A gorgeous flowering shrub closely related to tropical Hibiscus. These Abutilon plants are hybrids of large flowering forms, promising an array of potential flower colours including red, orange, white and yellow with each bloom growing to over 4cm in width! Abutilons are half-hardy in the UK, surviving light frosts and quickly recovering in spring. If kept warm, Abutilons will produce their tropical looking flowers for 12 months of the year.
Homegrown by us here in the UK, peat free using organic methods
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant
An incredibly hardy evergreen ground cover plant with pointed green leaves that are mottled with silver markings. In spring a new flush of growth is accompanied by bizarre ground level flowers in shades of red and purple. Asarum splendens, commonly called the 'Chinese Wild Ginger', will tolerate temperatures as low as -20ºC and provides winter interest for any garden. Cover those difficult shaded spots in your garden with this jungle-style ground cover plant to prevent weeds growing.
Current Size: Plug plant
The darkest in a series of brand new stunning cold hardy Begonias. Begonia 'Dark Side of the Moon' produces nearly black, velvety leaves with scarlet red flowers. The bold foliage has a deep maroon underside.
These new hybrids are said to be hardy downs to USDA zone 7, that's below -10ºC! We're excited to test this claim in the Grow Paradise garden. Through summer sprays of delicate red flowers are held above the striking foliage.
Current size: Plug plant
A fantastically exotic tall growing Begonia with large palmate leaves. Originating from the rainforests of Brazil, Begonia luxurians is one of the finest foliage plants for the shady summer borders in any tropical style garden.
Growing to 2m in height on thick fleshy red stems, Begonia luxurians is almost shrub-like in appearance. This Begonia is grown for its unique 'palm leaf' shaped foliage with each leaf growing to an impressive size up to 30cm wide! In summer clusters of tiny white flowers are held above the foliage and will be followed by paper-like seed pods.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
Very rarely available in the UK! Sometimes known as the ‘Giant Salvia’. In reality this stunning plant isn’t a Salvia at all. Rather than being a Salvia, Brillantaisia subulugurica is a member of the broad Acanthaceae family and originates from tropical Africa. In bloom from late spring until the end of autumn, it has dramatic panicles of large, vaguely orchid-shaped flowers, each with a speckled pale lilac upper petal above a large purple-blue lower lip. The flowers are incredibly long lasting. It has huge, lush leaves, and fleshy square-sided stems which can grow up to 3m tall.
Eye-catching yellow blooms with orange speckled petals held above lush green foliage. Canna 'Maui Punch' will grow to a height of up to 80cm in one season. These amazing plants make the perfect plant for patio containers or dotted throughout your garden borders. Blooms emerge at the very top of each leafy stem from July to September. These Canna plants are half-hardy throughout the UK, simply provide good drainage and a winter mulch to protect the underground rhizomes.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
Sumptuous dark purple leaves edged with minty green margins make this beautiful foliage plant the perfect addition to any summer garden. Coleus 'Chocolate Mint' is very shade tolerant, making it the perfect plant for filling those partially shaded gaps beneath other plants in your garden. We love using these colourful plants to create that very desirable dense jungle garden style.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
Gorgeous large dark heart-shaped leaves held on tall stems make this Colocasia a real stunner. The Young leaves of Colocasia 'Black Coral' emerge lush green and darken to black as they mature. Colocasia 'Black Coral' will quickly form a thick clump of plants that will grow masses of foliage that colours best when grown in full sun. The large leaves of Colocasias give these plants their common name of the ‘Elephant Ear’ plant. Try combining Colocasia plants with Bananas for the ultimate jungle foliage combo, you can even grow Colocasia as marginal pond plants.
Current size: Supplied in as a jumbo plug plant.
Deeply puckered, dark chocolate coloured leaves are help atop near-black stems on this bushy elephant ear plant. Colocasia'Black Ripple' grows to form a thick clump of plants with masses of bold tropical foliage. Young leaves emerge green and will mature to a rich glossy black colour with a unique puckered leaf surface. Colocasia make the perfect addition to your tropical garden borders and they are an ideal statement plant for large pots.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
Bold green tropical foliage held on bright red stems make Colocasia ‘Hawaiian Punch’ a really attractive plant. This incredibly ornamental Colocasia will grow to reach the impressive height of 1.2m tall. The large lush green leaves pair with the thick red stems really well. Colocasia make the perfect addition to your tropical garden borders and they are an ideal statement plant for large pots.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
A huge leaved form of Colocasia that can produce leaves almost a metre long and 45cm wide. The enormous leaves are a lush emerald green and make the perfect high impact addition to a tropical style garden. Colocasia 'Jacks Giant' is not hardy and is best planted out when risk of frost has passed and protected in winter. This giant Colocasia can grow to reach heights of over 1.5m and will truly make you feel emerged in a jungle.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
An eye-catching Colocasia with golden leaves that contrast beautifully against darker foliage and flowers. Lime green, almost golden foliage grows rapidly in spring through summer. Colocasia 'Maui Gold' produces large heart shaped leaves that make a stylish addition to any style of garden.Try planting in containers around your patio or seating area for a great tropical vibe. Colocasia can be used in your pond as marginal aquatic plants through the warm summer months.
Current size: Supplied in as a jumbo plug plant.
A hardy Colocasia! 'Pink China' is a very popular and tough Colocasia that has proven very hardy all over the UK. Colocasia 'Pink China' will quickly form a thick clump of plants that will grow large heart-shaped lush leaves on pink leaf stems. The large leaves of Colocasias give these plants their common name of ‘Elephant Ears’. This impressive plant will grow up to 1.3m tall with enormous leaves that can over 60cm long.
Try combining Colocasias with Bananas for the ultimate jungle foliage combo.
Current size: Sold as plug plants
Fast becoming an extremely desirable fern for exotic style gardens. The frost hardy Coniogramme emeiensis, known as the ‘Bamboo Fern’, produces stunning golden striped evergreen leaves. This fern thrives in moist shade and will quickly produce lots of its beautiful variegated leaves up to 65cm in length. This amazing fern originates from the slopes of Mount Emei in China. Try planting in shaded beds to provide year round tropical foliage.
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
This fast-growing evergreen tree stands out with its beautiful deeply divided leaves. Commonly called the 'Mountain Cabbage tree', Cussonia 'Cussonic' will grow to maximum height of 15m on a thick wooden stem with a texture similar to cork. Cussonia 'Cussonic' will grow best in a sheltered location and is hardy down to 0ºC. We like to grow these incredible foliage plants in containers, allowing us to move them for winter protection. You'll struggle to find a plant that grows foliage as beautiful as this Cussonia!
Current size: Supplied as a plug plant.
Enormous large red Hibiscus flowers held above deep purple foliage! This new hardy Hibiscus 'Fireball' will produce an abundance of giant exotic blooms that are held above beautiful dark purple foliage. The foliage is so striking that these plants are exotic looking even when they are not in flower. This showstopping Hibiscus can take temperatures down to -15 degrees Celsius. A very good plant for containers and for plating out into your garden borders.
Current Size: Plug plant