Are you dreaming of an exotic garden full of flowers with hard-to-pronounce names that will awe your guests? An understandable dream. But most exotic green life is not meant to grow in the UK’s weather conditions.
However, below we have prepared a list of tropical plants that can live in your area’s climate and thrive successfully. So keep reading to find out which examples can add an exotic touch to your outdoor space.
Table of Contents
Ginger Lily (Hedychium aurantiacum)
Hedychium aurantiacum is a perennial which has erect stems and fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers. This hardy ginger plant is just one of the many hedychium varieties, which is also known as Ginger Lily.
How to grow Hedychium aurantiacum?
- You can easily grow it in pots.
- It makes the perfect border plant, too.
- Store your Ginger Lilies in a greenhouse throughout the winter.
Arum lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
Also known as Calla Lily, this is one of the most elegant and exotic plants to grow in your garden. For those of you who are wondering if the calla lily is a perennial or annual plant, we’ve got the answer.
Zantedeschia is a semi-evergreen perennial plant that has funnel-shaped white flowers. Its leaves can reach up to 40 cm in length and its flowers can grow up to 25 cm.
How to care for a Calla Lily indoors?
- Keep the soil moist.
- Provide this tropical-looking plant with indirect sunlight.
- Re-pot it once a year.
- Feed it with a liquid fertiliser every month.
Trilliums (Trillium grandiflorum)
Trilliums are perennial plants that grow in spring. They aren’t difficult to care for at all. But, they aren’t the kind of plants that will thrive successfully in pots due to their preference for rich soils.
How to grow Trilliums?
- Trilliums prefer moist soil so make sure to keep the plant hydrated.
- Still be careful not to overwater them, though.
- Plant the Trilliums about 10 cm deep into non-clay soil by the end of summer.
- Mulch this plant with some organic matter in spring.
- Fertilise Trilliums in spring as well.
Trachycarpus Fortunei
Image Source: Wikimedia | Author: harum.koh
Trachycarpus palm varieties are hardy plants you can grow in the UK and add an exotic feel to your garden. Trachycarpus Fortunei is one of the varieties you can admire in your backyard.
It’s a slow grower and its fan-shaped foliage will accentuate your garden or patio. It won’t be a problem to grow your Trachycarpus Fortunei palm tree in pots.
Keep in mind, though, that your tree will be vulnerable to winter frosts. If you are thinking about planting it in your backyard, make sure you don’t dig too deep around the base of your palm tree.
How to grow Trachycarpus Fortunei?
- Hydrate your palm tree but don’t overwater it.
- The soil it grows in should be well-draining.
- Trachycarpus Fortunei needs sunlight exposure but it can also tolerate partial shade.
- Place your plant in a wind-protected spot.
- You can plant your palm tree at any time, but spring and summer are a good opportunity to do so as it will have enough time to stabilise.
And if you are wondering when should palm trees be pruned, the answer is simple – you’ll notice they are overgrown and need it. Get rid of brown leaves regularly to keep your palm tree healthy.
Chamaerops humilis
Image Source: Wikimedia | Author: tato grasso
Chamaerops humilis is an evergreen dwarf fan palm tree from the Arecaceae family. It’s, actually, the perfect palm tree for your patio. Chamaerops humilis is a slow-growing palm that reaches up to 3.5 metres.
It can survive cold temperatures of up to -5 degrees Celsius. However, if temperatures go lower then that, bring the palm tree indoors.
How do you care for Chamaerops humilis?
- Water it regularly.
- Provide the tree with indirect sunlight.
- Don’t leave it outside if it’s colder than -5 degrees Celsius.
- When it comes to the type of soil, this palm tree can thrive in all kinds of soil. Just make sure it is well-drained and keep it moist and rich.
Cordyline australis
Image Source: Flickr.com | Author: Bernard Spragg
Cordyline australis, also popular as cabbage palm, is an evergreen shrub with long sword-shaped foliage. Are Cordylines frost hardy? Well, not really.
Cordylines can survive most winters in the UK with temperatures up to -10 degrees Celsius. Keep in mind, though, that the frost may cause damage to them.
How to grow Cordyline australis?
- Cordylines like full sun exposure so make sure you will provide it.
- Plant your Cordylines in spring in a sheltered sunny spot.
- Water it well during the growing season.
Ceanothus (California Lilac)
Image Source: Wikimedia | Author: Kousvet
Ceanothus is a low-maintenance evergreen which blooms in the warmer months. It’s rather hardy but is still prone to damage due to the cold weather.
