of old leaves. Between the leaflets hang curly, thread-like filaments, and it is these fine threads that earn it the common name of Cotton Palm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is also notably salt tolerant, which makes it a superb choice for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e and breezy, exposed spots. Hardy to around -5C, it is happiest in a warm, sheltered position. It toughens up as it matures, though younger plants will still appreciate some protection through the harshest winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eClosely related to the popular Washingtonia robusta, the filifera brings the same striking, exotic silhouette to a border, courtyard or large container, and does it at a relatively affordable price. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-palms\"\u003ehardy palms\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e if you are building a wider exotic scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"18cm \/ 2.5L","offer_id":57907283427711,"sku":"WASHFILI18","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/filiferq.jpg?v=1784356821"},{"product_id":"astelia-chathamica-silver-spear","title":"Astelia chathamica Silver Spear","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAstelia chathamica\u003c\/strong\u003e, widely known as \u003cstrong\u003eSilver Spear\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most striking architectural evergreens you can grow, forming a bold fountain of broad, arching, silvery metallic sword-like leaves that catch the light from right across the garden. Native to the wind-swept Chatham Islands of New Zealand, it brings cool, shimmering structure to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e plantings, gravel schemes and large containers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrown for its year-round presence, Silver Spear holds its metallic silver rosette through every season. It is rated RHS H3 and is reliably hardy in mild and coastal areas, where it shrugs off salt-laden wind and makes a superb specimen. In colder inland gardens it is worth planting in a sheltered spot with sharp drainage and applying a dry winter mulch to protect the crown through prolonged hard frosts. For a fuller picture of how hardy exotics behave across the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to settle the roots, after which Silver Spear is impressively tolerant of dry spells and exposure. Its silvery tones make it a natural partner for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e, dry and gravel gardens and bold \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, while its compact, non-invasive habit makes it one of the best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e and courtyard containers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA first-class choice for anyone building a collection of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, every Silver Spear we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy, well-coloured rosette and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57969806705023,"sku":"ASTECHATSILV19","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/astelia.jpg?v=1784328463"},{"product_id":"aeonium-haworthii","title":"Aeonium haworthii","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAeonium haworthii\u003c\/strong\u003e, widely known as the \u003cstrong\u003ePinwheel\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eHaworth's Aeonium\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most charming architectural succulents you can grow on a sunny British patio. Native to the Canary Islands, it forms a neat, freely branching dome of many small blue-green rosettes, each leaf finely edged in red, so a well grown plant looks like a cluster of spinning pinwheels. It is an easy, sculptural container plant that brings crisp, contemporary structure to any collection of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a tender succulent, not a frost hardy one, and understanding that is the key to keeping it for years. Rated RHS H1C, it is happy outdoors through the warmer months but must be protected once temperatures fall. Bring it under frost-free cover before the first frosts and keep it almost dry while it is dormant, watering only enough to stop the rosettes shrivelling. Grow it in a gritty, free-draining mix, keep it on the dry side over winter, and move it to a bright, frost-free place such as a porch, cold greenhouse or windowsill before the first frosts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts drought tolerant nature makes it ideal for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e and for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, where it thrives on sharp drainage and reflected warmth. The sturdy, salt tolerant rosettes also suit bright \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed\u003c\/a\u003e gardens through summer, and the bold geometric form earns it a place among the best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e plants for a modern courtyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a clear picture of how tender exotics like this behave across the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Every Pinwheel we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy, well branched crown and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57974364537215,"sku":"AEONHAWO9","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/aeonium.jpg?v=1784326605"},{"product_id":"fascicularia-bicolor","title":"Fascicularia bicolor","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eFascicularia bicolor\u003c\/strong\u003e, or \u003cstrong\u003ehardy bromeliad\u003c\/strong\u003e (also known as the \u003cstrong\u003ecrimson bromeliad\u003c\/strong\u003e), is one of the most exotic-looking plants you can grow outdoors in Britain. It forms an architectural evergreen rosette of narrow, spiny, silver-green leaves, and as late summer arrives the whole centre flushes vivid crimson while a cluster of powder-blue flowers opens deep inside the rosette. It is a true bromeliad from Chile, yet tough enough for a hot, sharply drained, sheltered spot or a large pot, and it revels in mild coastal gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRated RHS H3, this is a borderline-hardy exotic rather than a fully hardy one, and understanding why matters. Frost by itself seldom does the damage; it is a cold, \u003cstrong\u003ewet\u003c\/strong\u003e winter that catches it out. Waterlogged soil, and rain pooling in the rosette, will rot the plant well before frost does, so sharp winter drainage is essential. Grown on a sunny bank, in a gravel garden or in a pot of gritty compost, it comes through UK winters far better than its tropical looks suggest. In colder or wetter gardens, keep it in a container so you can move it under cover for the worst of the wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater through the first summer or two to establish, then leave it largely to its own devices, as mature clumps are impressively drought tolerant and thrive in a hot, dry corner. Its low, spiny rosette makes superb \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry or gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e, and its salt tolerance suits it to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e. It is equally happy in a container: grow it in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003ea pot of gritty compost\u003c\/a\u003e that you can move into the rain shadow of a wall for winter. Pair it with other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e such as our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trachycarpus-fortunei\"\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/a\u003e for a bold, jungle-meets-Mediterranean scheme, and read our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Fascicularia bicolor we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy, well-coloured rosette and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57974379282815,"sku":"FASCBICO9","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-1280877688.jpg?v=1784326566"},{"product_id":"oscularia-deltoides","title":"Oscularia deltoides","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOscularia deltoides\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003ePink Ice Plant\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eDassievygie\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most charming trailing succulents you can grow outdoors in a warm British garden. Chalky blue-grey, three-angled leaves edged with tiny red teeth are held on vivid red stems, and in summer the whole plant disappears under a haze of scented, daisy-like pink flowers that honeybees adore. It is a spreading, mat-forming succulent that cascades beautifully over the lip of a pot, a warm wall or a raised rockery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeing a succulent from the sandstone slopes of South Africa's south-western Cape, it is tender here, rated RHS H2. Keep this trailing succulent frost-free over winter and on the dry side while it rests. Grow it in gritty, sharply drained compost, keep it much drier over winter, and it will cope with far more than its hardiness rating suggests. In colder or wetter gardens, grow it in a pot you can move under cover. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal care.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnce settled it is genuinely drought-tolerant, making it a natural choice for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e and sunny, free-draining borders. It also copes well with salt-laden air, so it earns a place in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed plantings\u003c\/a\u003e where drainage is good. The scented summer flowers are a magnet for bees, adding it to the ranks of our best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExplore the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range to build a bold, sun-loving planting scheme. Every Oscularia deltoides we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for strong, healthy growth, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57974384689535,"sku":"OSCUDELT9","price":6.