An elegant tree known as the 'Persian silk tree'. Albizia julibrissin produces a broad and graceful canopy of fern-like foliage. The foliage will close up at night and open during the day, making it an effective shade tree for hot summer days. In mid-summer mature plants produce a profusion of pink blooms that appear to be made up of silk threads. Albizia julibrissin truly is one of the most beautiful hardy trees we can grow in the UK. It's fairly easy and fast to grow from seed too!
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Soak the seed prior to sowing. Sow the seed to a depth of 3mm. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (20-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
The most hardy tree fern available. These young Dickonsia antarctica ferns will grow to reach heights of 3 meters tall after a number of years! Even as young plants, Dickonsia antarctica tree ferns will produce large evergreen fronds that look incredibly jungly. Plant in shaded areas to provide year-round foliage interest.
Current size: Supplied in 9cm pots.
Incredibly robust fern with finely divided fronds that are uniquely crested and twisted at the tips. Dryopteris 'Cristata The King' creates a regal, textured appearance. Its vibrant green foliage brings a lush, elegant feel to shaded areas. This fern exhibits excellent cold hardiness, tolerating temperatures well below freezing, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.For ideal growth, plant it in a location with moist, well-drained soil and dappled to full shade, mimicking its natural woodland habitat. It excels in shady borders, fern gardens, and as a striking feature in woodland or rainforest inspired settings.Supplied in a 9cm pot.
An architectural and tall growing hardy fern with elegant yet sturdy fronds that are covered in tiny dark hairs giving it its distinctive appearance. Commonly called the 'Shaggy Shield Fern'. Dryopteris atrata will remain semi-evergreen in mild winters and quickly produces fresh new fronds in spring. Ferns make a great addition to tropical and jungle style gardens, providing lush rainforest floor style foliage in even the darkest of growing spots.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
A beautiful hardy fern with new fronds emerging in shades of copper and pink. Commonly called the 'Autumn Fern' or 'Japanese Shield Fern'. These colourful new fronds glow against the backdrop of shiny green mature leaves that can reach a height of 1m. Ferns make a great addition to tropical and jungle style gardens, providing lush rainforest floor style foliage in even the darkest of growing spots.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
A distinctive, almost prehistoric fern with its broad, leathery, and deeply lobed fronds, a stark contrast to typical feathery ferns. Its bluish-green hue adds a cool, sophisticated touch. Cold hardiness is moderate, tolerating temperatures down to roughly -5°C to -10°C, which may require some winter protection in colder UK regions.
For a UK tropical-style garden, plant Dryopteris sieboldii in a sheltered, shaded area with moist, well-drained soil. Partner it with other shade-loving, bold-textured plants like Fatsia japonica, Hostas, and large-leaved rhododendrons to enhance the lush, exotic feel. Creating a dense, multi-layered planting scheme will further evoke a tropical rainforest vibe.
Dramatic deeply divided palmate leaves and a bushy exotic evergreen habit. Fatsia polycarpa ‘Green Fingers’ is a relatively new introduction to gardeners here in the U.K. Fatsia polycarpa originates from the shady hillsides of Taiwan where it was once a rare plant to find. Fatsia polycarpa ‘Green Fingers’ is a tough exotic shrub and should be hardy in most UK gardens, but it will benefit from a bit of shelter from the most severe cold. Well worth growing for it’s amazing deeply lobed foliage, giving this Fatsia a much more tropical look than the regular Fatsia japonica.
Fatsia polycarpa ‘Green Fingers’ is best grown in partial shade where it can reach heights of up to 2m. In late autumn and winter it produces Ivy-like flowers that provide valuable nectar for pollinating insects.
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Current size: Supplied in a 17cm diameter pot. 45-60cm tall including pot.
Adds a vibrant, exotic touch to UK gardens with its captivating floral display.Its beauty lies in the abundance of fragrant, tubular flowers that bloom profusely throughout summer. The blooms open white, gradually transitioning to a rich, deep red, creating a stunning two-toned effect against the backdrop of glossy, dark green leaves. This colour transformation adds a dynamic element to the garden, while the sweet, intoxicating fragrance fills the air, especially in the evenings. 'Red World' is a vigorous climber, quickly covering walls, fences, or pergolas, creating a lush backdrop.
