My exotic project

Hi all, I have just cleared a patch at the front of the house to hopefully begin creating a tropical garden here in Manchester. The patch I have started represents around a third of the front garden and I'll be moving on to the other two thirds come spring.

I already have a Fortunei, and a waggie in there and I'm overwintering a Musa basjoo, and an Ensete ventricosum indoors.

I'd welcome any comments or suggestions for potential hardy plants that I might consider to bulk out the area next spring.

 

Maybe one of the clumping Bamboo - Borinda or Fargesia

 

Thanks guy's. Yes I do like the Fatsia, and would like to include bamboo somewhere as long as it is a variety I can easily contain. I'll look into those. I've read somewhere that bamboo can be planted during the winter months too?

 

Yes, if it's an established plant in a pot, you can plant a Bamboo in winter.

If it is a offset taken from a plant, I would wait until spring.

 

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind.

 

look forward to following this thread

Jamie

 

For a bamboo consider a Nigra ... not invasive and very attractive and unusual with its black culms
A good hardy palm is Trachycarpus Fortunei ... this one is about 10 years with me



OR ... have a look at the Australian Cordyline which are exotic looking, or the Tasmanian Tree Fern

 

The smaller fan palm Chamaerops Humilis would give it an exotic look and is hardy in nearly all but the coldest parts of the UK.
Do you want permanent planting or will you leave spaces for non hardy, exotic looking plants such as Fuchsia Triphylla and Cannas?

 

Great advice guy's. The Nigra does look nice and fits the bill. I will be leaving spaces for more tender plants and don't mind lifting a few for winter. The only problem is I have to be choosy because I don't have space for a greenhouse or much else for that matter! I couldn't resist a young Ensete today which will spend winter indoors this year, and then probably dry store it during future winters.

 

Phormiums are great for filling in the lower levels


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