One way of making sure that you are miles ahead of the family “Jones” is to transform your suburban patch of green into a slice of the tropics. Many of the tropical plants in the UK that we commonly associate with tropical environments are perfectly hardy, can be established, and (with a little care) will thrive in our gardens.
Perhaps you are looking for exotic plants to suit your cold climate. You will be surprised by the wide variety of hardy tropical plants on offer these days.
Best outdoor tropical plants – UK
I am not going to list any indoor plants in this article. They are all for the garden. You will be amazed at what can survive the UK winters.
1. Agave
Originally from Mexico: A beautiful succulent plant with a thick upward spray of ‘Aloe-like’ leaves. Adds plenty of architectural value to a garden. Will need to be removed to a reasonable frost-free environment over winter. I keep mine in a large clay pot so that it can be moved around. It requires very little watering and care.
2. Chusan Palm (Trachycarpus Fortunei)
A real must for any paradise garden. The Chusan Palm originates from China and will survive temperatures as low as -10 °C. However, like most tropical plants, they prefer to be kept ‘ice-free’ in the winter by ensuring that the head of the plant doesn’t get too wet. Younger plants will need protection for the first couple of years.
3. Phormium
Clump-forming, thick-bladed grass from New Zealand. It is very hardy and will produce spikes of exotic red flowers during high summer. Phormiums can be propagated via rootstock division.
4. Banana (Musa Lasiocarpa)
The beautiful fanned leaves of this clump-forming herb will add a dash of the tropics to any garden. The banana is fairly hardy but will need protection from the worst of the British winter. I tend to put mine in an unheated greenhouse over the winter.
5. Passion Flower (Passiflora Caerulea)
A fast-growing and very hardy climber. It originates from South America and was used by missionaries to describe the passion of Christ, with its rather unusual flowers producing what looks like three nails and a crown of thorns. The Caerulea, the hardiest of the genus, does yield bright orange fruit, but it is fairly tasteless.
6. Giant Hibiscus
Who doesn’t think of the Hibiscus when you hear the word ‘paradise’? The plate-sized flowers of this fast-growing perennial will delight any passer-by. Hibiscus is fully hardy and will thrive in full sun.
7. Cordyline Australis
Often referred to as the ‘Torbay Palm’, the very hardy and very exotic evergreen tree can be grown throughout most of the UK. I tend to protect my younger Cordylines with a fleece in the winter; the green-leaf varieties are far tougher than the burgundy-leaf. They originate from New Zealand and are actually members of the grass family. I have grown Cordylines from seeds collected from fruiting specimens, and the seedlings look just like little tufts of grass for the first few months.
8. Sea Holly – (Eryngium Agavifolium)
Saw-like, thick green leaves. Will produce white flowers during the later parts of the summer. This plant is reasonably hardy and can be left out over winter in all but the most northern parts of the UK.
9. Fatsia Japonica
I once bought a Fatsia for my future mother-in-Law as a gift. It now, 7 years on, dominates her patio with its large, glossy, bright green, hand-shaped leaves. They are quite hardy, but it is advised that you protect smaller specimens.
10 Tree Ferns
In my mind, this is one of the most tropical-looking plants you can add to your garden. Prehistoric plants add an incredibly large portion of architectural splendour to any garden. Tree ferns aren’t cheap to buy, though, so make sure you protect them in the winter months by wrapping fleece and/or straw around the growing head of the plant, which must be kept dry in colder weather.
11. Yucca
Very similar in appearance to the Cordyline, the hardy Yucca offers robust, green, sword-like leaves and grows in a clumping habit. In summer, a mature Yucca will put out a tall white spear of sweetly scented and exotic flowers.
12. Bamboo
Most bamboos are very hardy and can be used to form whispering swathes of green within your garden (shorter varieties) or as screens and elevated focal points (taller varieties).
13. Gunnera Manicata
A truly bizarre and wonderful giant with leaves 1 to 2 metres across! Very similar-looking to Rhubarb, hence its vulgar name ‘Chile Rhubarb’. It will die back to the soil level during winter. It is not entirely hardy, so it is advised that you cover the growing crown during the winter with fleece or thick mulch.
14. Canna
A tender deciduous perennial. With banana-like leaves. A rhizomes-rooted plant with a very attractive, fiery flower, reminiscent of Gladioli. Will grow from 1 to 2 metres high, depending on the variety. Canna can be grown in containers or as a focal point in any garden. Can be trimmed down to grown level, unearthed, and stored in a frost-free environment over winter.
15. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Reginae)
Also known as the Crane Flower, from South Africa. Very exotic plant with large glossy leaves, similar to the banana plant, and a flower that looks like and tropical bird’s head, with a splash of sunset hues. Bird of Paradise grows up to 1.2 metres high, and is clump-forming, but will need to be protected from the winter frosts. Makes a great patio plant in the summer.
Frequently asked questions concerning hardy tropical plants (UK)
Can tropical plants be grown in the UK?
Yes, tropical plants can be grown in the United Kingdom. Some tropical plants are hardier than others. Successes will largely depend on where in the UK you live. Generally, if you live in the far north, your options will be far fewer than if you live in the south.
Can I grow tropical fruits in the UK?
Figs, pineapple guavas, pomegranates, Chinese loquats, and apricots can produce delicious fruits in the UK if kept in the right conditions.
Can we grow guava trees in the United Kingdom?
Pineapple Guava is a tasty and intriguing fruit and flower. Growing it is worthwhile, and it will bear fruit in the UK. It also makes a lovely shrub, bearing attractive, fuchsia-like flowers.
I hope you have enjoyed this article on “Hardy Tropical Plants UK”. If you have, please consider commenting below. Perhaps you know of several good, exotic plants that you have had success with?