In an exotic garden setting, Lonicera japonica 'Red World' offers several benefits. Its vigorous growth provides a quick and effective way to create a sense of lushness and abundance. The vibrant red and white flowers add a splash of colour, complementing other exotic plants. The intoxicating fragrance enhances the sensory experience of the garden, creating a truly immersive and exotic atmosphere. Its relatively low maintenance requirements, once established, make it a practical choice for UK gardeners seeking an exotic feel without excessive upkeep. The semi-evergreen nature of 'Red World' also provides year-round interest, maintaining a sense of greenery even in the winter months.Current size: Supplied in a 15cm pot.
Lonicera x brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet' is a eye-catching climbing honeysuckle celebrated for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. Its beauty lies in the profusion of these scarlet blooms, which appear in clusters throughout the summer, creating a dazzling display of red against a backdrop of dark green leaves. The flowers, slightly fragrant, attract bees and butterflies, adding to the garden's charm. The vigorous, twining stems of 'Dropmore Scarlet' create a dense and attractive cover for walls, fences, or pergolas.
Growing 'Dropmore Scarlet' in the UK offers several benefits. Its hardiness makes it well-suited to the British climate, tolerating a range of conditions. It's a relatively low-maintenance plant, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its shape. Its vigorous growth allows for quick coverage of desired areas, providing a beautiful screen or focal point. The bright red flowers add a splash of colour to the garden, attracting pollinators.
Known as the 'giant black parsley'. This fantastic and fast growing plant originates from the island of Madeira. In its first year it will produce large divided leaves that look great in a jungle garden. As the central stem matures it somewhat resembles bamboo. In its final year Melanoselinum decipiens will produce a crown of umbles of tiny white flowers that are loved by pollinating insects.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Sow the seed to a depth of 3mm. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (20-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
Bold, architectural foliage that brings a touch of the exotic to UK tropical-style gardens.Melianthus major has large, pinnate leaves, a striking glaucous-green, that create a dramatic focal point.
PACKET CONTAINS 5 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Sow the seed to a depth of 3mm. Sow in an unheated greenhouse in early spring to encourage natural germination. Use additional heat (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
Extremely fast growing and winter hardy banana plants. Musa basjoo is always popular for exotic gardeners with its gigantic jungly leaves and reliable hardiness in British winters. A must have plant for gardeners looking to achieve the 'tropical style' garden with high impact. This banana plant will quickly multiply and produce 'pups' from the base (baby banana plants).
Current size: Supplied as plug plants.
Known as the 'Golden lotus banana' because of its stunning yellow flower which can last for up to 6 months! This species is hardy down to -5 degrees celsius, if frosted to the ground it will regrow from the base as with Musa basjoo. A shorter growing plant that is equally suited to growing in a pot as with other exotics in your garden borders.
Current size: Supplied as plug plants.
This versatile addition to the garden offers a carpet of verdant beauty, ideal for underplanting shrubs or defining garden edges in tropical and exotic schemes.Its dense, grass-like foliage forms a lush, evergreen mat, creating a tranquil, textured ground cover. Unlike many plants, its beauty persists through winter, maintaining its deep green hue even in colder months, offering a welcome splash of colour when other plants are dormant.
Its fine texture contrasts beautifully with the larger leaves of tropical shrubs, adding a sense of depth and richness. Cold hardy to approximately -15°C, it withstands typical UK winters with ease, making it a reliable and visually appealing choice for year-round exotic garden interest. Kew Gardens use this plant to great effect in their Japanese inspired garden.
Current Size: Supplied in a 8cm diameter pot. 10-15cm tall including pot.
Eye-catching triangular leaves emerge maroon-purple in spring, turning green and developing distinctive purple markings. In late summer each stem is topped with a profusion of white pom-pom flowers. Persicaria ‘Purple Fantasy' is a vigorous plant that quickly establishes itself in any garden. Try planting this beautiful foliage plant around the base of your shrubs as a really interesting foil plant.
Current size: Supplied as a jumbo plug plant.
Incredibly versatile foliage plant that is extremely hardy. Persicaria 'Red Dragon' thrives when grown in both sun and shade making it the perfect colourful gap filler. Each leaf of Persicaria 'Red Dragon' is a rich maroon colour with a silvery chevron marking on the upper surface. In summer this fleshy stems are topped with clusters of tiny white flowers. You'll love the summer-long colour this easy to grow plant will provide.
Current size: Supplied as a jumbo plug plant.
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