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-1143289215.jpg?v=1784326379"},{"product_id":"puya-chilensis","title":"Puya chilensis","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ePuya chilensis\u003c\/strong\u003e, or \u003cstrong\u003eChilean Puya\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most dramatic architectural plants you can grow outdoors in the UK. A terrestrial bromeliad from the dry hillsides of central Chile, it forms a large rosette of arching, silvery, viciously hook-spined leaves, and in time sends up a towering spike of waxy chartreuse-green flowers that can reach well over a metre. This is a genuine statement plant for a hot, dry border, a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003egravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e or a big pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardiness is where \u003cstrong\u003ePuya chilensis\u003c\/strong\u003e needs a little thought. It is borderline hardy, rated around RHS H3 (and likely H3 to H4 in a really favoured spot), but low temperatures are seldom what defeat it. Persistent winter wet and waterlogged soil are what rot the crown and roots of this bromeliad. Given sharp winter drainage in a hot, sheltered, sunny position, or grown in a large free-draining pot, it will shrug off short cold spells that would otherwise finish it in heavy, wet ground. For a fuller picture of how hardy exotics behave through the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHandle it with real care: the leaves are armed with vicious recurved hooked spines along their edges that readily catch skin, clothing and animals, so site it away from paths and give it room. Slow-growing and eventually monocarpic, a mature rosette flowers once in a spectacular display before setting seed. Its bold silhouette and drought tolerance make it a natural partner for agaves and other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e, and it is superb in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge container\u003c\/a\u003e that can be moved under cover for the wettest months. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e to build a full, sun-baked, low-water scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Puya we supply is nursery-grown and carefully selected for a healthy, well-rooted rosette, then packed with care to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57974388130175,"sku":"PUYACHIL9","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2171075557.jpg?v=1784326285"},{"product_id":"acacia-dealbata","title":"Acacia dealbata (Mimosa \/ Silver Wattle)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAcacia dealbata\u003c\/strong\u003e, known as the \u003cstrong\u003emimosa\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003esilver wattle\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most spectacular exotic trees you can grow in a mild British garden. Fast-growing and evergreen, it carries feathery, finely divided silver-green foliage all year round, then erupts in late winter into a haze of fragrant, fluffy yellow pompom flowers just when the garden needs it most. This is a plant that turns a warm, sheltered wall or courtyard into something close to the Riviera.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to south-eastern Australia and Tasmania and a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), \u003cstrong\u003eAcacia dealbata\u003c\/strong\u003e is rated RHS H3, so it is happiest in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK. For a mimosa, a cold and wet winter is far more of a threat than cold by itself. Waterlogged soil paired with low temperatures is far more likely to see it off than a short, dry frost. Give it a warm, sheltered spot with sharp drainage, and protect the plant during hard frosts, and it will reward you handsomely. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics seasonal guide\u003c\/a\u003e for what to expect through the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a fast, airy evergreen it makes a superb piece of living \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and a natural centrepiece for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e. The nectar-rich winter flowers are a magnet for early bees, making it a valuable choice for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e, while in mild coastal gardens it thrives alongside other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed planting\u003c\/a\u003e. Pair it with a hardier structural partner such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trachycarpus-fortunei\"\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/a\u003e for year-round backbone, and browse the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range to build a complete scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery mimosa we supply is selected for a healthy framework and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L (Collection Only)","offer_id":57974443999615,"sku":"ACACDEAL23","price":31.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"13cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58369489994111,"sku":"ACACDEAL13","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/acacia-dealbata-mimosa.jpg?v=1790061747"},{"product_id":"acacia-pravissima","title":"Acacia pravissima","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAcacia pravissima\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003eOvens Wattle\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eWedge-leaved Wattle\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most graceful of all the wattles and one of the hardier too. Native to the mountains of south east Australia, it forms an elegant evergreen shrub with arching, weeping branches densely set with tiny triangular grey-green phyllodes, wreathed in late winter and early spring with masses of fragrant golden pompom flowers. It has real architectural presence, perfect for bringing a soft, exotic elegance to a sheltered sunny wall or courtyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough it is one of the hardier wattles, tolerating around -5C in coastal and milder gardens, what it really cannot cope with is cold and winter wet together. Roots left waterlogged in freezing soil, more than frost itself, are what kill this species, so a warm, sheltered spot with sharp drainage makes all the difference. Grown well it rewards you with a haze of scent and colour just as the rest of the garden is waking up. For more on what to expect from tender exotics through the seasons, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to settle it in, then ease right off in autumn and winter so the roots are never left cold and sodden. Its light, ferny outline makes it a beautiful foil among bolder \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e and a lovely centrepiece for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e. In milder coastal gardens it thrives among other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal plants\u003c\/a\u003e, and the fragrant spring flowers are a valuable early nectar source for bees, earning it a place with our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you are hunting for \u003cstrong\u003eAcacia pravissima UK\u003c\/strong\u003e stock or simply the most elegant wattle for a sunny wall, this RHS Award of Garden Merit winner sits beautifully within our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Every plant we supply is carefully selected for a healthy shape and strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L (Collection Only)","offer_id":57974444589439,"sku":"ACACPRAV19","price":21.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"13cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58369490092415,"sku":"ACACPRAV13","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/acacia-pravissima.jpg?v=1790061748"},{"product_id":"brachyglottis-dunedin-sunshine","title":"Brachyglottis (Dunedin Group) 'Sunshine'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eBrachyglottis greyi\u003c\/strong\u003e (syn. \u003cstrong\u003eSenecio greyi\u003c\/strong\u003e), commonly known as the \u003cstrong\u003edaisy bush\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the toughest and most useful silver-leaved shrubs you can grow. This mound-forming evergreen is prized for its felted, silver-grey oval leaves, neatly edged in white, which catch the light all year and set off every plant around them. In summer the whole mound is topped with sprays of bright yellow daisy flowers, giving you the best of both worlds: superb silver foliage and a generous, cheerful bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHailing from the coast of New Zealand, it is built for hot, dry and exposed positions where softer plants sulk. It is genuinely hardy across most of the UK, rated RHS H4, and its real strength is shrugging off wind, salt and drought. The single thing it resents is sitting cold and soggy: damp, freezing winters and heavy, sodden clay packed around its roots are what let it down, far more than any dry cold. On poor, sharply drained ground in full sun it is as easy and rewarding as shrubs come.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater through the first summer to settle it in, then let it fend for itself; once established it is impressively drought-tolerant and needs only a light trim after flowering to stay compact. Its silver foliage is a natural partner for grasses, phormiums and other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, while its salt and wind tolerance make it a star of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e. The summer daisies are a magnet for bees and hoverflies, so it earns its place among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA brilliant, low-maintenance choice for anyone building a silver, gravel or seaside scheme, it sits right at home in our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. For a picture of how these plants change through the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e. Every plant is nursery grown, hand-selected for a healthy, well-shaped mound and strong roots, and carefully packed to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":57976159568255,"sku":"BRACGREY17","price":12.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-2250409493.jpg?v=1784324794"},{"product_id":"tulbaghia-hazel","title":"Tulbaghia 'Hazel'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTulbaghia 'Hazel'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the prettiest forms of \u003cstrong\u003esociety garlic\u003c\/strong\u003e, bringing a long, effortless summer show to sunny, well-drained corners of the garden. From a neat clump of slender, grey-green grassy leaves rise wiry stems topped with airy heads of dainty, scented pink-lilac star flowers, appearing in succession from summer right through into autumn. The faintly garlic-scented foliage is more than charming: it is said to help deter some pests, while the flowers are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a plant that thrives on warmth and sharp drainage. Rated RHS H3, it is borderline hardy in Britain, so the trick is to guard not just against cold but against cold and wet together. Waterlogged winter soil is what undoes it, so give it a free-draining spot in the warmest, sunniest part of the garden and keep it drier through the colder months. In wetter or colder gardens it makes a superb pot plant that can be moved somewhere frost-free for winter. For more on how these plants behave through the seasons, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics, what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew plants earn their place as easily in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e, where the free-draining conditions suit it perfectly and the flowers sway beautifully among grasses and other sun-lovers. It is equally at home in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e on a hot patio, at the front of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, and in any planting designed to draw in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ebees and pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits happily alongside the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range for a warm, Mediterranean feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy clump and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57976166482303,"sku":"TULBHAZE9","price":6.