How tall do ceanothus grow, you may ask? Well, in fact, this tropical-looking plant can reach up to 6 metres in height. It will look great near a fence or a wall as they can stabilise it. And if you are wondering how long a ceanothus lives – its lifespan covers about 15 years.
How to grow Ceanothus?
- The Ceanothus plant requires full sunlight exposure.
- Keep the soil well-drained and fertilised.
- Place it in a wind-protected area.
Bamboo Iris (Iris confusa)
Image Source: Wikimedia | Author: Hans Hillewaert
Irises are perennial evergreen plants you won’t actually recognise until they bloom. They are also among the most beautiful exotic plants you can grow in the UK. They have long, sword-like foliage. Their delicate flowers bloom during spring – between April and June. Irises come in yellow, white or pale blue colours.
How to grow Iris confusa?
- Remember it prefers full sun or partial shade.
- Make sure it grows in well-drained soil.
- Water it regularly without overwatering it.
Passion Flower (Passiflora)
The Passion Flower is a fully hardy plant that is easy to grow and look after. The best time to plant the Passiflora is in spring or autumn. It normally blooms in summer.
If you are wondering whether you can overwinter the Passion Flower outside, the answer is that it depends on the variety. There are many varieties and most are hardy. This enables them to withstand cold UK winters.
Some sorts, such as Passion Flower mollissima, however, can’t deal with temperatures lower than 5 degrees Celsius. In that case, they could only be grown in a greenhouse.
How to grow Passion Flower?
- Grow your Passion Flower in a well-drained, fertilised soil.
- The Passion Flower loves sunlight, so make sure to take it outdoors when the weather warms up.
- Water it well during the growing season. The soil shouldn’t dry out. However, during winter the Passiflora does not require as much water. Its soil should be rather dry between each watering.
Bird of Paradise Flower (Strelitzia)
This plant is as gorgeous as its name. It symbolises freedom, success, joy and loyalty in relationships. What’s interesting about this colourful flower, is that it doesn’t produce any oils and has no scent. Therefore it can’t be used for perfume production.
There are five different groups of the Bird of Paradise flower but they are all known as Strelitzia. However, only two of these can thrive successfully inside your home – the orange Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae) and the white one (Strelitzia nicolai).
Considering this exotic plant loves warmth and sun, you may be wondering if Strelitzia can grow indoors. The answer is “yes”. However, it will take up to 3-5 years until the plant is ready to bloom.
Also, this is a tall-growing exotic plant which can reach 6 feet in height. Therefore, make sure you position it in a room with tall ceilings.
How to grow Strelitzia?
- Strelitzia loves direct bright light. However, mid-day sun can burn the leaves so place it in a room, facing west or east, if you grow it indoors.
- Keep it hydrated. The soil should be moist so you may have to water it every day in warmer months.
- Grow it in a rich and well-drained soil.
- Use liquid fertiliser to feed this plant during the growing season.
Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
This is a gorgeous flower that you can let climb your trellis fence or grow in hanging baskets. The Thunbergia flower is a low-maintenance plant which doesn’t require much but offers you beautiful flowers all season.
The Black-Eyed Susan Vine is a plant which grows quite quickly as soon as temperatures go up. This exotic plant can also climb fences so it could be an easy way to accentuate the fences in your outdoor space.
How do you grow Thunbergia alata?
- Position it in a sunny spot.
- Make sure to keep its soil moist and well-drained.
- It’s perfect for growing in hanging containers as well as garden edges.
Tropical plants add an exotic feel to every outdoor area. Therefore, it would be best if you plan ahead what type of plants you’d like to grow in your garden. Better yet, why not hire professional gardeners who know all plants well, will bring their own equipment and even do the planting for you in no time.
Need professional gardeners? The experts are just a few clicks away.
Enter your postcode to view our rates and availability in your area.
For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3404 4881
Oh, perfect post for me there! Since 2 years I am interested in growing exotic plants – not only flowers but also fruits. To be honest, they are not that hard to grow like people think. From your list I tried growing a few plants: Bird of Paradise, Iris confusa and Trilliums. What I can add to your list is a Starflower Pincushion. I bought it https://gardenseedsmarket.com/unusual-plants-en/ where I got 25 seeds. The flower looked amazing, people were jealous! You have to try it.
A very useful article as I am really interested in creating a tropical garden and you have pointed me to the right direction.. As some plants are tender it is best to grow in containers, where they can be moved to a shelter position. Is this possible with these plants?
Your article on growing exotic plants was very enlightening, I am going to have to try my hand at a couple to see if they will survive the Pacific Northwest.