Extremely fast growing 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: 30-40cm tall including pot.
An absolutely incredible Banana with red striped foliage on mature plants. Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ is thought to have similar hardiness to Musa Basjoo, surviving -5ºC with a light wrap of fleece in the Grow Paradise garden. Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ grows rapidly and can reach a height of 2.5m tall and 1m wide within 2 seasons. A fantastic specimen plant.
Please note: The red leaf markings are variable and will appear as the plants get larger and are exposed to more light. These plants have been cut back and are now pushing out their first leaves of the season. Current Size: Supplied as a jumbo plug plant.
A striking ornamental banana that is said to be cold hardy in the UK. Musa sikkimensis produces striking sail-like green leaves that are streaked with red markings, though these fade on older leaves. Musa sikkimensis s very fast growing once the seeds have germinated and can reach 1.5m in height in its first year. We find the leaves of Musa sikkimensis to be more wind resilient than the delicate leaves of Musa basjoo.PACKET CONTAINS 5 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Soak the seed prior to sowing. Sow to a depth of 1cm. 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.
A beautiful and colourful form of American pokeweed. Phytolacca 'Laka Boom' is a herbaceous shrub that produces green foliage with purple stems and leaf undersides. Striking racemes pink flowers bloom from midsummer to early autumn followed by purple-black fruit in autumn. Phytolacca 'Laka Boom' looks great in garden borders and will also grow well as a specimen plant in containers on your deck or patio.
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 (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
A fast growing attractive climber that will flower from spring through to the first frosts. Heart shaped rich green leaves up to 8cm across combine beautifully with masses of singular tubular rich purple-black flowers with star cup shaped pink calyces. Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, sometimes called 'Purple Bells' is best grown as a climber against a trellis or as an unusual trailing plant from elevated pots and baskets.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Surface sow the small seed. 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.
A incredibly fast growing and colourful exotic foliage plant that can reach heights of over 2.5m in one season! Ricinus communis 'Zanzibariensis' is a beautiful cultivar selected for large lush green leaves that can grow up to 60cm across. This amazing plant will grow very quickly from seed and will produce some of the most exotic looking leaves in your garden.
PACKET CONTAINS 5 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Sow to a depth of 1cm individually in small pots. 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.
All parts of this plant are poisonous, including the seeds. More information below:
Prolific scarlet red blooms throughout the season. This compact and colourful Salvia will produce masses of tubular bright red flowers that are very attractive to pollinating insects. Once established, this plant is very drought tolerant and will thrive in the heat of summer where other plants may struggle. Use Salvia 'Summer Jewel Red' to add colour to your borders and container displays. Very easy to grow and fast from seed.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Surface sow the small seed. 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.
Chelsea plant of the year 2022! Deep maroon fleshy leaves remain this colour even in winter, turning almost black under the summer sun. The notably glossy spoon shaped leaves of Semponium 'Destiny' have a slight veiny texture, making this a truly eye-catching cultivar. In time Semponium 'Destiny' will grow into a beautiful branching specimen.
Semponium is a world-first cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The stunning rosettes and shrubby habit of Aeoniums are combined with the reliable hardiness of Sempervivum to create a ground-breaking range of vigorous hybrid plants and new colours. Semponiums are hardy down to -4ºC, though young plug plants will need to be grown on in a frost-free spot. Semponiums are incredibly versatile, growing well in pots, gravel gardens and in gaps in exotic borders. A must have plant for any collection!
Current size: Rooted in a 9cm pot.
Satisfyingly geometrically arranged thick green leaves that are edged with orange when grown under intense sun. This ground-breaking hybrid will quickly branch out and form a beautiful specimen plant. Semponium 'Diamond' will quickly branch out to form a striking multi-headed specimen.
Semponium is a world-first cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The stunning rosettes and shrubby habit of Aeoniums are combined with the reliable hardiness of Sempervivum to create a ground-breaking range of vigorous hybrid plants and new colours. Semponiums are hardy down to -4ºC, though young plug plants will need to be grown on in a frost-free spot. Semponiums are incredibly versatile, growing well in pots, gravel gardens and in gaps in exotic borders. A must have plant for any collection!
Current size: Rooted in a 9cm pot.
Perfectly geometric pointed leaves that flush bright red in the summer sun. The centre of each rosette remains a beautiful contrasting lime green colour. Semponium 'Sienna' will quickly branch out to form a striking multi-headed specimen.
Semponium is a world-first cross between Sempervivum and Aeonium. The stunning rosettes and shrubby habit of Aeoniums are combined with the reliable hardiness of Sempervivum to create a ground-breaking range of vigorous hybrid plants and new colours. Semponiums are hardy down to -4ºC, though young plug plants will need to be grown on in a frost-free spot. Semponiums are incredibly versatile, growing well in pots, gravel gardens and in gaps in exotic borders. A must have plant for any collection!
Current size: Rooted in a 9cm pot.
Known as the 'Kangaroo Apple'. A half-hardy shrub with exotic looking variable leaves. Purple flowers are produced throughout summer and followed by inedible orange egg-shaped fruits. We love growing Solanum lacinatum in tropical garden borders as it quickly fills out a space with foliage and flowers.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Surface sow the small seeds and lightly cover. 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.
Solanum quitoense, commonly called the Naranjilla plant, is a fast-growing tomato-relative from the humid highlands of northwestern South America where it is prized for its sweet tasting fruit. In the UK climate it is usually grown for its very ornamental foliage. Each large leaf features distinctive purple veins that are covered with spikes of the same colour. Solanum quitoense will quickly grow to form a large plant in just one season.
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 (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
A vigorous exotic shrub with large green leaves and thick stems. The delicate looking white flowers feature a red and yellow centre that slowly moves to open when tickled, possibly an evolutionary feature to allow pollinating insects in. Remains evergreen in mild winters.
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 (18-24 degrees Celsius) and light to improve germination if sowing out of season.
The 'Bird of Paradise' plant! This iconic tropical plant produces lush tropical leaves that will look great in containers on your patio or deck. After several years Strelitzia reginae plants will produce stunning flowers that are said to resemble the plumage of a tropical bird of paradise.
PACKET CONTAINS 10 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Soak the seed prior to sowing. Sow the seed to a depth of 1cm. 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.
Known as 'Spanish Moss, this is a rootless hanging epiphytic perennial that is widespread in the tropics and sub-tropics where it hangs from large trees. Tillandsia usneoides silvery branching stems can reach several metres long. These unusual plants uptake water that is trapped by the tiny silver hairs that cover the cylindrical leaves. Scented, tubular, yellow-green or pale blue flowers are produced in late spring or autumn. Try draping this plant over the larger shrubs and trees in your summer garden for an authentic jungle look. It's extremely easy to care for when grown both indoors and outdoors in summer.
Supplied as a bunch around 30cm+ long.
A fast growing hardy tree with large foliage that is great for creating a tropical effect in UK gardens. Toona sinensis has wonderful fragrant leaves, creamy white flowers and foliage that turns fiery red in autumn. Commonly called the 'Chinese Mahogany', this tree can grow to 15m in height but tolerates hard pruning very well. Toona sinensis is best grown in rich soil in full sun. We've seen these trees produce leaves almost a meter long!
PACKET CONTAINS 20 SEEDSSOWING TIPS:
Sow the seed to a depth of 5mm. 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.