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/tulbhagia-2.jpg?v=1784323695"},{"product_id":"vitex-agnus-castus-blue-diddley","title":"Vitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eVitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a compact, dwarf form of the much-loved \u003cstrong\u003echaste tree\u003c\/strong\u003e, bred to bring all the Mediterranean charm of the species to smaller gardens, borders and containers. Where the ordinary \u003cstrong\u003eVitex agnus-castus\u003c\/strong\u003e can reach 2.5m, 'Blue Diddley' settles at a neat 1 to 1.5m, making it one of the most manageable and free-flowering choices for a sunny, exotic-style planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom late summer into autumn it is topped with slender, upright spikes of fragrant, blue-violet flowers that bees and butterflies adore, held above deeply divided, aromatic grey-green foliage that releases a warm, peppery scent when brushed. It is a genuine pollinator magnet and a wonderful way to extend colour in the garden long after many summer shrubs have finished. Plant it near a path or seating area where the scented leaves and buzzing visitors can be enjoyed up close.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a deciduous shrub that flowers on the current season's growth, 'Blue Diddley' responds beautifully to a hard prune in early spring, quickly throwing up vigorous new stems tipped with flower. Water through the first summer to establish, after which it is happily drought-tolerant, thriving on the kind of hot, dry, free-draining spot that suits our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e. Its compact habit makes it ideal for a large pot on a sunny patio, alongside the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it to add late-season structure and scent to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e, or as a standout in a wildlife planting with our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits perfectly within the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to a British summer. For a guide to how these plants perform through the seasons, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics: what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e page.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery 'Blue Diddley' we supply is nursery-grown, chosen for a healthy, well-branched framework and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in top condition ready to plant.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":58063994880383,"sku":"VITEAGNUCASTBLUE19","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/vitex_59fd7035-6e9b-45ad-99cb-bd7a08d5e65f.jpg?v=1785185273"},{"product_id":"begonia-little-moon","title":"Begonia 'Little Moon'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe compact star of the Moon series, \u003cstrong\u003eBegonia 'Little Moon'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the smallest member of the silver-leaved Lunar Lights collection and a jewel for the shadier patio. Neat mounds of rounded, angel-wing foliage are frosted with metallic silver over mint and olive green, brushed with soft pink and red highlights that echo the delicate pink flowers carried from summer into autumn. Grown above all for its shimmering leaves, it brings the collectable charm of a rare houseplant out into the summer garden without taking up much space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSilver-frosted foliage with pink highlights on a tidy, compact plant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHappy in the shade where many exotics struggle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerfect for pots, doorsteps and the front of a shaded display\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoubles as a covetable houseplant once the season cools\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a tender exotic, Little Moon is best treated as a patio plant for the warmer months and a houseplant for the rest of the year. Stand it outdoors once nights stay reliably above about 10C, in a sheltered, shaded spot out of harsh midday sun, which can scorch and bleach the silvered leaves. A north, east or west-facing position with bright, indirect light keeps the markings at their boldest. Grow it in a free-draining, peat-free or loam-based compost with added perlite or bark, and water when the top of the compost feels dry, keeping the rootball lightly moist but never soggy. Being so neat, it is one of the best choices in the range for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003econtainer on a shaded patio\u003c\/a\u003e or tucked into the front of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect a compact plant of roughly 30-40 cm tall and 40-45 cm across, ideal for a feature pot or a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshaded corner\u003c\/a\u003e alongside its larger siblings \u003ca href=\"\/products\/begonia-sterling-moon\"\u003eBegonia 'Sterling Moon'\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/begonia-darkside-of-the-moon\"\u003eBegonia 'Darkside of the Moon'\u003c\/a\u003e. Because it is not reliably frost hardy in the UK (RHS H2), bring it back indoors or under heated glass well before the first autumn frosts, keeping it above about 10C through winter. For more on growing tender exotics through the seasons, see our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Please note that, like all begonias, it is toxic if eaten and can be harmful to cats, dogs and horses, so site it thoughtfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have searched for an unusual \u003cstrong\u003esilver begonia\u003c\/strong\u003e or a compact \u003cstrong\u003ebegonia for shade\u003c\/strong\u003e, Little Moon delivers real character in a small footprint. Part of our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, every plant is nursery-grown and hand-selected for healthy roots and strong, well-marked foliage, ready to settle in and shine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":58064013984127,"sku":"BEGLITTMOON15","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/littlemoon.jpg?v=1785411825"},{"product_id":"hosta-big-daddy","title":"Hosta 'Big Daddy'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the biggest and bluest of all hostas, a plantain lily valued for the sheer drama of its foliage. Each huge, rounded leaf is a deep blue-grey, heavily puckered and cupped like beaten metal, building into a knee-high dome that brings cool, architectural structure to a shady corner. This is a plant that earns its keep from the moment the fat spring shoots unfurl.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is fully hardy, rated RHS H7, so it sails through the coldest British winters. Being a deciduous, herbaceous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown each autumn and returns bigger and better every spring, a natural rhythm we explain in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. The thick, waxy leaves also make it one of the more slug and snail resistant hostas, a real advantage in a group of plants those pests adore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first couple of summers to settle the clump, then mulch each spring to lock in moisture. Big Daddy is superb massed in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a cooling foil among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or grown as a bold specimen in a large container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range. Near-white summer flowers draw in bees, adding it to the ranks of useful \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Please note that, like all hostas, it is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor more blue-leaved drama, pair it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-abiqua-drinking-gourd\"\u003eHosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'\u003c\/a\u003e or browse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e collection. Every plant is hand-selected for a strong crown and healthy roots, and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089235448191,"sku":"HOSTBIGDAD11","price":6.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/bigdaddy.jpg?v=1785939371"},{"product_id":"hosta-abiqua-drinking-gourd","title":"Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'\u003c\/strong\u003e is arguably the finest of all the cupped blue hostas, a plantain lily whose thick, blue-green leaves curl upwards into deep, gourd-like hollows that actually cradle rainwater. Named the American Hosta Growers Association Hosta of the Year in 2014, it is a sculptural, slug-resistant beauty that turns a shady corner into a talking point.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is fully hardy, rated RHS H7, and shrugs off the coldest British winters. As a deciduous, herbaceous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown each autumn and unfurls fresh cups every spring, the seasonal rhythm we set out in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. The heavy substance of the leaves also makes it far more resistant to slugs and snails than most hostas, a genuine bonus in this pest-prone group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater through the first two summers to establish the clump, then mulch each spring. It is stunning grouped with other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a cool centrepiece in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or displayed close up in a container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range where the water-holding cups can be admired. Near-white summer flowers bring in the bees, a welcome extra among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. As with all hostas, it is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet it beside the giant \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-big-daddy\"\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/a\u003e for a study in blue, or explore the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range. Every plant is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089237676415,"sku":"HOSTABI11","price":6.