Enhance Your Outdoor Space with Lush Greenery
Transforming your garden into a tropical paradise may seem like an impossible dream, especially when you live in the UK. However, with the right selection of plants, you can create a stunning tropical look right in your own garden. In this blog post, I'll introduce you to five fantastic tropical-looking plants that can cope with the less-than-tropical UK climate.
1. Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica)
With it's large, glossy green leaves and it's striking flowers, Fatsia japonica is a must-have for a tropical looking garden. The leaves are evergreen so will create a lovely focal point all year round. Happy in shade or full sun and most types of soil, the Fatsia defintely earns it's place as number 1 in this list.
2. Cabbage Palm (Cordyline australis)
Cordyline Australis, also known as the Cabbage Palm or Torbay Palm, is a visually striking plant that lends a touch of the exotic to any garden. With its tall, slender trunk and long, arching leaves, it resembles a palm tree. It is perfect for milder areas of the UK and is hardy down to around -5ºC so protect it with horticultural fleece and mulch in winter. This evergreen beauty provides year-round interest and a tropical flair to your garden.
3. Windmill or Chusan Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)
Trachycarpus fortunei is a hardy palm species that can endure temperatures down to -10--15ºC. Its fan-shaped leaves and slender trunk create a tropical ambiance even in the UK's temperate climate. This slow-growing palm tree can reach heights of up to 12 meters, making it an excellent focal point for your garden design.
4. New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)
This versatile evergreen plant adds a touch of drama to any garden. There are many varities of Phormium in differing shades of green, bronze, black and red, with vivid red flowers in the summer. This plant is known for its resilience and can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. It creates a striking contrast against other plants and adds an exotic twist to your garden borders or pots.
5. Dahlia
Dahlias are a late summer-flowering perennial that will add a touch of drama and colour to a planting scheme. Coming in a whole host of colours from bright red and orange to more mellow yellows and peaches, Dahlias give a real wow factor. The tubers are best dug up over the winter and stored inside as they are not frost-hardy. In milder areas, it may be possible to leave them in the ground with a thick layer of mulch on top. Favourites for an exotic look are: Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury', Dahlia 'Fashion Monger' and Dahlia 'Happy Single First Love'.
More tropical-looking plants to consider: Musa basjoo, Camellia, Canna lily, Turk's Cap Lily (Lilium martagon), Lobelia tupa, Hosta and Nerine bowdenii.
Creating an exotic-looking garden in the UK is not an unattainable fantasy. By incorporating these five plants into your garden design, you can enjoy lush greenery and a touch of exoticism, even in the UK climate. For more advice on creating your tropical paradise, get in touch with me on lizmiles.gardens@gmail.com . I offer a range of services from advice sessions to full garden makeovers in the Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire area.
Comments