Exotic Plants

Windmill Palm - Trachycarpus fortunei Extremely hardy evergreen palm with fan shaped leaves, cup shaped flowers and spherical shaped black fruit. There are some grand specimens growing in the south of the country.   Cabbage Palm - Cordyline australis This palm-like tree has arching, lance shaped, light green leaves, retained throughout the year. An ideal specimen plant for a sunny, protected border or patio, in frost-prone areas it's best grown inside a warm greenhouse or conservatory. Perfect for the exotic garden, it is also faster growing than the coloured foliage varieties.   Tree Fern - Dicksonia antarctica This prehistoric plant can be grown in UK gardens if protected in winter. It likes light shade and plenty of moisture. Water from the top as the roots are only in the top part of the trunk. Protect in winter by wrapping chicken wire around the crown stuffed with straw.   Blue Passion Flower - Passiflora caerulea Blue passion flower is a vigorous, trouble-free climber that thrives in hot summers. Perfect for a tropical garden, it grows best at the base of a sheltered wall in full sun.   Century Plant - Agave americana Rosettes of thick, spiny-margined, spine-tipped, grey-green, succulent leaves. This architectural plant makes a fabulous focal point for a cool or temperate greenhouse. Towards the end of the plant's life a towering yellowish-green flower-spike of up to 8m (25ft) appears, after which the plant dies, leaving small side-shoots to grow on.   Arum Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica Arrow-shaped semi-erect foliage with white arum-like flowers borne in spring and summer. Likes moist soil. New Zealand Mountain Flax Phormium cookianum subsp. hookeri Tricolor Spikes of tubular, yellow-green flowers emerge in summer above clumps of sword-shaped, creamy-yellow and green striped leaves, with a thin red edge. This highly-decorative mountain flax makes a great all-year feature plant for a sheltered, sunny, site. Spanish Dagger / Adams Needle - Yucca gloriosa  Sword-shaped, dark green leaves and upright spikes of white, bell-shaped flowers from August to September. This handsome, evergreen shrub makes a great focal point for a sunny Mediterranean-style garden. Foxglove Tree - Paulownia tomentosa Fragrant, foxglove-like, pinkish-lilac flowers on bare stems in May, followed by large, heart-shaped, bright green leaves. This spectacular, spring-flowering, deciduous tree looks lovely set in the middle of a large, sunny, well-drained lawn, sheltered from strong winds. One of our recommended plants, it flowers best in areas with long, hot summers. Musa Basjoo - Hardy Banana Bold, paddle-shaped, bright green leaves up to 3m (10ft) long and pale yellow or cream summer flowers. This frost-hardy Japanese banana makes a fabulous specimen plant for an exotic-style garden in a sheltered, sunny site. One of our recommended plants, to protect against extreme winter weather the stems should be wrapped with hessian and straw. Ginger Lily- Hedychium coccineum Tara Massive jungly leaves to 5 foot with strong orange, mildly fragrant flowers in September. Dies down after being frosted, then need to protect the crown with mulch or bracken. If kept under glass it will remain evergreen.