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/gourd.jpg?v=1785939296"},{"product_id":"kniphofia-caulescens","title":"Kniphofia caulescens","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKniphofia caulescens\u003c\/strong\u003e is the architectural, \u003cstrong\u003eevergreen red hot poker\u003c\/strong\u003e, prized as much for its foliage as its flowers. Bold rosettes of broad, blue-grey, almost succulent-looking leaves sit on short, stout stems, giving a sculptural, year-round presence that few hardy perennials can match. In late summer thick stems carry fat pokers that open deep coral-red and mellow to soft cream and lemon, a two-tone torch above the glaucous mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRated RHS H5, it is a fully hardy perennial that shrugs off temperatures down to around -15C once established. Unlike the deciduous garden pokers it is evergreen, holding its striking foliage right through winter, so it should never be cut back. Native to the high Drakensberg mountains of South Africa and Lesotho, it is built for tough conditions provided the ground drains sharply in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater through the first summer to establish, after which it is robust and fairly drought-tolerant, earning its place in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e. Its evergreen structure makes it a standout in sunny \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e and a superb feature among other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. It grows well in a large container too, so it suits our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e, and its nectar-rich autumn pokers place it among the best \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Pair it with the deciduous \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kniphofia-royal-castle\"\u003eKniphofia 'Royal Castle'\u003c\/a\u003e for a long, layered season of colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery plant we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089257206143,"sku":"KNIPCAUL11","price":6.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/caul.jpg?v=1785939911"},{"product_id":"hosta-first-frost","title":"Hosta 'First Frost'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'First Frost'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a beautifully refined plantain lily and one of the most admired blue-and-gold hostas of all. Its thick, intensely blue leaves are edged with a wide margin that opens a warm gold in spring and matures to cool creamy white as summer goes on, giving the plant a fresh, ever-changing look. Named Hosta of the Year in 2010, it is a compact, dependable variety that holds its good looks right up to the first frost.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is fully hardy, rated RHS H7, and shrugs off the coldest British winters. As a deciduous, herbaceous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown each autumn and returns every spring, the seasonal rhythm we explain in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. The thick substance of the leaves also gives it useful resistance to slugs and snails, a real plus in this pest-prone group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first two summers to establish the clump, then mulch each spring. First Frost is lovely at the front of a group of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a crisp, cooling note among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range. Light lavender summer flowers bring in the bees, a welcome extra among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. As with all hostas, it is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet its margined blue beside the plain blue giant \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-big-daddy\"\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/a\u003e, or explore the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range. Every plant is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a strong crown and healthy roots, and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089269068159,"sku":"HOSTFIRFRO11","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/firstfrost.jpg?v=1785938636"},{"product_id":"hosta-sieboldiana-frances-williams","title":"Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams'\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the great classic plantain lilies, a giant, variegated hosta that has been a shade-garden favourite for generations. Its huge, rounded, heavily puckered blue-green leaves are framed by a wide chartreuse-yellow margin that softens to creamy tones as summer wears on, creating a bold, textural mound with real presence. Few foliage plants make such a statement in a cool, shady spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is fully hardy, rated RHS H7, and comes through the coldest British winters unaided. As a deciduous, herbaceous perennial it dies back to a dormant crown each autumn and returns bigger and better every spring, the natural cycle we describe in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e. The thick, puckered leaves also give it good resistance to slugs and snails, a genuine advantage in a group those pests adore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater well through the first two summers to settle this large clump, then mulch generously each spring. Frances Williams is superb as a specimen among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e, as a commanding centrepiece in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border plants\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a very large container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range. Near-white early-summer flowers draw in bees, a useful bonus among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. As with all hostas, it is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePair it with the plain blue mounds of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-big-daddy\"\u003eHosta 'Big Daddy'\u003c\/a\u003e for a giant blue duo, or browse the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range. Every plant is nursery-grown, hand-selected for a strong crown and healthy roots, and carefully packed to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089271984511,"sku":"HOSTFRANWILL11","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/franceswilliams.jpg?v=1785938880"},{"product_id":"hosta-fortunei-bobcat","title":"Hosta fortunei 'Bobcat'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta fortunei 'Bobcat'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a refined, narrow-leaved plantain lily and a beautiful sport of the well-known 'Wolverine'. Its long, tapering leaves are a cool blue-green, each neatly edged with a creamy-yellow margin that lifts a shaded corner. The slim, elegant foliage gives it a more delicate look than the classic broad-leaved hostas.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA fully hardy, deciduous herbaceous perennial (RHS H7), 'Bobcat' dies back to the ground each autumn and returns in mid to late spring, so expect bare soil over winter. Spikes of lavender flowers appear above the leaves in summer and are a magnet for bees. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for how hardy exotics change through the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Bobcat' is especially happy in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003ea container\u003c\/a\u003e, where its narrow foliage can be shown off and slugs are easier to keep at bay, though it grows well in the ground too. It earns its place in any \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e and, with its nectar-rich summer flowers, sits comfortably among shade-loving \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Try it alongside the twisted foliage of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-fortunei-lets-twist-again\"\u003eHosta 'Let's Twist Again'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery plant is nursery-grown, part of our wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, and carefully packed to arrive in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089292956031,"sku":"HOSTBOB11","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/bobcat.jpg?v=1785938987"},{"product_id":"orostachys-iwarenge-chinese-hat","title":"Orostachys iwarenge 'Chinese Hat'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrostachys iwarenge 'Chinese Hat'\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eChinese dunce cap\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most characterful hardy succulents you can grow. It makes low, whorled rosettes of fleshy, powdery grey-blue leaves that spread on fine runners exactly like a succulent version of a spider plant, quickly knitting into a soft pewter carpet. In autumn each mature rosette throws up an extraordinary tall, tapering flower spike, the pagoda or dunce cap that gives the plant its name. A member of the houseleek family (Crassulaceae), it is tailor-made for troughs, walls, gravel and pots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is genuinely hardy (RHS H4) and unfazed by cold; the key to success in Britain is simply keeping it on the dry side in winter, as it dislikes soggy roots far more than frost. As the cold sets in, the rosettes fold into neat, tight resting buds and sit tight until spring, when they burst back into fresh powdery growth. You can read more about these seasonal rhythms in our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne lovely quirk is worth understanding: Orostachys is monocarpic, which simply means each individual rosette flowers once, in its autumn finale, and then dies. Far from being a problem, this is how the plant thrives, because every rosette offsets so freely on its runners that the colony is always renewing itself. You lose a single flowered rosette and gain a ring of youngsters, so the carpet only gets better with time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a first-class plant for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, tucked into wall crevices, alpine troughs and the tops of sunny raised beds. Its love of sharp drainage and bright, open sites also makes it excellent among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed planting\u003c\/a\u003e, and it is a natural showpiece in shallow bowls and troughs of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits proudly within our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, chosen for a healthy, well-rooted colony and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"14cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":58089326805375,"sku":"OROSIWA14","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/oreostachys.jpg?v=1785938439"},{"product_id":"hosta-catherine","title":"Hosta 'Catherine'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHosta 'Catherine'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a beautiful blue-leaved \u003cstrong\u003eplantain lily\u003c\/strong\u003e, its pointed, blue-green leaves marked by a bright chartreuse streak flaring up the centre that becomes creamier with age. The leaves are thick and waxy, which not only gives them their lovely blue bloom but also makes this one of the more slug-resistant hostas, an easy and rewarding choice for a shady spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy right across the UK (RHS H7), it is a deciduous perennial that dies back each autumn and reshoots reliably every spring. Upright spikes of bell-shaped, pale lavender flowers appear in late summer. As it disappears over winter, pair it with evergreens for structure and see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics: what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide for seasonal timings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cool blue foliage is a wonderful foil in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e and it grows just as happily in a container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e range. The late-summer flowers draw in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For a contrasting gold-edged hosta, try \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hosta-twilight\"\u003eHosta 'Twilight'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e collection, every plant is carefully selected for a strong crown and healthy roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58089356099967,"sku":"HOSTCATH11","price":6.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/catherine.jpg?v=1785938248"},{"product_id":"athyrium-niponicum-metallicum","title":"Athyrium niponicum 'Metallicum'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAthyrium niponicum 'Metallicum'\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese painted fern\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most colourful hardy ferns you can grow. Its arching, deeply divided fronds are a soft silver-grey with a cool metallic sheen, brushed with green and flushed wine-red along the midribs and burgundy stems. Few shade plants light up a dim corner quite like it, and it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit as a genuinely garden-worthy \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e fern.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy across the UK (around \u003cstrong\u003eRHS H6\u003c\/strong\u003e), the painted fern comfortably tolerates -15C and often lower, so it needs no winter protection. It is deciduous, dying back for winter and reshooting fresh, silvery croziers each spring. Slowly spreading and never invasive, it is one of the most rewarding \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eplants for shade\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep the soil reliably moist, especially while establishing, as this fern dislikes drying out. It is generally non-toxic and pet-friendly, and its low, spreading habit is perfect for the front of a border, a shaded patio container among your \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e, or woven through other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. For an unnamed alternative, see our generic \u003ca href=\"\/products\/athyrium-sp\"\u003eAthyrium lady fern\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery fern we send is nursery-grown and carefully selected for a strong crown and healthy roots. For how hardy ferns settle in through the seasons, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e notes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":58089431957887,"sku":"ATHYMETA15","price":9.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"11cm \/ 0.75L","offer_id":58224986456447,"sku":"ATHYMETA11","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/metallicum.jpg?v=1785842604"},{"product_id":"euphorbia-characias-silver-swan","title":"Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEuphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a beautifully variegated form of the Mediterranean spurge, valued for its cool, architectural presence and its long season of interest. Each upright stem is clothed in narrow, blue-green leaves crisply edged in silvery white, building into a rounded evergreen mound. In spring the stems are topped with large, dome-shaped heads of creamy white bracts, sometimes flushed with a soft reddish eye, for a display that lasts for weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a hardy, easy-going evergreen, rated around RHS H4 and reliable to about -10C in a well-drained spot. It holds its variegated foliage right through winter, so it keeps structure in the border when little else does. It is also notably drought-tolerant and thrives on poor, sharp-draining soils, which makes it ideal for low-water and coastal planting. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics guide\u003c\/a\u003e for a season-by-season picture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater through the first summer while it establishes, then leave it to fend for itself. Its silvery structure makes it a natural for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e schemes and gravel gardens, and it stands up well to salt and wind in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e. Use it to lift an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e, grow it in a container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e selection, or combine it with other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e. For a dramatic dark-leaved partner, pair it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/euphorbia-miners-merlot\"\u003eEuphorbia 'Miner's Merlot'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003eHardy Exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, every plant is hand-picked for strong roots and crisp variegation before careful packing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"10cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":58130508775807,"sku":"EUPHSILVSWAN10","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/silverswan.jpg?v=1786103759"},{"product_id":"senecio-maritima-silver-dust","title":"Senecio maritima 'Silver Dust' (Dusty Miller)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSenecio maritima 'Silver Dust', better known as Dusty Miller and correctly named Jacobaea maritima, is grown for its finely cut, silver-white felted foliage that lights up borders, pots and gravel gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e The deeply lobed leaves are covered in soft, felty hairs that give the whole plant a cool, almost metallic shimmer. It is a brilliant foil for stronger colours and a favourite for adding contrast to sunny planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is first and foremost a sun-loving foliage plant. In its second year it may throw up small, mustard yellow daisy flowers, though many gardeners trim these off to keep the focus on the silver leaves. It is borderline hardy, so it is often grown as seasonal bedding or given a little winter protection in colder gardens. For what to expect from tender and borderline hardy plants outdoors, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater to establish, then keep it on the dry side, as it is genuinely drought tolerant once settled. Its love of sun and free-draining ground makes it a natural for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e and for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought tolerant planting\u003c\/a\u003e. The tidy habit and silver colour also make it one of the best foliage plants for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e, where it sets off bright summer flowers beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart of our wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range and sent out at nursery quality, ready to bring cool silver contrast to a sunny spot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58142564548991,"sku":"SENMARSIL12","price":3.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/maritima.jpg?v=1786718870"},{"product_id":"tulbaghia-violacea","title":"Tulbaghia violacea 'Purple'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeet the plant\u003c\/strong\u003e: Tulbaghia violacea, better known as society garlic, is a clump-forming South African \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-perennials\"\u003eperennial\u003c\/a\u003e prized for its long summer show of starry lilac-pink flowers. The slim grey-green leaves smell faintly of garlic when brushed, which many gardeners find helps keep a few pests at bay. It carries an RHS Award of Garden Merit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons\u003c\/strong\u003e: This is the one plant here to keep an honest eye on in winter. It is rated H3, which means it is fine outdoors in mild, coastal and city gardens but wants protection where hard frosts are common. The flowers appear over a long run from midsummer into autumn, held on bare upright stems above the foliage, and they are a magnet for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ebees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e. In colder gardens the leaves die back and the plant rests below ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e: Full sun and sharp drainage are the two things it really wants. Free-draining loam or sandy soil suits it, and it thrives in pots, gravel gardens and hot, sunny borders. It reaches around 50cm in height and spread. In a container you can simply move it somewhere frost-free for the coldest months, which is the easiest way to keep it happy long term.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGetting it established\u003c\/strong\u003e: Water while it is in growth through spring and summer, then keep it much drier over winter. In open ground in a cold area, a deep dry mulch over the crown gives useful insurance. Clumps build up steadily and can be lifted and divided in spring to make more plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive\u003c\/strong\u003e: Supplied in a 9cm pot, ready to plant out or pot up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":58184446476671,"sku":"TULBVIOPURP9","price":6.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/tulbaghia.jpg?v=1786804805"},{"product_id":"hydrangea-hydrangeoides-concolor-moonlight","title":"Hydrangea hydrangeoides f. concolor 'Moonlight'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHydrangea hydrangeoides f. concolor 'Moonlight'\u003c\/strong\u003e, still widely sold as Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight', is the silver-leaved form of the Japanese hydrangea vine. Each heart-shaped leaf is washed with a silvery blue-green sheen and etched with dark green veins, so the plant looks good from the moment it leafs out in spring. In midsummer it carries flat, lacecap-style heads of small creamy flowers, each ringed with large white bracts that hang like petals, and the foliage picks up orange and yellow tints before it drops in autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a fully hardy, deciduous, self-clinging climber rated H5, so it stands up to severe winters across most of the UK. It is bare through winter, leafs out in spring, flowers from around July into August and \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ecolours in autumn\u003c\/a\u003e. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow.\u003c\/strong\u003e Give it a wall, fence or tree trunk to climb: it clings with aerial roots and needs no wires once it has taken hold. It grows in full sun or partial shade and is one of the best climbers for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003enorth or east facing wall\u003c\/a\u003e, where the silver leaves show to full effect. It is happy on chalk, clay, loam or sand as long as the soil is fertile, moist and well drained, and it copes with exposed or sheltered positions. It is slow to get going for the first year or two, then vigorous, reaching 8 to 12m in time, so allow plenty of room.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUsing it in the garden.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use 'Moonlight' to clothe a shaded house wall, a bare fence or a mature tree with a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003ecurtain of silvery foliage\u003c\/a\u003e. It pairs beautifully with \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-ferns\"\u003eferns\u003c\/a\u003e, hostas and other shade lovers at its feet, and the white summer flowers light up a dim corner. It also grows well in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge container\u003c\/a\u003e against a wall if kept watered.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58254023459199,"sku":"SCHIHYDRMOON17","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/moonlight.jpg?v=1787853358"},{"product_id":"ficus-afghanistanica-silver-lyre","title":"Ficus afghanistanica 'Silver Lyre'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFicus afghanistanica 'Silver Lyre'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a hardy ornamental fig valued for its foliage rather than its fruit. The leaves are deeply cut into narrow, fingered lobes, a little like a snowflake or a maple leaf, and carry a soft silver-green sheen that catches the light. Selected at Cistus Nursery in Oregon from seed of the Afghan fig, it is far more refined than the common fig and one of the few figs that is grown purely as an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003earchitectural shrub\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e The RHS lists the cultivar but does not yet give it a hardiness rating. US growers report it surviving roughly -12 to -15C, and other UK nurseries describe it as hardy in most of the country, so we treat it as H4 (to around -10C) and suggest protecting young plants in their first couple of winters. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eIt is deciduous\u003c\/a\u003e: leaves emerge in late spring, hold their silver colour through summer and fall in autumn. Small dark figs may follow in an exceptionally hot summer, but do not count on them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in full sun, or sun for most of the day, in a sheltered spot with free-draining soil. It is very drought tolerant once established and dislikes wet feet in winter. Growth is fast, with stems reaching 1 to 2m in a season; left alone it becomes a large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree of 4 to 5m, but it responds well to pruning and can be kept to 2m or grown in a big container.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUsing it in the garden.\u003c\/strong\u003e The pale, lacy leaves are a perfect foil for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003ebold exotics\u003c\/a\u003e such as bananas, cannas and Tetrapanax, and for dark-leaved shrubs. Use it as a specimen in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003egravel or Mediterranean planting\u003c\/a\u003e, at the back of an exotic border, or in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003elarge pot\u003c\/a\u003e on a hot terrace where the silver foliage stays cool-looking all summer.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58254032535935,"sku":"FICUSILVLYRE17","price":16.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/silverlyre.jpg?v=1787853679"},{"product_id":"astelia-nervosa-westland","title":"Astelia nervosa 'Westland'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAstelia nervosa 'Westland'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the moody, metallic one in the astelia family: arching, sword-shaped leaves overlaid silver and flushed bronze-red, deepening to richer red as the weather cools. The New Zealand \u003cstrong\u003emountain astelia\u003c\/strong\u003e, sometimes called \u003cstrong\u003ebush flax\u003c\/strong\u003e, forms a fountain-like evergreen clump that catches low light like brushed metal, and no phormium can match its sheen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is an evergreen, clump-forming perennial to around 75 cm that earns its place twice over: as year-round structure among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, and as a colour bridge between silver, purple and green planting. Small pale flower sprays appear in spring, but the foliage is the whole story.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade, sheltered; colour deepens with light and cold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile and well-drained; moist summers, dry winters is the ideal rhythm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e around 75 cm tall and 1 m wide over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H3, to about -5C. Mulch the crown and keep drainage sharp in colder gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts salt and wind tolerance make it a natural for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, and established clumps handle \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry, gravelled schemes\u003c\/a\u003e with ease. It is equally at home spilling from a container among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. For pure gleaming silver, see its cousin \u003ca href=\"\/products\/astelia-chathamica-silver-spear\"\u003eAstelia chathamica 'Silver Spear'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown plants selected for strong, well-coloured clumps. Read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e for honest winter advice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58369727955327,"sku":"ASTENERV23","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/astelia-nervosa-westland.jpg?v=1790061749"},{"product_id":"astelia-silver-shadow","title":"Astelia 'Silver Shadow'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAstelia 'Silver Shadow'\u003c\/strong\u003e carries some of the most reflective foliage of any hardy perennial: broad, arching swords in gleaming, almost white metallic silver that light up a border the way water catches sun. This selected hybrid forms a poised evergreen clump to around a metre, tidier than the big species astelias but every bit as luminous.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike all astelias it hails from New Zealand, where these plants grow from windswept coasts to mountain forest, and that heritage shows in its salt tolerance and easy-going nature. It is the plant we reach for when a scheme of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e needs a shot of pure light between greens and purples.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to light shade, sheltered; the silver is brightest in good light.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, free-draining; enrich with organic matter and avoid winter wet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e to around 1 m tall and wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H3, to about -5C. Sharp winter drainage matters more than cold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it in gravel and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought-tolerant plantings\u003c\/a\u003e, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a generous container where the arching blades reach eye level; it is one of the finest \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e we grow. Compare it with the bolder \u003ca href=\"\/products\/astelia-chathamica-silver-spear\"\u003e'Silver Spear'\u003c\/a\u003e and the bronze-red \u003ca href=\"\/products\/astelia-nervosa-westland\"\u003e'Westland'\u003c\/a\u003e to complete the metallic trio.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown and scarce; we hold only a couple of plants at a time. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e covers winter care honestly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58369728020863,"sku":"ASTESILV23","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/asteliasiv.jpg?v=1789655874"},{"product_id":"beschorneria-albiflora","title":"Beschorneria albiflora","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeschorneria albiflora\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003ewhite-flowered Mexican lily\u003c\/strong\u003e, delivers the full architectural agave presence with none of the weaponry: a lush fountain of soft, strappy, grey-green leaves that you can brush past without a scratch. Rarer still, it is the only beschorneria that builds a true trunk with age, slowly lifting its rosettes into a small, sculptural tree unlike anything else in a British garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the cloud forests of Mexico and Central America, it is surprisingly obliging here: rated H3 and taking around -7C given sharp drainage, thriving in mild, coastal and city gardens and against warm walls elsewhere. Mature plants add the headline act, tall red-flushed spikes hung with tubular, greenish-white bells that pollinators adore, and the rosette lives on after flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to light shade; a hot, bright spot flowers best.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining, even poor and stony; add grit on heavy ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e rosettes to around 1.5 m, spreading 2 m; trunking slowly with age.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H3, to around -7C with dry winter roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it where you want agave drama beside a path or seating area, as the soft centrepiece of a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003egravel or dry garden\u003c\/a\u003e, or among spikier companions in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e. It contrasts perfectly with true \u003ca href=\"\/products\/agave-shaka-zulu\"\u003ehardy agaves\u003c\/a\u003e and our wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, and takes happily to a large container with our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown and genuinely scarce in the UK. See our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e for honest winter advice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58369763770751,"sku":"BESCALBI23","price":28.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/beschcornia.jpg?v=1789655865"},{"product_id":"fascicularia-bicolor-canaliculata","title":"Fascicularia bicolor subsp. canaliculata","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFascicularia bicolor subsp. canaliculata\u003c\/strong\u003e is the connoisseur's form of the famous \u003cstrong\u003ehardy bromeliad\u003c\/strong\u003e: narrower, channelled leaves in graceful arching rosettes, and a constitution rated the toughest of the entire pineapple family. In the wild it perches on trees and rocks along Chile's cool coastline, which is exactly why it laughs at British wind, salt and frost that would destroy any houseplant bromeliad.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe party trick is unchanged: in summer the heart of each mature rosette floods bright crimson around a nest of powder-blue flowers, a colour clash nothing else hardy can stage. Each rosette flowers once then offsets freely, so an established mound builds into a spiny, silver-green cushion that repeats the show year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the strongest colour; happy in exposed and coastal spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e poor, gritty, sharply drained; also thrives in rockery pockets, wall crevices, even tree forks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e rosettes to around 45 cm tall, slowly forming a mound to 1 m across.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e around -8C when dry at the root; we rate it H3 for honesty. Winter wet is the only real enemy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow it at the front of a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003egravel or dry garden\u003c\/a\u003e, spilling over a wall in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a wide terracotta pan among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. Compare it with the broader-leaved \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fascicularia-bicolor\"\u003eFascicularia bicolor\u003c\/a\u003e we also grow, and with the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStock is genuinely limited; this subspecies is rarely offered in the UK. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e covers winter care honestly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58369764163967,"sku":"FASCCANA17","price":28.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/fascicularia-bicolor-canaliculata.jpg?v=1790064543"},{"product_id":"agave-parryi-red-select","title":"Agave parryi red select","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgave parryi\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eParry's agave\u003c\/strong\u003e, is the artichoke of the agave world: a dense, perfectly symmetrical rosette of broad blue-grey leaves, each edged and tipped in dark spines. Our \u003cstrong\u003ered select\u003c\/strong\u003e strain turns that outline up a notch, with unusually strong burgundy-red teeth that draw every leaf in dark ink against the glaucous blue. Few hardy plants offer this much geometry in so little space.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt comes from high, cold, arid country in Arizona and New Mexico, which is why it ranks among the very hardiest agaves on Earth: established plants take -10C and lower as long as their roots stay dry. Slow-growing to around 50 to 75 cm across, it suits British gardens far better than the giant species, and offsets in time into a tight colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun; a south-facing raised bed, slope or gravel garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e very free-draining, gritty or stony; never heavy wet ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e slowly to 50-75 cm across, 40-60 cm tall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4 when dry at the root; protect from winter rain rather than cold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant it as the jewel of a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry or gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e, in a rockery pocket, or in terracotta with our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits perfectly beside \u003ca href=\"\/products\/agave-shaka-zulu\"\u003eAgave 'Shaka Zulu'\u003c\/a\u003e and the soft-leaved \u003ca href=\"\/products\/beschorneria-albiflora\"\u003eBeschorneria albiflora\u003c\/a\u003e in a spiky, sculptural corner of your \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown plants with strong colour. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e explains winter care honestly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"13cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58369794212223,"sku":"AGAVPARR13","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/agavered.jpg?v=1789653494"},{"product_id":"banksia-integrifolia","title":"Banksia integrifolia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBanksia integrifolia\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003ecoast banksia\u003c\/strong\u003e, is Australia's gift to the British seaside garden: the hardiest banksia in cultivation, wearing leaves of deep green flashed silver-white beneath, and lighting up autumn and winter with pale lemon flower candles packed with nectar. On a breezy day the whole canopy shimmers two-tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt grows on exposed dunes in the wild, so salt, gales and poor sandy soil are home comforts rather than hazards. Established plants take around -8C, which we rate honestly as H3: mild, coastal and sheltered gardens suit it best, with young plants fleeced through their first winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun; thrives in exposure and salt wind.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e acid to neutral, sandy, sharply drained, low in phosphorus; never feed with standard fertiliser.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e to 3-5 m here over many years; prunes lightly after flowering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H3, around -8C established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is the backbone tree for an Australian corner: underplant with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/grevillea-juniperina\"\u003eGrevillea juniperina\u003c\/a\u003e and callistemons, or set it against the silvers of a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal planting\u003c\/a\u003e. The nectar-rich candles also earn it a place among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e and the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealthy young plants in 9 cm pots, the ideal size to establish. Winter care is covered in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":58369904771455,"sku":"BANKINTE9","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/banksia-integrifolia.jpg?v=1790064259"},{"product_id":"callistemon-pallidus-bianco","title":"Callistemon pallidus 'Bianco'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCallistemon pallidus 'Bianco'\u003c\/strong\u003e rewrites two bottlebrush rules at once: the brushes open soft cream-white rather than red, and the plant is genuinely hardy, rated H4 thanks to its origins in the mountains of south-east Australia. The pale flowers glow against grey-green leaves and silky, pink-tinged new growth, and they hold their light at dusk when red kinds vanish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt grows into a graceful, arching evergreen of around 2 m, humming with bees through its summer flush. Established plants take around -10C in free-draining soil, making this one of the few callistemons for colder gardens without a wall to lean on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to very light shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining, acid to neutral; tolerates poor soil, hates waterlogging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e to around 2 m tall and wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4, around -10C established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePair it with the violet \u003ca href=\"\/products\/callistemon-citrinus-violaceus\"\u003eC. citrinus violaceus\u003c\/a\u003e and red \u003ca href=\"\/products\/callistemon-salignus\"\u003eC. salignus\u003c\/a\u003e for a three-colour bottlebrush walk, or let it lighten a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal border\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic planting\u003c\/a\u003e. Its nectar keeps the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e coming all summer, alongside the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown, well-branched plants. Honest winter guidance in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58369934590335,"sku":"CALLPALL23","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/callistemon-pallidus-bianco.jpg?v=1790062123"},{"product_id":"feijoa-sellowiana","title":"Feijoa sellowiana","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdible fruit.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sold here as a fruit-bearing plant grown for its harvest of feijoa fruit, not as an ornamental.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeijoa sellowiana\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003epineapple guava\u003c\/strong\u003e, is the exotic fruit bush that genuinely belongs in a British garden: rated H4 and taking around -10C, yet unmistakably subtropical with its grey-green, silver-backed evergreen leaves and outrageous summer flowers, waxy white petals flushed pink around a firework of crimson stamens. The petals are sweet and edible; the aromatic green fruits that follow taste of pineapple, guava and mint.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn New Zealand feijoas are a national autumn ritual, and given a warm wall and a kind season they will crop here too, especially in mild and coastal gardens where their salt tolerance is a bonus. Even fruitless, the shrub earns its place on foliage and flower alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun; a warm wall helps fruit ripen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, well-drained soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e to around 2-3 m; clips well, even as hedging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4, around -10C established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant it with the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/eriobotrya-japonica-rose-anne\"\u003eloquat 'Rose Anne'\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/psidium-cattleianum-lucidum\"\u003estrawberry guavas\u003c\/a\u003e to complete the edible exotics shelf, in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal border\u003c\/a\u003e, or in a large container among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. The stamens keep the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e busy all summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown, well-branched shrubs. Fruit-ripening honesty in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58370018148735,"sku":"FEIJSELL23","price":35.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/feijoa-sellowiana.jpg?v=1790064258"},{"product_id":"pleroma-foveolatum-blue-moon","title":"Pleroma foveolatum 'Blue Moon'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePleroma foveolatum 'Blue Moon'\u003c\/strong\u003e shrinks the glory bush to patio-pot scale without losing a drop of its magic: soft, silver-haired velvet leaves and satiny, wide-open flowers in luminous violet-blue, produced in flushes from midsummer deep into autumn. Few blues in the plant kingdom are this saturated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe sell it honestly as a \u003cstrong\u003epatio and conservatory shrub\u003c\/strong\u003e (H2): outdoors in the sun from late spring to autumn, under bright frost-free cover for winter, the same easy rhythm as a citrus. Compact, pinchable and generous, it is the easiest way into the velvet-leaved Melastome family.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to bright light shade on the summer patio.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e rich, free-draining, slightly acid compost in a pot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e tidy at 60-90 cm with spring pinching.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H2; winter under cover.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePair it with the royal-purple \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pleroma-foveolatum-purple-moon\"\u003e'Purple Moon'\u003c\/a\u003e and full-size \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tibouchina-urvilleana\"\u003eTibouchina urvilleana\u003c\/a\u003e, and summer it among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e beside the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e display.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown, well-branched plants. Overwintering honesty in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58370053996927,"sku":"PLERBLUE17","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/pleroma-foveolatum-blue-moon.jpg?v=1790066911"},{"product_id":"pleroma-foveolatum-purple-moon","title":"Pleroma foveolatum 'Purple Moon'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePleroma foveolatum 'Purple Moon'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the deeper, moodier twin of 'Blue Moon': the same compact, silver-velvet glory bush, but with satin flowers of rich royal purple that seem to hold their own light at dusk. Flushes keep coming from midsummer well into autumn against foliage soft enough to stroke.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is a \u003cstrong\u003epatio and conservatory shrub\u003c\/strong\u003e, rated H2 and sold as such: full sun outdoors for the warm half of the year, a bright frost-free windowsill or conservatory for winter. Pinch it in spring and it repays you with double the branches and double the flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to bright light shade in summer; maximum light in winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e rich, slightly acid, free-draining compost in a pot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60-90 cm kept pinched.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H2; winter under cover.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow the pair, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pleroma-foveolatum-blue-moon\"\u003e'Blue Moon'\u003c\/a\u003e beside it, or graduate to the conservatory-scale \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tibouchina-urvilleana\"\u003eTibouchina urvilleana\u003c\/a\u003e. In summer it holds its own among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e and the front rank of the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e display.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWell-branched plants. Overwintering guidance in the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58370054062463,"sku":"PLERPURP17","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/purplemoon-2.jpg?v=1789653068"},{"product_id":"wisteria-showa-beni","title":"Wisteria brachybotrys 'Showa-beni'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWisteria brachybotrys 'Showa-beni'\u003c\/strong\u003e is the \u003cstrong\u003esilky wisteria\u003c\/strong\u003e in its most celebrated pink: broad racemes of large rose-pink flowers, each lit by a white flash, opening early in May among young leaves sheened with silver down. It carries perhaps the finest scent in the genus, a sweet violet-grape perfume that reaches across a garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy (H6) and supplied as a grafted plant that flowers young, it brings the wisteria season forward a beat and pairs its shorter racemes with real flower size. A clockwise twiner, unusually, so note that when first tying in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to light shade on stout wires, pergola or as a standard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, moist but well-drained.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e to 8 m trained; pruning sets the scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, fully hardy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eOpen the season with 'Showa-beni', then hand over to \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wisteria-kimono\"\u003e'Kimono'\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wisteria-kuchi-beni\"\u003e'Kuchi-beni'\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wisteria-floribunda-black-dragon\"\u003e'Black Dragon'\u003c\/a\u003e. Early nectar for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinators\u003c\/a\u003e, early silk for the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNursery-grown grafted plants. Pruning calendar in the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"23cm \/ 5L","offer_id":58370064908671,"sku":"WISTSHOW23","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/wisteria-showa-beni.jpg?v=1790066720"},{"product_id":"acacia-boormanii","title":"Acacia boormanii","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcacia boormanii\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eSnowy River wattle\u003c\/strong\u003e, turns February gold: thousands of fragrant, fluffy yellow pompoms smother its graceful, multi-stemmed frame just when the garden most needs convincing that spring exists. The rest of the year it earns its keep with fine, feathery blue-green foliage that moves in every breeze.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the cold riverbanks of Australia's Snowy Mountains, it ranks among the hardiest wattles: around -8C established, which we rate H3. It is also one of the fastest plants we sell, reaching flowering size within a couple of seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, sheltered; superb near the coast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e free-draining, acid to neutral; no lime, no waterlogging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e fast to 3-4 m, an elegant light thicket.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H3, around -8C established; protect young plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow it beside our other wattles, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/acacia-dealbata\"\u003eA. dealbata\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/acacia-pravissima\"\u003eA. pravissima\u003c\/a\u003e, for a relay of late-winter gold, in a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal garden\u003c\/a\u003e, or as the early act of an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e. Early bees mob the flowers, earning its \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003epollinator\u003c\/a\u003e badge within \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYoung plants that establish fast. Winter honesty in the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003eseasonal expectations guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"13cm \/ 1L","offer_id":58370076836223,"sku":"ACACBOOR13","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/acacia-boormanii.jpg?v=1790064261"},{"product_id":"brunnera-macrophylla-mega-heart","title":"Brunnera macrophylla 'Mega Heart'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBrunnera macrophylla\u003c\/em\u003e 'Mega Heart' is a Siberian bugloss chosen for the size of its leaves.\u003c\/strong\u003e Extra large, sturdy, heart-shaped leaves, washed silver with a fine net of green veins and a narrow green rim, build into a bold, ground-covering clump in shade, and in early spring airy sprays of small, sky-blue, forget-me-not flowers rise just above them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e The RHS rates \u003cem\u003eBrunnera macrophylla\u003c\/em\u003e H6, hardy anywhere in the UK. It is a herbaceous perennial: the leaves die back over winter and fresh ones unfurl in early spring, just ahead of the flowers, which run from April into May. In a cool, moist spot the foliage then stays in good shape until autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it fits.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use it at the front of a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003eshade planting\u003c\/a\u003e, under deciduous shrubs or along a woodland path, where the big leaves read clearly in low light. Early bees visit the flowers, so it earns a place among \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. For another silver-leaved form, look at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/brunnera-macrophylla-silver-heart\"\u003eBrunnera 'Silver Heart'\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a young plant in a 17cm (2L) pot. From late autumn to early spring it may be dormant, with few or no leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58617815302527,"sku":"BRUNNMEGAHEAR17","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/brunnera_886b41ba-753d-4cc7-9b3c-68eb9da699ed.jpg?v=1791550439"}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/silver-foliage-plants.oembed?page=2","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}